love Archives - Rahab To Riches

Valentine’s Day is over. The candies and decorations have gone on clearance. We have all gone back to our normal, not so romantic lives. But that doesn’t mean we should let that spirit of love slip away.

According to the CDC, the divorce rate here in the USA is right at 50%. For every 1000 people, 6.8 will get married, and 3.4 will get divorced. Those statistics are so sad, and I think it shows how important it is to work on your marriage. I just want to say, before I go any further, that I fall into those statistics. I got pregnant and married in high school, and unfortunately that marriage ended in divorce. I know the heartache that comes with a family falling apart. I am determined to not let that happen with my marriage again.

I would hope that half of all people who go to the marriage altar aren’t expecting to end up divorced a few years later. Yet that is what happens. Life gets in the way. We have jobs, kids, numerous other obligations that take time away from connecting with our spouses. Often times, relationships between husband and wife are left on the back burner to simmer out and dry up. Sometimes we don’t even realize there’s a problem until we see the smoke.

Continue reading →

Happy February everyone! This week we are doing a Valentine’s Day theme for Ask Away Friday. I am teaming up with Lysa from Welcome To My Circus to give you all the fun details of our love lives. Well, maybe not all the details, but it will still be fun!

After you read my answers to her questions, hop over and check out what I asked her, and how she answered.

Let’s get started:

1) How did you and your husband meet? Was it love at first sight? We actually met at work. His family used to own a pizza shop, and I got a job there. I thought he was super cute. He thought I was funny because I wore slacks to work for my first few weeks, even though every one else wore jeans or shorts. I was just so used to slacks being the dress code for my previous jobs, and it took me a while to catch on. At least I had him noticing me (wink). He still makes fun of me for that.

2) Where was the most romantic place EVER that you went to on a date? Tell us about that date. The most romantic date was actually a weekend. We spent a couple nights at a bed and breakfast in Mendocino. It was our first road trip/weekend trip together. Mendocino is a really cute little town on the Northern California coast. We spent our days walking along the beaches and the cliffs, going thrifting in Fort Bragg just a little more north, and walking around all the shops. There was a little Irish pub there where we went for all but one of our meals–it had the BEST pot roast. We ended up becoming friends with the cook and waitress, and they took us on an evening cruise to show us the best scenery and look at the stars. We also ended up going on a little hike and discovering a secluded cove where we spent an afternoon. And the bed and breakfast had a huge bathtub where we used all their bubble bath! I’ve never seen so many bubbles in my life! We are planning on going back for our anniversary this year. I can’t wait!

3) Which Valentine’s was your most memorable and why? I think probably the year we went to a very upscale steakhouse. The vegetables were huge. Like monstrously huge! And it was the first (and only) time I’ve ever tried lobster. I didn’t like it at all. Maybe because I was pregnant, but I haven’t worked up the nerve to try it since.

4) If you were to give advice about love to your daughters, what would you say? How would it differ from what you would tell your sons? I have a teenage daughter, so I do often give her advice. Luckily for me she isn’t dating yet, but I want her to be prepared when she does. I tell her not to date someone just to have a date. It is better to wait for the right guy that God has for her, rather than date around and be known as “that girl.” (This is me totally speaking from first-hand experience, by the way!) I also tell her to pay attention to how a guy treats his mom and his sisters, because he won’t treat her any better than how he treats them. I am constantly giving her little tidbits of advice whenever the opportunity arises, but these are the two things I think I say most often. As for my son…he is just a little guy! I’m not ready to think about that yet! But…I think I would tell my son that he needs to treat a lady like a lady. I would tell him to only treat her how he would want another guy to treat one of his sisters. And to guard her purity as well as his own. I think a great piece of advice would be to always date with marriage in mind. If you can’t see yourself eventually marrying that person, there is no need to date them.

5) When you were a teenager, who did you have the BIGGEST crush on? Brad Pitt. Like every other girl on the planet! Funny enough, I am totally not a fan of his anymore.

6) What would your perfect romantic evening be like? Be as descriptive as you can. Hmmmm….this is a tough one. I think an evening at home, just the two of us with our kids somewhere else would be nice. The table would be set with a pretty tablecloth and two pillar candles, lit. There would be rose petals scattered on the table with romantic music playing softly. Our dinner would be steak, potatoes, fresh bread and a salad. After dinner we would take a walk over to the park and look at the stars, then come home and cuddle under a blanket while watching a movie, and take turns giving each other massages. Not having to worry about the baby waking up or one of the kids coming out to get a drink or go to the bathroom. And then the best part would be getting to sleep in together in the morning.

7) Tell us about a dating horror story or an embarrassing dating story? Be sure to give us the details! Many, MANY years ago when we were wild and reckless, we went to San Francisco for a day date. We had recently been watching some spy show series on tv, so I guess spies were on my brain. My husband (then boyfriend) went into a shop or something, and while I was waiting for him I struck up a conversation with some random guy. He ended up telling me he was here in the states on business, from Australia. Well, I must have gotten it in my head that his accent didn’t sound Australian enough or something (as if I would know!) and as my husband came back I was accusing this total stranger of being a spy. He kept insisting he wasn’t, and as my husband was apologizing to him, I took off because I really thought this guy was a spy and wanted to be as far away from him as possible. My poor husband had to come find me. In San Francisco. And then to top it all off I threw up all over myself on the way home. So yeah…pretty horrific and embarrassing!

8) What is that one thing that made you fall in love with your husband? His confidence. He is so sure of himself and who he is. It’s very attractive. Especially since I haven’t always been the most confident person.

9) Who said “I love you” first, you or your husband? Tell us the story. I can’t tell the whole story because it was in our wild days, and quite frankly I can’t remember it all! But it was me. I said it first. We had been dating for about 6 months and spent all our free time together. I just remember we were hanging out in his room one night talking and I just leaned over and said, “I just love you so much. I mean really. I really, really, love you.” Another thing he likes to make fun of me for But he said it back and the rest is history!

10) If you could reenact any love story from a movie, which one would it be and why? Please describe how you and your husband might act it out. Hahaha. I really don’t know how to answer this one! Most of the movies we watch are either action and adventure or comedy. Let’s see…the Hunger Games love scene where Peeta is hiding in the creek in camouflage paint and Katniss finds him and they hide in the hole. No. Not very romantic? But that would be fun. I could be hunting him with a nerf bow and arrow, and then when I found him I could wash all the camo paint off him. And then we could find a little cave and eat a picnic of chicken soup.

Well. I think I’m starting to see myself in a not very romantic light! Quiet night at home. Hunger Games love scene. This is what 5 kids will do to you I guess (smile). This were fun questions to answer. I’d love to hear your thoughts or any of your own answers to these questions!