Sunday, June 10, 2012

For the Love of My Man

Friday was our eleventh wedding anniversary and my mom had agreed to babysit, so Dave and I had an entire evening all to ourselves. Ahhh... Dave said he wanted to take me to my favorite Mexican restaurant and from there it was my choice. I thought it might be fun to see a movie, since we rarely go to the theater anymore, and he agreed to go, even though I know how much he hates being inside a movie theater in the summer time. He didn't complain, but he did hint that it was a beautiful evening to go golfing.

One thing I've known about Dave since we met in high school is his passion for the game of golf. He'd rather be on a golf course than almost anywhere. He used to golf five or six days a week and he worked on a golf course during high school and college. He majored in horticulture at Iowa State University, with an emphasis in turf management. The man loves to golf.

During this season of parenting both of us have had to sacrifice some of our hobbies and interests, and Dave has willingly given up golfing. He plays now and again, but it's nothing like before, especially since the twins were born.

When he mentioned playing golf on our anniversary date, I wasn't too crazy about the idea. I don't mind the game, I think it's relaxing and I occasionally watch some of the PGA Tour when I'm at my in-law's, but it didn't sound very romantic or exciting on Friday.

After giving it some thought, I realized that this was something I could do for my hubby as a way of honoring our marriage and thanking him for all that he does for our family. So we went golfing.

The evening was gorgeous and it was so much fun just walking with Dave from hole to hole, enjoying the quiet solitude and uninterrupted conversation. I was able to tease him when he made a bad shot and we laughed when I put two balls into a water hazard on hole number sixteen. It was exactly what we both needed and a wonderful way to spend our anniversary. It turns out that it was quite romantic, afterall.

What about you? If you had an evening all to yourself, what would you do? Any golfers out there?



21 comments:

  1. An evening all to myself? Oh ... I'd keep it simple. I'd go for a long walk with my husband in Garden of the Gods -- a lovely spot here in Colorado Springs. (I think you've been there, Gabrielle.) And then I'd suggest dinner at a favorite restaurant -- nothing fancy. Just relaxed time together. No rush.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I have been there, Beth, and it is a beautiful place to walk and spend time. I agree with you, relaxed time together is the best way to spend time with my hubby. The rest of our life feels so rushed lately, it's nice to slow things down a bit and just enjoy one another.

      Delete
  2. An evening to myself? I'd go for a drive with my hubby, just us, the radio, and a cup of coffee for us. Then we'd probably see a movie and have dinner. We're simple too!

    I'm not a golfer. :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wasn't a golfer until I met my hubby and even now I don't take myself seriously on the golf course. But I love going along with him and just relaxing and being by his side.

      Delete
  3. Love it! Pete and I tend to go to barnes and noble and browse in the winter (with a coffee) and summertime? We used to play tennis and fish together and are hoping to give that a go again this summer! It's been awhile :) Good for you for getting out to golf -

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey! I had so much fun today visiting with you - we need to do it more often. Ellis said to me as we were pulling out of your driveway: "Play dates are all about the moms." Ha! I reminded her that she had a lot of fun with her friends, too, and it's just as much about the kids as it is about the moms. :)

      I hope you and Pete get out more this summer. Isn't it fun being in the stage of life when a night out is more do-able?

      Delete
  4. I'm convinced I want to grow old w/ my husband & golf. Love the sport. He golfs with a church league on Mondays.
    ~ Wendy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Too bad we weren't closer, Wendy! In a couple of years my hubby will be looking for a golfing league and it would be fun to pair up with another couple once in a while.

      Delete
  5. I've never golfed (except mini golf!) but neither really has my husband, although he really wants to get into it. Time and money have stopped us.

    I think it's always inspiring to see a wife who truly honors her husband and searches for ways to do something meaningful to him. Good job! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Lindsay. I hope my husband feels honored. To be honest, it isn't always easy to be selfless when it comes to our free time - we get so little of it now, but there is nothing better than to see him come alive on the golf course. I learn so many things about him while we're out there together.

      And I love mini-golfing! That was something we used to do a LOT before having the twins. We're counting down the months until they are old enough to get out on the mini-golf course with us! We even bring our own putters! :)

      Delete
  6. Like Linds, I have never golfed unless miniature golf counts. :) But I like going on walks, and golf seems like pretty much the same thing except for a few golf club swings here and there, so maybe I'd like it. :)

    And if I have an evening all to myself--with no writing goals or other tasks to be completed--I'm all about watching an old Cary Grant movie. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I LOVE Cary Grant! I am a huge fan of old movies. Doris Day, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Debbie Reynolds, Gene Kelly - I could go on and on! I DVR old movies on my bedroom television from ACM and TCM chanels and it takes me a couple of days to get through them (I usually watch a little each night as I'm falling asleep), but it's one of those pleasures I take in life! I'm so happy to find another Cary Grant fan. :)

      Delete
  7. There's a saying "golf is for people who can't play hockey". The origin of the phrase can be found somewhere in my husband's past. He LOATHES golf. He'll sit in our tin can of a boat (okay, tin and Bondo) for as many hours as possible and do nothing but hang a line in the water, but golf bores him to tears.
    We rarely do anything "out" on a free evening. If we do have free time, we laugh hysterically, then weep. Our free time is usually Boxing Day and...well, yeah, Boxing Day.
    ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's too funny, Jennifer! My husband does NOT like hockey! He enjoys watching it, but he hopes and prays our boys won't want to play it! :) He also has an aversion to any sport that would require them to wear spandex!

      Delete
    2. Don't think of it as Spandex, think of it as Under Armor/sweat wicking fabric. And it's not the spandex that kills, it's the athletic supporters that no one washes.
      Somewhere a birdy just died because a hockey bag was opened outside.

      Delete
  8. That sounds wonderful, and the pictures are lovely. Looks like it was a beautiful evening, and much more memorable than going to watch a movie. Happy belated anniversary!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks you, Caryn! It was more memorable than going to a movie, for sure. The course was beautiful and the sun was setting perfectly through the trees. Definitely a wonderful way to spend our anniversary.

      Delete
  9. Gabrielle, what a treat to locate your blog! It's so heartwarming how devoted you and your husband are to each other and your twins. If I were married, I would much rather do something that required us to keep talking, strolling, or doing something together. Much better than a movie where you're not even paying attentiont to one another. Happy Anniversary!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Donna! I was so happy to find your blog, as well. Dave and I also have two daughters who are 5 & 7 - so our house is full! I'm so happy we went golfing - it was better than a movie.

      Delete
  10. Awww, such a sweet post! Happy Anniversary! :) I'm a homebody...an evening spent by myself would probably involve a good paperback. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome, Rachelle! I see on your profile that you're a homeschool graduate - I was homeschooled for six years and I hope to homeschool our kiddos in a couple of years when my twins are older.

      Thanks for following my blog and stopping by to chat!

      Delete

Your comments are my favorite part of blogging!