August 16 2014

August 19 2014 Greetings My Friend We’ve been to the VA in Johnson City and Junior’s hearing aids are on order now. It has been a year of trying to get an appointment to find that somehow he was never contacted for an appointment. A trip to our family doctor got him an appointment with an audiologist. The hearing test showed he needs 2 hearing aids. Once more Junior contacted the VA and this time he had an appointment. The audiologist had forwarded the results and now the hearing aids are on order. Since his appointment was early in the morning and Johnson City is about 2 - 3 hours away we decided to go there the day before and rent a room. The hotel had a pool so I was able to use the pool to exercise. The hot tub came in handy for Junior’s hip and back also. Due to his amputation Junior has a lot of back and hip problems. Married couples need to take time outs and spend time alone. We learned that is an important part of being married. We learned we need to date each other frequently. At first I thought the dates had to be dinner out or a shared sport. As the years have gone on I see the strangest moments as a date. For the longest time Friday night grocery shopping turned into a date for us. I got off of work late and we’d go grocery shopping at that time. More often than not the store was fairly empty as we went through each aisle. We sometimes stole a kiss, shared a favorite story and enjoyed this special time. Later in our marriage as we both grew tired from our work week we started to rent a video and that was our entertainment. We enjoyed the slow down time alone eating popcorn. For me walking is always a treat so Junior and I often went for a walk through our neighborhood. In our marriage retreats we also learned that it is important to get away periodically. If I remember right it is recommended that every few months it is important to do this. I soon learned that it did not have to be a fancy get away. Sometimes it was a marriage seminar and the ones we attended had built in couple time as well. For Junior and I a trip to the woods was a treat. We started to hike trails for a while but as we got older it got too hard. These moments of couple time has helped to cement our bond to each other and even today we need some special alone time. We are both retired now and we’ve learned new ways to get our couple time. We tend to get involved with our activities around the house during the day. We have lunch together and share what is going on then. When the mail comes in Junior brings the mail into the TV area and we rest and talk, sometimes while I’m talking to Junior I jump on the elliptical and we visit while he reads through the mail. After Junior is done looking through the mail more often than not he takes his nap. Sometimes I sit in the chair next to him and pray. Since most things are a drive around here we tend to lump things into a day or two of errands here and there. The travel time is more time to connect and we enjoy that a lot also. When I first retired I felt that traveling was what to do. We do like getting away. At first we’d go back to MI several times a year. That was getting too expensive so we’ve cut that down to once or twice a year now. We are switching our travels to a day here and a day there. I am enjoying this break in routine and a week or more away is not necessary. Our night in Johnson City was just enough time away and getting back home sooner is a treat also. While in Johnson City we shopped, swam and enjoyed our couple time a lot. Junior and I also need some alone time as well. Sometimes Junior runs to the hardware on his own. Sometimes I head to the dollar store on my own. We both go about our day in our own roles. I clean and cook and craft along with squeezing in some exercise. Mornings for me is the quiet time I need. I get online, read my Bible, write and pray. Junior renovates inside, outside and all around the place. So we are doing things we enjoy alone. I think this is important as getting away and spending quiet time. It to me is a balancing act to keep the right amount of alone time and couple time in our lives. As I figured out our dates, couple times don’t have to be the standard things I found our unique to us times even more of a blessing. Through the years I’ve learned it is the connecting more than the activity itself. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet