How cute were we?  All young and dumb and clueless about pretty much everything.
Two kids focused on silly things like guest lists and registering for plates.
Basically planning our wedding, (a.k.a. an epic four hour party complete with In-N-Out.)
Not really thinking about planning our FOREVER.
Our pastor did his best to prepare us.  I just don't think we really, REALLY, listened.  How could you when you are young and dumb and super excited for your honeymoon and new house?

Life doesn't prepare you for life.

You know those things that you used to do all the time, but then life and change got in the way?  Those things that you really, really miss, but your current circumstances just don't really leave room for?
Surfing is one of those things.  We used to go all the time.  Then we had all those cute little ones that require a bit of watching while we are at the beach. Throw in my insane shark phobia that keeps me from going out in the water without Jason right beside me.

My surfboard collected dust.  It saw the light of day for Shane's one year pictures, but that's it.  So sad right?  That very day I decided that 2012 would be the year that I would get back out in the ocean.

Shortly after, I finished reading the book For Women Only (totally recommend it). There is a whole chapter on how couples need to play together.  I don't know how to golf, I'm horrible at frisbee, card games make me crazy, and I'm way past my snowboarding years.  Never has there been a better time to revisit surfing.

We snuck away for a night last month for our anniversary, and you would not believe surprise and delight when I told Jason that he needed to pack two surfboards.  What was a much needed getaway, turned into the most fun, refreshing, silly, twenty four hours in recent memory.  The waves were perfect.  The water was warm.  I got pitched time and time again from my board,  got tangled in my leash, inhaled saltwater, and finally, victoriously, caught a few waves.

It wasn't about the surfing.  It was about us, our time together, floating on our boards, just like it used to be.  Just like it still should be.  If only for a day here and there.

You're never to old to play.  Nor are you too old to learn how to surf.  You can be a mom and still do cool things.

What fun, silly, activity could you and your husband go do?  I dare you to try it.  You won't regret it.

Five hours.

Crazy.

We have been stealing off to the beach.
Just us, chairs, towels, burritos, and books.

Like two careless, carefree, twenty year olds.
With no kids, no jobs, no responsibilities, no electric bills, no broken washing machines.

Twenty year olds who have nothing better to do than spend five lazy hours watching waves, reading, dreaming.

Being fake twenty is so awesome.  Even if only for a few hours.

(P.S.  I just started reading The Book Thief.  By page two I was hooked.  By page ten I was weeping.  It is beautiful and painful.  I cannot wait to see where it goes.)

Back when Jason and I were engaged, we thought our life was so crazy and so busy.
(How adorable.)
We were juggling college, he was on staff at church, as well as touring with his band, I was lifeguarding and planning the wedding.

How did we even survive?  Did I mention that we had a puppy????!!!!!

During our premarital counseling, we each had to make a list of what we were bringing to the marriage.  I don't really remember anything from my list, but one thing stood out, the one thing Jason ranked as what he needed the most.

I could provide a refuge from his crazy days.

He is the ultimate extrovert, and lives a very people filled life.  But even extroverts need to come home to a little bit of peace.

It is something that I have thought about these last fourteen years.  Being a refuge.

It is wholly different now than when it was just us and our dog.  Young and dumb newlyweds with a quiet, clean, house and way to much free time.  Our whole life was a date night.

Now we are a little less young, and hopefully less dumb, the house isn't always clean, and it certainly is never, ever, ever quiet.

Add in the fact that he is now basically working three full time jobs at once, without a reprieve on the horizon.

A refuge has never been needed more.

Thankfully, via a rabbit trail of pretty fonts on Pinterest, I came across the loveliest blog Designs by Lulu.  As I was reading through the archives, I came upon the post that I needed to read most for this season of life.  A post I am so thankful for.  So encouraged by.  Written from the heart of a young bride who recognizes the great gift her husband is to her, and it is her heart's desire is to love him well.



Jason is a great gift.  He has weathered this stressful and uncertain season with such grace and determination.  He sacrifices, serves, and cares for all of us in more ways than I could ever count, or hope to repay.  I want to love him well.

Jessica and I were talking about what En Gedi would look like to our husbands.  She shared it with Dave, who responded, brilliantly, GEDI UP.
 Yes, my friend, we need to Gedi up.

I asked Jason what his En Gedi would look like.  It was such a great conversation to have, and his requests were so simple, so doable.

His first request is to come home to a clean house at the end of his one fifteen hour day each week.  I can so appreciate that, coming home, exhausted, poured out, and being faced with a kitchen sink filled with dishes, school work strewn all over the table, kid chaos everywhere...  No fun.
Walking into a restful, picked up space?  Dreamy.

So now, after I put the kids down, I still have plenty of time to serve him by putting away my half finished sewing/ painting/ craziness, toss dishes in the dishwasher, wipe down the counters, sweep the floor, light some candles.  Nothing difficult.  Nothing complicated.  Normal stuff.  Normal stuff that makes him look forward to coming home. 

The second, is to simply make plans and leave the house by 9 am on his day off.
Again, no big deal.  No use in wasting the day away.  Especially when days off are so rare.

We are two weeks into Operation En Gedi, and I cannot begin to explain what a gift it has been to us, our marriage, even our kids.

Loving and serving my husband, is such a joy.  Simple, thoughtful things to help him to feel appreciated for all he does for us.  How could I not?

I dare you to find out what En Gedi looks like to your husband, and then see what you can do to be provide that refuge for him.  I can promise that you will not regret it.

Gedi up.