13. Volunteering as a couple is AWESOME.
The first time we've joint-volunteered as a married couple was last night. He was in charge of putting on a youth group night at his placement church, and he asked me weeks in advance to put coming along to help in my diary. I wasn't really in the mood to go (really tired!) but I am so glad I went, because although he was on the frontlines (setting up the heavy and technical stuff, keeping control of the teens even during an all-out Nerf war, doing the talk about the film clip, running games at the end) and I was more in a supporting role (making a very smart sign-in sheets, being at the door when they arrived to get them to sign in, ordering more pizza, cooking the pizza, prepping and serving food and drink, cleaning up, talking to parents, etc.) I really enjoyed being on the same team, serving a church and providing something for the teens. I personally don't feel I'm what you'd stereotypically consider a 'youth leader' type (I prefer the little ones!) but I am keen to help again just because it felt so great to operate as a team to serve others. I'm looking forward to more. :)
Monday 7 April 2014
Joint Visiting
12. Going to other people's houses as a couple
This week we have also enjoyed being invited to other people's homes, as a couple, to spend time with friends. It's really fun to spend time with my husband and my friends (and his friends) at the same time. It's been especially relaxing and joyful to spend time with a married couple who are our age and who we really enjoy being around, because we are all on the same page and do not have to worry about saying anything that might make each other feel uncomfortable, or that sounds "too couple-y", etc. We don't feel the need to sit next to each other the whole time or do PDAs, whether with other couples or singles or a mix, but I appreciate when we're spending time with friends that my husband is good at balancing communication of affection with focusing on the interactions at hand.
This week we have also enjoyed being invited to other people's homes, as a couple, to spend time with friends. It's really fun to spend time with my husband and my friends (and his friends) at the same time. It's been especially relaxing and joyful to spend time with a married couple who are our age and who we really enjoy being around, because we are all on the same page and do not have to worry about saying anything that might make each other feel uncomfortable, or that sounds "too couple-y", etc. We don't feel the need to sit next to each other the whole time or do PDAs, whether with other couples or singles or a mix, but I appreciate when we're spending time with friends that my husband is good at balancing communication of affection with focusing on the interactions at hand.
Hospitality
11. Having friends over to our house
More than I thought, having a home space together that we can use to invite others into and enjoy friendships is really awesome. This week we have enjoyed inviting five people into our home to spend time together with us. Luckily, we both like to keep the small flat clean, so having people over is not a stressful things in terms of preparation. Instead, we enjoy preparing a simple (in my case) or gourmet (in his case) meal, with our new free-from-family-second-hand white china and small but growing fancy drinks collection, complete with dessert, hot drinks, and chat and game. Even at just three months of marriage, we really delight in having time that's not just us, but where we can spend time together, with others invited in. I really appreciate that when people who are 'more my friends' come over, my husband is always more than willing to take on the cleaning duty so that I can spend absolutely as much time with them as possible (and vice versa, when they are 'more his friends' I'm happy to do the same).
And the two white rocking chairs have been a big hit! When people come in the house, they notice them straight away and almost everyone goes to sit right down in them. I think (and hope!) that they make people feel relaxed and at home.
One friend recently told us that he felt very warm and blessed by our hospitality, and sent a message afterward to my husband to reiterate the fact. This is what I hope for! For our marriage to be a way to love others and make people feel at home and welcomed in. May we learn increasingly ways to do this, and may we be granted the grace to do it.
More than I thought, having a home space together that we can use to invite others into and enjoy friendships is really awesome. This week we have enjoyed inviting five people into our home to spend time together with us. Luckily, we both like to keep the small flat clean, so having people over is not a stressful things in terms of preparation. Instead, we enjoy preparing a simple (in my case) or gourmet (in his case) meal, with our new free-from-family-second-hand white china and small but growing fancy drinks collection, complete with dessert, hot drinks, and chat and game. Even at just three months of marriage, we really delight in having time that's not just us, but where we can spend time together, with others invited in. I really appreciate that when people who are 'more my friends' come over, my husband is always more than willing to take on the cleaning duty so that I can spend absolutely as much time with them as possible (and vice versa, when they are 'more his friends' I'm happy to do the same).
And the two white rocking chairs have been a big hit! When people come in the house, they notice them straight away and almost everyone goes to sit right down in them. I think (and hope!) that they make people feel relaxed and at home.
One friend recently told us that he felt very warm and blessed by our hospitality, and sent a message afterward to my husband to reiterate the fact. This is what I hope for! For our marriage to be a way to love others and make people feel at home and welcomed in. May we learn increasingly ways to do this, and may we be granted the grace to do it.
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