Heaven on Earth

Well, it's just about that time :) One week from now, Joel and I will be relaxing in this amazing suite pictured above and doing whatever we please for 3 nights and 4 days to ourselves. No appointments, no alarms to set, to a weary mom it's really heaven on earth!

I remember when I was growing up my parents would go on a yearly trip down south (not sure at what age they started this). My Grandma Nafziger would move in for the week to take care of Mike and I, and mom and dad would fly away. I always really looked forward to this time. It was awesome to hang out with Grandma, and it always made a world of difference for mom and dad, they always came back tanned, excited and obviously in love. It is really something that I learned from my parents that I wanted to carry on with my husband someday. Most of my friends say they wouldn't dream of going away without their kids. They used to ask me why it didn't upset me that mom and dad didn't take us along. Okay, I'm sure a few times I must have complained that I didn't get to go too, but inside I understood their need for time alone. To this day my mom says it is those get-aways that kept their marriage healthy and strong, while most of the marriages of their friends broke up.

So, even since before we had kids, Joel and I always make a point to get away together yearly. It used to be a trip to Toronto. We'd take in a Leaf game, and maybe the ROM, or Medieval Feast or something and get the cheapest hotel room we could find (you know, $120 a night plus parking for a small single room). Then we took my brother's advice and checked out the Bear Trail Couples Resort. For about the same price as a weekend in Toronto we could get a suite with a jacuzzi within view of the fireplace and a nice King size bed. Not only that, but we get all the movies we want to watch, the games room downstairs (darts, billiards, ping pong), outdoor activities (cross country skiing, skating on the lake), and gourmet meals 2X a day. We were hooked. This will be our 4th winter up there. We look forward to it so much. Some years I've been hugely pregnant, or pumping breastmilk, but this year I'm free :)

So to all you couples out there: make the time with your spouse. Remember, your kids aren't going to be at home forever, and will your relationship last when you don't have the kids to look after together? I've seen a lot of couples break up after their kids grow up and move out, I think it's just because they forgot to care for their relationship and they lost sight of what they loved about their spouse. Joel and I have been doing great lately, we got some games for Christmas that are fun for two people, so we'll often spend the evening playing Sequence or Ticket to Ride (our newest game). We have so much fun together. We've never been the couple that builds their lives around their children. We absolutely love spending time with the kids, but we also cherish our time alone. Our kids know that they aren't the centre of the family, they are a part of the family unit. I think that's the healthiest thing for kids.

Mel