Twelve years ago today, I had my first date with Mr. Darcy. He picked me up and took me out to dinner. It was a fabulous first date. 6 short weeks later he took me to dinner again, but this time he flew us to San Francisco, and then after dinner proposed to me at Coit Tower (who knew CPA's were so romantic?). A short six months after that, we were married. I have learned a few things these past dozen years, and I still have alot to learn. But these are worth sharing:
1. Smile. Smile when it is going great and smile when the going is tough. You will show your spouse that you can roll with the punches with a good attitude and you will show your kids that its not that hard to be happy and pleasant. For a great post I wrote about the power or a smile, click here. Remember, when things get tough, you are in the trenches together. Smiling helps. Alot.
2. Date nights are important. We have always had date nights. During times we were saving money (or just didn't have any) we would have an adult only late dinner after the kids went to bed. Sometimes they are casual, and sometimes they are dress up. Never underestimate the power of a good date night. Ours always end up with us both laughing so hard I have tears. I love that.
3. You can't pick your family, or his. I wish I knew when we got married what I know now about dealing with family. Mainly, that ignoring those who can't be happy for you is the best way to go. You will continue to be happy and they will continue to be miserable and bitter. You are getting the better end of this deal.
4. Never understimate the power of a romantic gesture. Make them. Appreciate them. Recognize that your spouse's idea of a romantic gesture might not always be yours, but that doesn't mean the thought behind it is any less. If your husband unloads the dishwasher or feeds the baby; he gets credit and should be praised accordingly.
5. Believe in happily ever after. It is worth it to believe you are in it for the long haul. That you have something of value. The best gift you can give your children is married parents. Find things every day to love about each other. As my Mr. Darcy says "just be happy". So believe IN happily ever after. Believe that you HAVE a happily ever after. Make your own happily ever after happen. Hey, I found a romantic accountant...in the middle of Los Angeles... it can happen.
This post is linked up with the Domestically Divine Homemaking Link up at Far From Rubies. and also at:
Blessings,
Hi Katie,
ReplyDeleteLoved your post. I love Emma, specially because the book was a gift from my best friend, but I've to admit that I find P&P the best novel. I don't know how many times I've read it, but it still amazes me and makes me laugh.
By the way, I love the last picture, and I can tell it's not a scene from the movie, since I know it by heart.
Hope to talk to you more.
What a great comparison and I love the pictures! Great post!
ReplyDeleteI usually don't like music when I enter a blog, but this is my favorite, so Thank You! I think I will go get my own from itunes!
Thank you, I go back and forth about the music but I just LOVE the music from P and P and it so goes with the theme of my blog so for now, it stays! so thanks for the positive feedback.
ReplyDeleteThe last picture was from the movie stills used to promote the movie but not in the feature itself; still, it is one of my very favorites. Thanks for stopping by! please pass this post on to your friends if you liked it! katie
Katie,
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this post! In fact, I stayed up quite late recently watching this movie! So true, that the best gift to give our children is married (and happy!) parents. We don't see many intact families in our little corner of the world. I praise my husband a lot to my girls - I want them to realize how precious their relationship to him is. Hopefully when they are mothers, they'll understand! We certainly need to make more time for date nights. I'm afraid lately, we fall asleep together within minutes of putting the children to bed :)
Thanks for leaving the comment on my site - especially recommending the book to me. I'll add it to my wish list. I agree - it feels wonderful to take bags of trash to the curb after cleaning out closets!
Carrie
You had me from 'Mr. Darcy'! LOL
ReplyDeleteI think it's a wonderful comparison, especially since I've read Miss Austen's novels enough times to basically have them memorized... funny how I'd have never thought a spinster could have written so well about love and relationships!
Guess that's another thing that we have in common :)
Love Love Love this post!
ReplyDeletei LOVED this post! Wise and wonderful things!!!
ReplyDeleteCarrie, you will love "the joy of less"...it's a game changer for sure..now if I could get my Mr. Darcy on board with the whole minimalism thing. haha.
ReplyDeleteDayswithdesi, I have P and P memorized for sure. I've read and reread it, watched and rewatched it!
Lisa, thank you!
Misty, thank you!
I love how you related things back to P&P. I have to admit thought that I am a BBC P&P fan and I was longing for a little Colin Firth. :)
ReplyDeleteElizabeth@Warrior Wives
www.thewarriorwives.com
LOL, I'm with Elizabeth. LOVE the BBC version. And this was a great post. The one about remembering to Smile particularly struck me.
ReplyDelete