Truly a Weekend to Remember

this past weekend, B and i attended a marriage conference called weekend to remember. i had wanted to attend this conference ever since i heard about it on the radio a few years ago, but it was never held near where we lived. however, when we heard about this conference in the area this time, i really didn't have the desire to go until i felt some prompting from the Holy Spirit when i was in one of my BSF classes. i called B while he was still in california and signed up right away. the conference was, of course, a weekend event. the sessions started at 7:oo on friday evening and ended at around 4:00 on sunday afternoon. the topics dealt with threats to oneness, marital roles, parenting, and most important of all, communication. we were really amazed at the amount of people at the conference. there were about 3800 people, and one of the speakers said the DFW conference is one of their largest conferences. i wondered if there's a lower divorce rate in the north texas area!

did i learn anything new about marriage and how to make it work? actually, i'd say no but i've never had it presented to me in such a well-organized and concise way. after being married for nearly 9 years now, i really needed to be refreshed on a lot of the areas covered. things were more meaningful now that we've experienced first hand the trials in a marriage. what struck me most was how much protection God has place in our lives because if we had simply relied on ourselves, we'd be headed for destruction. i especially loved the sessions on the responsibility of a wife and as a mom. these are the two areas that i've been struggling with. i think the stresses in our lives from the past couple of years have really eroded my ability to see past my own needs to be the wife i ought to be. i've also felt some real and imaginary challenges to my role as a mom. having renewed understanding of God's plan in these areas for me is helping me to not conform to the world and thrive despite the world.

the weekend was also awesome for the chance for B and i to have undivided attention for each other. as our lives get busier and busier, it's becoming harder to find time to devote to each other and our relationship. this weekend afforded us time to really sit down to share intimately without the distractions from 2Z and our surroundings. and it really was a challenge to not be distracted since right before we were to go to the conference, we discovered a leak in our house and found water damage in a section of our ceiling. we even had to leave early from the conference to meet with the repairman. now the challenge is to remember what we've learned and really apply them in our daily lives. one thing that sticks out in my mind is that marriage is a lifetime commitment, not just a feeling of love. we love each other not for the things we do but for the gift that each is to the other. we've gained so much from this experience, and now i understand why couples continue to go back to the conference.

we are really thankful for our friends S&K for taking care of 2Z while we were gone. they've been a tremendous help in our move to texas and has continue to support us in many ways. i hope we've been able to convey how much we appreciate their friendship.

i highly recommend every couple to attend this conference. go to family life to find out more. it's also a great site for resources on parenting!