Mystery Date

"The Box" arrived in the mail, two days before Valentines. I set it on the dresser, with no explanation. He didn't ask, I didn't tell. I was curious to see what he would think, my man of few words, of this mystery date that I had planned. I know not to plan too big of surprises for him, as he doesn't like surprises. The problem is I LOVE THEM! So, I kept things a secret. For me!

The date began on a Sunday night, not the best timing for us as it's a work day for the hubby, but you take what you can get... He finished his meeting at around 7:30pm, and we kissed the kids goodbye for the night. (side note: what a blessing to be able to send them into the loving arms of Papa & Nini!)

We got in the car and decided to go out to our favorite Thai food restaurant for dinner. Pot sticker and Drunken Noodle full to the brim, we headed for home. (It's a sure sign that we have three children 5 and under when going to bed at 10pm sounds more appealing than going to a free movie! ) We settled in for a night of uninterrupted sleep.


My eyes popped open at 6:30 like clockwork. ~sigh~ I may be awake, but I DON'T have to get up! Letting the man sleep as long as possible was the goal, but he too was awake and ready for the day. I asked him where his favorite spot was in Rancho Cordova. He said the Waffle Shop. "Okay, Waffle Shop it is!" I decided to tell him about the 1000 dates project and let him know a bit of what was ahead of us that morning.


So we enter the Waffle Shop surrounded by the locals on a Monday morning, the sun was shining brightly and I was full of anticipation to open the box! He didn't know what was inside, and I had only a glimpse of what was in there from Kathi's blog. We order, and I can't stand the anticipation much longer... so we decided to open it.

Inside was:

Coffee (he had already ordered some, and I don't drink it!)

Creamer/Sugar (he takes it black)

Biscotti (mmmmm)

Two Candles (oops, no matches)

and stir sticks....

"Hmmm, I thought there was supposed to be something else." I thought to myself. I thought for sure there were supposed to be instructions in there... maybe we missed them! So, being the thorough man he is, he took the box apart. Nope, no instructions. Our food came and I told him this was just the first part of the date anyway...whew, good improvising!

We had a FANTASTIC breakfast, and not because it was good food, but because whenever I have time to sit and talk with my amazing husband he never ceases to amaze me. His heart for God and knowing his purpose and calling woos me. I fall in love with him all over again. He doesn't know it, but his strength is what keeps me going most days. Knowing I will get hold his hand and to see his face smiling back at me over our family dinner table, drives me to be a better woman of God.

We finish our breakfast and I take him to a local used book store. We wander the stacks for about an hour, something we don't get to do with kids in tow! He finds the sports section and reads about the history of basketball, while I skim the children's books remembering stories from my childhood as I scan the yellowed pages of books like Mrs. Piggle Wiggle's Magic. I also get lost in the pages of "Ballet Shoes", and the thought that I've never read this series of books by Noel Streatfield pains me. They are so sweet, and they bring up memories of Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) sitting in a Fox Books, teary and spelling Streatfield for someone looking for the "Shoe books"... it was a lovely morning.

As I mentioned the sun was shining brightly so, what better way to spend the day than with a hot cup of coffee and studying Hebrew???... yep, the next stop on our romantic date (after stopping by the house and printing off the instructions mind you!) Was our favorite local Starbucks. We sat on the patio, me in the sun, him in the shade poised for deep conversations and aforementioned studying.

I then pulled out the paper with the mysterious instructions, and it said simply this: State three reasons why you still love each other. It was sweet. Sweeter than the chocolate dipped biscotti. We say "I love you" a lot each day, but to state why we love each other is not something we do as frequently. So we giggled a bit, stated our reasons and I smiled as the young teenager at the table nearby snickered and walked away. Maybe someday she will understand that when he says "I love you because you are an amazing mother to our children." he has paid me one of the greatest compliments I could ever receive. If she's lucky she'll know that when he says "I love you because our dreams for the future are so compatible." it means more than that, it means we are connected spiritually and are going the same direction; we are equally yoked, and that is the key to a good marriage. She might, when the time is right realize that she has got it good when he still loves her "because you work so hard to make our house a home."

We finished our date, and I left him to study more while I went grocery shopping. Sometimes even in the normalcy of life, we see the beauty of it all. What seemed like an ordinary date, was a time to appreciate, to dream and to plan. What a blessing to be united in marriage with such a great man. What a joy to participate in the 1ooo Dates Across the States. (Thanks for the coffee Kathi!)