Blake and I had a wonderful weekend away in the middle of August last year.

We usually take a trip together sometime in February, March or April.

Since we went to Florida with the children in March last year, we never took a trip for just the two of us.

We TREASURE time away together – and it is SO important for our marriage!

We left on a Friday evening (after Blake got home from work) and headed to Rochester, Minnesota, which is under two hours away from home.

We made a pit stop along the way to have some dinner too.

We had a suite to stay in at Staybridge Suites.

It was a nice place!

Fall temperatures had arrived that weekend, and it was chilly!

We still took a Saturday morning walk together – my morning habits travel with me – Bible time and long walks!

We decided to visit the farmer’s market that morning as well, and then do some shopping.

It was blustery and got cloudy, which made it even more cold!

It was so relaxing to just wander through the farmers market, talk to the vendors, and enjoy purchasing a few things.

After the farmers market, I asked Blake if he could take me to a thrift store that Addie Mae had told me about.

We went there and it was VERY nice!

I found a few treasures for our newly painted home, and even found a rocking chair for Kayla!

Yes, this is me sitting in that chair until I heard back from Kayla to see if she wanted it.

She had been looking for one, and this one was in perfect condition for only ten dollars!

Or course she said yes.

We stopped and got a light lunch and then headed back to our room to get ready.

Having NO plans, NO pressure, NO timeline was so wonderful – now I am wanting to do this again!!!

We did some more shopping after getting ready for the day, and then had a planning meeting of sorts.

Blake LOVES when I bring my lists and planner and pens and lists upon lists, ha, ha!!

At least I bought cookies for our planning meeting – I mean, how thoughtful!

That evening we had reservations at a restaurant that Kamryn’s family had told us about.

I could eat safely there, which you know is a BIG deal!

I WAS SO EXCITED!!!

We were seated outside, even in the chilly temperatures, but right by a fire and it was nice and toasty warm.

THE FOOD.

Oh I can still taste it if I close my eyes.

It was SO good.

So very good!!

I could have eaten three plates of this salad and had been done.

You just cannot make salad taste like a salad someone makes for you!

We had a fired brick dinner and cooked our own meat.

It was relaxing, delicious, and very enjoyable!

We did not want to leave!!

So we ordered decaf coffee and lingered by that fire.

We both kept saying that we needed to do this more often.

I think we need to say that again, because it just does not happen very often in this season of life right now!

Sunday morning we took another walk.

It was colder!!

But we had fun and Blake managed to keep up, as he kept saying, ha, ha.

I like to walk fast.

We got ready for the day and packed our bags up.

And then we went and found a church to attend.

It is always wonderful to attend different churches when traveling!

I love doing that!

It was a beautiful service and a challenging message.

You guys know that any trip to a big city would not be complete without a trip to Costco.

We had brought two huge coolers to stock up!!

That’s why that rocking chair was in the back seat!

Blake is a great Costco buddy because he does all the heavy lifting.

Thank you, honey!!

Couldn’t believe it, but it was time to go back home.

We stopped for a coffee on our way out of town.

It was good coffee too!

We are already talking here and there about vacation plans for this year.

And we are talking about a trip for just Blake and I too.

It is not as simple in this season as it has been in the past!!

But we NEED to make time together happen – even if we do not go somewhere away from home.

I have plans for getting old with my hubby, Lord willing, and we need to be close and connected to make those plans come to fruition!!

I really thought finding time together would get easier the older we and the children got – but this has not been so!

In the end, all good things take intention.

Time away together takes intention.

Here’s hoping we stick with these trips away together!

They reconnect and refuel us!

I wouldn’t mind going back to the restaurant Twigs either – it was SO good.

Time will tell!!!

Hopefully I will be writing a post soon about some intentional time away with my awesome hubby.

We are attending a weekend retreat in February with some friends – and I think that will count!

Stay tuned to hear all about it.