I'm not sure if you're asking for suggestions of romance ideas but Steve and I (Janetta) have just begun a new (or renewal) of weekly romance in our marriage. A challenge to keep our passion and love alive daily in our marriage. Here is the 1st week of Steve romancing me and me romancing Steve -- if any of you would also like to try these romance ideas they're great fun!! I'm sure many of you have wonderful ideas that can help each of us so possibly we can pass on some of our excitement and enthusiasm but especially challenge to all of you to put passion and romance daily in your marriage.

I awoke one morning to find an invitation for me from Steve taped to a family message center. The invitation read: "You are invited to an evening of celebrating the grand opening of the art of my love for you at 8:00 Thursday evening" The 8:00 time was planned so that all children's sports activities would be completed. When I arrived home from carpool duty at 8:00 p.m. I could smell the wonderful aroma of -- I'm not sure what. Anyway, the table was set for two with candelight and two roses, romantic music (which had specail meaning for us) playing on a cdplayer in the corner of the room. The children were vanquished from that section of the house for our night of romance. Steve held my chair for me and kissed me gently and asked if I was ready for the first course of a four course meal to be served that evening. He served salad in strange plastic white bowls that I had never seen before. As I began to eat my salad I noticed the bowl had hearts and "love" drawn all around the inside edge with a red marker. Then as I ate to the bottom a large heart with the initials S.H. loves J.H. were in the bottom as well as the words, "on to the second course". As we finished I received another gentle, loving, passionate kiss and was served the second course. A full plate of homemade spaghetti (made by Steve's own two loving hands" again on a white plastice strange plate I had never seen before. As I began to eat there again were drawn hearts and love signs and title of songs that had been special to both of us throughout our lives. Oh they brought back such wonderful memories, the words "on to the third course" were also written there. The third course was cheese cake with cherries on top and spread gently around the plate which of course covered more words of love and art drawn lovingly by Steve. The fourth course, after dessert was also a delight with wine, candelight, and music being transfered from the dining room to the bedroom for further sweet romancing. Oh-- I also forgot the special kiss of the evening-- during dinner, a long piece of speghttii noodle with each end held in both of our mouths was eaten to the middle to recieve each others lips -- yum! It was a wonderful night of romance and the promise of many more to come.

I also planned a special day of romance for Steve. It had a french theme to it which carried through the whole week but especially that day. I left for him one morning on the steering wheel of our van an invitation which read, "Stephan, mon amour, Comment-tallez vous? (Steven, my love, how are you?) Are you ready to travel with me to a distant land? Oui? Manifique! The dress she is casual. We will depart for a foreign land this afternoon at 12:00, J'Taime (I love you). I then packed a picnic lunch which included french bread, ham, cheese, dijonnaise mustard, french wine, special french chocolate cookies, and crackers and brie cheese. I borrowed the kids cdplayer and batteries for our musical entertainment. I also packed a blanket, a golf umbrella (since it was drizzling--yuck), and the most important items of all -- two sketch pads, pastel chalks, and water colors (also borrowed from the kids). I drove Steve to a nice quiet spot on a small mountain we have here in the area. We spread the blanket in a nice area under a small group of trees with a view of a grassy, wooded area. I set out the appetizer of crackers and cheese (with sliced black olives on top), poured the wine in plastic wine glasses and we giggled and munched together. Then I turned on the music which I had brought, "Phantom of the Opera" -- it provided just the right mood for our next course. I whipped out the sketch pads and water colors and we began to paint and sketch the scenery we could see and feel in our hearts. They weren't Rembrandts or anything but they were beautiful and lots and lots of fun (plus we have them to keep as a reminder of the day). Then we admired both of our works and laughed and moved closer together. We enjoyed our lunch of french sandwiches and wine. As the drizzle began to creep in we huddled close under the umbrella and kissed and "made-out" until the rain chased us away. It was wonderfuly romantic and we had that giddy young at heart feeling. The drive down the mountain was a beautiful view and we stopped at one point to admire the view and each other. Oh yeah -- the special kiss of the day was that powerful, knock your feet from under you french kiss. Ahh romance, c'est manifque!

I hope you enjoy these ideas and they inspire you to think of special ways to romance your spouse and challenge each other to keep the romance alive in your marriage.

We Love Yall,

Our favorite...a simple dinner under the stars with candlelight.

Hugs,

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