Remember that first date? There were butterflies and lots of excitement, high heels (perhaps), and your special perfume. Y'all had so much fun! And then what?

One of the best pieces of marriage advice I've ever received came from my mother-in-law who cautioned us at the very beginning - don't stop making time for each other. Kids will come into the picture, plus activities and jobs and house stuff and all kinds of distractions that might eventually make it seem impossible to date” your spouse, but MAKE IT HAPPEN anyway!

Happy New Year! Woodlands mommies can do these 11 things TODAY and EVERY day to feel insanely motivated and refreshed!

After church, we would stop at Fiesta and pick up bananas, oranges, apples, peppermints, and a package of brown paper bags. Then we'd go home, and for the next hour, the six of us would sit around the table in our small kitchen and package treat bags - 1 banana, 1 apple or orange, and 2 pieces of candy in each bag, then fold down the top of the bag, then set all the bags in a plastic crate.  Then it was time to load up the bags and head to the convalescent home.

As kids, my three sisters and I called it the "old folks home," and my dad would admonish us every time. We would put smiles on our faces, visit the residents, hand out bag of treats, sing church songs (my oldest sister had to play the songs on their piano), and pray. And that was that - my first experience with volunteering. At least 2-3 Sundays out of every month, for many many years of my childhood.