Carrie and I had a great time at the Married Couple Retreat this year. Each year gets better and better and again, because of the retreat, I grew closer to my best friend/wife Carrie.

We’re glad it was at The Shack again this year. Our room was in The Livery, and had a hot-tub and fireplace. The teaching sessions were in the same building as our room was, which made it convenient and was “cheerier” than having them in the basement meeting room as we have in past years.

Bro. Stuart put together some good games. I found out during one of the games that Carrie thinks I’m old and ugly! (ya just had to be there to get it)

Pastor gave some great advice/teaching that really spoke to my heart. The biggest reminder for me as a husband was to keep my heart right day by day. To be a good husband, I need a good heart.

The only complaint I have is the coffee. It tasted like hot, dirty, dish water. But hey, it made my coffee taste even better when we got home! :)

Katlyn and Tori watched Lyndsey for us at our apartment. They did a great job and Lyndsey had a wonderful time. Carrie and I came home to a sweet “welcome home” poster on the door.

We had a great time in Chicago for Carrie’s Birthday.

Our room was on the 23rd floor AND had a living room! Everything was first class, and the staff was perfect. Valet parking was very steep at $48 per night, but that’s normal for downtown.

After we checked in, we went right next door to Gino’s East for deep dish pizza. Normally there is a line out the door to get in, but we got there late, so we got to wait inside for a booth. It took an hour to get our pizza after placing our order, but was worth the wait.

The next morning we got breakfast in our room. After breakfast we headed to Target downtown to do some clothes shopping.

For lunch we went to Greektown for some authentic Greek gyros. They were huge! Carrie and I split one and still left with boxed leftovers. Our waiter was VERY Greek and friendly too.

After lunch we dropped the car off to valet parking back at our hotel and took a cab to the Sears Tower. Security to get in is like at an airport. It was about a 45 minute wait standing in line before we got to the 2 minute elevator ride to the top. Very cool! We took our time gawking and taking pictures of Chicago from 103 floors up before coming back down. Carrie DID NOT like the elevator rides up or down. :)

We took another cab back downtown by the river and got a coffee and did some more shopping. While drinking our coffee at Starbucks we were entertained by a strange  man holding pigeons.

We were pretty tired from walking and shopping, so we ended up back at our hotel room for some rest and relaxation. Since it was Carrie’s Birthday, and I am such a good husband, I let Carrie watch her Miss America on TV. Is there a greater sacrifice a husband can endure for his wife than watching Miss America? I think not!

Sunday after leaving Chicago we got caught in a 90 minute traffic jam on the Dan Ryan because of a tanker truck over turning. If that truck driver wasn’t injured already in the accident, I know of about 5,000 people that would be glad to injure him after having to sit basically idol for 90 minutes like sardines on the expressway.

We picked up Lyndsey from Nana and Papa’s and got home around 9:00. Watched the Pro Bowl the rest of the night.

Great time with my love.

We stayed at the Westin in Detroit and got a very nice room. I went on Priceline.com and got a great deal on this 4 star hotel. We ordered room service for dinner and breakfast. It was fun getting served like a king and queen in our room. Very fancy.

The next day we checked out and headed to the ball game. As we got closer to Ford Field, the “Park Here” signs we observed  increased from $15 up to $35. It was 9 degrees, so I paid the $35 and parked one block away.

Our seats were pretty good, not ground level, but then again, not “nose bleed” section either. It was amazing how small the field looked. TV even makes a football field look “fatter”. We were surrounded by other Bears fans which was nice, but could still hear the groaning and cursing of nearby Lions fans at their team as they watched them lose again. I have a new found pity for Lions fans after being amongst them and their angry & depressed determination.

We planned on eating hot dogs at the football game, but they had a Big Boy concession stand at Ford Field, so Carrie and I had Slim Jims and french fries at half time. Yum!

The Bears won. I am looking forward to next season.

Carrie and I had an awesome time together.

$10 isn’t too bad for a nice little Christmas memory.

We started our trip eating at Russ’. I had a wonderful pig-in-a-blanket. It’s one of those things you can’t just get at any restaurant, so it was a treat.

Had a great time with family. We had a gift exchange and I got a cool coffee mug and belt. Lyndsey got all kinds of presents! The funny thing is her favorite present was a new tooth brush. That girl loves to brush her teeth! Carrie’s whole family are so nice, and her uncle Brian is a funny guy! He made me laugh all day today.

Driving home was slow going because it was so icy. We counted about 8 trucks & SUV’s off the road AND overturned! Funny they were all trucks & SUV’s, I guess people driving those things are not as invincible as they feel in them.

Anyways, great day. Praise the Lord we got home safe.

We had a great weekend.

Carrie took Lyndsey to Nana and Papa’s Friday afternoon to stay the weekend. Carrie and I checked into The Shack at about 5:00, just before dinner was served. The food was great…and all you can eat!

The Shack is so cozy this time of year with the snow outside and the fireplace roaring inside. Of course they had everything decked out in Christmas decorations which added to the “magical” feeling staying there this time of year.

After dinner we played checkers in the lounge and pool and ping-pong in the game room. Banana splits were served at 8:30, they were huge! We were still full from dinner, so Carrie and I split a split (nyuck nyuck nyuck!).

Saturday morning we had breakfast (again, all you can eat!). After breakfast we took some outdoor pictures on the back porch. It was a sunny and frosty morning which made for some neat pictures.

After we checked out we headed to Grand Rapids and finished up our Christmas shopping.

Thank you Lord for my wife and for opportunities to make these memories with her!