It's SO important to make time for your spouse and have deep, connective conversations.  Angela and I have really missed that lately.  We talk all day long via phone, text, and face to face, but we can tell when we start missing the deep, meaningful talks.

Most of the time our conversations go like this:

Angela - "Kallan woke up at 6:15 and I fed her 5 ounces.  Will you be home by 10 to feed her again?"

Jen - "Mmm, maybe 11.  Go ahead and feed her again at 10 and I'll pump."

Angela - "Okay.  Finley had oatmeal and peaches for breakfast and now she's running around playing with her stroller and I'm about to shower and get ready for work."

Jen - "Alrighty.  I'll probably make Finley a grilled cheese for lunch."  (Attention-seeking cry/scream in the background.)  "What's that?"

Angela -  "Finn wants to watch Barney."

Jen - "Okay I'll let you go."

Angela - "Love you."

Jen - "Love you too."

Not too exciting!  Kids are not only time-consuming...they're conversation-consuming too.  We talk about them and their needs a LOT.  I'm sure every parent does.  It's great fun to talk about the kiddos at times and super rewarding to hear what new phrases they've uttered or new skills they've acquired in our brief absences, but if we don't make some time for adult thoughts it feels draining after awhile.

Angela and I had planned to go out for coffee at the very least over the weekend so we could have a conversation of substance, but we ended up getting consumed by the other family members in town and we sacrificed "us time." 

We didn't need to talk about any issues imparticular or discuss any big family decisions, but sometimes couples just need to chat about nothing and make it something.  We used to kill an hour talking about nut comparisons.  We decided if I were a nut, I would be a slow-roasted hickory smoked almond.  Kind of an acquired taste that not everyone gets immediatlely, but if one is in the mood for it, it has great depth and can be addictive.  Angela would be a honey-roasted peanut.  Pretty mass appeal and has a sweet side.  Lots of applications and easily fits different tastes and moods.  We can turn the mundane into something much deeper and that's what we miss!  It's amazing how much reconnecting you can do with nut talk and the like.

So this week we're thinking deeper and hopefully our conversations will reflect it.

Deeper thought to start the week...the very common Ghandi quote that I love.  "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

For us, it will start with changing our conversations.  Kid conversations are great, but they need to be supplemented with adult depth. 

So I'll make Finley a grilled cheese for lunch AND talk about what kind of cheese she may grow up to be.  Good times.