Solo Date Night

 

Whether I was teaching sixth grade or hanging with my grandson, I look forward to Friday nights.  Its date night.  We haven't always good about setting this time aside, but we got better after the kids graduated.  Since moving in with family we have made it a priority.  Each Friday night we do something together.

Tonight Sean is traveling for work, so I treated myself to a first ever "Solo Date Night".  I accomplished a few firsts tonight.  I ate dinner in a public restaurant solo.  It wasn't so bad.  I got caught up on today's social media.  I wouldn't make a habit of going out to eat alone, but it was doable in a pinch😂.

Washington DC Temple

One Friday night a month we set aside to attend the temple.  Since Sean is traveling it meant that I either
cancel our appointment and try to reschedule or go alone.  I chose to go.  I am so glad I did.  When I was teaching I could always tell it was time to get back to the temple.  The week prior to going seemed frazzled, extra stressful,  I felt out of sorts.  Going to the temple then and now seems to be a reset for me.  The temple is peaceful, there is no noise.  As the doors close behind me the worldly noise is forced to stay outside.  I love that.  I love that in the Lord's house I can Hear Him.  I can hear His words.  I can feel what I need to be doing differently in order to be the disciple He knows I can be.  I feel His warmth and love for me.  Its like going home, the place where you can take a deep breath and just be.

I haven't been feeling frazzled, out of sorts, or overly stressed.  I just needed to feel Heavenly Father's love.  Feeling His love started well before entering the temple.  The clouds began to thin and the sky lit up as the sun went down.  Sunsets are my favorite part of the day.

View of the temple from the Beltway

Before we moved I told Sean that when I got homesick or sad he could take me to two places to help me feel at home, the temple or the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  Our new hometown is just 17 miles from the Washington DC temple.  I am enamored by the DC temple.  Just as you crest the rise on the freeway the temple appears.  It is striking in beauty and size.  So much so that every time we drive in that direction I take pictures.  It is truly beautiful.  It is where I feel at peace and for me that is home.

Its ok to do things alone.  Its ok to go to the temple alone.  Sometimes we need the alone time to decompress, not talk, but to just be quiet.  I missed my sweetheart tonight, but I'm so glad I did a few things on my own.