You’ve probably heard recommendations for having a Family Game Night. I’m a big fan, and I think this is a wonderful way to strengthen relationships in family life and infuse a sense of fun and playfulness into the daily/weekly routine. (Just don’t get legalistic about it – that always leads to the downfall of otherwise great things.)

Family Game Night is great, but I want to encourage you to seize the opportunities for Couple Game Night!  Playing games together as a couple is such a delightful way to fan the flames of your courtship, after years of marriage and family life can begin to convince you to settle for a kind of family-business-partnership approach to marriage.

Now, I’m not saying playing games with your Sweetheart will solve all of the problems you may be facing today.  But it really can help.  A half hour of Yahtzee can remind you that you are still (insert both your names in all caps), regardless of whatever else is happening around you.  A rousing game of chess can spark a spirit of teasing playfulness that can lead to…well, who knows what other marital blessings.  Phase 10, Skip-Bo, checkers, Scrabble, Uno, backgammon, mancala – all great ways to connect, play, tease, laugh, and remind yourselves that taking a break together from the seriousness of life is a gift worth giving and receiving.

And for what it’s worth – I totally smoked my wife at Sequence the other night!  Let’s see if that doesn’t convince her to take me up on my offer of guest-blogging some time.  (Thanks for the idea, Trey & Lea.)  Of course, she’ll probably tell you about the time I cried when she beat me at Sorry.  I was under a lot of stress, okay! ;P