Happy Sunday, Happy New Years, friends!

Hope you enjoy today's Sunday 7.

Blessings!

1)  Photo of the Week

2)  Quote to Ponder

You will find something more in woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

3)  This Week's Hikes

Here are three hikes that wrapped up our 52 Hike Challenge for 2022.

CONSTELLATION TRAIL 50/52 In Prescott, Arizona

View Relive Video and Photos

WHITE SANDS NP 51/52 In New Mexico

View Relive Video and Photos

ST. MARY'S LAKE 52/52 in Colorado

View Relive Video and Photos

4)  Dad Joke

This morning I coughed up a pawn, a knight, and a bishop.

I must have a chess infection.

5)  💕 Relationship Corner

This thread was originally aimed at husbands, but it does give helpful insights to anyone who wants to make fun times more memorable.

Hey man, do you take your wife on dates?

Do you want to avoid taking her on FORGETTABLE dates?

If so, do these three things to make your dates more memorable. 

Eight years ago, my wife Chrissy and I celebrated our 22nd anniversary.

We celebrated by getting take out from our favorite Indian restaurant, Jaipur Junction, and taking it to a park for a picnic dinner. 

We had been on many dates in the prior 22 years.

We had been to this park many times before.

We reminisced a bit while we ate. 

While we have been on many great dates over the years, most of them have been quite forgettable.

Here are three ways to make your dates more memorable: 

1. Do something surprising or totally different

Mix it up.

There is real value in doing new and unusual things together.

Novelty not only helps you remember things, it also arouses romantic emotions.

2. Be fully present and aware

One requirement to make any memory is attention.

Pay attention when you are on a date. Be fully present in the moment.

Being distracted and not present is a sure way to forget a date.

Put your phone away, except to... 

3. Document and share

You don’t have to rely on your memory alone, or even your spouse’s memory, to make your date memorable.

Take pictures. Write about it somewhere. Share on Social Media. 

The aim is not to be an exhibitionist, but rather to remember.

First of all, you remember more when you share your experience.

Secondly, recalling dormant memories is made easier when you see something to jog your memory, like a picture. 

Unless you date only on rare occasions, then not every date will be outstanding in your memory.

That is okay. 

Chrissy and I certainly don’t recall every date we have had to Jaipur Junction.

But we will never forget that one. Why not? 

We mixed it up, our favorite take out to a favorite park.

We were present to each other and the moment as we reminisced.

We took a picture, wrote about the experience and here 8 years later I am telling you about it. 

Do you want to avoid taking your wife on FORGETTABLE dates?

→ Do something surprising or totally different

→ Be fully present and aware

→ Document and share 

6)  Adventures of Steve and Chrissy Update

Happy New Year!

Chrissy and I thoroughly enjoyed our time off between nursing contracts and made the most of it visiting friends and family, and having adventures in Arizona, Mexico, New Mexico and Colorado. Three of the four places are represented by our last three hikes above.

We are back in Tucson where I will be starting another hospice nursing contract with a different company this coming Tuesday.

You may or may not know that our two daughters and their husbands are missionaries with Youth With a Mission. We are super proud of the work they are doing and I'd like to share with you their end of year updates. If interested, you can click the buttons below to see their newsletters.

Corrin and Josh's Newsletter

Leah and Hano's Newsletter

Chrissy and I are so thankful to each and every one of you for gifting us with your precious time and attention. We sincerely hope that we have been able to bring value to your life in return.

2022 was quite the year for us. We sold our home. Moved into an RV full time. Started work as a traveling hospice nurse. Hiked 52 hikes. And we feel like we've only just begun. We look forward to sharing more adventures with you in 2023!

7)  Question for Reflection

The next time you have a positive thought about someone - no matter how small or insignificant it may be - what are some good reasons for you to tell them what you think right then?