12 Days of Passion – A Holiday Celebration
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #KYTrySomethingNew #CollectiveBias

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

25 years have passed in just a heartbeat!
In my mind I practiced the story I was going to tell my mother about how we ran off to Vegas to get married, and I would be back at school on Monday. But alas, Darren did not have the vision I had, and we did not get married that Saturday afternoon. Instead of running off to Las Vegas, we walked over to the school library and talked for hours while looking for books. Looking back on it now, it should not have taken three hours to find those two books I ended up taking out of the library that day. Instead of becoming newlyweds at the age of 19 and 24, we became friends. We were friends, the very best of friends for two years. Then we dated for two years before we got married. I was 23 for a whole month when we got married in March of 1990. The years passed and our love grew as did our family. We now have 4 children. Before we knew it, life happened, and more than 25 years have passed. Today we are one of those old married couples people talk about. We are that couple that finishes each other’s sentences and tell the same stories at the same time even across crowded rooms. Over the past 25 years I have learned that romance and intimacy do not die over time. To the contrary. it gets deeper, more dependable, and more desirable.
Like most people, when I was young, I could not imagine my parents being romantic with one another. Life has come full circle and now we drive our children crazy with our HDAs (household displays of affection). It is fun to see my children react to us giving each other a quick kiss or a pat on the bottom as we pass each other. Over the course of our lives together we have had dozens upon dozens of people give us marital advice. We have learned to smile and thank the advice givers with grace and tact. My favorite piece of advice came from my now deceased grandma-in-law who told me that if I wanted to keep my husband I should “give him everything he wants at home so when those fast-tail girls in the street offer him something, he won’t care because he already has it at home.” When grandma told me this story, she was 72 years old and had outlived 5 husbands and two serious boyfriends. She knew a little something about keeping a marriage going “til death do us part.”

25 Years and he still has got IT!
I never give unsolicited marital advice. I have learned over time that what works at my house and in my marriage works because my husband and I are a good match for each other. We are both people of faith and that strengthens our bond and helps us to work out the inevitable disagreements that have come up over the years. One thing that time and children has taught me is that romance sometimes has to happen at home. When you have several children and no reliable babysitters nearby, you learn to make romance special and happen at home. Young wives often think their husbands “should just know” what is romantic. They also tend to think that romance involves spending money and leaving the house to do things. Experience teaches different lessons. I never shared that belief. I always believed that beggars could be choosers. After all, if I am going to beg, I will choose the items for which I will beg. Before we were married I told my husband the things I liked, what I thought was romantic and what would put me in a good mood. I showed him the bubble bath, lotions, purses and books I liked. I showed him expensive stuff and the cheap stuff so that no matter what our money situation he could go get me what I wanted. He showed me the computer games he liked, the magazines he liked to read, and the clothes stores he liked.
Over the years, the things we like has changed. Darren now knows that if he wants to make me happy, he can give me a ball of yarn or some electronic gadget. I know that if I give him some cuff links and let him see me clean he will be romantically charged! The secret to a long-lasting marriage is to find out what your spouse likes and provide those things. Do not just do what you like, give your spouse what he likes if you are trying to make him feel romantic, loved and ready for intimacy. As the holiday season approaches, people are celebrating 12 days of almost everything. This year I am treating my husband to 12 Days of Passion with K-Y® TOUCH®. After all, he is entitled to some good stuff for being such a wonderful husband for all these years. Here are the things I will treat this to him during his 12 Days of Passion. These activities are things that will thrill my husband and put him the mood for romance. After you look at my list, feel free to copy any and all of these items or add some of you own to create your own list of fun activities for 12 Days of Passion.

4. Have movie night at home – most couples go to the movies at least a few times while dating. It is fun and nostalgic to have a movie night at home with hot buttery popcorn, lights out and snuggling up on the couch will remind you of the fun times you had at the movies before marriage.
7. Make a bubble bath with drinks – women often enjoy bubble baths with candles, what
some don’t realize is that men also like bubble baths. Prepare a bubble bath for your spouse and bring a little table to the bathroom with his favorite cold drink so he can relax and enjoy the bubbles and his favorite drink.

ky touch 2 in 1
If you are new to K-Y® TOUCH®, check out the website where you will find a variety of great products that are part of the K-Y® family and will enhance intimacy between you and your partner. When you find something you like, print this $2 off one K-Y® product coupon that I used at Walmart when I purchased my K-Y® TOUCH® for my 12 Days of Passion Celebration. You can find K-Y® TOUCH® in the family planning section of Walmart. This is how I plan to celebrate with my husband this holiday season. What are your plans for a 12 Days of Passion Celebration?
It is important to keep the romance alive!
Love your ideas! Amazing tips to keep the love alive and the relationship stronger!
These are all great ideas! I’m going to do a little twist on #1 and instead of a letter, I’m writing in a Christmas card for my hubby. Just letting him know how much I appreciate him =)
You have a wonderful love story. I met my hubby young, as well. We just had our 21st anniversary. I love the list. I especially like the dinner in bed option.
🙂
Traci
Those are great ideas! My favorite is sending a hand written letter!
I was thinking the same thing. While reading, I was thinking of my grandparents who had an amazing relationship too. 🙂
What a wonderful story of your life. And you’re right, time does go by in the blink of an eye.
I agree with the marriage advice. Totally correct that what works in your house is completely different then what works in others homes
Thank you for sharing your ideas, I know a lot of couples will enjoy reading this article.
Some great ideas here. Always important to work on your relationship, especially during the chaos of the holidays.
These are great ideas. It sounds like you guys have an awesome relationship! It’s important to keep the romance alive.
Awww you two are lovebirds and what a beautiful tale to share. Have a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year, too!
Congrats on 25+ years! What a treasure! And we think dating each other, in or out!, is key to a happy healthy marriage. Its so easy to let other things get in the way, but keeping each other first is so important.
I love the story of you and your husband. Yours was a match that as meant to be.
WOW… 25 years of marriage is pretty impressive nowadays. 🙂 Here’s to many many more happy years to come! My hubby and I push a weekly date night to keep the fires burning hot around here too 🙂
I think this is very sweet and a great idea.
It is important to continue to think of ways to grow in the marriage.
Fun and intimate ideas! I did the fall shop and I absolutely enjoyed it. And the packaging is very awesome here.
People forget to date when they get married, love these tips for keeping the love alive!
Those all sound like lovely ways to keep the romance alive! Thanks for the ideas.
It’s wonderful to see that you have maintained such a romantic relationship after so many years of marriage – Thanks for all the suggestions! #client
Love the 12 Days of Passion ideas JD. Wish I had someone to share them with, but in the meantime…ENJOY! 🙂