Sunburns and Sparks: Keeping Your Marriage Hotter Than July
Day 1 - Jul 20, 2026
The Roommate Cure (Why Date Night is Non-Negotiable)
Mandy and I have noticed something over the years: when life gets busy, it's incredibly easy for couples to stop acting like lovers and start acting like roommates who just split the bills. The data backs this up. Couples who prioritize getting out together at least once a month are significantly happier and much less likely to drift apart.
If you don't make time for each other, you lose your connection, and the marriage goes on autopilot. That is why we always say, "Date night is a Necessity, Not a Luxuray". It's the ultimate roommate repellent.
You have to protect your time together fiercely. If you just wait for a free evening to magically appear, it never will.
If it's not on the calendar, it's not in the marriage.
Write it down in ink and treat it like the most important meeting of your week.
"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble." — Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT)
Take Action
Talk It Out:
What is one thing I currently do that makes you feel like my top priority, and what is one thing that makes you feel like an afterthought?
If we had a completely free Saturday with absolutely zero responsibilities, what is your dream way for us to spend it together?
Summer Ideas:
Food Truck Roulette: Skip the traditional sit-down restaurant. Find a local food truck park and buy an appetizer from one, dinner from another, and dessert from a third.
The Penny Date: Let chance decide your night. Flip a coin at every intersection. Heads you turn right, tails you turn left. After 15 flips, you have to find the closest place to grab a drink, coffee, or dessert.
Topgolf or Arcade Night: You don't need to be a pro to have fun hitting some golf balls or playing vintage arcade games. Get a little competitive, order some appetizers, and just laugh at yourselves.
Day 2 - Jul 21, 2026
Bust the Boring (Why Your Brain Needs Adventure)
Doing the exact same "dinner and a movie" date gets old fast.
Science actually proves that trying new, exciting things together releases the same chemicals in your brain as when you first fell in love! Mandy and I know firsthand that keeping things fresh is the secret sauce to a fun marriage.
When things get too predictable, your relationship starts to feel stale.
Remember: "Comfort zones are where passion goes to nap." You have to intentionally shake things up. This summer, challenge yourselves to "Trade the predictable for the unforgettable." Try something that makes you both a little nervous or gets you laughing at how bad you are at it!
"Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth." — Proverbs 5:18 (NLT)
Take Action
Talk It Out:
When was the last time we laughed so hard together that our stomachs hurt, and how can we recreate that energy?
What is one adventurous or slightly crazy thing you've always wanted to try, but haven't yet?
Summer Ideas:
The Thrift Store Alter-Ego: Give each other $15 at a local thrift store to pick out an outfit for the other person. You have to wear whatever crazy combination they chose for you out to dinner.
Axe Throwing or Escape Room: Get your adrenaline pumping by working together to break out of a puzzle room, or see who has the best aim with an axe.
DIY Chopped Challenge: Go to the grocery store, pick three random, weird ingredients for each other, and see who can cook the best meal at home using them.
Day 3 - Jul 22, 2026
Hit Pause (Dropping Your Baggage at the Door)
Stress from work, money, and kids can slowly eat away at your relationship. You have to create a safe space where you both can just breathe. Date night is your chance to turn off the noise and de-stress. We constantly remind couples:
You are partners in life, not just project managers.
"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'" — Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
If you don't actively create a stress-free zone, you might start seeing your spouse as part of the problem instead of your safe place to land. Make a habit of intentionally unwinding together, because you have to "Leave the stress at the doorstep, so it doesn't sleep in your bed."
Take Action
Talk It Out:
What is one stressor in your life right now that you feel I don't fully understand, and how can I support you better?
When you feel completely overwhelmed, what is the best way for me to help you calm down and feel safe?
Summer Ideas:
Soulmates in Sweatpants: Order your absolute favorite takeout, put on your most comfortable lounge clothes, and binge-watch a new comedy series. No dressing up allowed.
Sunset Paddle or Float: Rent some paddleboards or kayaks, or just grab a tube and float on a local lake or river. Water is naturally calming and forces you to unplug from technology.
The Patio: Grab some drinks and play some soft background music. The only rule: absolutely no talking about work, kids, schedules, or bills.
Day 4 - Jul 23, 2026
More Than Co-Pilots (Staying Best Friends)
For Mandy and me, we believe that you have to actively work to stay best friends. It is so easy to slip into a routine where your only conversations revolve around who is picking up the kids from practice or what do you want from the grocery store
But if you only share logistics, you'll eventually feel like strangers living under the same roof.
Don't let your to-do list become your entire love story."
People change over time, and spending dedicated, one-on-one time helps you keep up with who your spouse is becoming today. A great rule of thumb is to "Keep dating the person they are becoming, not just the one you married."
You want a marriage that is fun, deep, and deeply connected. When the busy day is over and you strip away all the household chores, you need to actually like the person sitting next to you. Never forget that "A lasting marriage is just a best friendship on fire."
"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." — Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)
Take Action
Talk It Out:
How do you think you have grown or changed the most in the last five years, and do you feel like I've fully embraced that change?
If money and time were no object, what is one big dream you would want us to chase together?
Summer Ideas:
The Bucket List Coffee Date: Grab an iced coffee and map out a dream trip. Maybe it's planning a massive cruise getaway sailing out of Galveston or a future trip to Europe. Have fun just dreaming big together without worrying about the budget right now.
The Question Jar Road Trip: Write down 20 funny, deep, and random questions. Take a long drive to nowhere, taking turns pulling questions and answering them while you ride.
Playlist Swap: Spend an hour making a custom Spotify playlist for each other filled with songs that remind you of your relationship, then go for a drive with the windows down and listen to them.
Day 5 - Jul 24, 2026
Turn Up the Heat (Keeping the Romance Alive)
Romance doesn't just happen by accident, especially after a few years of marriage. Building those strong honeymoon habits—and fighting to keep them alive—is the secret to a thriving relationship.
The research is clear: couples who intentionally plan romantic time together have a much stronger physical and emotional connection. While we all love the idea of natural, spontaneous romance, the reality of a busy life is that "Spontaneity is great, but intentionality is what keeps the fire burning."
If you stop pursuing each other, physical intimacy can start to feel like just another item on your crowded schedule. You have to step up and "Flirt like you’re still trying to win them over."
It's amazing how a little intentional pursuit can completely shift the atmosphere of your home. A quiet, relaxing night in is wonderful, and don't forget that "Even soulmates in sweatpants need to sweep each other off their feet."
"Come, my love, let us go out into the fields and spend the night among the wildflowers. Let us get up early and go to the vineyards... There I will give you my love." — Song of Solomon 7:11-12 (NLT)
Take Action
Talk It Out:
What is something I do (or used to do) that makes you feel incredibly desired and attractive?
How can we make physical intimacy feel more like an exciting priority rather than a routine?
Summer Ideas:
The Hometown Hotel Staycation: Book a last-minute boutique hotel right in your own backyard—maybe over in Grapevine or a nearby downtown. Getting out of your house and away from the laundry mountain instantly changes the mood and sparks romance.
Recreate the Magic: Go back to the exact place you had your first date, or try to recreate the exact meal you ate. Talk about what you were thinking and feeling that very first night.
Late Night Dessert Run: Get dressed up just for each other, skip dinner entirely, and go straight to a fancy, dimly-lit restaurant late at night just to share a decadent dessert and a drink.