Thursday Night Dinner Reservations
Keeping the magic alive one grocery store receipt at a time
I spent all day choosing an outfit.
I one-handedly searched “cute date night spots in Boulder” as I pushed my toddler in the stroller, switching my gaze every three seconds from my phone screen to the sidewalk in front of us.
When it was finally time for our date, we quickly said goodbye to Greta and snuck out of the house faster than she could get sad enough to ask us to stay.
We drove away, immediately feeling the freedom of being alone in the car but also tired and filled with thoughts of unfinished tasks from the day (also, now that I’m a parent, I always feel like I’m missing something when I leave the house with only my wallet and phone—so there was that, too).
We walked into the awkwardly quiet restaurant with mostly empty tables.
“We have a reservation for two,” I said, a little embarrassed. I added a joking, “not sure if that matters,” followed by an awkward chuckle.
Since there were only like three other customers in the restaurant, I felt stupid telling the hostess we had a reservation.
Who makes a dinner reservation on a Thursday?! Of course there’s going to be no one there.
But still, almost every time we go out on a date—whether it’s Saturday at 7:00 pm or Wednesday at 3:30 pm—we make a reservation.
Because in our season—with life and parenthood and work in full swing—each moment is rare and sweet and needs to be protected.
Josiah and I take turns sighing, “We need a date night” pretty much every other night during dinner cleanup at home. But it’s been the trend that we only get out solo every few months (although I have to admit we’ve been getting a few more opportunities lately! Thanks, Mom.)
Moments alone—and especially moments alone that feel unique and special and relaxing—are rare. So each opportunity we get needs to be fiercely protected—even if that means making dinner reservations at a nearly-empty restaurant on a random Thursday night.
When a resource is limited, it becomes more valuable. Not because it’s inherently more valuable, but because its scarcity helps us recognize how valuable it is.
So for the foreseeable future, you can find us making Thursday night dinner reservations.
And skipping down the streets of Boulder on random weeknights whenever my mom is available to babysit.
And saving grocery store receipts because running in to wander the overpriced, organic snack aisle feels like part of what our relationship’s been built on and it feels like magic to do it again, just the two of us.
Book Progress
The book trailer is FILMED and ready to be edited! EEK! It is SUCH a relief having that shoot done. It has occupied all of my creative brain space for the past six weeks. But I think it’s going to be SO cool and I can’t wait to eventually share it with all of you.
Now to focus more on revising and getting this actual book done! (Probably won’t be finished for a couple of months at least.) As I revise, I’ll be needing some feedback, so keep your eyes peeled for some polls in upcoming newsletters!
Three Faves
Hu chocolate bars, especially the crunchy mint flavor. Josiah and I have been trying to limit sugar lately because #health, and these chocolate bars (sweetened with coconut sugar) are SO much better than I expected. Josiah even said the mint one was one of his favorite chocolates ever.
Going to the movie theater. Look, I know movie theaters are dying, but I. just. don’t. get. it. Seeing a movie at the theater is one of the most magical, nostalgic, and relaxing activities ever. We took Greta to see her first movie in the theater this weekend, and it was so, so special. She had a blast. She liked it so much that I took her to see another one again today! I still remember going out “late” (probably like 6:30 pm) to see a movie with my dad when I was younger. I love that memory.
This song from the Greatest Showman. Greta is obsessed with this movie lately, and this is her new favorite song. It’s probably mine, too. The part of the movie this song is in always makes me cry. It’s also really cute to hear her say, “Play A Million Dreams” in her tiny voice every time we get in the car. I pray she always has a million dreams and goes after them with the confidence she has now.
Sarah
Love this!!! ❤️