52 Uncommon Dates: A Couple's Adventure Guide for Praying, Playing, and Staying Together

“Dating is to marriage what breathing is to the body,” says Gary Chapman in his introduction to author Randy Southern’s new book, 52 Uncommon Dates: A Couple’s Adventure Guide for Praying, Playing, and Staying Together. This book is packed with loads of ideas for creative dates. But they aren’t just dates. They are intentional opportunities to engage in meaningful communication and relationship building as well as spiritual growth. Couples will even some ideas for spicing up their sexual relationship sprinkled throughout some of the dates.One of the things I love about 52 Uncommon Dates is the way Southern intentionally constructed each date to include the following components:• Set the Scene - a description of the date;• Make It Happen - tips for what to do and where to go;• Finish Strong - questions and suggestions for talking about the date and deepening intimacy;• Mind Your Language - ideas on how to incorporate the five love languages and fill your spouse's love tank;• Take It to God - suggestions for praying together before, during, or after the date; and• Dig Deep - scriptures to look at as a couple, grow spiritually as a couple.Here’s just a sampling of the 52 Dates:• The First Time for Everything Date where couples purposely get out of their rut and try new things.• The Playground Date where couples go to a playground and then focus on better understanding each other’s childhoods.• The Arcade Date where couples have fun together and focus on what it means to be more childlike in faith.• The Zoo Date where couples enjoy God’s creation and conversation.• The Memory Lane Date where couples remember favorite moments together.I have to say that there are a few dates my husband and I won’t be using, like the Haunted House (Halloween) Date, the Dancing Date, and the Amusement Park Date. However, even without those three, there are almost enough dates for one a week for an entire year. I especially like how each date is intentionally designed to help couples grow together spiritually, emotionally, and physically.52 Uncommon Dates is one I’ll be giving as wedding shower gifts in the future. A great marriage takes work, and regular dates are a key tool for strengthening marriages. I highly recommend this book to all couples whether they’ve been married just a few months or more than 50 years. There’s always more to learn about your spouse, and author Randy Southern helps facilitate growth in intimacy with these fun, interesting and intentional date ideas.

Very unique book. I think hubby and I will have a lot of fun with this

Can’t wait to try the dates out but it was a great read. Easy to read.

This gift is great for newly married couples. My wife and I used this book and had a lot of fun going on these different dates.

The date suggestions have been so much fun, but the intentional questions to ask during the date make it all worth it! Many couples struggle to connect when they are super busy. We are the same and this book is an excellent support to investing into our marriage.

This is a great date idea book! We bought it for us-married almost 30 years. We were looking for some themed date ideas, etc. It was soooooo much more.....It provides a bible verse with each idea, conversation starters to go with each date, ideas for each theme, how to pray together in a specific area, and, wait for it....It has fun sexual suggestions that go with the themes!! It's a very healthy book for any age marriage. We plan on purchasing for our married children for Christmas. My husband has dog-eared almost every page! Lol ❤

It was good but many of the concepts were a little too heavily laden with theological (specifically Christian values). For some, this can prove alienating and distancing.I’d welcome a more secular approach.Having said that, I am happy that I bought the book and got exposed to the ideas. It was worthwhile food for thought.Maybe a follow up edition could combine the secular and religious perspectives (offer the basic and then augment with some secular insight)

Just bought this a month ago for my husband and I for our anniversary. What a breath of fresh air for us! We were in a bit of a rut and this really helped us shake things up with a biblical perspective which is important to us. Highly recommend for any Christian couple looking to do some things that are not usually on the list!

Great ideas, well written and organized. Fun for those of us who have been married for a long while and still want excitement and to get to know our spouse even more!

Very good book and very creative for me and my wife to try fun cheap dates. Although specifically designed for an American audience It's still very relevant

The different ideas

Fun informative book. Dates you wouldn't consider with explanations as to why and thought provoking conversation. A very useful book.

Great book.