Sometimes, between everyday stresses and responsibilities, we inadvertently lose sight of what is important. Cooking dinner or cleaning the house becomes the priority, instead of connecting with those we love. While managing your career and maintaining your household is important, prioritizing quality time with your spouse or your significant other is essential. Here are seven date night ideas to refresh and reconnect!

For the Hopeless Romantics: Skate the night away at Red Arrow Park! Spend the night holding hands and taking laps around the ice. Skate rentals are available and a warming house, complete with Starbucks, will provide the perfect break when it becomes too chilly!

Website: https://county.milwaukee.gov/EN/Parks/Explore/Slice-of-Ice
 
For the Brew Masters: Visit the World’s First Crowdsourced Brewery! Mob Craft Brewery features craft beers that have been created from fan suggestions! Each month, the brewery receives submissions and places the ideas on their website. Fans then vote for their favorite by pre-ordering the beer. The flavor with the most pre-orders wins and is brewed! Experience this unique process with a tour of the brewery and taproom! Each tour includes a branded pint glass and two complimentary pints of beer!

Website: https://blog.mobcraftbeer.com/taproom
 
For the Intent Investigators: Use the knowledge and skills you have learned from those Criminal Minds binges on Netflix! Breakout Games in Milwaukee has several Escape Rooms, perfect for relationship building! Work together to solve the puzzles, crack the codes, and breakout! Game times vary, so visit the website before you make the trip!

Website: https://breakoutgames.com/milwaukee/
 
 For the Lifelong Learners:  Learn how a Wisconsin classic, the cheese curd, is made at the Clock Shadow Creamery! Visit the creamery for a tour and learn about the history of cheese making, the production process, and sample fresh cheese curds! Sounds like a day well spent!

Website: http://www.clockshadowcreamery.com/index.php/our-story/tours/
 
For the Kids at Heart: Enjoy a childhood pastime, mini-golf, on your own terms! Spend an evening at Nine Below, an indoor mini-golf course in Milwaukee. Unlike traditional courses, Nine Below offers “Maker’s Golf,” where participants design their obstacles. Players spend the first hour building and the second hour playing the course. Following the game, players can celebrate victory at the indoor beer garden!

Website: https://www.ninebelowmke.com/
 
For the Comedic Couples: Laugh out loud at Comedy Sportz! Featuring the elements of a sporting event, these shows include two teams, four competing players, and a referee. Every show is entirely different, with players making everything up on the spot. Shows take place every weekend, Friday through Sunday.

Website: http://www.cszmke.com/
 
For the Sports Fanatics: Go behind the scenes at Miller Park with an exclusive tour! Groups on the Classic Tour will experience the Visitor’s Clubhouse, bullpen, Club Level, Uecker’s Broadcast Booth, and more! Visit the Brewers’ website for available dates and times!
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Website:  https://www.mlb.com/brewers/ballpark/tours

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you,” John 15:12.

Valentine’s Day, for many, feels like nothing more than a Hallmark holiday. A day synthetically designed to increase flower sales and market subpar chocolate boxes. While I cannot disprove this theory, if you are cynical about this February holiday, I would encourage you to rethink what this day means for your life. Valentine’s Day, at its very core, is a celebration of love. Behind the cheesy greeting cards and bouquets of roses is a sentiment of love. Consider embracing this and sharing the love with those around you. Move beyond the commercialized version of Valentine’s Day and replace it with one more meaningful.

Make your husband breakfast. Bring your wife coffee. Send notes in your children’s lunches. Call your parents. Text your friends. Surprise your sister at work. Have Happy Hour with your brother. Shovel your neighbor’s driveway. Think about things you can do to love those in your life, and then do those things! Valentine’s Day does not need to be defined by extravagant bouquets or expensive gifts. The little things mean just as much, if not more.

If you would like to spread the love even further, consider helping our clients. Making a ten-dollar donation will supply a pregnancy test and consultation for an abortion-vulnerable woman, volunteering a few times a month will support families overwhelmed by an unplanned pregnancy, donating baby items will empower parents by helping them provide for their family. Furthermore, partnering with WELS Lutherans for Life means giving spiritual encouragement. God’s love is being shared daily through our organization. Men and women are being uplifted by the words of the gospel. They are learning of love that is everlasting, one that will not fail. These families are surrounded by grace and reminded of their Heavenly Father’s love for them.
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Celebrate Valentine’s Day by spreading the love. Whether that means going to dinner with your spouse, baking cookies with your children, grabbing coffee with a friend, or making a donation. Make Valentine’s Day more than just a Hallmark holiday, make it an opportunity to love one another.

​If you cannot speak like angels,
If you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus;
You can say he died for all.
If you cannot rouse the wicked
With the judgment’s dread alarms,
You can lead the little children
To the Savior’s waiting arms.
 
Let none hear you idly saying,
"There is nothing I can do,"
While the multitudes are dying
And the master calls for you.
Take the task he gives you gladly;
Let his work your pleasure be.
Answer quickly when he calls you,
"Here am I. Send me, send me!"
 (CW 573)
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There seems to be this belief that if you are not a pastor or teacher, you are not qualified to share the gospel. You do not have the same level of training, and besides, you would probably make a mistake. You simply are not equipped.
 
This, of course, is entirely untrue. God has prepared you. He has given you the gifts to serve Him and work in His kingdom. You do not have to speak like angels or preach like Paul. You simply have to be yourself and use the unique gifts God has given you.
 
Our volunteers are evidence that God equips His believers, and uses individual gifts and abilities to accomplish His purpose. Two of our volunteers, Jean MacKain and Vicki Randant, were kind enough to share their experiences and explain how God has used them to serve.
 
Explain your position at WELS Lutherans for Life
Jean: I am a receptionist for our pregnancy clinic. My role includes greeting clients, answering the phone, managing paperwork, and other tasks as needed. I also work in the Baby Boutique, sorting donations and organizing inventory.
Vicki: I am an advocate. In this position, I talk with clients and give them information regarding their options. I work to understand their situation and provide them with support.

What is your favorite part of volunteering?
Jean: Meeting our clients. I enjoy welcoming them to our clinic and talking with them. Each client has a unique situation, and I love finding how we can best serve them.
Vicki: Sharing Jesus with our clients. Spiritual support is the most important thing we can provide.

How has the organization progressed since you started?
Jean: I started volunteering eleven years ago, and there has been a lot of progression. We doubled in size, started offering parenting classes, and added ultrasounds. God has truly blessed us.
Vicki: Well, I have certainly seen a lot of growth! I have been volunteering since the beginning, back in 1982. Our first location was in a second floor suite. Clients would have to go down two flights of stairs to give their specimen! I am thankful our current location has provided adequate space and the opportunity to grow our services. Now, we provide so much more for our clients. Expanding our services has really allowed us to serve more people, and that has been great!

How would you encourage those interested in volunteering?
Jean: Do not be afraid! You will receive training and there will always be someone to help you! If you do not have the answer, there will be someone who does! Additionally, we have something for everyone! Whatever your gifts may be, we have a place for you here!
Vicki: Give it a try! We will be here to support you, and God will be with you the whole time! He will work through you and bless your time here!
 
There is a place for you at WELS Lutherans for Life! Consider how you can use your God-given gifts to serve His kingdom!