Page 38 - July2019 FOP Magazine

to the stacked team-building agenda. Even the date of the event had intention- al significance in the realm of romance.
“The first day of summer was chosen because there’s a direct connection be- tween nurturing our relationships and looking at summer as the time where things bloom,” Kimberly explained.
At the workshop, the tool to keeping healthy relationships blossoming began with an assessment of each other’s per- sonalities. Couples were instructed to take detailed personality tests on their smartphones. Once the results were in, they switched phones to get a closer look at their spouses’ results. All of the couples were surprised to find that, even after years of marriage, there were still things to learn about their partner.
The personality test was followed by an assessment on love language, where cou- ples got to know how their partner likes to express and receive affection.
“The quizzes were a good opportunity to stay in check with each other and our marriage,” shared Shelton Davis, who has five years on the job and attended the workshop with his wife, Stephanie Davis.
Considered to be the newlyweds in the room, the couple took full advantage of receiving advice on how to keep their year-and-a-half marriage strong for de- cades. “I liked learning from the other
Chaplain Kimberly Lewis-Davis walks with her husband, Mark Davis, while working to keep their 15-year marriage strong.
couples,” Shelton insisted. “It’s nice to see what other couples who have been married 12-plus years do to keep things fresh.”
After gaining a new perspective on their significant others’ love language, it was time for the couples to put their chemistry to the test with a canoe ride on Lake Katherine. Mark Davis hadn’t canoed with his wife since their honey-
moon 15 years ago. And he couldn’t help but notice the impact that growing as a team has had on their ability to paddle straight and steady.
“Fifteen years ago, we couldn’t do anything but paddle in circles,” Mark re- membered. “There was a difference be- tween then and now, after being together
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CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JULY 2019 38