Welcome to our Marriage War and Peace blog for October!

Family life is full of surprises, isn’t it?

Plans get interrupted, conversations take unexpected turns, and ordinary days suddenly sparkle with moments you couldn’t have planned if you tried—and that’s part of its magic. Instead of fighting the unpredictability, October invites us to lean in, loosen our grip, and find joy in the mystery.

When we welcome the unexpected, we open the door to deeper connection, shared laughter, and memories that last far longer than any perfectly planned schedule.

In this month’s article, we’ll focus on:

· The Birthday Surprise That Brought Back Our Spark

· 5 Family Activities to Celebrate Life’s Surprises

· The Art of Noticing

The Birthday Surprise That Brought Back Our Spark

Family life is full of surprises!

For years, our calendar looked more like a checklist than an adventure. Shahriar and I poured ourselves into work and parenting while our daughter Clara enjoyed all the special moments: Christmas mornings, birthday parties, Valentine dinners. But when it came to celebrating each other? Let’s just say spontaneity had quietly packed up and left town.

Last month, Shahriar’s 59th birthday was coming up, and when my mentor asked what I was planning, I shrugged. “Nothing. We don’t really do birthdays.” Her raised eyebrow planted a seed.

How do you create magic when you’re geared toward work and getting things done? You recruit a teenager. With only an hour before Shahriar’s unexpected out-of-town trip (yes, he scheduled it on his birthday!), Clara and I raced to the supermarket. She grabbed Oreos and action figures from his favorite movies to top the cake. I had a 2,000-piece Star Wars Lego set waiting at home. And when he walked in, the look on his face—the joy, the laughter, the tears—was unforgettable.

That night was a wake-up call. Shahriar and I recognized that we’d drifted into Boring-ville without noticing. That surprise cracked us open again. Now we’re planning his 60th birthday and mine too.

If you need a nudge, consider this: the time to create joy and fun is now. One small surprise can spark magic in your family again. Below are five simple, budget-friendly ways to get started:

5 Family Activities to Celebrate Life’s Surprises

This month let's embrace and celebrate surprises together. Here are some fun and meaningful ways to inspire your family to celebrate life’s surprises, build stronger bonds, and create memories that can’t be scripted.

1. Mystery Meal Night

Let each family member secretly choose one dish—main, side, or dessert—without telling their choice to the others. Reveal everything at dinnertime and enjoy the surprise combinations.

2. Adventure Jar

Write spontaneous outing ideas on slips of paper—like “stargaze in the backyard” or “drive to a new park.” On the weekend, draw one from the jar and go have fun as a family.

3. Freakier Friday Switch Roles Day

In the spirit of Freakier Friday, kids plan dinner, parents pick the game, and everyone trades tasks for a few hours. It’s a fun way to see each other’s world from a fresh perspective.

4. Progressive Storytelling

Start a story with one sentence. Go around the table, letting each person add a line. Watch the tale twist and turn in ways no one predicted.

5. Flashback Treasure Hunt

Hide objects from past family events (old photos, souvenirs) and create clues. Each discovery sparks stories you may not have shared in years.

Life’s best moments often arrive without a plan, and families thrive when they leave space for wonder. Whether it’s a mystery meal, a flashback treasure hunt, or a story that takes an unexpected turn, these small adventures remind us that connection isn’t built by perfection—it’s sparked by presence.

Choose one of these activities, stay open to what unfolds, and let the surprises guide you to laughter, memories, and the kind of joy no schedule can create.

Helpful Resource

The Art of Noticing: 131 Ways to Spark Creativity, Find Inspiration, and Discover Joy in the Everyday by Rob Walker

This inspiring guide will help you see the world anew. Through a series of simple and playful exercises, Walker maps ways for you to slow down, pay attention, and find wonder in the everyday—perfect for embracing the mystery together as a family.

Resource Link

Share Your Insights What unexpected moments of joy has your family experienced lately? Did one of these activities spark an idea for you? Share your favorite surprise memories or mystery-inspired rituals Please email [email protected]. Your story might inspire another family to embrace life’s beautiful unpredictability.