Spice up your relationship with a new adventure! Whether it’s trying a new restaurant, exploring a new hiking trail, or taking a trip to a new vacation spot, the possibilities are endless. Over time, it’s easy to become comfortable and familiar with your spouse, but venturing into the unknown together is a way to keep …
Double dating is a great way to strengthen your relationship with your spouse. When you’re in a relaxed dating atmosphere with others, you’ll learn things about your spouse that you never would have otherwise, and you’ll be able to see them in a new light. Going on double dates with another couple can facilitate unexpected …
Sometimes you have to “embrace the suck” that life sends your way and move through it together. “Embrace the suck” is something we first heard when our son became a Marine. It is a common phrase in the military that means to accept the difficult or unpleasant aspects of a situation and to deal with …
Marriage is not about finding someone to complete you, but rather about two complete individuals coming together to create something new and exciting. A spouse doesn’t complete you… you are you and they are them and both of your should be complete individuals. I remember being in college and taking a marriage course at my …
Read more “Marriage Pearl # 19: A Spouse Doesn’t Complete You”
Adopt the mindset that divorce is not an option in your current marriage. Do not entertain the thought, nor even speak the word divorce. Of course, the word itself can be used, but never in the context of speaking about your own relationship. Eliminate any mention of it from your thoughts and conversations, both internally …
Think of the emotional balance of your marriage like a bank account, your emotional bank account. When you make daily deposits of kindness, respect, and positivity into your spouse’s account, these little things add up tip the balance in your favor, especially when a crisis occurs or when you make a mistake. Careless words, bad …
Read more “Marriage Pearl # 18: Build up Your Spouse’s Emotional Bank Account”
In parenting, it’s crucial to present a united front to your children and support each other’s decisions. By discussing changes together, you maintain your child’s respect and avoid being played against each other. Steve and I made a conscious effort to stay consistent in front of our kids, even if we later discussed and modified …
Listening is a powerful tool in any relationship, especially in marriage. It is important to learn how to listen with an open heart and mind, to hear what your spouse is saying, and not just listening so that you may respond. Often, we listen to our spouse and our brains are preparing our response to …
Support your spouse’s interests, even if you “don’t get” them. There are many things about Steve that I still just don’t get and I know he’d say the same about me. These things have changed over time as well. We are evolving in our persons and are not exactly the same as when we first …
Read more “Marriage Pearl # 15: Support Your Spouse’s Interests”
Kiss daily for at least 30 seconds… it may lead to other things but at the very least you have that point of physical touch. This is a fun one! Steve and I make it a practice to kiss each other when leaving to go do things as well. The 30+ seconds kiss is a …