Marital APGAR Part 2
Every marriage is different and contains its own nuances. If your marriage were a newborn baby, what would its APGAR score be? For those of you who don’t know, the APGAR score is what a doctor looks at one minute and five minutes after a baby is born. They check for five things: activity, pulse, grimace, appearance and respiration. I have adjusted the five categories tested in the APGAR chart to reflect what we do and how we respond to one another in our individual marriages.
Today, we will be covering the topic of ACTIVITY in our marriages. For folks in BMWK land, this outlines what kind of vision you and your spouse have for your marriage, and what steps you are taking to fulfill that vision. This covers if you want to have children or not, how you plan on raising those children (disciplinary practices, schools they will go to, etc.), and financial, spiritual and emotional areas for the next five to ten years.
Someone once asked me a profound question: What is the quickest route between a dream and reality? My sarcasm jokingly answered, “A straight line,” but of course that was incorrect. The true answer, however, was life changing, and it has remained with me for almost 20 years. The quickest route between a dream and reality is a GOAL.
It is definitely not coincidental that this particular article comes during the first month of the year. Each year my husband and I do vision casting for our marriage. We outline what kind of growth we encountered during the past year, and then prayerfully discuss the direction we are going in as a family, as well as individually. For example, last year, I wanted to finish my book (which I did), and this year, the plan is to get it published. The steps I have to take to make that happen are outlined in my personal 2009 vision statement. Our son begins school in a week, so we have a vision for how we will enforce the foundation we have already laid with him, as well as reinforce what he will be taught in school.
After much discussion and prayer, we have also determined that this year will be one where we will bring another life into the world. Obviously, we’re going to have a good time bringing that one to pass! J This will be my husband’s last chance to try to get a little girl out of me. After this one, it’s a WRAP!
Based on the chart below, I would score my personal vision 1 point from last year (I was actually supposed to have my book published by now, but it didn’t happen). I plan on finishing this year out with a score of 2 points in this are for 2009. Nothing is going to hinder me this year!
(Click the image to see a larger view)
What about you all? Where did you stand for 2008? What are your plans, goals and vision for 2009?
God bless!
~ Harriet
Harriet is a hilariously joyful married woman who resides in northeast Louisiana with her husband who is a restaurant manager. She works for a local University and along with her husband is the proud parent of a 3 year old son and a 10 year old stepson (who lives in NC).
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