Do you recall your wedding vows? Did you mean it when you recited them? I want to take a look at one specific one, the one that says “in sickness and in health.” Many couples probably don’t think about what will happen if illness shows up, but it can be catastrophic. Chronic illness in a relationship can often place a strain on finances, communication, intimacy, emotional … [Read more...]
The No. 1 Thing You Need to Do When Your Marriage is in Trouble
Yes, you will go through trials and tribulations in your marriage. Any time two people live together, conflict will occur. So what are you to do when trouble doesn’t just causally knock on your door but barges in like a SWAT Team? Simple, you wait. So you’ve talked to your spouse about the situation, and nothing seems to be happening. No change. It’s as if you never … [Read more...]
What You Need While Waiting for Your Spouse
If you are waiting for the right person to come along to spend the rest of your life with, I want to encourage you to be patient. It’s tempting to look at friends and family who are engaged or already married and question God about where your spouse is. Don’t let negative thoughts discourage you while you wait. Don’t let others tell you that marriage may not be for … [Read more...]
5 Ways Parenthood Made Me a Better Husband
When my wife and I learned she was pregnant with our first child, the timing wasn't the best. Her and I were separated at the time, and each of us had much soul searching ahead of us to decide if our futures were going to be spent together or not. A baby wasn't in the plans. We were terrified. Did this mean we were introducing a child into a broken home? Should we stay … [Read more...]
3 Tips for Becoming a More Patient Parent
I love my kids to the moon and back. Even in the moments when they drive me nuts, there isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do to show them how much I love them. But I don’t think my feelings are unique. Any good parent feels this way about their children. Even when our parenting practices come up short, we want the best for these little lives we created. We want them to be healthy and … [Read more...]
5 Final Holiday Flying Tips to Keep You Stress Free!
It’s here! We are days away from the biggest holiday of the year and one of the busiest travel days of the year. Christmas Eve is going to be the busiest shopping and travel day of the year. It’s a fact that no one can deny and we have a few final tips to help you navigate the busiest travel day of the year and remain stress free. Plan ahead. Get ahead of the game and … [Read more...]
Another Blended Family Love Story: How My Husband Became “Daddy”
Recently, I wrote an article about my Father before he became my Daddy, where I shared my experience growing up in a blended family home. Now, I am going to share my experience as a parent allowing my spouse to raise my child. My family knew my husband’s family from church many years before we got together. My sister teased me about my him becoming my husband even before we … [Read more...]
How Long Would You Wait for a Ring?
This month an Essence reader shared the fact that she had been with her boyfriend for six years and has yet to get a ring. She went on to say that she was starting to lose hope. It is a known fact that marriage is not something two people should enter into without giving it a lot of thought. That said, different people have different ideas on how long they should or … [Read more...]
Sometimes Marriage Is Hard
I was trying to think of a snappy title, something more enticing but the simplicity of that statement ("Sometimes marriage is hard") is something that a lot of people don't quite understand. They don't understand why marriage is hard at times, what to do when those hard times come, and how to move past the hard times when everything is good again. I've been having some … [Read more...]
Is Love Really All You Need?
Is Love Really All You Need? Only If It's a 1 Corinthian 13 Love A few would assume a couple who is truly head-over-heels in love is likely to overcome and conquer any obstacle that comes their way. It is often said love is all we need. So why is it that even those couples who claim to love each other unconditionally and above anything else in the world have failed in love? … [Read more...]
Your Relationship Is Like A Seed – Let It Grow
by Chioma Okoroafor My husband is a good teacher, a kind of philosopher who loves illustrations. On one occasion, he brought a seed, of a particular fruit I love so much and suggested we plant it behind the house. I agreed because it simply meant I would have enough of the fruit at my disposal. Three weeks gone and the seed were yet to spring out. I suggested to my … [Read more...]
Life Comes Full Circle
by Shira Williams Every young girl's dream is simple: finish school, get a career, meet a guy, get swept off your feet, get married, have babies and a white picket fence all before the age of 25. It all sounds like the perfect script to a perfect movie, but it's not always how life works. I found that out very quickly. My background is no different than the next girl. A … [Read more...]