When we consider marriage, we hear time and time again about the ingredients that make a marriage work. Love, honesty, trust and communication are a few of those that normally soar to the top of the list. We are also familiar with the actions that lead to the destruction of a marriage. Infidelity, abuse and neglect all go to the top of that list. However, do we ever consider … [Read more...]
Learning How To Date Again
When my husband and I first started dating, it was epic. He would go clean out his car before he came to pick me up and I could smell that he had vacuumed the interior. I would spritz my perfume in three special places, slip into my favorite sky-high pumps, and prepare to have a ball. And while we never did anything too fancy, it was awesome just to be with him, giggling about … [Read more...]
Art Of Love Relationship Series: Women As Breadwinners
Although the Art of Love series has officially ended, it continues to have a powerful impact on couples everywhere. As I personally gained valuable lessons during this 11-day series, it is a must I continue to share with my BMWK family. This conversation, just like the ones prior, was awesome. The dialogue focused on what happens when women are the breadwinners in the home. … [Read more...]
When’s The Last Time You Told Your Spouse, “I Love You”?
When's the last time you told your spouse, "I love you"? When's the last time you said it first, instead of "I love you too"? When's the last time you told your spouse why you love them? When's the last time you did something to make them smile? When was the last time that you took time to plan a nice date with your spouse? When was the last you said, "You know … [Read more...]
Using Your Senses To Love Your Spouse
The word "love" brings on a lot of different emotions. It can be described as a noun or a verb. It can make you feel amazingly high or tragically low. It's one of the ingredients of a successful marriage, but certainly not the only one. For some, it's a lot easier to say you love someone than it is to actually show it. This is a problem in a lot of different relationships and … [Read more...]
Marriage Saving Time: Set The Clock Back On Your Marriage
Daylight Savings Time ended a couple weekends ago, and we all turned our clocks back one hour. The sun is setting earlier, and many of us are winding down sooner. We reset our clocks twice a year, gaining an hour in the fall and losing an hour in the spring. Although these dates change annually, we expect it and adjust our clocks each time. We should do the same in our … [Read more...]
Preparing For The Seasons Of Your Marriage
As I watch the end of the fall leaf changing season, I have to wrestle with my denial that the summer is over. I find it interesting that every season comes with it's own clothes, it's own weather conditions, it's own highs and lows, it's own attitude, if you will. Just as there are clearly defined seasons of "Mother Nature," there are also clear seasons of marriage. Here … [Read more...]
Make Love, Not War
The advice in the title of this piece is almost always easier said than done. The consequences of the first are so much sweeter than the second, no matter how much territory, money or reputation stands to be earned in the process. There comes that occasional point in time during marriage when neither husband nor wife sees eye to eye on much. Tensions are running high at work … [Read more...]
Art of Love Relationship Series Recap: Today's Married Woman is Having Much Less Sex Than Her Grandmother Did
During this series, I have gained valuable knowledge and also quite a few confirmations on what I've already learned and what I currently teach about relationships. But I must say this has been my favorite conversation thus far. I know many couples, unfortunately, who struggle with the amount and frequency of intimacy they experience. For that very reason I must share the … [Read more...]
Why Business Trips Can Be Good For Your Marriage
As my husband tossed suitcases on the bed and selected shirts and ties for his six-day business trip, I lounged about the house like a little girl whose best friend was about to move away. I couldn't believe how much I missed him and he was still there! We had never spent more than a few days away from each other since the kids were born. Recently, since I'd become a … [Read more...]
5 Date Night Movies That Should Be In Your Netflix Queue
Being able to have a spontaneous date night is key to making sure you can fit it into your schedule. And when it comes to spending some quality time with your honey, there's nothing easier than grabbing some takeout (or making a quick dinner) and picking a great movie off your Netflix queue. Here's 5 movies to check out the next time you've got some free time with your … [Read more...]
Do You Treat Your Marriage Like A Real Job?
Some of us wouldn't be caught dead talking to our boss the way we talk to our spouse. We wouldn't continue to watch TV or fiddle around on Facebook while our boss was talking to us. We wouldn't roll our eyes and sigh if they asked us to do something. We get comfortable in marriage. Sometimes too comfortable. We forget that it's a partnership. That pulling our weight … [Read more...]
The Legacy of Steve Jobs, The Legacy of Your Marriage
As everyone knows by now, America lost a giant and sheer icon of American genius and innovation when Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, co-founder of Pixar and the "father" of the personal computer, passed away last month. Since his death the world has gained a sense of clarity about the life and legacy of Jobs - even beyond Apple and Pixar. What has been the most insightful … [Read more...]
Get To Know Your Spouse: Learn More About Their Interests
My husband loves cars. If we're sitting together and he's on his laptop, he's looking at pictures of cars while I'm wondering how many cars one can look at before all cars just look like cars. Internet car porn is what I call it. Meanwhile, my relationship to cars is this: Does it move properly? Does it look cute? Is the payment low? Sold. I couldn't care less about what's … [Read more...]
6 Tips To Spice Up Your Next Date Night
When you've been with someone for a while, it can be harder to make sure your dates have that "Wow!" factor. Sure, you enjoy spending time together no matter what you do, but sometimes you want a date that doesn't feel like the last date you went on, or the one before that. I'm not ashamed to admit that my husband and I found ourselves in a rut recently. We were going to the … [Read more...]