I hurled his bag down the stairs and screamed, "THERE'S YOUR STUPID SUITCASE!!! JUST GO AHEAD AND LEAVE ME!"
My husband picked up his busted luggage, stared at me in disbelief, and spoke an apologetic goodbye.
Throwing myself on the bed for a good cry, I agonized over why our marriage wasn't turning out like I expected.
Read MoreSpiritual warfare is real and can be devastating to our lives. Marriage is where I have personally endured spiritual warfare many times. Especially when it came to feeling defeated spiritually and mentally as a wife.
Read MoreMarriage and dating advice isn't something I write about too often in this space, but I hope you'll enjoy this little departure from the norm today.
I believe that regular date nights with my spouse are an important way to keep the spark alive.
Read MoreIt's summer, and wedding and anniversary season is upon us! I love this time of year, partly because I often get to attend weddings and also because my husband and I celebrate our own anniversary in August. We just hit 21 years together!
With that milestone, it seemed appropriate to make a list, some ideas for love in action that speak loud and clear. Some of the most powerful ways to say, I love you, don't even use words....
Read MoreMy husband and I were high school sweethearts. We met in 9th grade and starting dating in 10th. We got married after our second year of college. That was over twenty years ago. There have been ups and downs, as there is in any marriage, but we have a love that has continued to grow throughout the years.
The story of us has always been my favorite love story. And if you're married, I hope the story of you and your spouse is your favorite love story! These are stories worth preserving.
Read MoreThe more we love God, the better we are at loving people. Our individual relationship with God needs to take priority over our relationships with each other- even our spouse.
Read MoreI love being able to bring a smile to my husband’s face, encouraging him when he most needs it. You probably feel the same way about your spouse, right? I know I certainly enjoy receiving encouragement, most of all, from my spouse- so I try to be intentional in how I encourage him. I won’t pretend that I’m always on top of it- but I try.
Read MoreI recently had the opportunity to review a book, called 9 Traits of a Life Giving Marriage, by Sue Detweiler. I thought the title was perfect- as the book really did deliver on its' promise. 9 Traits of a Life Giving Marriage was a straightforward and honest look at what it takes for a Christian marriage to thrive. I appreciated the vulnerability shown throughout the pages, along with Sue's willingness to share personal stories from her own marriage- the good and the bad. We can learn from each other, and this book had the tone of a wise, older sister, sharing her wisdom out of love, with a desire to see marriages succeed.
Read MoreAt times, my husband and I have been intentional about making time for dates- and it’s always worth the effort. With two kids and busy schedules, we have to be flexible with what the term, date, actually means. For us, it simply means a time set apart to connect, just the two of us. For instance, this Saturday, our son had to be dropped off for his football game an hour and a half before it started, and since we were in an unfamiliar cute town, we took the opportunity to sneak off, get coffee and explore- nothing fancy, but it was nice to have that time together.
When our kids were younger, the need for a babysitter was what kept us from dating more often. Eventually, we figured out that many of our friends with young kids were in the same boat- so we started trading babysitting services with each other. That was a big win for everyone.
Now that both our kids are tween/teen age, the issue is no longer babysitting. It’s finding enough time to get away when one or the other doesn’t need a ride to or from some activity. Car-pooling has saved the day here.
The point is, I believe that dating your spouse is important and should be a high priority, no matter the effort involved in making it happen. My husband and I have room for improvement here. Lately, we’ve been having a hard time thinking of fun ideas for dates. So I made a list. I’m sharing it here, in hopes that it can inspire you as well.
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