My mission/vision is to encourage – and so often I feel encouraged by what’s shared by other writers and bloggers, so I found a new application to play with- so I can share what I’ve found with you! It’s called “Storify” – just click from one slide to another to see what’s there for you! (The link to the adult flashlight tag game is from Debi & Tom at the Romantic Vineyard:...

Evidence. Proof. Details. How do you believe without these testifiers?  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ~ Hebrews 11:1 Societies built around 1st-world mindsets function on proven theories, evidence of past performance, and collection of data-points which lead to a conclusion. There’s every chance that anyone reading this post will belong to this kind of society. How often do we...

Overflow. Bubble over. Abound. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ~ Romans 15:13 Overflow with Hope Have you ever watched the sun rise? A sunrise is a very slow process. The process of transitioning from night sky to sunrise takes a long time. The sun doesn’t just pop up from a dark sky… rather there’s a progression from...

What if your spouse has an opportunity that is good and right, and noble, and admirable, and excellent… but it means you will need to sacrifice something? Sometimes the hardest thing to do is encourage your spouse. It’s not enough to just nod your head and smile in this case – to make the most of your spouse’s opportunity you’ll need to give up something – your will, your way, your advantage, your desires,...

Oh, my. It’s been quite a while since we had a new baby in our home… What I do remember… Adding a baby challenges the connection between husband and wife. Our second year of marriage, after our daughter Sarah was born, was the most difficult year in the last 29. Robert went from being my total focus to being added in when there was time. (And there wasn’t any time.)  Then our son was born four years later, and the...

A bit more than a month ago Robert and I visited Charleston, South Carolina.  While the northern states were still battling snow and ice, we had a lovely few days with balmy weather and blooming azaleas. Interested in visiting Charleston? For a small taste of what we experienced in Charleston, check out my guest post at The Happy Wives Club – (click the title below to go to “The Happy Wives Club” website.) Charleston –...

Are you tired of “pass-the-salt” conversations? Encouragers start conversations that make an impact. Part of connecting with your spouse is exploring ideas and concepts. Those conversations don’t need to be about feelings or emotions – ’cause some people (men and women) just aren’t wired to express that way. Try talking about ideas… Gary Chapman (of the 5 Love Languages) and Ramon Pressman, have a book...

When is it important to be kind?  Is it a one-time action that can be noted and celebrated? Perhaps being kind needs to be less of an event, and more of a way of living. Practice kindness today with your words… Be conscious of your words and tone with your spouse today. Focus on: friendly engagements positive responses tender whispers agreeable replies soft requests To read more about kindness click here. Thankful to Link with: Wifey...

Have you seen one of these new(er) drink machines at a fast-food spot? Who knew choosing what to drink would be so difficult! How do you make a decision? Robert and I stopped for a bite to eat last week – and saw this new(er) style of drink dispenser.  I think we stood for 15 minutes just playing with all the buttons.  (Don’t worry. We did let other diners go ahead and get their drink… no lunch was held up because of our...

I like people. I like to talk to people. I like to visit with people. I like to interact with people. But talking, and visiting and interacting takes a lot of energy. My energy – physical, mental and emotional – is drained when I spend time talking, visiting, and interacting with people. They might be my close friends, or fascinating new acquaintances, or wildly funny couples, or compelling story-tellers, but eventually I just need...