~ ~ ~ Quick! Tell me 3 things  you love about your spouse! 1.  _____________________ 2. _____________________ 3. _____________________   Robert and I have this silly habit of asking each other (constantly), “How are you?” The latest ‘quippy’ answer is, “I’m next to great!” ‘Cause we’re standing next to each other…  Get it? (Yes, you can groan now.)  One of the ways you know...

When you’re feeling connected to your spouse, you’ll go that extra mile… Once upon a time there was husband and wife who shared a home,  two children, a car and a life.  This was an average North American family. One Sunday morning the husband was sick in bed with the stomach flu.  Though they usually attended church services together as a family, this morning the husband was too ill to leave the house. The wife was...

“The love of a wife to her husband may begin from the supply of her necessities, but afterwards she may love him also for the sweetness of his person; so the soul first loves Christ for salvation but when she is brought to Him and finds what sweetness there is in Him then she loves Him for Himself.” — Richard Sibbes (1577–1635) Robert records a video about values every Tuesday on his blog, and we were together while...

Hope grows from optimism. What’s optimism? The concept of the word optimism is found in the Latin word “optimum” meaning best. Those who are optimistic expect the best possible outcome from a situation. It’s about looking forward. Psychologists have spent years studying optimism to determine whether optimism is an inheritable trait, or a trait which shows up because of environment. And as in many areas, social scientists...

I’m so happy Fawn Weaver from The Happy Wives Club has written a guest post for Encourage Your Spouse!  Because she’s both the president of a company, and a dedicated blogger/advocate for marriage, her life is just a tiny bit busy. (Or more than a tiny bit, perhaps?)  Have you ever felt this way?…  Oftentimes when my husband, Keith, is arising for the day, I’m just going to sleep.  It’s happened more often recently than...

Have you ever noticed that it’s either feast or famine? Emotionally, it’s been a full week, and the week isn’t finished yet! For example – this week has held some interesting experiences: There’s a dog lying at my feet. That’s unusual. Our Katie has been gone for almost a year now, but today is special… we’re dog-sitting! (just for the day)  To hear the clicking of nails hitting the hardwood is...

This weekend Robert and I visited Charleston, South Carolina. And I kept bumping into married people. (Yes, I know – lots of people are married, but it’s not always evident!) As we checked into our hotel on Saturday night, a giggling couple came through the door behind me. How did I know they were married? Their clothing kinda gave it away – and their smiles. So cute. I mentioned that I wrote about marriage, and asked if I...

As part of the tagline on Encourage Your Spouse, the word “meaningful” is used. Husbands & Wives Leading Meaningful Lives What does “meaningful” mean, anyway? I know what “meaningful” is NOT: Meaningful is not pessimistic Meaningful is not hum-drum Meaningful is not day-by-day Meaningful is… Optimistic Forward Focused Planned How do you define “meaningful”? Yesterday I was with a...

“… we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” ~ 2Chronicles 20:12   Do you and your spouse have plans? Perhaps this is a time of waiting… Perhaps this is a time of battling… Perhaps this is a time of regrouping… Perhaps this is a time of arming… Perhaps this is a time of healing… Whatever time you’re in – be sure your eyes are on HIM!   Thanks to Ashley at A...

When do you pray? Here are some noted people and their answers on when to pray – and when we should pray … When our own wisdom is not enough. “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.” ~ Abraham Lincoln For every thing – small and large: “Any concern too small to be turned into a...