Blog Posts
All the posts - FUN - FAITH - FOOD - FAMILYClick Here!
to see the book on Amazon!
Top Posts & Pages
-01.png)
Get the Book!
I is For So Many Values – Including Integrity
Integrity. Inventiveness. Intimacy. Improvement. Initiative. How do I choose a Value for the letter "I"? There are many I want to highlight (of the 16 suitable) which have importance in marriage... So I'm going to "cheat". (I can do that - it's my rules and my...
Hope – It’s Always An Option in Marriage
Hope is one of the greatest gifts you can give your spouse. Learn how to incorporate this value into your marriage in this post.
G is For Growth in Marriage
Growth in marriage. It doesn’t mean the size of your pants… rather it shows up in how you document your years together. Focus on the Value of Growth!
F is for Friend and Friendliness
Friend. Within our world of social media, we've watered down the word "friend"... It might even have the flavor of what used to be known as merely an acquaintance. So let's ask a few questions... Are you a friend to your spouse? Robert is my best friend. And, while...
E is for Encouragement
Come on – you knew Encouragement would be the Values word for “E” in this “A to Z” challenge, didn’t you? Encouragement is made up of 5 things.
Discovery – A Value That Opens Up Our Life
Discovery, as a Value word, is a powerhouse in our marriage - it's one of our own, three, differentiating values which we use when we're making decisions. (This post is part of the A to Z challenge.) (The other two are Loyalty and Optimism. You can learn how we use...
C is for Camaraderie and Closeness
Camaraderie and Closeness is at the heart of a strong marriage. It’s about belonging together and being friends. Values to enrich your marriage.
Belonging – Enrich Your Marriage
Don’t let loneliness enter your marriage. Introduce the Value of Belonging. It just takes some adjustments. Here are 3 ways to foster Belonging.
Encourage Your Spouse with Appreciation
Appreciation is an expression of gratitude; recognition of excellence; accurate perception. Here are 5 ways to encourage through appreciation. – 27 days to encourage with 27 values
Use Prayer to Defeat Procrastination
Procrastination drains our ability to take action, regardless of our good intentions. Learn how to use prayer to defeat procrastination from a guest post.
Kiss Your Spouse to Build a Bridge
A kiss can be a bridge between husband and wife. A healthy sexual intimacy in marriage is so important – we wanted to point to some resources.
Managing Your Spouse’s Mood
You are not responsible for your spouse’s mood. However, you can take a part in managing life – thereby managing your spouse’s mood. Encouragement in the key.
The Secret to a Long Lasting Marriage
What’s the secret to a long lasting marriage? We’ve asked couples married more than 50 years what their answer would be. You might be surprised.
Being Approachable and Available in Marriage
Being approachable is a choice in marriage. It means being easy to meet or deal with and accessible. Here are 10 ways to start being approchable today!
Fun Work – Get Rid of the Barriers
There’s always work to be done, even in a meaningful marriage. Here are 10 ways to add playfulness and refreshment into the work. It’ll make it FUN work!
No Ego And It Will Come Together
Sometimes our ego stops us from working together as husband and wife. Maybe we need to look at a different way to describe the word ego?
Difficult Mother’s Day – These Flowers Are For You
Difficult Mother's Day? Soon we will be wishing women a “happy mother’s day” – In North America it’s the traditional 2nd Sunday in May to do this. For all those who celebrate, there are others who can't wait for the day to be over - it's a difficult mother's day. For...
Encouraging Words for Your Wife on a Difficult Day
How do you find encouraging words for your wife on a day she finds difficult? For many deeply distressing reasons, Mother’s Day is not always a day all women can embrace.
Procrastination is a Poison in Your Marriage
There are 9 reasons we procrastinate – in life, AND in our marriage. What’s the trouble? Procrastination poisons marriages. Want to kick procrastination to the curb and move toward a great marriage?
Music to Introduce Date Night
Robert used music to introduce date night – and changed my mood from focusing on the new guy in my life, back to my loving husband.
Do you admire your spouse?
Does your spouse admire you? And for what? This spouse can admire her husband because he doesn’t complain. The post also includes a link to a free resource.
Cooking with Elise – Greek Style Chicken Marinade
What do you cook for your spouse that they love? My friend Elise is all about cooking, baking and creating for her family.
An Excellent Marriage Needs Encouragement
An excellent marriage - that's what you say you want, huh? Do your actions support your desire? A marriage relationship filled with meaning and purpose doesn't just show up... it takes consistent and focused investment. And it starts with you. [Tweet "An excellent...
A Gift of Time – Give Your Spouse a “Joan Day”!
The gift of time - we call it a Joan Day.  What's a "Joan Day"? It's a day where the less driven spouse has control of the agenda, and it's also a way to practice all five of the love languages: quality time, gifts, words of affirmation, physical touch and acts of...
Use Values to Support Fun Communication
Values play an important part in your communication with your spouse. If our attitude, like the values we live by, is under our control, why not pick fun ones?
Check In With Each Other- How Are You Doing?
Check in with your spouse - especially if you're going to pray for her - for him. It's a good idea. And we have a suggestion for you, even if your spouse isn't very chatty about how they're feeling, or what they're concerned about. Why check in? We know you want to...
Important or Urgent? Be Productive As a Family
Being productive in areas which are important – not only urgent – is imperative as a husband and wife leading a meaningful life. Read how you can do this…
Managing Change in Your Marriage – Keep Growing
Change in your marriage is good, right? It always brings room to grow… Here are some resources for your marriage after a change…
Fun on Wheels – Get Carried Away with Your Spouse!
How many wheels does it take to have some fun? Two-Three-Four… or more? Get carried away as husband and wife – and make some memories with fun on wheels. How?
A Taste of Childhood
Butter tarts are a taste from my childhood – including the recipe. When we visited our parents, I had the opportunity to bake some of these delicious little treats. Robert loves them, and I found the original book the recipe came from.
5 Ways to Improve the Depth of Your Marriage
Embracing depth as a differentiating value can help to significantly strengthen a marriage. Here are five ways to improve the depth in your marriage – and faith life.
What Good Books Can Do For Your Family
Books are a rich part of life – invest your time, reading with your family. Connections are made through the books you read. What’s your relationship with books?
Cover Your Love with a Generous Barrier of Encouragement
Just like steel needs to be coated with zinc to beat rust, so your spouse can be protected with encouragement to Keep away the corrosive effects of life.
Chicken Soup and Afternoon Tea – The Remedy for a Cold
It’s afternoon, and you’re sneezing and sniffling. What to do? Make Lemon Ginger Tea, of course! We used a crockpot and dressed it up with mint and cinnamon!
Hands to Help in Thanksgiving
Our hands can be a joy. Holding those we love & work as worship to the Lord. What will you do with your hands to give thanks in this time of thanksgiving?
Two ways to Inject Fun into Your Marriage
Do you have the value of “fun” in your marriage? Every marriage should have some fun in it! And fun in marriage can either be planned or spontaneous – which are you more likely to experience in your marriage?
Your Spouse Needs You
Your spouse needs you for much more than the obvious, day-after-day chores in life. He/she needs your encouragement: hope, faith, love, prayer & support. How will you do that?
5 Autumn Dates to Stay Connected
The busy fall season is here – how are you going to stay connected with your spouse? Be deliberate and plan some dates. Here are 5 ideas to help you plan.
Encouragement in Action – The Tutu Project
The next time you believe life just is too heavy – too heartbreaking – too messed up… think of Bob. In his pink tutu. It’s encouragement in action!
Write a Letter for Date Night!
A date night idea to encourage others AND you and your spouse. It’s low-cost and focuses on what’s good in your life together, including a link to writing ideas.
Camaraderie – How To Be Close To Your Spouse and Encourage Each Other
The rewards of camaraderie in marriage are significant. You’ll enjoy the satisfaction of being part of a successful team, and have a lifelong friend.
16 Reasons a Date Night is the Best Choice
Date night is the best choice to encourage your spouse. Here are 16 reasons why your marriage needs a regular date night – it’s the best choice!
How to Lean on the Value of Trust in Your Marriage
The impact of incorporating the value of trust into your marriage will be greater than you ever imagined. Just consider carefully where you put your trust.
How to Know the Good Reasons for Marriage
Because our God is so creatively amazing, we have different reasons for marriage. Ask to know the unique way He is using your marriage for His glory.
Gentleness – It’s the Strong Value Your Marriage Needs
Gentleness is made up of three aspects – and every healthy marriage needs these three. Couples, regardless of history or personality can enjoy gentleness. It’s not what you might expect…
