Thursday, January 31, 2008
Creative Cake Decorating Ideas
Creative Cake Decorating Ideas
Cake Decorating Ideas for Fantastic Looking Cakes - By Christy Smith; Get Creative with Birthday Cake Decorations; Creative Cake Decorating For A Kid's Birthday; Cake Decorating: How About Birthday Cakes For Adults; Cake Decorating ...
Bedroom Decorating Ideas
In terms of bedroom decorating ideas you will be pleased to know that there are many publications online or offline that offer all sorts of ideas. The main thing you need to do is decide first on functionality then on design. ...
Children's Lighting Decorating Ideas
It is also a good idea to plan children’s lighting based on some thought to the various tasks that you will be required to perform in the nursery. For the first year or so, a large amount of your time will need to be spent in the ...
Bathroom Decorating Ideas
This bathroom decorating idea is a bargain yet provides a significant difference - put away all the stuff that tends to accumulate in the bathroom and you will be able to experience immediate appeal. Use this opportunity to include more ...
Helpful Christmas Decorating Ideas
I especially liked her Christmas decorating ideas, so I tried to follow her lead to help my own family enjoy this holiday thoroughly. There is a fine line between festive and flashy and I have always tried to give my best not to cross ...
Cake Decorating Ideas for Fantastic Looking Cakes - By Christy Smith; Get Creative with Birthday Cake Decorations; Creative Cake Decorating For A Kid's Birthday; Cake Decorating: How About Birthday Cakes For Adults; Cake Decorating ...
Bedroom Decorating Ideas
In terms of bedroom decorating ideas you will be pleased to know that there are many publications online or offline that offer all sorts of ideas. The main thing you need to do is decide first on functionality then on design. ...
Children's Lighting Decorating Ideas
It is also a good idea to plan children’s lighting based on some thought to the various tasks that you will be required to perform in the nursery. For the first year or so, a large amount of your time will need to be spent in the ...
Bathroom Decorating Ideas
This bathroom decorating idea is a bargain yet provides a significant difference - put away all the stuff that tends to accumulate in the bathroom and you will be able to experience immediate appeal. Use this opportunity to include more ...
Helpful Christmas Decorating Ideas
I especially liked her Christmas decorating ideas, so I tried to follow her lead to help my own family enjoy this holiday thoroughly. There is a fine line between festive and flashy and I have always tried to give my best not to cross ...
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Room of the Day
Room of the Day
I love the traditional style combined with the fresh colors. I also like that the dining table and the dining chairs don't match! I love a mix-and-match look for a dining room. That way the room doesn't look so predictable.
WFMW: A twist on decorating with family pictures
Sometime last year, I decided that I didn't like my wall arrangement of photographs in our dining room. It was made up of around seven framed photographs -- ranging from 4x6 to 8x10 (and only one of those!). ...
Mediterranean Decor And Furniture Ideas
Others choose blue and gold mosaic tile for countertops, dining room tables and stove backdrops. In the window, terra cotta pots filled with spices and herbs or brilliantly reflective vases is a nice touch. ...
Rugs and Home Decor
If you are choosing a rug to go under a dining room table, select one that is a several feet larger than the table itself. If you are creating a conversation area with your rug, it is usually best to let the furniture sit on the edges ...
A Comfortable Dining Room Decorating Ideas
So make sure that your decor does not take away from the comfort quotient of your lovely dining room. You may be one of those people who use their dining rooms very infrequently, and you want to have a comfortable and beautiful dining ...
I love the traditional style combined with the fresh colors. I also like that the dining table and the dining chairs don't match! I love a mix-and-match look for a dining room. That way the room doesn't look so predictable.
WFMW: A twist on decorating with family pictures
Sometime last year, I decided that I didn't like my wall arrangement of photographs in our dining room. It was made up of around seven framed photographs -- ranging from 4x6 to 8x10 (and only one of those!). ...
Mediterranean Decor And Furniture Ideas
Others choose blue and gold mosaic tile for countertops, dining room tables and stove backdrops. In the window, terra cotta pots filled with spices and herbs or brilliantly reflective vases is a nice touch. ...
Rugs and Home Decor
If you are choosing a rug to go under a dining room table, select one that is a several feet larger than the table itself. If you are creating a conversation area with your rug, it is usually best to let the furniture sit on the edges ...
A Comfortable Dining Room Decorating Ideas
So make sure that your decor does not take away from the comfort quotient of your lovely dining room. You may be one of those people who use their dining rooms very infrequently, and you want to have a comfortable and beautiful dining ...
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Yardage Town - 40% OFF Any Home Decorating Fabric
Yardage Town - 40% OFF Any Home Decorating Fabric
40% OFF Any Home Decorating Fabric - Expires 02/02/2008.
Home Decorating Color Trends 2008
Home decor color forecasts for 2008 revolve around five distinct and beautiful color palettes that have been spotted at the international home design and decor shows on everything from home accents to wall paint to furniture to wall art ...
Yardage Town - 40% OFF Any Home Decorating Fabric
40% OFF Any Home Decorating Fabric - Expires 02/05/2008.
Home Decor
I found this Mailbox and Beyond website, they have this Whitehall Mailboxes and it look so cute simple but elegant. They have many wide selections of home accents and outdoors decor too. If you are looking for a home decor ornaments ...
Brisa 2000 Ceiling Fan
The usual, standard, and conventional is quickly becoming outdated and out of style. Interior decorating is often the leader in redesigning style and starting new trends. (...)
40% OFF Any Home Decorating Fabric - Expires 02/02/2008.
Home Decorating Color Trends 2008
Home decor color forecasts for 2008 revolve around five distinct and beautiful color palettes that have been spotted at the international home design and decor shows on everything from home accents to wall paint to furniture to wall art ...
Yardage Town - 40% OFF Any Home Decorating Fabric
40% OFF Any Home Decorating Fabric - Expires 02/05/2008.
Home Decor
I found this Mailbox and Beyond website, they have this Whitehall Mailboxes and it look so cute simple but elegant. They have many wide selections of home accents and outdoors decor too. If you are looking for a home decor ornaments ...
Brisa 2000 Ceiling Fan
The usual, standard, and conventional is quickly becoming outdated and out of style. Interior decorating is often the leader in redesigning style and starting new trends. (...)
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Successful marriage tips can often
Successful marriage tips can often involve complex and time-consuming processes. Successful marriage tips also, though, can require very little effort and still offer significant payoffs. Simply by giving your marriage a bit of attention, and following these successful marriage tips, you can immediately improve the interactions between you and your spouse. Successful marriage tip #1 is all about focus. When you both return home after a day of work, before you do anything else, spend 60 seconds sharing a hug and a kiss, looking into each other’s eyes, and talking. If you’re the first one home, when your spouse arrives, stop what you’re doing and give him or her 60 seconds of affection and attention. This successful marriage tip is powerful because of what happens between you on a subconscious level.
It soothes your subconscious to press your bodies together and focus on each other for a full 60 seconds (and that’s longer that you think). It says warmth, home, love, and security in a very primal way. It’s been said that when it comes to sex, women are like ovens and men are like microwaves – quick to get hot. So this successful marriage tip encourages you to get good at relaxing your wife and creating a real physical connection. A 5-minute foot massage at the end of the day. A caressing neck massage at bed time. A lower-back massage with some scented oil.
You can even say, “TIME OUT!” Then each person must repeat the other person’s side of the argument to his or her satisfaction before the debate can continue. The reason this successful marriage tip is so powerful is because very person in this world wants to be understood. When you interrupt the fight and say to your spouse, “I REALLY need to hear and understand what you are saying, ” your subconscious message is, “I value you and respect you. What you are saying is important to me. ” And when people feel understood, the anger often evaporates. Successful marriage tip #4 is to get serious about laughter. Grab a pen and make a list of five things that your spouse thinks are humorous.
It soothes your subconscious to press your bodies together and focus on each other for a full 60 seconds (and that’s longer that you think). It says warmth, home, love, and security in a very primal way. It’s been said that when it comes to sex, women are like ovens and men are like microwaves – quick to get hot. So this successful marriage tip encourages you to get good at relaxing your wife and creating a real physical connection. A 5-minute foot massage at the end of the day. A caressing neck massage at bed time. A lower-back massage with some scented oil.
- These sensual acts show your commitment to her pleasure and can chase away any thoughts that block physical intimacy.
- This successful marriage tip is pretty simple.
- Men love it when women initiate sex.
- Plan to make the first move once a week, and make him an offer he can’t refuse.
- Successful marriage tip #3 deals with conflict.
- When you two are arguing, call a time-out and take turns stating the other person’s argument in your own words.
You can even say, “TIME OUT!” Then each person must repeat the other person’s side of the argument to his or her satisfaction before the debate can continue. The reason this successful marriage tip is so powerful is because very person in this world wants to be understood. When you interrupt the fight and say to your spouse, “I REALLY need to hear and understand what you are saying, ” your subconscious message is, “I value you and respect you. What you are saying is important to me. ” And when people feel understood, the anger often evaporates. Successful marriage tip #4 is to get serious about laughter. Grab a pen and make a list of five things that your spouse thinks are humorous.
Then choose one and share a laugh tonight. Maybe it’s a DVD or humorous book. Perhaps your children did something hilarious or you heard a great joke at work. The point is, be on the lookout for stories and laughter-inducing incidents to share with your spouse. We strongly recommend this successful marriage tip because studies show that couples who laugh together on a daily basis have less stress, better sex, and a stronger connection. People also look forward to seeing an individual who helps them laugh... and that’s no joke..
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Now you can sign up to receive these
Now you can sign up to receive these same valuable marriage tips over the next 30 days. Simply fill out the form on this page and get ready to have a fun time. Dennis Rainey reports that thirty-five percent of marriages in America end in divorce... and 1 in 5 of those adults have been divorced multiple times. At Family Builders Ministries we are keenly aware of the challenges couples face in keeping their relationship strong and healthy. Willie often tells the story of Lance Armstrong, six-time winner of the Tour de France, who wrote about his failed marriage: “We forgot to do the most important thing. We forgot to be married. ” emphasis on building a healthy marriage. It’s very simple.
We want to send you 30 easy but powerful marriage-building tips. Each day you will receive by email an idea that you can put into practice that day. Don’t delay. Sign up today and be ready to see your marriage flourish with God’s help. After you sign up, tellyour friends about this wonderful opportunity. Just wanted to let you know we looked forward to the marriage tips everyday. We went to your marriage retreat at Monadnock in April. Between that and these tips our marriage has really grown. We had a rough time in the past 4 years of our marriage, trying to work through a lot of stuff.
Each and every sentence of the tip held an exact relevance to our situations/issues (there are maaaany). My husband was dumbfounded too!!!…We are going to fight - hmm not the best choice of vocabulary - for our marriage, & as unfair as it seems that I often have to fight the world to show them where true happiness comes from - living honest lives true to ourselves - I will push through if its only for the reason I am here to help one person in my family make a difference in the world. ” I just want to thank you for this initiative of building healthier marriages. I consider this information to be priceless in my own marriage. First, it has helped me to get in the habit of doing daily things for my wife and marriage. I heard somewhere that it takes at least 21 days to make a habit. Thanks for this new good habit that I have developed since signing up for the daily marriage tips. Thanks so much for the 30 day marriage tips. What a great idea! I looked forward to reading them every day.
I looked forward everyday to your marriage tips. My husband and I just celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary and we reflected on your tips. The tips gave us a chance to reexamine our relationship and to thank God each and every day for bringing us together. These tips are not just cute, though some are smoochie things to do. Most of the tips are thought-provoking. These tips help us to build some great practices. They certainly require thought and some deliberate effort. They've helped us, also, to develop a valuable perspective on what contributes to a healthy marriage. We are now, thinking more, thanks to your project, Willie. We are aware of the on purpose nature of a healthy, blessing-filled marriage. We are more deliberate in our thoughts and deeds, as we interact with each other..
We want to send you 30 easy but powerful marriage-building tips. Each day you will receive by email an idea that you can put into practice that day. Don’t delay. Sign up today and be ready to see your marriage flourish with God’s help. After you sign up, tell
- We decided to stay together, but I was having a really tough time letting things go.
- With the help of prayer, your seminar in April and the marriage tips I feel I have worked through many of the issues that were stopping me from wanting to fix our marriage.
So praise God and thank you for your ministry. “We are just wanting to give you feedback on your marriage tips... and enlighten you of how weird - but often wonderful - occurrences happen. I will try to keep it brief. Yesterday my husband and I were the closest yet to getting a divorce, in fact we were just going about the specific things of red tape & paperwork etc. Anyway, after many hours & much rage, anger, hatred, and hurt flying around the room (including in front of our special little boys), somehow we calmed down at some stage & were starting to talk - just a little - when I looked up at my emails. (I had been at the computer all day and had been keeping up with my emails. ) There popped up all of a sudden, marriage tip #15. I thought, Here we go, yeah, yeah, whatever, we know it all! We just don’t know how to get along! I read it & thought, Oh gosh, just another one of those signs you get out of nowhere when you most need it.
Each and every sentence of the tip held an exact relevance to our situations/issues (there are maaaany). My husband was dumbfounded too!!!…We are going to fight - hmm not the best choice of vocabulary - for our marriage, & as unfair as it seems that I often have to fight the world to show them where true happiness comes from - living honest lives true to ourselves - I will push through if its only for the reason I am here to help one person in my family make a difference in the world. ” I just want to thank you for this initiative of building healthier marriages. I consider this information to be priceless in my own marriage. First, it has helped me to get in the habit of doing daily things for my wife and marriage. I heard somewhere that it takes at least 21 days to make a habit. Thanks for this new good habit that I have developed since signing up for the daily marriage tips. Thanks so much for the 30 day marriage tips. What a great idea! I looked forward to reading them every day.
- I found the messages meaningful and applicable in our 11-year-old marriage.
- Please continue the good work.
- Email is a awesome vehicle to reach the busy family.
- I bet most of us with children could benefit from parenting tips too.
- Thank you so much for providing this service and information.
I looked forward everyday to your marriage tips. My husband and I just celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary and we reflected on your tips. The tips gave us a chance to reexamine our relationship and to thank God each and every day for bringing us together. These tips are not just cute, though some are smoochie things to do. Most of the tips are thought-provoking. These tips help us to build some great practices. They certainly require thought and some deliberate effort. They've helped us, also, to develop a valuable perspective on what contributes to a healthy marriage. We are now, thinking more, thanks to your project, Willie. We are aware of the on purpose nature of a healthy, blessing-filled marriage. We are more deliberate in our thoughts and deeds, as we interact with each other..
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
We believe that we have a wonderful
We believe that we have a wonderful marriage. You will not be around us very long before you realize that we are delighted with each other and with our marriage. In the following paragraphs, we have tried to list a few of the things that we believe are keys to our own successful marriage. Don't get us wrong. We don't have all the answers! And while we do believe we have a great marriage, it is by no means perfect. We still have lots of growing to do. But on this page we humbly offer some tips that we believe have been most significant to us. We realize that some of them may not apply to you. As our Pastor, Frank Hicks, is fond of saying, Eat the meat. Spit out the bones! But we would encourage you to please take them seriously, pray about them, and discuss them with each other. Your marriage can be great! This does not mean that we just “go to church” together, or “say grace before meals” together (although we do those things, of course!). When we are alone together, we frequently talk about the Lord, remind each other of how good He has been to us, discuss what He is doing in our lives, etc. If you listen in on our conversations, you might hear us say, “The Lord is so good to us. ” Or “Thank you, Lord. You are so good!” Or, “Let me tell you about how the Lord worked out this situation for me today. ” We have a brief time together each morning when we read, and briefly discuss, passages from the Bible together. (Usually we read about 10 to 20 verses from the Old Testament and 10 to 20 verses from the New Testament.
One of our greatest joys in life is to go somewhere for a “24-hour retreat” together. (You can read the details about these retreats a little further in this article. ) During those 24-hour retreats, we are constantly in each other’s company and loving every minute of it. Of course, this brings up the question, “WHY do we enjoy each other’s company so much?” You will learn the answer to that question as you read the rest of this document. We never just “order each other around,” in public or private. If we ask the other to do a favor for us, it is always accompanied by the words “Please” or “Would you please?” We try to be very “tuned in” to when the other does something for us—even if it seems like a small thing. And you will hear us frequently say, “Thank you so much!” to each other. We also try very hard to never tease each other in a hurtful way. We have seen many couples say words to each other that are uncomplimentary or that “sting” a little (or even a lot!). Then the spouse will say, “He (or she) knows I’m kidding. ” We believe that these little stinging words that make fun of one’s spouse are harmful to a close personal relationship. Each of us believes that there are many men and women in the world who would dearly love to have a spouse like our spouse. So even though we obviously have many faults and see each other’s faults, the faults seem so small in comparison to the great treasure we have in each other. And we do this with humility. I don’t see myself as such a great treasure, but I certainly see my spouse as a great treasure! If I concentrate on meeting my spouse’s needs, I get great joy from that kind of living. If I concentrate on meeting my needs, I get ugly and selfish and miserable.
Too many marriages have two people who are each trying desperately to get the other to meet his or her needs. This selfish approach to marriage never brings real joy to a marriage. It takes two people to make a great marriage. One cannot do it alone. If one is a “taker” and the other is a “giver” there cannot be real joy in a marriage. Both must be “givers” to each other. We enjoy reading and discussing books and articles that give us tips for making our marriage stronger. (By the way, we have found Again, some married people are always making jokes to others at his or her spouse’s expense. These jokes are usually concluded with laughter and words like, “Naw, I’m just kidding!” We believe that kind of joking is very hurtful to a marriage. We want others to hear us saying nice things about each other and doing nice things for each other. We don’t mind at all if others see us giving each other approving or loving glances. We don’t mind if they see us being polite to each other. We don’t mind if they see us holding hands as we walk together or sit together. A few others may tease us about these things, but we know that these are the kind of things that makes our marriage stronger and stronger. negative about each other. If we have disagreements, we work them out privately between ourselves. (Obviously, there are times when problems in a marriage require that.
- ) You will also hear us praying several times a day for our boys and their families, for wisdom for the day, etc.
- The point here is not to “brag” about our spiritual lives, but to try to illustrate what it means for Jesus to be Lord of our marriage.
- There is nothing we love more than being alone together.
- We genuinely enjoy each other’s company.
One of our greatest joys in life is to go somewhere for a “24-hour retreat” together. (You can read the details about these retreats a little further in this article. ) During those 24-hour retreats, we are constantly in each other’s company and loving every minute of it. Of course, this brings up the question, “WHY do we enjoy each other’s company so much?” You will learn the answer to that question as you read the rest of this document. We never just “order each other around,” in public or private. If we ask the other to do a favor for us, it is always accompanied by the words “Please” or “Would you please?” We try to be very “tuned in” to when the other does something for us—even if it seems like a small thing. And you will hear us frequently say, “Thank you so much!” to each other. We also try very hard to never tease each other in a hurtful way. We have seen many couples say words to each other that are uncomplimentary or that “sting” a little (or even a lot!). Then the spouse will say, “He (or she) knows I’m kidding. ” We believe that these little stinging words that make fun of one’s spouse are harmful to a close personal relationship. Each of us believes that there are many men and women in the world who would dearly love to have a spouse like our spouse. So even though we obviously have many faults and see each other’s faults, the faults seem so small in comparison to the great treasure we have in each other. And we do this with humility. I don’t see myself as such a great treasure, but I certainly see my spouse as a great treasure! If I concentrate on meeting my spouse’s needs, I get great joy from that kind of living. If I concentrate on meeting my needs, I get ugly and selfish and miserable.
Too many marriages have two people who are each trying desperately to get the other to meet his or her needs. This selfish approach to marriage never brings real joy to a marriage. It takes two people to make a great marriage. One cannot do it alone. If one is a “taker” and the other is a “giver” there cannot be real joy in a marriage. Both must be “givers” to each other. We enjoy reading and discussing books and articles that give us tips for making our marriage stronger. (By the way, we have found Again, some married people are always making jokes to others at his or her spouse’s expense. These jokes are usually concluded with laughter and words like, “Naw, I’m just kidding!” We believe that kind of joking is very hurtful to a marriage. We want others to hear us saying nice things about each other and doing nice things for each other. We don’t mind at all if others see us giving each other approving or loving glances. We don’t mind if they see us being polite to each other. We don’t mind if they see us holding hands as we walk together or sit together. A few others may tease us about these things, but we know that these are the kind of things that makes our marriage stronger and stronger. negative about each other. If we have disagreements, we work them out privately between ourselves. (Obviously, there are times when problems in a marriage require that.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Consider penciling in a date night once
Consider penciling in a date night once a week on your 2008 calendar.
Treat your true love to a whirl around the living room. You needn't be good at it.
- If something comes up you can switch it to another night that week.
- Do it now.
- The year will be over before you know it.
- Pick a room, a file or a drawer to organize.
- Often one spouse has more interest in organizing than the other.
- If so, this could be a gift to your spouse.
- If you both enjoy it, make it a date.
- On this ninth day of Christmas ladies should be dancing.
Treat your true love to a whirl around the living room. You needn't be good at it.
The important thing is that you are in the arms of the person you love..
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Now you can sign up to receive these
Now you can sign up to receive these same valuable marriage tips over the next 30 days. Simply fill out the form on this page and get ready to have a fun time. Dennis Rainey reports that thirty-five percent of marriages in America end in divorce... and 1 in 5 of those adults have been divorced multiple times. At Family Builders Ministries we are keenly aware of the challenges couples face in keeping their relationship strong and healthy. Willie often tells the story of Lance Armstrong, six-time winner of the Tour de France, who wrote about his failed marriage: “We forgot to do the most important thing. We forgot to be married. ” emphasis on building a healthy marriage. It’s very simple. We want to send you 30 easy but powerful marriage-building tips. Each day you will receive by email an idea that you can put into practice that day. Don’t delay. Sign up today and be ready to see your marriage flourish with God’s help. After you sign up, tell your friends about this wonderful opportunity. Just wanted to let you know we looked forward to the marriage tips everyday. We went to your marriage retreat at Monadnock in April. Between that and these tips our marriage has really grown.
We had a rough time in the past 4 years of our marriage, trying to work through a lot of stuff. We decided to stay together, but I was having a really tough time letting things go. With the help of prayer, your seminar in April and the marriage tips I feel I have worked through many of the issues that were stopping me from wanting to fix our marriage. So praise God and thank you for your ministry. “We are just wanting to give you feedback on your marriage tips... and enlighten you of how weird - but often wonderful - occurrences happen. I will try to keep it brief. Yesterday my husband and I were the closest yet to getting a divorce, in fact we were just going about the specific things of red tape & paperwork etc. Anyway, after many hours & much rage, anger, hatred, and hurt flying around the room (including in front of our special little boys), somehow we calmed down at some stage & were starting to talk - just a little - when I looked up at my emails. (I had been at the computer all day and had been keeping up with my emails. ) There popped up all of a sudden, marriage tip #15. I thought, Here we go, yeah, yeah, whatever, we know it all! We just don’t know how to get along! I read it & thought, Oh gosh, just another one of those signs you get out of nowhere when you most need it. Each and every sentence of the tip held an exact relevance to our situations/issues (there are maaaany). My husband was dumbfounded too!!!…We are going to fight - hmm not the best choice of vocabulary - for our marriage, & as unfair as it seems that I often have to fight the world to show them where true happiness comes from - living honest lives true to ourselves - I will push through if its only for the reason I am here to help one person in my family make a difference in the world. ” I just want to thank you for this initiative of building healthier marriages.
- I consider this information to be priceless in my own marriage.
- First, it has helped me to get in the habit of doing daily things for my wife and marriage.
- I heard somewhere that it takes at least 21 days to make a habit.
- Thanks for this new good habit that I have developed since signing up for the daily marriage tips.
- Thanks so much for the 30 day marriage tips.
- What a great idea! I looked forward to reading them every day.
- I found the messages meaningful and applicable in our 11-year-old marriage.
Please continue the good work. Email is a awesome vehicle to reach the busy family. I bet most of us with children could benefit from parenting tips too. Thank you so much for providing this service and information. I looked forward everyday to your marriage tips. My husband and I just celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary and we reflected on your tips. The tips gave us a chance to reexamine our relationship and to thank God each and every day for bringing us together. These tips are not just cute, though some are smoochie things to do. Most of the tips are thought-provoking. These tips help us to build some great practices. They certainly require thought and some deliberate effort. They've helped us, also, to develop a valuable perspective on what contributes to a healthy marriage. We are now, thinking more, thanks to your project, Willie. We are aware of the on purpose nature of a healthy, blessing-filled marriage. We
Sunday, January 6, 2008
We believe that we have a wonderful
We believe that we have a wonderful marriage. You will not be around us very long before you realize that we are delighted with each other and with our marriage. In the following paragraphs, we have tried to list a few of the things that we believe are keys to our own successful marriage. Don't get us wrong. We don't have all the answers! And while we do believe we have a great marriage, it is by no means perfect. We still have lots of growing to do. But on this page we humbly offer some tips that we believe have been most significant to us. We realize that some of them may not apply to you. As our Pastor, Frank Hicks, is fond of saying, Eat the meat.
Spit out the bones! But we would encourage you to please take them seriously, pray about them, and discuss them with each other. Your marriage can be great! This does not mean that we just “go to church” together, or “say grace before meals” together (although we do those things, of course!). When we are alone together, we frequently talk about the Lord, remind each other of how good He has been to us, discuss what He is doing in our lives, etc. If you listen in on our conversations, you might hear us say, “The Lord is so good to us. ” Or “Thank you, Lord. You are so good!” Or, “Let me tell you about how the Lord worked out this situation for me today. ” We have a brief time together each morning when we read, and briefly discuss, passages from the Bible together. (Usually we read about 10 to 20 verses from the Old Testament and 10 to 20 verses from the New Testament. ) You will also hear us praying several times a day for our boys and their families, for wisdom for the day, etc.
We genuinely enjoy each other’s company. One of our greatest joys in life is to go somewhere for a “24-hour retreat” together. (You can read the details about these retreats a little further in this article. ) During those 24-hour retreats, we are constantly in each other’s company and loving every minute of it. Of course, this brings up the question, “WHY do we enjoy each other’s company so much?” You will learn the answer to that question as you read the rest of this document. We never just “order each other around,” in public or private. If we ask the other to do a favor for us, it is always accompanied by the words “Please” or “Would you please?” We try to be very “tuned in” to when the other does something for us—even if it seems like a small thing. And you will hear us frequently say, “Thank you so much!” to each other. We also try very hard to never tease each other in a hurtful way.
We enjoy reading and discussingbooks and articles that give us tips for making our marriage stronger. (By the way, we have found Again, some married people are always making jokes to others at his or her spouse’s expense. These jokes are usually concluded with laughter and words like, “Naw, I’m just kidding!” We believe that kind of joking is very hurtful to a marriage. We want others to hear us saying nice things about each other and doing nice things for each other. We don’t mind at all if others see us giving each other approving or loving glances. We don’t mind if they see us being polite to each other. We don’t mind if they see us holding hands as we walk together or sit together. A few others may tease us about these things, but we know that these are the kind of things that makes our marriage stronger and stronger. negative about each other. If we have disagreements, we work them out privately between ourselves. (Obviously, there are times when problems in a marriage require that.
Spit out the bones! But we would encourage you to please take them seriously, pray about them, and discuss them with each other. Your marriage can be great! This does not mean that we just “go to church” together, or “say grace before meals” together (although we do those things, of course!). When we are alone together, we frequently talk about the Lord, remind each other of how good He has been to us, discuss what He is doing in our lives, etc. If you listen in on our conversations, you might hear us say, “The Lord is so good to us. ” Or “Thank you, Lord. You are so good!” Or, “Let me tell you about how the Lord worked out this situation for me today. ” We have a brief time together each morning when we read, and briefly discuss, passages from the Bible together. (Usually we read about 10 to 20 verses from the Old Testament and 10 to 20 verses from the New Testament. ) You will also hear us praying several times a day for our boys and their families, for wisdom for the day, etc.
- The point here is not to “brag” about our spiritual lives, but to try to illustrate what it means for Jesus to be Lord of our marriage.
- There is nothing we love more than being alone together.
We genuinely enjoy each other’s company. One of our greatest joys in life is to go somewhere for a “24-hour retreat” together. (You can read the details about these retreats a little further in this article. ) During those 24-hour retreats, we are constantly in each other’s company and loving every minute of it. Of course, this brings up the question, “WHY do we enjoy each other’s company so much?” You will learn the answer to that question as you read the rest of this document. We never just “order each other around,” in public or private. If we ask the other to do a favor for us, it is always accompanied by the words “Please” or “Would you please?” We try to be very “tuned in” to when the other does something for us—even if it seems like a small thing. And you will hear us frequently say, “Thank you so much!” to each other. We also try very hard to never tease each other in a hurtful way.
- We have seen many couples say words to each other that are uncomplimentary or that “sting” a little (or even a lot!).
- Then the spouse will say, “He (or she) knows I’m kidding.
- ” We believe that these little stinging words that make fun of one’s spouse are harmful to a close personal relationship.
- Each of us believes that there are many men and women in the world who would dearly love to have a spouse like our spouse.
- So even though we obviously have many faults and see each other’s faults, the faults seem so small in comparison to the great treasure we have in each other.
And we do this with humility. I don’t see myself as such a great treasure, but I certainly see my spouse as a great treasure! If I concentrate on meeting my spouse’s needs, I get great joy from that kind of living. If I concentrate on meeting my needs, I get ugly and selfish and miserable. Too many marriages have two people who are each trying desperately to get the other to meet his or her needs. This selfish approach to marriage never brings real joy to a marriage. It takes two people to make a great marriage. One cannot do it alone. If one is a “taker” and the other is a “giver” there cannot be real joy in a marriage. Both must be “givers” to each other.
We enjoy reading and discussing
Friday, January 4, 2008
We believe that we have a wonderful
We believe that we have a wonderful marriage. You will not be around us very long before you realize that we are delighted with each other and with our marriage. In the following paragraphs, we have tried to list a few of the things that we believe are keys to our own successful marriage. Don't get us wrong. We don't have all the answers! And while we do believe we have a great marriage, it is by no means perfect. We still have lots of growing to do. But on this page we humbly offer some tips that we believe have been most significant to us. We realize that some of them may not apply to you. As our Pastor, Frank Hicks, is fond of saying, Eat the meat. Spit out the bones! But we would encourage you to please take them seriously, pray about them, and discuss them with each other. Your marriage can be great! This does not mean that we just “go to church” together, or “say grace before meals” together (although we do those things, of course!). When we are alone together, we frequently talk about the Lord, remind each other of how good He has been to us, discuss what He is doing in our lives, etc. If you listen in on our conversations, you might hear us say, “The Lord is so good to us. ” Or “Thank you, Lord. You are so good!” Or, “Let me tell you about how the Lord worked out this situation for me today. ” We have a brief time together each morning when we read, and briefly discuss, passages from the Bible together.
(Usually we read about 10 to 20 verses from the Old Testament and 10 to 20 verses from the New Testament. ) You will also hear us praying several times a day for our boys and their families, for wisdom for the day, etc. The point here is not to “brag” about our spiritual lives, but to try to illustrate what it means for Jesus to be Lord of our marriage. There is nothing we love more than being alone together. We genuinely enjoy each other’s company. One of our greatest joys in life is to go somewhere for a “24-hour retreat” together. (You can read the details about these retreats a little further in this article. ) During those 24-hour retreats, we are constantly in each other’s company and loving every minute of it. Of course, this brings up the question, “WHY do we enjoy each other’s company so much?” You will learn the answer to that question as you read the rest of this document. We never just “order each other around,” in public or private. If we ask the other to do a favor for us, it is always accompanied by the words “Please” or “Would you please?” We try to be very “tuned in” to when the other does something for us—even if it seems like a small thing. And you will hear us frequently say, “Thank you so much!” to each other. We also try very hard to never tease each other in a hurtful way. We have seen many couples say words to each other that are uncomplimentary or that “sting” a little (or even a lot!). Then the spouse will say, “He (or she) knows I’m kidding. ” We believe that these little stinging words that make fun of one’s spouse are harmful to a close personal relationship.
If I concentrate on meeting my needs, I get ugly and selfish and miserable. Too many marriages have two people who are each trying desperately to get the other to meet his or her needs. This selfish approach to marriage never brings real joy to a marriage. It takes two people to make a great marriage. One cannot do it alone. If one is a “taker” and the other is a “giver” there cannot be real joy in a marriage. Both must be “givers” to each other. We enjoy reading and discussing books and articles that give us tips for making our marriage stronger. (By the way, we have found Again, some married people are always making jokes to others at his or her spouse’s expense. These jokes are usually concluded with laughter and words like, “Naw, I’m just kidding!” We believe that kind of joking is very hurtful to a marriage. We want others to hear us saying nice things about each other and doing nice things for each other. We don’t mind at all if others see us giving each other approving or loving glances. We don’t mind if they see us being polite to each other. We don’t mind if they see us holding hands as we walk together or sit together. A few others may tease us about these things, but we know that these are the kind of things that makes our marriage stronger and stronger. negative about each other. If we have disagreements, we work them out privately between ourselves. (Obviously, there are times when problems in a marriage require that.
(Usually we read about 10 to 20 verses from the Old Testament and 10 to 20 verses from the New Testament. ) You will also hear us praying several times a day for our boys and their families, for wisdom for the day, etc. The point here is not to “brag” about our spiritual lives, but to try to illustrate what it means for Jesus to be Lord of our marriage. There is nothing we love more than being alone together. We genuinely enjoy each other’s company. One of our greatest joys in life is to go somewhere for a “24-hour retreat” together. (You can read the details about these retreats a little further in this article. ) During those 24-hour retreats, we are constantly in each other’s company and loving every minute of it. Of course, this brings up the question, “WHY do we enjoy each other’s company so much?” You will learn the answer to that question as you read the rest of this document. We never just “order each other around,” in public or private. If we ask the other to do a favor for us, it is always accompanied by the words “Please” or “Would you please?” We try to be very “tuned in” to when the other does something for us—even if it seems like a small thing. And you will hear us frequently say, “Thank you so much!” to each other. We also try very hard to never tease each other in a hurtful way. We have seen many couples say words to each other that are uncomplimentary or that “sting” a little (or even a lot!). Then the spouse will say, “He (or she) knows I’m kidding. ” We believe that these little stinging words that make fun of one’s spouse are harmful to a close personal relationship.
- Each of us believes that there are many men and women in the world who would dearly love to have a spouse like our spouse.
- So even though we obviously have many faults and see each other’s faults, the faults seem so small in comparison to the great treasure we have in each other.
- And we do this with humility.
- I don’t see myself as such a great treasure, but I certainly see my spouse as a great treasure! If I concentrate on meeting my spouse’s needs, I get great joy from that kind of living.
If I concentrate on meeting my needs, I get ugly and selfish and miserable. Too many marriages have two people who are each trying desperately to get the other to meet his or her needs. This selfish approach to marriage never brings real joy to a marriage. It takes two people to make a great marriage. One cannot do it alone. If one is a “taker” and the other is a “giver” there cannot be real joy in a marriage. Both must be “givers” to each other. We enjoy reading and discussing books and articles that give us tips for making our marriage stronger. (By the way, we have found Again, some married people are always making jokes to others at his or her spouse’s expense. These jokes are usually concluded with laughter and words like, “Naw, I’m just kidding!” We believe that kind of joking is very hurtful to a marriage. We want others to hear us saying nice things about each other and doing nice things for each other. We don’t mind at all if others see us giving each other approving or loving glances. We don’t mind if they see us being polite to each other. We don’t mind if they see us holding hands as we walk together or sit together. A few others may tease us about these things, but we know that these are the kind of things that makes our marriage stronger and stronger. negative about each other. If we have disagreements, we work them out privately between ourselves. (Obviously, there are times when problems in a marriage require that.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Research suggests that successful
Research suggests that successful marriages have the following six components: appreciation and affection, commitment, positive communication, time together, spiritual well-being, and the ability to cope with stress and crisis. Successful couples find time for each other. Many couples plan a night out together to build their relationship. This takes effort, but the rewards are worth it. You don´t even have to spend money on your one night a week excursion. A walk in the park or a trip to look at the stars can do wonders for a relationship. In any couple, almost everything one person says or does either raises or lowers the self-esteem of the other. Any attack or perceived rejection or indifference on the part of one person in a couple will lower the other person´s self-esteem. Conflict is inevitable in a relationship. If conflict is used creatively, it can be a catalyst for growth in marriage. Couples and family members need to learn to communicate openly and to negotiate in good faith with each other, recognizing that each person is unique and that conflict is necessary and can help facilitate positive change. Don´t only tell your partner that you love them, but show it every day. Love is shown through little gestures such as holding hands, kissing on the porch, complimenting your spouse in public.
Have you ever wondered about people who say that they never disagree. Do you think they are normal? NOT! We are going to have our disagreements. However, couples who make it through disagreements are the ones that learn that you can learn to agree to disagree. They also learn that personal attacks or criticism of character are daggers to a marriage. There are some bad reasons for marrying. Below is a short list of those reasons. Marriages that start this way have more difficulties. These couples can survive, but they may have more challenges. Never take your relationship for granted. The only way to ensure that your partner will be with you forever is to live each day as if it was your first day together. There are some good and bad reasons for marrying. Marriages based on good reasons are often the most satisfying. Good reasons to marry include: Marriage is a legal contract.
Marriage creates formal and legal obligations and rights between spouses. Public recognition of, and protection for, this marriage contract, whether in tax or divorce law, helps married couples succeed in creating a permanent bond. Many couples have problems with their in-laws or maybe I should say out-laws. Extended family has created many problems in marriages throughout time. My recommendation is to create boundaries between you as a couple and your families. This isn´t easy as some extended families really push to keep in control of their children´s life. Nevertheless, couples should plan a strategy for maintaining their relationship and keeping it strong if extended families are hurting the marriage. This doesn´t have to be a ending of contact, but it may need to be an open discussion with extended family about what type of influence they can be in your lives. When a heated discussion is going nowhere, call for a time-out. Even boxing matches have rounds. Set an alarm to let you know when an hour is up, and during that time go for a run, bake a cake, watch TV. Just calm down and get your mind off of it, until the hour is up, and the two of you can resume. 3rd) Do you feel comfortable with your spouse? In having a child you are inviting a child into your home. Every child deserves a loving home..
- Such acts show your love.
- In the day to day living in marriage, we are often least polite to the ones who need and deserve it most.
Thank each other for the things you do, praise each other and never forget to say I´m sorry. These may sound like trivial things, but lack of them has broken many a marriage. Keep track of spending on small as well as big-ticket items. Also it is a good idea to always keep some petty cash around for special time for the two of you, even if it´s just a night of pizza and a movie. When couples try to read the mind of their partner they generally guess wrong. This is especially true in couples who argue a lot. The individual who tries reading the mind of their partner often assume they know what their partner is feeling and thinking. These assumptions are often in error and create more problems. Individuals who expect their spouse to read their mind are asking for trouble and playing an unfair game. When having an argument with your spouse, try not to win, but to compromise. If you both can come away from the disagreement with something, it stops the power struggling so common in marriages. Many people think they are in love when what they feel is really a strong sex drive, the fear of being alone, or a need for approval from others. It is this romantic “love” that fades with time in many marriages.
Have you ever wondered about people who say that they never disagree. Do you think they are normal? NOT! We are going to have our disagreements. However, couples who make it through disagreements are the ones that learn that you can learn to agree to disagree. They also learn that personal attacks or criticism of character are daggers to a marriage. There are some bad reasons for marrying. Below is a short list of those reasons. Marriages that start this way have more difficulties. These couples can survive, but they may have more challenges. Never take your relationship for granted. The only way to ensure that your partner will be with you forever is to live each day as if it was your first day together. There are some good and bad reasons for marrying. Marriages based on good reasons are often the most satisfying. Good reasons to marry include: Marriage is a legal contract.
Marriage creates formal and legal obligations and rights between spouses. Public recognition of, and protection for, this marriage contract, whether in tax or divorce law, helps married couples succeed in creating a permanent bond. Many couples have problems with their in-laws or maybe I should say out-laws. Extended family has created many problems in marriages throughout time. My recommendation is to create boundaries between you as a couple and your families. This isn´t easy as some extended families really push to keep in control of their children´s life. Nevertheless, couples should plan a strategy for maintaining their relationship and keeping it strong if extended families are hurting the marriage. This doesn´t have to be a ending of contact, but it may need to be an open discussion with extended family about what type of influence they can be in your lives. When a heated discussion is going nowhere, call for a time-out. Even boxing matches have rounds. Set an alarm to let you know when an hour is up, and during that time go for a run, bake a cake, watch TV. Just calm down and get your mind off of it, until the hour is up, and the two of you can resume. 3rd) Do you feel comfortable with your spouse? In having a child you are inviting a child into your home. Every child deserves a loving home..
