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Just. Do. It. Part II
Ken and Janine just did a post a few weeks ago with a very similar title encouraging our readers to take their marriage to the next level by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Experience. We highly recommend as well! In the meantime, we decided to follow up with our own version of Just. Do. It. It will hopefully touch your hearts and encourage you to REALLY take stock and take action in your relationship. Almost exactly three years ago,we had just gotten back from the trip of a lifetime – an African safari. It was an unforgettable experience. The variety of animals we saw, the beautiful landscapes that were so…
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Marriage, Inc.
Before we got married, we thought we were a normal couple. We spoke about our values. We shared our expectations. We went to the required premarital class. But none of that prepared us to have an argument over a glass, a sink, a sock… If you think about it, marriage is less like a fairy tale and more like launching a company. Research says that starting a company is one of the hardest things to do. What they don’t tell you is that getting married is basically the same thing. But for this start-up, your co-founder sleeps in your bed, eats your snacks, and takes feedback very personally. Both parties…
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Prioritizing US
Julie: Grandkids, family activities, visiting sick relatives and friends, volunteer work, visiting our kids, jobs, the house, the bills – life has a million distractions. It’s so easy to let our lenses of love get out of focus and prioritize these other things over our sexual relationship. Our sexual flame flickers as we behave more like roommates than lovers.
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FlatTire #2
Summers can be crazy and wonderful. Then you get Flat Tire #2. Summers are a wonderful time to reconnect with family and friends, enjoy longer days and leaisure time at the lake or cabin. Ours got crazy with a backed up septic system at the cabin and then Flat Tire #2.
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A Good Time AND a Good Story
Ahhhhhh…the crackle of the campfire, the smell of pine trees, the stars stretching out across the sky – for us, camping in the great outdoors is the ultimate escape. But let’s be honest – @#$% happens and Mother Nature loves a good laugh. Over the years, we’ve endured raccoons robbing us blind, strangers stealing our cooler, our tents literally floating – the list goes on. As our niece likes to say, “It’s either a good time or a good story.”
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We Are In Our Netflix Era
Chris♥️Michelle: Recently, we were talking to some friends about staying relevant in today’s world. They made the comparison of Blockbuster and Netflix. Blockbuster was great, back in the day, but where are they now? We imagine that their late fees, out-of-stock favorites and resistance to change is why they’re no longer around. Compare this to Netflix. When they started, they were a mail order DVD rental company. Now, they are an always evolving web-based giant! We thought about a similar comparison with our marriage. Shift from Transaction to Subscription • Blockbuster Way: every interaction was a transaction and if you’re late, there’s a penalty. I do this when I say…
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What’s Your Spouse’s Love Language?
Is The 5 Love Languages outdated? Not a chance. See how this practical tool is still saving, changing, and boosting marriages today—plus, resources to find your own language.
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Sacrificing vs. Generosity in Marriage: A Paradigm Shift
Sacrificing in marriage can lead to resentment. A paradigm shift to reciprocal acts of generosity can help to heal resentment.
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Mistakes Made During Conflict
Chris: Recently, Michelle and I were having a conversation about how we spend our free time. Actually, the argument started when Michelle asked, “What do you want to do this weekend?” It quickly escalated into an argument. Research on couple relationships shows that there are three common mistakes made during an argument. Here’s what it looked like for us. Mistake #1: You Change! It is easy for me to have a long list of what Michelle could and should do differently and a brief list of my own shortcomings. Unfortunately, pointing out Michelle’s flaws does not encourage change. Typically, when I ramble off these to her, she becomes defensive. Michelle: Chris said, “You…
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Running Up A Downward Escalator
Ken: Last week we were making our way through the airport with our carry-on bags. As we started down an escalator, I suddenly remembered I left my phone lying in the bathroom at the top of the escalator. In that split second, my only thought was that someone would find it and snatch it. Not today! I turned around with my suitcase, pushed Janine aside as I started trying to run up those steps that were propelling us downward. I fell near the top step but bounced up quickly. With a heroic leap, like a running back jumping into the end-zone, I made it to the top bruised but victorious. The wide-eyed onlookers asked if I was okay, wondering “what’s up with this guy”? Janine: One minute we were casually riding down the…
