HOPE for Your Marriage

Statistics show that half of all marriages will end in divorce, but you and I are more than a number.  These figures do not predict the length or satisfaction of your marriage in any way.  I think it’s important to remember this when it comes to viewing our marriage.  Better yet, ignore the statistics if they are negatively affecting your marriage.  I suppose a little worrying about not becoming one of the couples who divorce can be healthy, but we should not allow this disappointing statistic to shadow our own marriage. I...

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It’s a Date!

Dating shouldn’t stop once we’re married.  We’ve all heard this before I’m sure.  That is why I encourage you to make a goal to go out on weekly dates; its good advice after all.  I’ve been trying to keep date night a priority in my own marriage and can definitely see its positive effects in my own marriage.  My husband and I just recently found out that we’re pregnant and so we definitely are attempting to take advantage of the free time we have as a couple right now.  Once children are in the picture date night can become...

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Married Life: Dating with Children

Life is busy enough without throwing dependent children into the mix.  Weekly date night can be difficult for married couples in general, but the task can prove even more difficult when you have children.  Though, it should be one of your highest priorities to spend some alone time with your spouse.  Now date night doesn’t have to be something extravagant every week, but it also shouldn’t remain a last minute thing where you end up doing dinner and a movie week after week. Remember that weekly date night is encouraged, though don’t...

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Team: Husband & Wife

We’ve all been on a team at one point in our life or another.  Remember back to that time.  What made your team effective or ineffective?  These same principles apply to healthy and effective marriages. Each marriage team equates to one husband and one wife.  Marriage after all is about the two of us, three if you included God.  I highly recommend that you include God in your marriage.  Developing and maintaining a relationship with God will help you treat your spouse the way you promised to treat them on your...

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Our Love Languages

Do you ever feel like the love you show your spouse goes unnoticed?  Have you ever wondered why your spouse didn’t make such a BIG deal about what you did for them?  I have experienced this feeling of confusion and frustration a time or two. Why might I or YOU feel this way after our attempts to shower our spouses with love fail us?  I believe it’s due to speaking one’s own love language and not the spouses love language.  If you’ve ever read Dr. Gary Chapman’s book The 5 Love Languages, then you know what I’m talking about. For...

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Do It to Please Not to Avoid Conflict

The number one rule is: Always do something to please your spouse; never do something to avoid your spouse’s wrath.  There’s a reason behind everything that we do.  There’s a thought to every behavior or action.  We should make sure that our priority remains trying to please our spouse and not because we want to avoid upsetting our spouse. Some might say that it doesn’t matter why you do something; it matters more that you did it.  I disagree and I will tell you why.  Growing up did you ever get into fights with...

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Our Money

One of the largest and most common arguments in marriage is about money.  The biggest of these money disagreements among married couples is the spending of the money.  Money has even been labeled as one of the top causes for divorce among couples.  This is why it is important for couples to have serious discussions about their finances prior to marriage and especially at the beginning of their marriage.  These discussions should place importance on preparing for, preventing, and managing the money conflicts that the couple...

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The Married Couples List: Ways to Reduce Stress

 We experience stress daily.  Stress may result from school, work, relationships, or children, but there are ways to deal with stress as it enters our daily lives.  Managing stress doesn’t have to be an individual thing and would be easier done with some support.  Marriage is about supporting one another, right?  What better support than that of a spouse.  If you notice you or your spouse is stressing then try some of the activities below.  Remember you want to do these things together. Exercise. ...

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Infertility: Dealing with the Loss of a Pregnancy

Children are blessings.  We hear this saying all the time, so what does infertility, a miscarriage or the loss of a child mean?  Are these curses?  No, of course not!  Miscarriages are not meant to be punishments.  I don’t believe infertile individuals and couples are cursed; they are definitely not cursed because they have miscarried.  Today, we now know that miscarriages occur due to biological reasons.             Though, I can understand how feelings of...

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The Challenges Couples Face When Dealing with Infertility

Infertility, just like any other challenge, has the ability to pull couples apart.  It also has the ability to draw couples together and strengthen marriages.  The decision to lean toward independence or dependence is up to the individuals involved.  There are common challenges among couples dealing with infertility, but there are ways to overcome them. 1. Having to listen to insensitive comments or unsolicited advice Individuals and couples dealing with infertility are sometimes asked to personal of questions by family, friends,...

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For Couples Dealing with Fertility Treatment Stress

Dealing with infertility is stressful enough, but adding fertility treatments to the situation only increases a couple’s amount of stress.  This is why it is so important for couples to be aware of what to expect as a result of receiving fertility treatments. Fertility treatments may require that women or men take hormones to treat hormonal infertility.  Examples of hormonal imbalances that might lead to infertility problems include hypothyroidism (low thyroid function), luteal phase defect (low progesterone levels), and hyperprolactinemia...

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Coping with Infertility

People often get married so that they can start having children.  It sounds like the perfect plan.  Providing a stable relationship for a future child helps provides a safe and healthy environment every child deserves.  Though, things don’t always go according to plan.  Sometimes we can want something, but not get it or at least not get it how or when we expected it.  Infertility often falls under this common reality for couples who want children, but cannot conceive.             ...

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Handling Conflict Effectively in Your Marriage

With marriage comes conflict.  No two persons are alike and this is a good thing.  You might otherwise find your marriage rather boring than the growing experience it is meant to be.  If you think of conflict as an opportunity, then you will more easily enjoy its benefits. First, define what you want from conflict that will arise, along with what you don’t want.  For me, I do not want conflict to slowly destroy my marriage; I want conflict to help us become aware of any problems, change our bad habits, understand one another,...

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