The nurse walked into my room and said, “Jill it’s time to go. You’ll need to leave your glasses here.” Mark prayed for me, gave me a kiss and then waved as the nurse wheeled me out of my room towards my lumpectomy surgery. Without my glasses I...
My Uncle Junior was a very handsome man. Born Ezra, Jr. Fleener on February 29, 1924, he was called “Junior” from birth. With a talent in woodworking, his furniture now has a prominent place in the homes of each member of my immediate family. While academics were...
Mark: It all started with a conversation at small group last week. Jill and I were sharing about the 8 God-Tools we talk about in our No More Perfect Marriages book. It was when we got to the God-Tool of acceptance that it struck her. Jill: We had talked earlier...
Sometimes less is more. That can even be true with prayer. Sometimes it’s the simplest prayers that can be the most powerful. Here are four short, but powerful prayers to pray: More of you, Lord. Less of me. This prayer based upon John 3:30, “He must...
It happens to the best of us. We’re handling life well until one of our kids just pushes us right over the edge. We’re no longer talking in our sugary sweet voice that seemed to be helping us keep our anger under control. Now we’re yelling and the...
Mark: Last week’s Marriage Monday was a reminder of the importance of asking for what you need or want. Whether it’s bringing flowers when you pick me up at the airport (Jill’s want) or being sensitive to how my capacity is different than yours (Mark’s need), we have...
Mark: About a year ago Jill said, “You know what I’d love when you pick me up at the airport?” “No,” I answered, “What would you love?” She responded, “That you would bring me flowers.” I admit I was surprised at...
It was the moms group I didn’t intend to start. Desperate to meet other moms after a move to a new city, I invited eight moms I barely knew from church to join me once a week to read and talk about a book on motherhood. Truth be told, I felt better equipped to be a...
“We don’t get to decide what’s important to our spouse, but we do get to DISCOVER what’s important to them.” That quote is from this video we’re sharing for today’s Marriage Monday. The topic is minimizing and it’s...
Today’s we get to benefit from the wisdom of author and speaker Ginger Hubbard. Ginger is the author of I Can’t Believe You Just Said That and Don’t Make Me Count to Three. A veteran homeschooling mother of two adult children and stepmom to two much-adored...
I sat at my friend’s kitchen table as our kids played just a few rooms away in their playroom. We had weekly playdates—one week at my house, the next week at hers. I loved our time together, but I also struggled with it as well. You see, my friend is an innie and I’m...
Mark: It happens at every marriage seminar we do. We lead couples through a process that increases emotional safety in their communication. At the end of that conversation we ask them to enjoy a full body hug for a minute. Jill: After our first “talk break” they often...
Do the voices in your head tell you that you are not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, or just not enough, period? If so, it’s time to stop listening to the lies that sabotage your confidence and start embracing the truth of your true identity in Christ....
It was just three weeks ago when Mark and I got up and prepared to head to the airport for our speaking trip near Washington DC. As he does every day, Mark headed downstairs and made his coffee. He spent some quiet time and headed into the kitchen for a second cup of...
It’s been 7 years since our marriage fell apart. We spent well over a year repairing the erosion damage caused by slow fades we didn’t even know existed. After those years of rebuilding our marriage, we determined we would never allow our marriage to...
