What Is Your Response to Conflict?

Mark: Conflict handled without care can bring out the worst in us. Unless we’re intentional about responding rather than reacting, we can end up with a mess to clean up. Jill: It’s rare that we both haven’t contributed to the mess in some way. So we...

The Top Books That Influenced Our Marriage

Jill: We’re often asked what the top books are that we read for our marriage.  To be honest, initially I was the reader in the relationship.  I would summarize to Mark what I’d read. In fact, I actually wrote my Is There Really Sex After Kids book that...

When An Introvert And An Extrovert Marry

Mark: I’m an extrovert. I’m refueled by being with people Jill: I’m an introvert. I’m refueled by being alone. Mark: This has caused more than a few challenges in our nearly 35 years of marriage. Jill: Initially, we were drawn to our differences. I loved how Mark was...

The Power of NonSexual Touch In Your Marriage

Mark: It was quite a few years ago when I first heard the phrase, “nonsexual touch.” I thought, “You’re kidding me. Those two words don’t even belong in the same sentence!” Jill: I remember Mark’s reaction to it. I craved non-sexual touch, but it seemed that Mark only...

When a Woman is Addicted to Pornography

This blog may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure here.   Today’s post is from my friend Robin Nordhues. Robin is a brave woman who has decided to share her story to help others. She’s also a speaker, blogger and workshop leader with a passion...

Six Healthy Ways to Express Frustration

Mark: Two weeks ago, the headlines in our local paper read: “Woman shot husband over lack of attention.”  Such a sad story and an extreme way to handle frustration. Jill: Most of us have been frustrated with our spouse being distant or distracted at one time or...

The Myth of “I Don’t Love You Anymore”

It’s happened again.  Yesterday we learned of another family that has been broken up because one person in the marriage says, “I don’t love you anymore.” There’s a common misconception that married couples will always “feel”...

Don’t Go Relivin’ What You Have Forgiven

Jill says: Even when you’re moving forward, it’s easy to want to bring up the past. Mark says: It’s the human side of us that wants to throw something back into play that we settled in our heart or relationship a while ago. Jill says: Just this past...

Is There Really Sex After Kids?

Sex…I could go the rest of my life without it!” I said to my husband, Mark, as we drove up to the bed-and-breakfast we had reserved for a two-day getaway. “I have no desire. I’m so tired, and I can’t seem to ever meet your needs!”...

Marriage Monday: 18 Ways to Flirt with Your Spouse

Mark and I recently saw a friend we hadn’t seen for a long time.  We asked how he and his wife were doing.  He said, “We’re learning to flirt well and flirt often.” I loved his answer!  This is a couple that’s been married about 30 years!...