Dear Younger Me

Dear younger me, We just had another birthday. It’s probably hard for you to believe (it’s hard for me to believe too), but this was number 58! What a life we’ve had so far. I look back at you and think of how much you have left to learn and to...

Healing From Painful Memories After Infidelity | #MarriageMonday

On today’s #MarriageMonday, I’m answering an email that was sent in about the difficult journey of healing from painful memories after infidelity. Sometimes there are photos, destinations, people, or other triggers that bring up strong emotions, often...

5 Reasons Continuing Education is Important in Your Marriage

Can I be honest? As Mark and I were approaching our June wedding almost 39 years ago, I thought everything would just kind of work out. I mean, I knew there would be conflict but we loved each other and were excited to get married, so I figured our differences or...

An Open Letter to the Person Struggling with Valentine’s Day

Dear Friend, In February of 2012, Valentine’s Day was anything but enjoyable for me. Twelve days earlier, my husband had left and my world was turned upside down. Not only that, but infidelity was a part of why he left, so there was a double-whammy on my heart....

What Do I Do When I’m Not in the Mood?

It’s no secret, but sex can easily become one of the biggest sources of conflict in marriage. Do you see that in your marriage? Maybe you feel like your differing sex drives are exhausting, Maybe you feel like all your spouse thinks about is sex. Maybe you feel...

An Evening Routine for a Connected Marriage | #MarriageMonday

What is your evening routine like? Is connecting as a couple something you intentionally do? Last week, I shared about reaching your goals for the New Year.  Today I want to share about a goal I hope you have in mind for this year: Increasing connection in your...

A Word for the New Year: Intentionality

Happy New Year! Mark and I are spending the start of this year down in Florida with my mom, and it has been such a special start to the year. Today, I want to talk about intentionality. Every January, the focus is goal-setting for so many of us. We set goals and...

Straight Talk To The Guy Thinking About Leaving His Marriage

Our thoughts are powerful. I remember the thoughts that caused me to leave my marriage twelve years ago. Those same thoughts fueled the affair I ended up having. And I’m reminded of those messages every time I spend time with a guy in crisis, because what...

When Comparison Threatens Your Marriage | #MarriageMonday

Dear Jill, I’m emailing because I need prayer and advice and I honestly don’t know who else to turn to. My marriage is good. My spouse is wonderful; however, there’s someone I work with who I really enjoy talking to. I find myself wishing my spouse was more like them....

6 Ways to Tune Up Your Marriage | #MarriageMonday

Mark: When life gets busy, connection in marriage is usually one of the first things to go. Jill: When life is moving faster than is healthy for our relationships, it’s easy to minimize, both internally and externally. We internally minimize when we say to ourselves,...