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...
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...
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...
I don’t really keep this a secret, but gift-giving isn’t my favorite when it comes to the holidays. Crazy, right? Don’t get me wrong. I love seeing the joy on my kids and grandkids faces when they open up something they’ve wanted and are surprised by it. I...
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....
I’ve got to be honest: I am gift-giving challenged. Giving really thoughtful gifts rarely comes easy to me. It takes a lot of extra thought and energy. Maybe you can relate? So when this time of year comes around, can I tell you one of my favorite things?...
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,...
Welcome to our fourth bonus episode of the No More Perfect Podcast! I like to surprise you with a little extra, bite-size podcast goodness every once in a while that’s quick to listen to and helpful for your life. Just to say thank you! And today’s episode...
Welcome back to #MarriageMonday! Today we are digging into unrealistic expectations. They touch every marriage. How are they affecting yours? Jill: Are unrealistic expectations robbing you of joy in your marriage? Do you feel like marriage just isn’t what you...
Last fall, Mark and I hiked a trail in the Rockies that was listed as easy. However, we later found out it was mismarked and it was really a moderate 6.5-mile trail! The scenery was beautiful. We saw waterfalls, wildlife, and an alpine lake at the top of the mountain....
Welcome back to #MarriageMonday! Today we are digging into some practical ways to deepen intimacy and improve connection in your marriage. This is an edited excerpt from a section of No More Perfect Marriages. Grab a copy to dig deeper! Jill: True intimacy involves...
Dear parent who made a mistake, There’s been something on my mind lately that I’d like to share with you. I don’t know how “big” or “small” the mistake was. I don’t know how deep the roots go on the issue. We could be...
Marriage is our passion. When Mark and I went through our marriage crisis now almost 10 years ago, we weren’t sure what the outcome would be. Trust had been broken. Tensions were high. (You can find the full story here.) But as we’ve experienced healing and now...
Mark and I have the opportunity to host marriage intensives in our home, and it is truly one of our favorite aspects of the ministry we do. Today I want to share with you why that is. Our marriage intensives are a 3-day marriage retreat spent at our home here in...
Mark: Have you ever felt like your spouse is slow at making decisions? Or have you ever been on the other side feeling like your voice isn’t being heard when a decision is being made? Do you ever sit down to have a discussion and end up arguing over whose...