When Your Marriage Feels Dead | #MarriageMonday

This week on #MarriageMonday, we’re sharing a response we shared with someone who recently reached out to us. If your marriage also feels dead in some ways right now, we want you to know that you’re not alone. Dear Mark and Jill: Our marriage feels dead....

4 Principles for Our Words in Marriage | #MarriageMonday

Jill: Welcome back to #MarriageMonday! Today, we are taking a look at the power of our words. Our words are powerful, and that power can be used both positively and destructively. When Mark and I think of our marriage before crisis and our marriage after crisis, we’ve...

A Marriage Intensive Just For You

We kept on “keeping on” until we just couldn’t anymore. Our 28th wedding anniversary was anything but happy. The challenges of married life crept up on us and clouded over all of the romantic feelings we once felt. Mark felt discontent more than I did, but I...

Praying as a Couple | #MarriageMonday

Our #MarriageMonday posts are written to help couples dig deeper, connect intentionally,  and to be more equipped to handle the everyday challenges and realities of marriage. Prayer is such an important part of our relationship with God, as well as our relationship...

Turn Frustration Into Communication

Mark: Jill and I and our daughters Anne and Erica spent the weekend with hundreds of moms at Jill’s Mom Getaway Day in Rochester, Minnesota. It was a full weekend of fabulous music, teaching, and getting to hear the stories of so many wonderful moms. Jill: The...

It’s Not About You

Mark: I am an extrovert and Jill is an introvert. As an introvert, Jill needs her space. You see, introverts refuel by being alone. Extroverts refuel by being with people. In general, I want to be with her–and others–to refuel my tank. Jill: In the early...

The Slow Fade of Unforgiveness

Jill: In our No More Perfect Marriages book, we identify the seven slow fades we find every couple experiences in marriage. As more and more people are reading the book, attending the seminars, and reading the blog series, they’re identifying other slow fades that...

Is Distraction Pulling Your Hearts Apart?

Jill: One of the things I love about being an author is having the opportunity to start a conversation on a topic, fully knowing that those who read the book or hear you speak will keep broadening your grasp of the subject. Mark: In our No More Perfect Marriages book,...

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...

Hopeful or Hopeless?

Mark: Our emotions are important–God gave them to us.  However they don’t always tell us the truth. Jill: Emotions can be like waves that toss us to and fro…that’s why we need the anchor of Jesus Christ to give us a peace that passes...

Get Help Sooner Rather Than Later

Mark: Since I’ve been down in my back, I’ve been enjoying a Netflix series called “Longmire.” One of the episodes I recently watched was about post military service PTSD. One of the characters made this insightful statement, “When...

There’s A Whole Lot More God In Me

Mark: Jill and I spent the weekend in Cincinnati. She had the privilege of speaking at the AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) conference on Saturday. We decided to stay an extra day since Saturday was our anniversary. Jill: Getting away to have couple...

Got the Tingles?

Mark: Jill and I spent this past weekend with over 2500 moms at the North Central Regional Hearts at Home Conference.  While I go with her to serve and work the conference, I also get the opportunity to hear some wonderful speakers. At this conference, I really...

Compassion Feels

Mark: Last night we spent time with some friends who are coming through a hard season of healing in their marriage. We spent the evening sharing with each other about lessons learned along the way. Jill: The topic of compassion came up and we talked about the many...