Marriage and Family Blog

Signs of Life

May 13, 2021

I was talking to a friend who is somewhat particular about his yard, and he told me there are two parts of his yard that are his favorite spots. I thought to myself, “These must be particularly lush and manicured parts of his yard to be his favorite. But actually, his two favorite spots in […]

Where is Your Home…Really?

April 29, 2021

I was driving to work one morning in a bit of a funk. It had been a long and taxing week and I was just feeling a little…blah! I had my favorites playlist on shuffle when a song pulled me out of my fog. Actually, it was the following line that captured my attention… “This […]

Not Another Marriage List!

April 22, 2021

We’ve all seen them. They’re in the magazines that line the grocery store check-out aisles. They’re scattered throughout our social media feeds. They are written by academics, psychologists, and freelance writers. And they have titles that dare us to see how we measure up. What are they? They are those lists of characteristics that supposedly […]

A Small Surprise Makes a Big Impact

April 15, 2021

In the spirit of full disclosure, let me say this is a post I need to take to heart as much as anyone. Just ask my spouse.  A STORY Not long ago, a friend of mine told me that in the spring he likes to go mushroom hunting. It piqued my interest because this is […]

How to Spot an Immature Spouse

April 8, 2021

This is my wedding photo. When I look at this photo, I can’t help but notice how young and immature I was. I was only 21 years old. I was a country boy who had hardly been out of the county in which I lived. I had little education. I had never seen a wedding, […]

UPS Can Clear Up Your Communication

April 1, 2021

IT’S NOT A LACK OF COMMUNICATION You’ve heard it a million times. “Communication is the key to a good marriage.” This cliché statement has caused many an eye-roll in marriage, but here’s the problem…there’s communication in every marriage. Even when you’re not saying anything, you’re saying something. It’s not a lack of communication that erodes […]

How to Lose a Fight

March 4, 2021

  When it comes to marital fights, I know two things… FIRST – EVERY COUPLE FIGHTS. Some spouses fight like a hurricane, while some spouses fight like a gentle spring storm. Some are heated and loud, while others are icy and quiet. Some spouses are measured and careful with their words, while others are vicious […]

The Pandemic Marriage

February 25, 2021

You may think this post on marriage in a pandemic is a little late. But, when the pandemic first broke, I like many others, expected it to be a fleeting thing. Then, when it continued to dominate life, there were so many people writing about marriage in a pandemic I didn’t see the need to […]

Minding the Gaps: Dealing with the Differences Between Spouses

February 18, 2021

Dealing with the differences between you and your spouse is one of the most common frustrations in marriage. It’s funny how the differences we found so attractive when we were dating can become so irritating later. In this week’s Normal Marriage post, I’m going to point you to one of my Quick Counsel podcast episodes […]

Are You A Good Kisser?

February 11, 2021

Are you a good kisser? Probably not a question you’re asked a lot – if at all! And how do you answer such a question? If you answer “no,” you sound incompetent and inept. And if you answer “yes,” you sound arrogant and narcissistic. Besides, how do you judge a kiss? Is there a preferred […]