Part 3: Conversation Starters So now that you’ve created space for date nights and laid some ground rules, it’s time for some resources to help you and your spouse connect again. Here’s a free printable workbook of questions to get you going on your first date: Grow Together, Dream Together Enjoy reconnecting with your Beloved! Let me know how the conversation goes in the comments below. 🙂 Tune in next Wednesday for another free date night resource!
How to Make Date Nights Awesome, Part 2
Part 2: The Ground Rules Now that you’ve created space for a date, you’ve got to lay some ground rules. Agree upon these rules before you ever start your date. Set expectations up front. If you have to, put them in writing and sign them! Hold each other accountable. Rules for Dating Your Spouse: 1) Unplug Turn off notifications and put all devices away, out of sight. The only call or text that should get through is one from the babysitter in case of emergency (unless you have someone close by who can handle emergencies or you’re staying home, then turn off your devices altogether). How many dates have we spent just staring at our phones half the time? Unplugging […]
How to Make Date Nights Awesome, Part 1
Connecting as a couple while parenting in this day and age can be tough. At the end of busy days juggling work and kids, marriage can easily fall to the back burner, crowded out by constant pressing needs. We can spend all our time and resources on important things and have nothing left for each other. But marriage is the most important relationship God has given us! When we nurture it, we’re more prepared to face the constant bombardment of other needs that come our way. We’re in a season where we don’t get much time together during the week, so we have to be really intentional with what little time we do have. Date nights are a life line […]
Eshet chayil: The Capable Wife
–Originally published on FWB21 January 22, 2013– Ladies and gentlemen, here is a Hebrew phrase you need to know: eshet chayil. I lived 30 years without ever hearing these words, and now they’ve come up multiple times in different places in the span of a week. Here’s what I’ve learned: The Hebrew eshet chayil is translated, variously, as “a wife of noble character,” “a virtuous and capable wife,” “a worthy woman,” and “an excellent wife.” It’s found in Proverbs 31, which goes on to describe this kind of woman. (Please stop and read it!) The Hebrew phrase is of particular interest to me for three reasons. First, eshet chayil intrigues me because of its etymology. Chayil is used in the […]
Minimalism
Minimalism is an economy of less to make adequate space for most important things.
Pulling My Own Wagon
–Originally published on FWB21 March 27, 2011– I’m currently reading Boundaries with Kids, by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend. It’s chock full of really great stuff on child-rearing from a biblical perspective. I’ll spare you an endless string of great quotes and highlight one section that stood out to me in relation to my post “Log Extraction Is Painful” One of the hallmarks of maturity is taking responsibility for one’s own life, desires, and problems. … Mature adults see themselves as problem solvers instead of trying to find someone else to blame or to solve problems for them. p. 74 What does that have to with my previous post? Everything. “Maturity is taking responsibility… instead of trying to find […]
Log Extraction
–Originally published on FWB21 March 20, 2011– I don’t like to admit when I’m wrong. Let me rephrase that: I absolutely HATE having to admit when I’m wrong. Every ounce of my being fights it as I angrily look for any excuse that it’s the other person’s fault. Being in the wrong hurts my pride, and that’s quite a tender spot. Well, today was one of those days. It started with a harsh comment from my dear husband that put me in a tiff for hours. I huffed and I puffed and I fumed to myself about all the reasons that it wasn’t my fault, and all the things I was right about, and all the ways he was the […]
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
–Originally published on FWB21 March 18, 2011– Did you know that Aretha Franklin’s famous song “Respect” was written by a man? Otis Redding, to be exact. The following lyrics were lauded by the feminist movement when sung by a woman, but listen to this man’s words pleading for respect and recognition from a woman: (oo) All I’m askin’ (oo) Is for a little respect when you come home (just a little bit) Hey baby (just a little bit) when you get home R-E-S-P-E-C-T Find out what it means to me Has quite a different ring to it, huh? A man pleading with his wife for a little respect. I found this interesting tidbit in Dr. Emerson Eggerich’s book Love and […]
Christian Sex
–Originally published on FWB21 August 1, 2011– Someone was recently telling her friends about a website to which I introduced her that deals with sex-related topics from a Christian perspective. The conversation went something like this: “It has lots of great information on how to have great Christian… marriages.” Laughter. “What?” “I thought you were going to say great Christian sex.” More laughter. I’m sorry, but I still don’t see why this is funny. Why can’t the terms “Christian” and “great sex” be used together? After all, shouldn’t sex within the bounds God designed be the best sex there is? Think about it: two people, wholly committed, completely unashamed, selflessly giving of themselves for the pleasure of each other with […]