Pandemic and the Unexpected Gift

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Gifts, Quality Time, Reconnecting, When Life is Difficult

Pandemic.  At the risk of stating the obvious, we are living through unusual days. No matter what part of the country you are in, if you listen to or read any news at all, you are aware that the world is more than a little chaotic right now. At the very least, there is much uncertainty. And no one really …

Running Together into 2020

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Connection, Goals, Marriage Health, Quality Time, Reconnecting, Romance

Have you ever seen a three-legged race? Teams of two people tie one leg to the other person’s leg and then take off running together on what looks like three legs. It’s awkward at best. And kind of silly. But after a few clumsy steps, it’s possible for two people who are tied to each other to cooperate and race …

A Thanksgiving Love Letter

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Gifts, Gratitude, Holidays, Romance

How long has it been since you’ve written a love letter to your spouse?  We found this sweet letter from a wife to her husband, and it inspired us. Because there’s something about an actual old-fashioned letter that is undeniably romantic—even when it’s written on a computer. In an age when too much communication comes in the form of a …

Gratitude journal.

Gratitude: It’s Good for your Marriage

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Connection, Contentment, Family, Gratitude, Holidays, Listening, Marriage Health

‘Tis the season for gratitude, aka Thanksgiving. And traditionally, Thanksgiving is marked by gathering around the holiday table with family and friends. (And watching football games on television. While enjoying another piece of pie.) Hopefully, in the midst of all the food and fun, we take time to give thanks for our blessings. Because Thanksgiving is all about gratitude. But …

The holidays can put extra stress on your marriage.

Make the Holidays Easier on Your Marriage

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Conflict, Connection, Contentment, Family, Finances, Holidays, Quality Time

Does your blood pressure rise when you look up and realize there are Christmas decorations out at your local big-box store, and it’s only OCTOBER?  And feeling pressure to catch the Christmas spirit does not seem to make the holidays easier.  Healthline surveyed more than 2,200 people and found that nearly 65% of people feel moderate or significant amounts of …

The Gift of a Strong Marriage (Part 2) — Stability

Melody MorrisCommitment, Communication, Connection, Marriage Health, When Life is Difficult

When you decide to get married, you start making plans. And after you marry, you keep making plans. But you know what they say. Life is what happens while you are making plans. My husband and I had a five year plan when we married. We knew what we wanted to do and where we wanted to be. And we …

Surviving the Empty Nest

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Conflict, Connection, Empty Nest, Reconnecting

The eighteen years or so that a child is at home are filled with all kinds of activity, and a wide range of emotions. And when that child leaves home—for college, or the military, to move into their own apartment or get married—the house may seem incredibly empty. If weekends have been filled with sporting events, dance competitions, youth group …

Couple talking - know your spouse

Communication: You Can’t Have a Great Marriage Without It

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Connection, Intimacy, Marriage Health

You can stay married – maybe even for a long time. You can raise happy, healthy children. And your life may appear successful. Others may see you and want what you have. But you know the truth. At home when all the kids are in bed—or grown and gone—and it’s just you and your spouse… are you lonely? Many couples …

Hand circling the word "facts" - choosing truth over marriage misconception

Don’t Let These Marriage Misconceptions Derail Your Relationship

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommunication, Conflict, Contentment, Marriage Courses, Marriage Health, Patience, Uncategorized

Before getting married, most of us believe we have some idea of what makes a marriage successful. Consciously or subconsciously, we have formed opinions as we’ve made observations and absorbed information from other people, books, the internet, TV, or other sources. Unfortunately, some popular beliefs about marriage aren’t accurate. Some may contain a bit of truth, but they are not …

The Gift of a Strong Marriage (Part 1) — Fulfillment

Marriage Dynamics InstituteCommitment, Communication, Contentment, Intimacy, Listening, Marriage Health, Patience, Quality Time, Selfishness

People get married for lots of reasons. But according to a telephone survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, the number one reason people marry is love. Shocker. Reasons two and three are also unremarkable. People marry because they want to make a lifelong commitment. And they marry for companionship. No surprises there. Human beings are created in the image …