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 …
Grateful for the past—Anticipating the future at MDI
An open letter from our Executive Director: Fall classes are winding down, and we have one more A New Beginning workshop on this year’s calendar. It’s hard to believe, but very soon we’ll say goodbye to 2019 and launch into a new year. So much has happened! Marriage Dynamics celebrated 25 years of ministry this year. Recently, I sat down with our …
Gratitude: It’s Good for your Marriage
‘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 …
Make the Holidays Easier on Your Marriage
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
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 …
Anniversary Celebration Ideas
How do you and your spouse like to celebrate your anniversary? Could you use some fresh anniversary celebration ideas? You don’t have to spend a lot of money or make every anniversary a huge event. Sometimes that’s not possible or even appropriate. But committing yourself to another person for life is a big deal, and your marriage is worth celebrating. …
The Gift of a Strong Marriage (Part 1) — Fulfillment
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 …
One Thing You Can Do to Improve Your Marriage Right Now
Recently I flew to visit my mother and took advantage of free on board wi-fi to catch up on emails. My husband was traveling in Africa, and we connected by Face Time just long enough for me to tell him I was on a plane and would try to reach him later. I looked at my phone, and felt incredibly …
Self-Driving Cars May Be the Future, But Self-Driving Marriages Don’t Exist
Volkswagen is emerging as a leader in one of the newest innovations in driving. The auto manufacturer is paving the way for self-driving cars, which they think (if the idea gets far enough down the road) will hit the streets by 2021. The car won’t have any pedals or steering wheel inside, instead relying on cameras and sensors, radar and high-torque …
12 Practical Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship with Your Spouse
What constitutes a strong foundation for a marriage? A marriage relationship can be one of the most rewarding experiences two people can have this side of heaven—or it can be one of the most difficult. Too many couples enter into the marriage relationship relying solely on the power of their feelings rather than establishing healthy relational habits. But feelings can …