It’s the most wonderful time of the year. At least that’s what the song says. And everywhere people greet each other with “Merry Christmas!” or “Happy Holidays!” All over town, churches put on their best seasonal productions, and the music rings out joyfully. Lights twinkle, bells jingle. While at the local mall, Santa offers his best Ho Ho Ho. But …
It was Thanksgiving weekend many years ago, and my sisters and I were at mom and dad’s house for the holiday. We were sitting around talking and my dad said, “I know what gift I want for Christmas this year.” That stopped the conversation. Dad rarely asked for anything. And selecting a gift for him was always a challenge. “I …
#GivingTuesday provides an opportunity to support things you value. Causes that are important. Marriage Dynamics Institute exists to support marriage, which is the most intimate of human relationships. Marriage is beautiful. But it’s also challenging. And even the best relationships require tune ups and tweaks. They need to be nourished along the way to become strong and resilient, able …
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 …
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 …
‘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 …
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 …
It may be 95 degrees at your house, but the calendar says Autumn has arrived. And the change of seasons brings a return to some familiar rhythms of life. Because kids are back in school. Friday night lights are ablaze in cities and towns across the country. And pumpkin spice is absolutely everywhere. After the lazy days of summer, life …
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 …
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 …
