Dear wife: In my "real life" I am a business strategist and lead a national mastermind of driven women entrepreneurs.  We focus on marketing and sales, mainly... but there's an uncelebrated truth that permeates the world of business: Self-employment is a crash course in personal development. It … [Read more...]

Gary Chapman sold a lot of books and impacted a lot of marriages and families with his "5 Love Languages" book series... but there's only ONE love language you really have to know... HERS.  (Or his.) =) Knowing how your spouse receives love is essential in creating a productive marriage.  I think … [Read more...]

Marriage isn't always "hard," but it is ALWAYS complex.  You figure, while you're "being married," you're also (probably) working, parenting, paying bills, dealing with extended family, planning holidays, taking care of a home, a yard, maybe a pet or two.  A LOT is going on under the roof of most … [Read more...]

Let's face facts.  Everyone's marriage has "THAT FIGHT."  That certain, specific issue that seems to continue to rear its ugly head... no matter how many times you've already argued -- and gotten over -- it.    Now I'm not saying  that it is always there... only that when we have one of those "big" … [Read more...]

Chris and I being together, married now for 16 years, is proof positive that God has a (warped?) sense of humor.  He's neat. I'm messy.  He's disciplined.  I'm the "free to be you and me" sort.  Were we teenagers during Vietnam, I would have been the hippy flower child.  He would have been in the … [Read more...]

Sometimes you come across real world evidence that it really IS the simplest things in life that can make the most profound difference.  Take us up on this 1 question / 30 minute  challenge and see what we mean: This week, set aside 30 minutes to ask your spouse this ONE question: What Do You … [Read more...]

Blended families are hard, and while every marriage is certainly different, every BLENDED marriage is even more complex and unique.  You've got the outside influence of other parents, 1/2 siblings of one or more of your children that don't reside with you, custody / visitation schedules, holiday … [Read more...]

Quick Note: This post was originally written by Chris, but because I think this is one post that definitely goes both ways... I've added my own thoughts... for the wives, in yellow.  Enjoy! There is nothing better than a loyal teammate.  The best sports teams always display fierce loyalty for … [Read more...]

Staying married has NEVER been the goal.  I know a lot of very unhappily married people, don't you? This blog isn't here to celebrate mediocrity, or to applaud couples who "stay together" despite their obvious disdain or apathy for one another.  This is for couples willing to thrive. We don't want … [Read more...]

This week was a special one.  Michelle and I celebrated 16 years of marriage together, and I had the opportunity to "make up for" that blunder I had on Valentine's Day.  But more about that later.  Time has really zoomed by even though I remember our wedding day like it was yesterday.  I am thankful … [Read more...]