Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash Passion can be a wonderful thing; it gives you the energy to do the tough stuff that you really want to accomplish. It drives you! For many, our passion is what first attracted our partner to us. They admire our hard work and our big...
Photo by milan degraeve on Unsplash You can start to feel it; your body is changing. Your heart rate picks up, you can feel it beating in your chest. Your pupils dilate, your breath quickens, your hands start to shake. This isn’t quite a panic attack, but you’re...
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash “Good Enough.” What’s your reaction when I ask, “Are you good enough?” Do you find yourself cringing, disappointed, discontent — because the phrase ‘good enough’ just communicates to you that you aren’t ‘the best’? I know many...
Photo by Luis Tosta on Unsplash The assumptions — and the baggage — that we bring into our marriages can make a big difference in our long term relationship. When we come into marriage without knowing what the other’s assumptions are about all the main topics (money,...
Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash Depression can cripple your motivation, connection, and productivity. The black cloud can keep you in bed, stifling important work and meaningful relationships — and right now, when the whole world seems to be feeling waves of...
We are, all of us, facing an incredibly stressful and tumultuous global pandemic. Our hearts, prayers, and hope go out to everyone who’s feeling overwhelmed during this time, and especially to those dealing with the stress of healthcare or quarantine. Do you or...
Happy New Year! 2020 is finally upon us, and right on schedule is the expectation that everyone — EVERYONE — is setting big, grand goals for the year. So what about you? Any New Year’s resolutions? Or perhaps you’re a bit sick of reading/hearing that question, for one...
The holidays are supposed to be romantic — full of joy and togetherness and hope. But what do you do when this season is laced with heartbreak? How do you face the holidays when you’ve just had a relational split? A divorce, a breakup, or worst of all, a death in the...
Have you ever heard your partner say, “I just wish I could figure this out!” Or perhaps, “Why am I so stressed all the time?!” Maybe it’s more like, “I shouldn’t be this irritated.” It’s all different versions of...
I know someone who recently revealed a new habit she and her husband were starting to build. Every night, before they go to bed, they each list three things they’re grateful for — about each other. “I’m thankful you were so sensitive and caring when I got upset...
This last week, we were honored to host a retreat for three pastors and their partners at the Dreamgiver’s Inn in Newberg, Oregon. We know all too well how, when you’re in a profession of serving others, often you just really need someone to stop and serve you. That’s...
When it comes to the seasons, I think Spring tends to get most of the credit for being romantic. All those budding flowers and fresh new days of sunshine; everyone’s thinking about first dates. But Autumn, I have to say, deserves a little credit, too! This season can...
When we have goals — whether those are individual goals or relationship goals — we tend to want to see results now. As soon as I write my goals out, I’m looking around trying to see the results — and I know I’m not alone in this! We want to meal plan together, or go...
I heard a quote recently that’s really stuck with me; it’s attributed to all kinds of sources, so I can’t say for sure who originally wrote it, but for our purposes, we only need the quote itself. Here it is: “You can’t go back and change the beginning — but you can...
Have you ever noticed how we humans tend to take on an all-or-nothing perspective when it comes to our own improvement? We’re either striving with perfectionist fervor to improve, at the cost of our own self-worth — or we’re so focused on being content right where we...
Can anyone relate to that tweet? Recently, a friend of mine got a new job. She left a job that had been incredibly stressful: long hours, constant pressure and confusion, and a never-ending fear that she was going to ‘mess up’ and lose her income (which her manager...
You’ve probably heard the saying, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ And research confirms that the more positive adult figures a child has as they grow, the better chance they have at maturing into a healthy, successful adult. Well, the same is true for your...
Finances is one of the trickiest topics, especially for married couples. It’s one of the most common points of tension and arguments, and can cause everything from jealousy, to entitlement, to general stress. But it can also be the cause of a lot of pressure, as one...
As our family prepares to go on another trip together this summer, we remember a blog post from about a year ago discussing exactly that. We try to do this every year, and every year the same discussions are essential. So for this newsletter, we thought we’d share...
Summer is a magical season. The kids are out of school, vacations are planned, and everything is sunshine, river rides and watermelon — it’s full of warmth and possibility. As you continue to embrace your summer, there’s a few important things we encourage you to keep...
