Marriage Wisdom by Matt and Lisa Jacobson (25% off the bundle)

Do you have an anniversary coming up?

Do you need a bit of a boost for your marriage this summer?

Check out these two books from some of my favorite online marriage mentors, Matt and Lisa Jacobson!

Marriage Wisdom for Her and Marriage Wisdom for Him

25% off both books

Click here

The reviews are phenomenal:

*We are finally communicating.

*A lot of wisdom packed into short daily readings.

*Each and every idea brings us closer to God.

I just purchased a set to give to my husband for our anniversary this year.

I can't wait to start this devotional with him.

*I am an affiliate.  Thank you for your support.*

Anniversary Gift: A Dating Book!

Engaged...November 26, 2003

Ever since we had kids our dating life took a serious nose dive.  And also, I've been throwing myself into motherhood, cooking, blogging, Bible study and anything else that has really taken time away from my marriage.  We have a good marriage, but I miss all the fun we used to have.  I've been pinning marriage ideas on Pinterest for quite awhile, but have not pursued anything that I've bookmarked.

Walked the new Narrows Bridge in 2007

We are coming up on our 9 year anniversary this month and I really wanted to bring back dating into our relationship with some new and fresh ideas.  I have to say that we have been in the same rut- go to dinner and walk.  That is nice, but I would love to try some other things and maybe bring back some old ideas.

Grand Park hike to Mt. Rainier 2006

Mariners Game 2009


I am so excited to have made this fun Dating Book for my husband!
Here is a little video of my book.

 



At home dates:
*Bake cookies
*Make milkshakes
*Puzzle
*Watch Funny YouTube Videos (we like The IT Crowd)
*Share websites we like
*Listen to S*xy Marriage Radio- podcast  (Clean, Christian and lots of fun)
*Fondue night
*Game night
*Indoor picnic
*Make ice cream sundae
*Living room campout/movie
*20 questions
*Make breakfast and eat in bed

Outdoor dates:
*Try a new sport
*Be a tourist
*Go to a park and play
*Go to a local sport event
*Bike ride
*Play Frisbee
*Farmer's Market
*Outdoor music concert
*Play Bocce
*Horsehoes
*Walk

Indoor Dates:
*Thrift store/Antique
*Go to a play
*Museum
*Bowling
*Try a new restaurant
*Go to a bakery
*Coffee shop
*Listen a local band
*Go to a used bookstore
*Bookstore Date- Dating Divas

Source: thedatingdivas.com via Shonda on Pinterest

I also included a few printables:
*30 Conversation Starters for Couples

Source: momlifetoday.com via Shonda on Pinterest

*30 Day Marriage Challenge for Husbands from All Pro Dad
*30 Day Marriage Challenge for Wives for iMom
*Marriage Conversation Starters from All Pro Dad

And I printed this and put it on the back cover:

Source: time-warp-wife.blogspot.ca via Shonda on Pinterest

And I found a few coupons for a yogurt place and Mexican restaurant that I tucked in there as well.
And I added a few quotes that I really liked from some Facebook marriage pages.

So check out my Marriage Pinterest Board for more ideas!  I can see more dating books or something like it in the future!!  Can't wait to see how this one goes. 

Happy Anniversary to my love!

July 16, 2004

Two Marriage Ebooks that I Recommend

Valentine's Day is this week.  There are so many opportunities to show how much you love your husband.  I have found two books that are very helpful for my marriage.  I actually gave one of them to my husband for Christmas this year and we have been reading it together.  Both books are fun and interactive.

Why not check these out and see if you can pep up some area of your marriage this year?


For the past year I have been subscribing to To Love, Honor and Vacuum by Sheila Gregoire.  She is fresh, funny and does not mince words.  She is imaginative, direct and encourages women and men to pursue the best marriage they can possibly have.  I loved her series last February "29 Days to Great Sex."  And in the fall she created an ebook for married couples that I bought and printed off into a book.  "31 Days to Great Sex for Married Couples" is a fun book that has short chapters, talking and active exercises and will really help you discuss this topic in a relaxing and comfortable way.  Get a copy today and give it to your husband on Valentine's Day.  He will love it!

31 Days to Great Sex For Married Couples 

$4.99

Another great book written by a husband/wife team is Healthy Marriage Tips from A to Z by Matt and Laura Coppinger.  Do you need practical ideas to make everyday a great marriage?  Check out this sweet couple's thoughts and ideas and you will be inspired to have an active and healthy marriage.

Healthy Marriage Tips from A to Z FREE 

5 Things for Husbands and Wives

I found this article that I wanted to share with you.

5 Things Your Wife Needs to Hear From You:

*I love you

*You are beautiful

*I'm sorry

*I believe in you

*How can I pray for you?

5 Things Your Husband Needs to Hear From You:

*I'm in love with you

*I am for you and respect you

*I'm attracted to you

*I appreciate you

*I want to make love to you

For more info click on the titles.  These came from the website Refine Us.

Marriage Monday: Homemaker Honey Book Club- The Husband Project

My friend, Deborah, over at Homemaker Honey is hosting a book club for The Husband Project: 21 Days of Loving Your Man--on Purpose and with a Plan.  Starting September 1, we will be having book discussions and accountability.  Does that sound like fun to you?

I just purchased the book and I'm so excited to get started.

If you are interested, purchase the book (The Husband Project: 21 Days of Loving Your Man--on Purpose and with a Plan) and then go over to Homemaker Honey and sign up to be in the book club.  Do it now because Deborah is having a fun giveaway for those who sign up.

Homemaker Honey Book Club: The Husband Project

Deborah at Homemaker Honey is hosting a book club and we are going to read The Husband Project: 21 Days of Loving Your Man--on Purpose and with a Plan.  I'm so excited.  Do you want to join in?  Get your book today and also head over to Deborah's site and let her know you are interested.  Let's learn to love our husbands!

Completing Him Challenge- The Way to a Man's Heart...

 

This week's challenge is: Make your husband a priority. Ask him what his favorite dinner, dessert and drink are. Be sure to serve him all three one night this week. Bonus: cook his favorite dishes all week long!

Well, I am going to do this another week, because this week I am so busy getting ready for a trip.  I want to make my meal really special for my husband and I want to be completely engaged in that process. However, I really do try to make meals that he looks forward to everyday when he comes home from work on a regular basis. 

I hope that you are able to bless your husband by making him a priority this week.  I can't wait to read about what other wives are doing. 


This challenge has really helped me stay focused on my husband.  I hope to continue these great ideas to keep my husband as my priority as God as called me to do.  I love him so much and am so glad that we just celebrated our 6th anniversary this last weekend.


For more inspiration visit Woman Living Well.

Completing Him Challenge: Priorities

This morning I sat down and asked my husband what his top 5 priorities are for me as his wife and mother to our son.  I gave him a few examples, but he mostly came up with his own list.  It was pretty much what I expected (I know my hubby well), but it also gave me some goals that I can work on.  There was one topic that came up about teaching our son and we are going to have a more in depth conversation about that at another time.  I'm so glad my husband opened up and shared his goals and heart for our home.  Now, I need to make a little plaque somewhere so I can remember them everyday.  (I chose not to post my list because it is personal). 

I encourage you to have a chat with your husband and get your own list.  If you need ideas just head over to Woman Living Well and read all the other testimonies.  I feel so blessed everytime I read what others are doing to make their marriage better!

Completing Him Challenge: Admiring my husband

 There are SO many things that I admire about my husband and here are just a few:

*Rises early every morning to have devotions/prayer with me

*Works diligently and with his whole heart at his job

*Works long and hard overtime hours even on weekends too!

*Calls me "beautiful" all the time!

*Planted a fantastic garden and maintains it

*Sets aside time every night to go walking as a family

*Has numerous projects going on around the house to improve our home

*Is a master at canning food for our pantry

*Has a giving heart and gave up his vacation days to work on church projects recently

*Cooks fabulous meals with no effort at all, did you see my yummy Mother's Day Quiche?

*Plays with our son and makes him giggle

*Gives relaxing back rubs

*Takes our family to church every weekend

*Makes lots of time for play and relaxation

*So much more....I just love and admire my husband more and more every day!

This picture is from our recent weekend getaway that I will be posting about soon!  We are in the Olympic Mountains looking at Hurricane Ridge.  The camera was balanced on our backpack.

Marriage Monday: Completing Him Challenge- Pray

I have really been humbled as I read Courtney's Woman Living Well blog and her challenge for our marriage this summer.  This week we are being asked to pray for our husbands.  I regularly do that, but lately I have been slacking because my priorities have been off, but I read this statement and it struck me raw-  

If you don't pray daily for him, who will?   

Hmmmm, well, I know I am the #1 prayer warrior for my husband so I commit to pray for him daily.  I have several resources that I use.  One of them is the Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian which Courtney recommends.  I also found a great PDF file for 31 days of prayer and I have bookmark that I picked up at church from Family Life Today that has prayer suggestions for my husband.  I am without excuse and I love to pray for him.  I also need to ask him what he needs prayer for.  I do this by saying- "how can I pray for you today?"  It's a wonderful question and really helps my husband to open up to me.

Marriage Monday- Love Story Link UP and Summer Marriage Challenge

Last week I came upon this Summer Marriage Challenge and it fit perfectly with my Marriage Monday post that I have been planning for a month!

So we are having a LOVE story link up here today.  I want to know how you met your honey.  Since I met my husband in June I thought I would share how we met....

Seven years ago, I was looking for a husband.  I prayed and asked God how I would meet someone.  I joined Equally Yoked (Christian dating service) after I got advice from my pastor, parents and friends.  I never thought I would do something like this.  I was very scared because I am a shy person.  But I went out with seven men.  Let me tell you, it was slim pickins', even in this great service.  I was pretty discouraged after a year.  Well, it was the end of the teaching year for me and I reluctantly got back on the computer (I only used the one at the library or my apartment complex).  I emailed this guy who wrote that he was a good guy and he loved God and liked to do a lot of things that I like- sing, hike, read books.  Well, we exchanged phone numbers and he called me up to set up a date.  I suggested a day and he picked a restaurant.  We lived about an hour apart, but he was willing to drive where I lived.  Well, it just so happened that the day we picked to go out was HIS BIRTHDAY (June 19)!  He said he didn't have any other plans.  We met up and found that the restaurant that we had planned to go to was no longer in business, so we walked out to the road and saw a Chinese restaurant- The Imperial Dragon.  We ate there and yes, the rest is history!  What I really noticed about Jeremy first off was that he was a gentlemen and he really he showed it by opening my car door for me and also paying for the meal!

(I don't have a pic when we were dating, but here's something we did and still do, go to Mariner's Baseball games!  The first time we went to a game together he held my hand.)

We had a lot of fun in our dating year!  One thing though we have lost since our dating life is having long conversations on the phone.  I remember talking to him every morning and every night, but since now we are married we don't need to have phone conversations.  But one thing I really like doing that we just started is having a good devotional and prayer time in the morning before he goes to work.  I like that!

CLOSED: So what's your LOVE story?  Please link up here and I will have a random drawing for a $50 gift card to Resaturant.com.

LOVE story link UP!! Coming Monday, June 14

Hi Mom Blog Buddies-  I'm having my first link up here on Monday, June 14!  I like to do one Marriage Monday post a month and this month I chose to share LOVE stories of how you met your honey.  I always like to see how people met.  So make a short post and link up on Monday and I also have a $50 Restaurant.com gift card to give away too!  See you Monday!  -Shonda

Love Story Link up coming Monday, June 14!!

Hi Mom Blog Buddies-  This is just a reminder that on Marriage Monday (June 14) I am having a Love Story Link Up!  Please write a post about how you met your honey and then link up here.  I will have a random drawing for a $50 Gift card for Restaurant.com.  You won't want to miss all the fun love stories.  Thanks and see you Monday!

Marriage Monday: Tips to make a stronger family

Here's some ideas I picked up from a brochure at church: The Seven List

1. Eat dinner as a family four nights a week at least. (We are developing this habit right now)
2. Develop family hobbies. (We walk every night)
3. Engage with your children online- teach healthy internet habits
4. Focus- give undivided attention (We play, read and cuddle with our son)
5. Serve together. (My husband and I serve at the church in many capacities, we also are hospitable in our home)
6. Parent time- model marriage (We read the Bible and pray together in front of our son, hold hands, hug and kiss)
7. Take the TV out of the kids bedroom- nuff said! (No problem!)

Marriage Monday!

Hi everyone, I'm here with another snippet from the seminar we went to in February. So, I really enjoyed Dr. Juli Slattery and I decided to check out her book No More Headaches from the library. It's a great read with plenty of humor and practical suggestions for intimacy as well as addressing some struggles of both men and women. I highly suggest reading it.

Here are some bits that I picked up from the seminar from Juli:

The most powerful relationship is your marriage. There is no boundary in marriage.

*A woman's power- to recognize her husband's greatest need which is to be her hero.
He asks- do you believe in me? Are you there for me?

*A man's power- for the wife to feel safe in his love.
She asks- does my husband love me? Am I safe with him?

He wants to be a leader. Can you help him learn how to lead you?

Mark 10:6-9 "But from the beginning of creation, “God made them male and female.” ⁷“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife^{* 8}and the two shall become one flesh.” So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’ "

Jesus Blesses Little Children

13

Marriage Monday!

A few weekends ago I attended a marriage simulcast with my husband. Many different speakers shared some very good things for our marriages. I want to post a monthly Marriage Monday to give and receive ideas about marriage.

Here's a few things I learned from Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott (from Seattle!):

There is a triangle theory of love with 3 sides-
*Passion (hot)- biological, gets the romance going
*Intimacy (warm)- emotional, sharing, our journey together
*Commitment (cold)- willful, in spite of....I still love you

So ask your honey- "How's your love life?" Give a scale of 1-10 in these categories maybe once a week and just discuss. Small steps make a big difference. It also raises your level of awareness of your loved one.

How do you cultivate these 3 ingredients?
*Passion- tender touches
*Intimacy- shared activity, talking
*Commitment- attending marriage seminars!

Check out these 2 books by the Parrotts: The Love List and L.O.V.E.

So how's your love life? Please share any ideas you have for cultivating these 3 ingredients in your marriage.

PS. In June I will share how Jeremy and I met. You won't want to miss! Until next month...