Showing posts with label Soul. Show all posts

I’ve come to the conclusion that more often than not, we find ourselves in a busy season of life. There is always a new assignment at work, another child’s dance recital to attend, another book to read, a new trip to take, another practice to drive the kids to, another meal to cook, another day of yard work…the list goes on and on. So how can our marriage not only survive but thrive in these seasons? Here are 6 ways your marriage can thrive even through the busiest times of life.

1. Set Aside a Little Time throughout the Day.

Our days often have a couple minute-long breaks here and there. So instead of checking your Twitter feed, posting on Facebook, or staring off into space, make those moments count. Send a quick email, text, or make a phone call to your spouse just to let them know you are thinking about them. It’s a simple way to interact frequently and consistently, without taking too much time out of your schedule.

2. Be Busy Together.

If you find that your wife has committed to serving at school next week, serve with her. If your husband is coaching your daughter’s soccer team, volunteer to help coach with him. You may not be able to get rid of the obligations in your life, but you can certainly thrive in the busyness if you go through it together. This may even turn out to be a sweet opportunity for you to grow as a couple as you learn to interact in a new way and in a new place.

3. Leave Notes Around the House.

You may not have hours to spend with your spouse each day, but you can take a few minutes in the morning or at night to jot down a quick love note and stick it somewhere you know your spouse will see it—on the bathroom mirror, on the kitchen counter, or even on the steering wheel in the car. This will be a creative reminder of your love in the midst of the craziness of life.

4. Plan Dates in Advance.

Planning ahead will always help you spend time wisely in your marriage. If you know that you have a date set for next Saturday, you each will work to get things done for that special night. So sit down with your spouse in advance and pick a night you know will work for both of you. Then calendar it as a very important appointment.

5. Say “No” More.

It’s sometimes easier to say “yes” when someone asks you to do something with or for them than it is to say “no.” It’s okay to say “no” more often, even to good things, so that you can focus your energy and attention on your spouse.

6. Leave More Margin on Your Calendar.

If you don’t block out time on your calendar each day where you don’t schedule anything, it will fill up by default. Leave room for the unexpected—the child who needs to be picked up, the call to get the A/C repaired, the friend who needs help—so that your focus can be fully on your spouse when you’re together.

Article by Mark Merrill

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Husband and Wife Bucket List

I’d like to encourage you and your spouse to write a couples bucket list together. It can be composed of small dreams or big dreams. Whatever you plan to do, plan to do it together. To help keep track of your ideas we created a Husband and Wife Bucket List printable. Feel free to write in your ideas.

FREE PRINTABLE

Let’s be honest, ladies.

Our guys do a pretty good job of spoiling us and making us feel appreciated on Mother’s Day. Social media was flooded with photos of gifts, cards, flowers, special treats, breakfasts in bed, brunches, lunches and lots of sweet words.

How can we honor our guys this Father’s Day and make them feel just as loved as we do? Yes, we can buy them a tie or a tool or a gadget or a grill, but perhaps what would make them feel the most loved is if we actually TOLD them.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds...” Hebrews 10:24 NIV

To spur us all on, we’ve put together the following messages to Dad in a free printable {download here}. Simply download, print off, cut out, write a personal message on the back and tape onto his bathroom mirror (or hide in his car, by his nightstand, or even next to his workout equipment). You will have enough for every day of the week leading up to Father’s Day, with one left for him to find on the big day (Sunday, June 17th). Who knows? Maybe it will become a habit to find something to thank him for every day!

Day 1:

Thank you for giving your all at work and at home.

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Colossians 3:23 NLT

Day 2:

Thank you for making sure we have everything we need.

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:9-11 NIV

Day 3:

Thank you for leading our family in the ways of the Lord.

“But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 NIV

Day 4:

Thank you for teaching us about Jesus.

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 NIV

Day 5:

Thank you for making our home a place we want to be.

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” Proverbs 24:3-4 NIV

Day 6:

Dad, thank you for showing us how to fight hard and finish well.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 NIV

Day 7:

Dad, thank you for helping us up when we fall.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV

Day 8:

Thank you for believing in us and for being our #1 fan.

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.’” Mark 10:27 NIV

DOWNLOAD DAD’S DAY NOTES

The job of an earthly father is to model the love and ways of our Heavenly Father. That’s a high calling! Let’s join together this Father’s Day and make a concentrated effort to recognize the hard work it takes to be a good and Godly dad.

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Soon we’ll celebrate Mother’s Day once again. For many families, it’s a time of celebration, appreciation, and joy. But for others, it’s one of the most difficult days of the year. This is especially true for women facing infertility or those who have recently experienced the loss of a mother, daughter, or other loved one.

I know what it’s like for Mother’s Day to be difficult. My husband and I struggled with infertility for almost a decade and experienced loss along the way. While we learned to live in hope and God eventually gave us a daughter (we adopted her when she was twenty-one years old!), we still remember the hurt and how holidays could bring it to the surface.

So as Mother’s Day comes this year, I’d like to share a few thoughts from my heart to yours.

Embrace Your Emotions

First, if Mother’s Day is difficult for you then give yourself permission to grieve. When holidays come, we often put expectations on ourselves to feel a certain way. We may think, “This is a special occasion. I have to put on a happy face and make the best of it.” But it’s okay to feel sad and even cry—it’s okay to be emotional on Mother’s Day.

It’s also helpful to realize that emotions are not good or bad. They are just messengers that tell us about what’s going on in our lives. Sadness tells us, “You’ve lost something or someone important to you.” It’s not a sin to feel sad. Jesus often experienced sadness and the Bible says he was “a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.” Isaiah 53:3 NIV

Many other godly people in the Bible experienced sadness and grief. In Psalm 13 King David pours out his heart to the Lord and asks, “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” He does end by saying, “I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.” Does that mean we need to go from feeling broken to blessed in just a few lines? No, absolutely not. But it does show us something important about emotions. They are meant as stops along life’s journey rather than destinations. If you continually feel sad over a lengthy period of time or it seems as if there is no hope at all, then consider getting help from a professional.

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Holley Gerth

This 'Blessed Mom' pendant necklace complements all wardrobes. The handcrafted washer pendant, accented with a petite heart charm, makes this necklace an inspiring gift for a special mother on any occasion. Purchase Here

This lovely Willow Tree keepsake figurine is a beautiful reminder to be completely present during those special moments you have with your child, capturing all..."the weight, the scent, the feel...sharing with each other the silent vow that you will be there 'for always'." A perfect keepsake gift for moms.

Sentiment:

Now and for always, I carry you in my heart

Purchase Here

From the book Just Open The Door

Whenever I talk to people about why they have a hard time inviting people over, notably, someone always mentions food.

Do any of these thoughts sound familiar?

I don’t know what to serve.
I’m not a good cook.
What if they don’t like what I make?
How will I ever have it all ready at the same time?
It’s just too much work.

Right here is when we need to stop ourselves. Shut off those negative voices. Shut down the doubt and fear.

Inviting people over isn’t about serving the perfect thing or impressing anyone with our culinary skills. It’s about opening up our lives to love others.

Of course, we want our guests to feel welcome and food plays a role in that, but my first word of encouragement comes in the form of a great, big kiss.

K.I.S.S.

Have you ever heard that acronym? In 1960, the U.S. Navy began using it as a design principle: “Keep it simple, stupid.” They wanted to stress the importance that systems work best if kept incredibly simple by avoiding unnecessary complexities. This is what I want every single one of you to remember as you invite others into your home.

K.I.S.S.

When we over think, over plan, and over stress about opening our door to others, we overwhelm ourselves and often sabotage our intended baby steps before we take them.

K.I.S.S.

There have been many variations of this acronym created over the years and since I’ve attempted to eradicate the word “stupid” from our home, I’m going to land on my own version:

Keep It Simple and Sweet (or Salty!)

The secret to K.I.S.S. is to start small. Be spontaneous. Invite one friend over for coffee and offer delicious store bought coffee cake. If you have time to make your favorite homemade recipe, that’s wonderful, but don’t let that dictate whether you extend an invitation.

In my book, Just Open the Door, I share many easy options where I’ve implemented the K.I.S.S. concept. Here are a few simple suggestions to get your creative juices flowing:

Invite your friends or neighbors to a root beer float party.
Send a group text invitation for a “Popsicle and Pop-in” time with the kids.
Snow day? Gather the neighbors together for a hot chocolate party.
Host a “Build Your Own ________ Bar” meal. Be creative! You can have a build your own ice cream bar, baked potato bar, burrito bar, or pizza bar. For a fancier occasion, try a bruschetta bar or mashed potato bar (served up in martini glasses for a dramatic flair). These work well for large groups, and everyone can bring a topping, which means minimal work and cost for the host.
Never underestimate the power of the grill. One of our most memorable nights came from an email blast I sent out with twenty-four-hours’ notice. I didn’t think many would attend since it was July 3rd, but surprisingly, many friends were available. We threw chicken and hot dogs on the grill, and everyone brought a side or dessert to share.
Pizza Party -- everyone loves pizza! For more details on throwing an easy, memorable pizza party, click here to download my Pizza Party printable!

Opening your door doesn’t require you to be a gourmet chef or have the resources to throw an elaborate celebration. All that’s required is a willingness to say “yes” to inviting others into your life.

What is one simple step you can take this week to open your door to a friend or neighbor? Use one of my suggestions above or dream up an idea that fits your family and personal flare. Just remember to Keep It Simple and Sweet!

What fun to think who we could bless this week with a commitment to K.I.S.S.!