Does it sound something like this? "What do you want to do tonight?" "I don't know, what do you want to do?" "I don't know… is there anything at the movies?" Then you find yourself sitting in a dark theater, not talking to each other, watching a movie you really didn't want to see anyway. Instead, do something different. Go for an evening picnic at the beach or lake. Play tennis. Go bowling. Check out your...

Do you remember your first date with your wife? What about the first time your husband kissed you? Thinking back to those early days of dating is a great way to rekindle the passion in your relationship. If it's possible, re-create your first date or re-enact your marriage proposal. Spend time just sitting on the couch together talking about what you thought the first time you met . . . or when you realized you...

Just remember the four Cs. First, check your emotions. Before you speak to your teen, make sure you're in a state of mind that's calm rather than emotional. Second, be confident that what you are saying is in their best interest, not just yours. Third, be clear in what you tell them, ask them to do, or not do… don't beat around the bush. Fourth, be concise in what you say. Don't repeat yourself over and over...

It's the gift of L.O.V.E. L stands for listen… pay full attention when your partner talks. Stop what you're doing and don't interrupt. O is for observe... make getting to know their likes and dislikes a priority. V is for value… value them for who they are…what makes them unique. And E is for encourage…build them up with your words and actions. Four little letters that spell out lessons in love. It's the...

The teen years can bring some tough emotional struggles. Most kids want to be popular and well-liked. If that doesn't happen, they can turn inward and withdraw into depression, or they can vent outward and do harm to themselves or others. What can you do? Well, the Journal of Youth and Adolescence says that religious worship significantly reduces depression among teenagers. It gets kids connected to something...

When they can demonstrate maturity. That can be a tricky thing to pinpoint these days. Your teen may look like an adult physically, but emotionally still be child-like. You can't stand Tommy up against a door jamb and mark his emotional growth like you measured his height. Instead, you have to look for other marks to see growing maturity. Leadership expert, Dr. Tim Elmore has compiled a list of 7 Marks of...

Here's what I mean. When we get married it seems like the niceties of dating go out the window. She stops shaving her legs every night and he stops covering his mouth when he belches – the whole neighborhood can hear him. Sure, it's great to be comfortable with our spouse, but we still need to work at keeping the magic alive. So as you're going through your daily routine, think back to the nice things you used...