Flirting with your spouse is a good thing and can reap a lot of benefits. So here are some playful, fun, creative ways to flirt with your spouse. Leave a note for her on her pillow or mirror before you go on a trip…something specific like “Thanks for taking care of so many details when I’m gone…you do a great job!”  Or leave a note on his car rearview mirror saying “I’m jealous of this mirror because it’s looking...

In his book, The Sacred Search, Author Gary Thomas shares how to teach your children to choose a spouse who they love and also respect. He emphasizes choosing someone with common values and common vision—someone they truly enjoy spending time with. Gary shares that the reward for making a wise marital choice is so tremendous that he doesn’t want you to miss it. The consequences for making a foolish choice can be...

We all know that there is a gap between men and women—a gap filled with different desires, different strengths, and different styles of communicating.  So to help bridge that gap in your marriage, here are 5 things husbands wish their wives knew.  First, we desire clarity.  Give us the bottom line of what you need, not a lot of words. Then, we’ll be more likely to do it.  Second, we desire validation.  We want to...

The family budget may be tight right now.  There are braces to pay for, a car that needs to be fixed, and electric bills to be paid. Being tight on money may mean giving up certain things, but it should never mean giving up on your dating life.  Think about what your spouse really wants from a date. Maybe it’s not just another restaurant for dinner or an over-hyped movie. Maybe it’s simply romantic time with you. ...

Remember Connect the Dots? It’s the kid’s game where you draw a line from dot to dot until a bigger picture is made.  Like this game, some guys like me need to be led from dot to dot if you want us to get big things done.  So here are 6 ways to connect the dots and get your husband to do what you want.  First, ask them.  Men aren’t as intuitive as women, so we need to be told the bottom line of what you want...

We all know how powerful words can be.  They have the power to poison and even kill a relationship.  But they also have the power to build up and breathe life into a relationship.  Here are 5 types of words that can help breathe life into your marriage.  First, respectful words.  Choosing to use respectful words with your spouse means choosing to honor them—not undermine them.  Second, affirming words.  No matter...

We all know what it’s like to have someone sitting right next to us, but whose mind is miles and miles away.  In marriage, this can play out when our spouse is physically beside us, but is emotionally distant.  To reconnect, here are 3 steps to take when your spouse is close, but distant.  First, recognize it.  Avoid being so focused on your own issues and “to-do” list that you’re unable to see when your spouse is...