I'm not talking about last night's dinner. I mean what we end up giving our spouse at the end of the day. We give leftover time—after too many hours at work. We give leftover affection—after loving on the kids all day. Those leftovers don't satisfy, they leave us craving more. What our spouse wants—and deserves—is our freshest and best. There are 4 ways to serve your spouse something fresh. First, post-it. Put a...

Renew your wedding vows. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate. You can even surprise your children. Just tell them you have something planned for this Valentine's night. When the time comes, repeat the same vows you took on your wedding day, or use different words. The point is to show each other and your kids how committed you are to your marriage. Finish up the evening showing them your wedding album...

The list of "I wants" can go on and on. For kids it's, "I want that video game." "I want that scooter." For us, it's, "I want that car." "I want that couch." No matter what we have, there's always more. Henry David Thoreau said, "We make ourselves rich by making our wants few." Most of us already have what we need… it's just a matter of controlling what we want. So, the next time someone in your family wants to...

The male Zeus bug, a tiny water bug common along Australia's east coast, hitches a ride on the female for up to a week, counting on the female to feed him and mate with him at will. That's a bug's life. It's all take and no give. Sound familiar? Well, in the lives of humans there's a law of diminishing returns when one side always gives and the other always takes. Marriage needs to be a 100%/100%,...

These questions might help you determine the answer. Do you drink alone when you feel angry or sad? Does your drinking ever make you late for work? Do you ever drink after telling yourself you won't? Do you ever forget what you did while drinking? Has anyone in your family expressed concern about your drinking? If so, don't brush it off… really listen to what they have to say… and get help. Talk to your spouse,...

My kids have taught me a lot of things…and I can tell you, it's a very humbling experience. One thing that they've shown me over and over again is my lack of patience. For example, my impatience with the grocery store cashier during check out, or the waitress at a restaurant, and my impatience driving them to school. You get the picture! It's kind of embarrassing to admit. When they point out my impatience...

The old saying goes that girls often choose husbands who are like their dads. How does that sit with you? Our girls are watching us for an example of what to expect from their future spouse. Are you kind to your wife? Do you encourage her? What about your daughter… do you hug her and tell her you love her? Are you there when she needs you? If you aren't, it's not too late to change. Sit down with your...