NURTURING MARRIAGE®
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16 Goals to Improve Your Marriage in 2016

1/5/2016

6 Comments

 
16 Goals to Improve Your Marriage in 2016 - Struggling to make New Years resolutions? I get it. It's hard. Last year there were so many things I wanted to do/achieve that I never got around to actually putting them into words! Like Father Abe said,

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6 Comments

Why Your Partner Should Be Your Role Model

12/31/2015

4 Comments

 
Why Your Partner Should Be Your Role Model - Do you look to your partner as a role model? Over my thirteen years of marriage I have consistently found myself thinking about ways that my wife is a better person than I am. This has motivated me to become a better person, not only as a spouse, but in general. But does this type of thinking actually help most relationships? Absolutely, and here’s why. The scientific word we use for the phenomenon of looking up to our romantic partner as a role model is called idealistic distortion. That sounds negative but it highlights that many of us have an overly positive view of our romantic partner that is slightly distorted from reality. But that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily bad. In fact, research has found that this type of thinking can have both positive and negative effects on relationships. Here’s how to make sure it has a positive impact on your own relationship:

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4 Comments

The Best Gift You Can Give Your Spouse

12/9/2015

5 Comments

 
The Best Gift You Can Give Your Spouse (LOVE THIS!!!) - It’s a short story about Jim and Della, a young couple who were poor by nearly every measure, but rich in their love. It’s Christmas Eve and poor Della has only $1.87 with which to buy her husband a Christmas gift. As she considers what she could possibly give him, she thinks of the one possession Jim owns that he takes great pride in – a gold watch that had been passed down from his grandfather, to his father, and now to him. Della thinks how nice it would be to give Jim an expensive watch chain to go with this prized possession. The only problem is that the chain costs $21. Desperate to find the perfect gift, Della sells her beautiful long hair to a hair dresser for $20 in order to obtain the means to purchase the chain. As she waits for Jim to arrive home that night Della has a prayer in her heart that he will still think she’s pretty. When Jim finally arrives home, Della explains that she sold her hair to pay for his gift. Jim then presents her with a gift – an collection of expensive combs for her hair, now nearly useless. Unfazed, Della eagerly presents Jim with the new watch chain, to which Jim replies that he sold his watch to purchase her gift. In the end, even though both Jim and Della are left with gifts neither can use, they are blessed with the priceless gift of their love.

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5 Comments

What To Do When Your Spouse Annoys You

12/2/2015

4 Comments

 
A MUST READ FOR ALL MARRIED COUPLES - so so good! What to Do When Your Spouse Annoys You - So, you are frustrated with your husband or wife. Annoyed. Bugged. Upset. Again. You've admitted to yourself that there are tons of things you don't like about your spouse. You're discouraged. You don't want to feel this way, but it seems like your spouse keeps doing things that annoy you, or frustrate you, or hurt your feelings. You don't feel as close to your spouse as you used to. You're starting to think that If things don't change, you'll be stuck in a dying, distant marriage forever. Be encouraged - you are not alone. Marriage is hard. For everyone. But that's okay. We don't have to run away from hard. We don't have to run away from stress. We don't have to run away from annoying. We don't have to run away when things don't go our way. You see, living with a spouse isn't easy. Yet, it's beautiful because of what it does for us. It requires the very best of us. It tests us and tries us and refines us and makes us better people - if we choose to let it. And it causes love to grow. You are creating family here. Family - the people who are stuck with you (or choose to stick with YOU) through thick and thin, right? The people who know everything about you and still kind of like you (or LOVE you). So, you may have rough days where your spouse drives you batty and you realize that they aren't meeting your expectations for a spouse by any means. Is that means for a fight? For criticism? For divorce? Simply because your spouse isn't who YOU want them to be, or because they aren't doing things the way YOU wish they would? ​I don't think so. It's pretty easy to find faults in others, even without realizing we are doing it. Scary, I know. So, if you have found yourself creating a laundry list of things you don't like about your spouse, stop it. Right now. And try one of the following four options to help you like your spouse more. These four suggestions are time-tested principles that are proven to help you not just endure your marriage, but to actually enjoy your marriage.

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4 Comments

10 Text Messages Your Wife Will Appreciate

11/25/2015

6 Comments

 
10 Text Messages Your Wife Will Appreciate - Did you know one of your wife's top needs is communication? It's true. She craves it - she LOVES to talk to you, with you, or at you. She loves your listening ear. Now, the amount of communication your wife needs varies from woman to woman, but most women adore phone calls at least once a day, text messages, emails, notes, and good old fashioned face-to-face communication every day. Yes, every single day. And yes, real communication, like carry-on-a-meaningful-conversation communication. You, on the other hand, may not need communication like she needs it. So naturally, you may not think that often about talking to your wife, or calling her, or texting her. Then again, maybe you already do all of those things, and if so - bravo!! Way to go.

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6 Comments

Why Spending Time on Pinterest is Good For Your Marriage

11/18/2015

4 Comments

 
Why Spending Time on Pinterest is Good For Your Marriage - It’s freaking cold where I live. Cold enough that I don’t want to walk the dog, go to work, or do anything besides sit around in sweats, slippers, and a hoodie while sipping Stephen’s mint hot chocolate (topped with a hefty portion of RediWhip). But life happens and the dog still needs to be walked, I still need to go to work, and I really can’t just sit around doing nothing but sipping cocoa. Plus, I need a little more nutrition than that! ​This may be a totally stupid idea for some of you, but it might be helpful for others. Ever since writing those little articles about love languages, I’ve been aaaaaaaaall about activities that foster quality time with my man. Because it’s darker earlier and colder outside, some of my outdoor activities have been eliminated as potential QT ideas. Gotta step up my creativity game.

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4 Comments

The 3 Marriage Rules Someone Should Have Told You

11/5/2015

4 Comments

 
The 3 Marriage Rules Someone Should Have Told You - Sometimes I overhear couples say or do things that really are a bit disturbing to me. For example, it's sad to be standing with a group of husbands and wives, and to hear a husband cynically remark about how his wife can't keep anything organized or stay on top of anything. I look up to see the wife cringe a little, while the husband carries on, never realizing he has said anything that hurt her at all. Or, to sit at lunch with co-workers and to hear one woman go on and on about how her husband doesn't have any of the qualities she needs in a spouse, and how clueless he is about how to be a good husband. When I hear comments like this, I often think that these well-intentioned people don't know about these three marriage rules that someone should have told them long ago.

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4 Comments

10 Simple and Effective Ways to Improve Your Marriage

10/21/2015

4 Comments

 
10 Simple & Effective Ways to Improve Your Marriage -“There seems to be a superstition among many thousands of our young who hold hands and smooch in the drive-ins that marriage is a cottage surrounded by perpetual hollyhocks to which a perpetually young and handsome husband comes home to a perpetually young and ravishing wife. When the hollyhocks wither and boredom and bills appear the divorce courts are jammed. ... “Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.” (Deseret News, 12 June 1973, p. A4.) It doesn't take long after the wedding bells have finished ringing and the guests have gone home to realize one simple fact: marriage, while wonderful, is also hard work.

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Living the Love Language: Acts of Service

10/14/2015

6 Comments

 
Living the Love Language - Acts of Service - The best possible way for me to think about the acts of service love language is to equate it with going the extra mile. If there's something you know you really shouuuuld do for your spouse but you're just.. not... feeling like it? Yeah, if you do that? It's definitely an act of service. If your lover receives love through acts of service, that pretty much means you need to up your thoughtfulness game stat. Go the extra mile! You'll be amazed at the results you'll see.

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6 Comments

Living the Love Language of Receiving Gifts

10/7/2015

4 Comments

 
Living the Language of Receiving Gifts - With gifts, we give something material as a palpable symbol of love. Gift giving is separate and distinct, however, because this time, what we give is tangible. The receiver can literally hold the gift in his or her hands, keep it for years, and look to it as a reminder of love.

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Living the Love Language of Physical Touch

9/30/2015

56 Comments

 
Living the Love Language of Physical Touch - When physical touch is referred to in a dating or marriage context, our silly minds always go straight to the obvious: sexxxxxxxxx. But I’ve learned that it’s actually really truly so dang much more than that and that sometimes the simplest touch can make the biggest difference. Physical touch allows us to keep those “in-love” emotions and makes marriage (and life) much more enjoyable! I mean, when was the last time you...

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56 Comments

The Best Marriage Advice Around

7/27/2015

5 Comments

 
The BEST Marriage Advice Around - as told by married people just like you. Check out this awesome #marriage website. SO great.

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5 Comments

4 of the Best Marriage Books

7/8/2015

28 Comments

 
4 of the BEST #marriage books - love this website. Tons of helpful information!

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28 Comments

50 Ways to Show Love

6/19/2015

8 Comments

 
If you ever feel that your marriage could be stronger, or you feel your relationship needs a re-charge (which it always does), pick one of these 50 ways to show love to try today!

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8 Comments

16 Love Texts Your Husband Needs Throughout the Day

6/4/2015

294 Comments

 
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The Magic of a Simple Compliment

5/21/2015

4 Comments

 
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Want to know one of the best ways to feel better about yourself and your relationship with your spouse? Start experiencing the magic of a simple compliment!

Going out of your way to compliment your spouse can have an absolutely transformative impact on your marriage. Just try it and see!

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4 Comments

5 Ways to Protect Yourself from a Workplace Affair

4/23/2015

10 Comments

 
We know your fellow colleagues are your clan, your tribe, your posse of sorts. You spend a lot of time together, collaborating on projects and working to boost the bottom line. You dine together, sit side-by-side five days a week, and even travel together from time to time. The workplace, while positive in so many ways, also seems to provide an ideal setting for close friendships, and even romance, to blossom. We've all heard of

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10 Comments

15 Epic Text Messages that Will Make Your Spouse's Day

3/12/2015

6 Comments

 
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We know you love to text your spouse. So, go ahead and try wooing your husband or wife with one of these 15 EPIC text messages. You know they will love it. It will totally make their day. Nothing says romantic quite like a text...okay, just kidding, but if you are away from your spouse, try one of these texts today and watch it stir those romantic feelings! Epic, right? 

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6 Comments

The 10 Best Compliments You Can Give Your Wife

2/14/2015

630 Comments

 
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Your wife is the most incredible woman in your life! She is talented, confident, beautiful, and funny. She's the woman of your dreams and means absolutely everything to you. 

Since your wife is all of this and more, don't forget to tell her! Here are 10 of the best compliments you can give your wife. 

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630 Comments

How to Write a Romantic Love Letter

2/12/2015

13 Comments

 
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Have you ever had a hard time writing that perfect love letter to your spouse? Have you ever struggled trying to find the right words to express your love? 

Well, worry no more! These tips are sure to  be helpful!

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13 Comments

3 Ways To Live Without Regret

12/18/2014

4 Comments

 
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Time never stops marching on.  I remember watching TV every New Year's Eve, and seeing the ball in Times Square drop - all while inevitably hearing my parents say, "Every year seems to go by faster than the last." The older I get, the truer that becomes in my life.

Time is precious and should be invested, not spent. Invest your time in the  present, in the relationships that matter most to you, and in pursuit of those things that will bring you the greatest fulfillment, meaning, and satisfaction in your life.

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4 Comments

Is Your Diamond Real?

11/4/2014

88 Comments

 
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Wedding rings are a symbol of a couple's love for, and complete commitment to, each other. There are four main criteria that go into the pricing of a diamond. You may be surprised at the lessons you can learn from these criteria, and how these lessons can help nurture your marriage.

So, the question is - is your diamond real? 


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88 Comments

Put your Rose-Colored Glasses Back On!

10/31/2014

7 Comments

 
A fascinating article that opened my eyes to the truth that I need to CHOOSE to see the good in my spouse. Awesome article. Highly recommend it. #marriage

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7 Comments

5 Ways to Care for a Sick Spouse

10/23/2014

10 Comments

 
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No one likes being sick, but it happens to everyone from time to time.  Sometimes it's a cold or stomach flu that passes in a couple of days; at other times, it's a broken bone or a surgery that includes weeks or months of recovery.  Occasionally, it's a much more serious illness with long-lasting effects. 

Whatever the case may be, dealing with illness in marriage is never easy.  Try these five ideas the next time your spouse is sick, to make the experience a little more bearable for both of you. 

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10 Comments

A Little Sticky Note Goes a Long Way

9/18/2014

6 Comments

 
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Did you know that the sticky note was created by accident?  Did you also know that one of these little notes endured a flight from Las Vegas to Minneapolis on the nose of a plane (and outlasted speeds of 500mph in the process!)?  

In our marriage, we have a little obsession with sticky notes.  We want to tell you all about it.  Sticky notes are a little thing that can contribute, in big ways, to a happy marriage. 

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    “Marriage is a mosaic you build with your spouse. Millions of tiny moments that create your love story.”
    -Jennifer Smith
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    You Know You Want to Read

    • 15 Tricks to Help You Learn How to Talk to Your Spouse Again
    • 3 Reasons You & Your Spouse Need a Bucket List
    • How Being "Mad" is Hurting Your Relationship
    • 17 Gestures That Make Men Feel Loved
    • Why You Should Still Ask Your Spouse Out on Dates
    • Foreplay Isn't Always What You Think
    • 3 Reasons to Keep Trying to Be Intimate With Your Partner
    • 5 Tips for Dealing with In-Laws Who Feel Like Out-Laws

    Everybody Loves These

    • Doing Things Your Lover Loves Because You Love Your Lover
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    • What is Your Apology Language?
    • How to Create Bedtime Rituals That Will Nurture Your Marriage
    • 5 Things Great Listeners Do
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   The Little Things       |     Date Night      |      Intimacy      |      Values to Live By      |      Routines and Rituals      |      Conflict Resolution       

Featured Couples      |      On a Lighter Note      |      Studies Show      |      Shareable Quotes 
  |      Commenting Policy
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  • About
    • Us
    • Our Foundational Analogy
    • What We Believe
    • Meet Our Contributors
    • Featured On...
  • 6 Pillars to Nurturing Marriage
    • The Little Things
    • Date Night
    • Intimacy
    • Values to Live By
    • Routines and Rituals
    • Conflict Resolution
  • More
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Money Matters
    • Featured Couples
    • On a Lighter Note
  • BUY OUR BOOKS
    • LOVE IS PATIENT, LOVE IS KIND: A CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE DEVOTIONAL
    • NURTURE
  • Coaching Services
  • Contact Us
    • Shareable Quotes
    • Become a Contributor
    • Speaking Engagements
    • Partner with Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Join the Community >
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Nurturing Marriage Conversations Facebook Group