Category Archives: Communication

I will love you always

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I will love my husband until I take my last breath. I know I have said that time and time again. Love just doesn’t happen…it take action on your part to love, to stay in love, and to love always and forever.

But how can you stay true to that statement? It’s hard but we definitely can fulfill that promise.

5 Love principles:

  1. You have to encourage one another
    • Never tear your spouse down
    • When was the last time you praised your spouse with encouraging words?
  2. Comfort one another
  3. Spend time together
    • Spending time together helps strengthens relationships
    • If you grow apart you will come apart
  4. Be tender and compassionate with each other
  5. Be agreeable:
    • same values
    • same mindset concerning marital and parenting ideas

Love is an action verb. You must put in work to maintain a healthy strong marriage. There is no such thing as 50/50 or 80/20 when it comes to marriage. Its 100/100. We must do our due diligence when it comes to the staying power of our love.

I believe in you-you can “Always love your spouse.”

Which principle above do you need to improve on?

Lady Pk

What a tragic weekend! One of America’s musical icons passed away: Ms. Whitney Houston (August 9, 1963-February 11, 2012). Ms. Houston you will truly be missed!

What language do you speak?

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Most married houses are bilingual. I know when my husband and I first got married it seemed like we were definitely speaking a different language. I was speaking the language of a “woman” and he was speaking the language of a “man.” We were basically sounding like Charlie Brown mom “wha wha wha wha.”

No one understood or even heard what the other one was saying and/or needed. It is only because we were speaking a language of “I” instead of the language of “we.”

We had to veer our language skills to include the language of each other. This is not an easy task but guess what we spoke the same language when we were dating.  When we were courting our potential spouse we paid close attention to the things that was pleasing to them but for some reason when we said “I Do” we fail to continue to learn our spouse language.

We all have heard that good effective communication is an essential part of a strong healthy marriage. You cannot have a strong healthy marriage if you and your spouse are speaking a different language.

5 Ways to improve the language in your marriage:

  1. Practice active listening
  2. Say what you actually mean…don’t drop hints…be specific!
  3. Check and double check your attitude, tone, and body language when talking to/with your spouse
  4. Be honest
  5. Keep talking…

How can you improve the language that is spoken in your house? Share your ideas and suggestions in the comment box.

Lady Pk

 

The Key to Romance from MarriageToday on Vimeo.

 

How to Affair-Proof Your Marriage Using Lessons from The Scarlet Letter

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The Scarlet Letter (1860) by T. H. Matteson. O...
Image via Wikipedia

So you are married and you want to make it better; don’t we all?! How ironic to consider going to a book about an adulteress for counseling. What contributed to her downfall may just produce some key suggestions.

Reasons for Marrying

Although as a child the adulteress, Hester, may have been a bit strong-willed and rebellious, she was also strongly passionate. The man she married, an older, rather physically misshapen man found her youthful beauty and passion exciting, a thing he must own. One might also presume she felt a bit of compassion for the condition of his twisted body and enjoyed the idea he could and would provide handsomely for her since he was a professional. Meanwhile taking for granted that in time they would actually fall in love. So they married. The relationship lacks commonality of beliefs, tenderness, and unselfishness, just what’s in it for me.

Keep Promises and Provide Unselfish Care Being interested in coming to the new land of America like so many settlers of the day, Hester’s husband booked passage for her to come to the new land, saying he would follow later. However, it became apparent after quite a while he would not be reuniting with his bride, because, Hester believed, he had met his demise at sea. Unfortunately there was no documentation of his death, so when Hester met and fell deeply, passionately in love, she committed adultery. Her husband obviously did not keep his promise to care for her and love her. In fact, we find her husband abandoning her and removing his umbrella of protection, leaving her vulnerable not only to others, but to her own passions.

 

Actions Speak Volumes

Therefore he should not have been surprised to find, when he did manage to get to America that she had fallen for someone else. In his devious mind he must have known that if he did not make every effort to send word that he was on another ship, she might indeed assume he was dead. Was this a merciless tease on his part to bait her into temptation that although he couldn’t have a deep, meaningful relationship, he would not allow her to have real love either? By his actions he convinced her that he did not want her. What do your actions say to your spouse? So you are married and you want to make it better; don’t we all?! How ironic to consider going to a book about an adulteress for counseling. What contributed to her downfall may just produce some key suggestions. Reasons for Marrying Although as a child the adulteress, Hester, may have been a bit strong-willed and rebellious, she was also strongly passionate. The man she married, an older, rather physically misshapen man found her youthful beauty and passion exciting, a thing he must own. One might also presume she felt a bit of compassion for the condition of his twisted body and enjoyed the idea he could and would provide handsomely for her since he was a professional. Meanwhile taking for granted that in time they would actually fall in love. So they married. The relationship lacks commonality of beliefs, tenderness, and unselfishness, just what’s in it for me. Keep Promises and Provide Unselfish Care Being interested in coming to the new land of America like so many settlers of the day, Hester’s husband booked passage for her to come to the new land, saying he would follow later. However, it became apparent after quite a while he would not be reuniting with his bride, because, Hester believed, he had met his demise at sea. Unfortunately there was no documentation of his death, so when Hester met and fell deeply, passionately in love, she committed adultery. Her husband obviously did not keep his promise to care for her and love her. In fact, we find her husband abandoning her and removing his umbrella of protection, leaving her vulnerable not only to others, but to her own passions. Actions Speak Volumes Therefore he should not have been surprised to find, when he did manage to get to America that she had fallen for someone else. In his devious mind he must have known that if he did not make every effort to send word that he was on another ship, she might indeed assume he was dead. Was this a merciless tease on his part to bait her into temptation that although he couldn’t have a deep, meaningful relationship, he would not allow her to have real love either? By his actions he convinced her that he did not want her. What do your actions say to your spouse?

As we take these thoughts into consideration, of what are some things we need to become owners in our relationships with our spouses in order to affair-proof our marriages? The Scarlet Letter in its most literary fashion highlights that we first must have a common belief system focusing on putting his or her welfare before our own. As we put our marriage partners first, we must keep the promises made to them in our wedding vows which include cherishing them in all circumstances; communicating this to them without reservation in any way possible. We regard our life long complements. In closing, I would like to award the list makers in the audience with a group of synonyms for the word, regard, found in my trusty thesaurus: respect, esteem, favor, honor, concern and for whom we have great affection. Think on these things and prepare for action!

Terry Ford and the great writers at Grammarly, the world’s best grammar checker take comfort in good books and believe in the power of writing every day.

Randomly Yours

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I’m so excited..I am participating in my first meme. I was tagged by Teresha at Marlie and Me blog to answer a few random questions. I figured that would be a good so I can let you guys in on a few things about me.

This also give me an idea for a fun date night activity…Make some random questions for your spouse  (don’t make them serious) and you guys have fun + laughter answering them…Hey what a great date night idea!

OK, sorry I digressed (you know I’m always thinking about ways to enhance our date nights) So here goes…I hope you guys enjoy!

The Rules
  1. Post these rules.
  2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
  3. Answer the questions set for you in their post.
  4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
  5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them

    My 11 Random Things

    1. I am the middle child of 3..so I do suffer from the middle child syndrome.
    2. I am named after my grandmother & father.
    3. I am a big Bobby Brown fan.
    4. I listen to love music 90% of the time.
    5. I am afraid of being alone.
    6. I am a daddy’s girl.
    7. I love peach cobbler.
    8. I am an empty nester.
    9. I don’t like being late because I don’t like people picking my seat…(if you are late, you sit where people didn’t want to sit…so that means they picked your seat LOL)
    10. I cannot sing but comes from a family of singers.
    11. I always leave room for Jesus..meaning I don’t sit on the end, I don’t sleep on the edge of the bed…I always have done that thinking that Jesus need room where I am LOL (I know strange but I have been doing that since I was kid so I still do it, LOL)

    My Questions from Teresha

    1. If you could live in a cartoon, which one would it be and what character would you play? Family Guy…I would be Stewie girlfriend…they would create me and I would be a regular character
    2. What is your favorite cereal? Frosted Flakes
    3.  If you could have a talent that you don’t currently possess, what would it be? I would be able to sew very well…to design my girls clothes and start a clothing line.
    4.  In high school were you a jock, a nerd, a drama kid, a band geek or something in between? A nerd…I was in all honor classes
    5.  Have you ever met a celebrity? Who was it, where was it? Did you act cool or like a crazed fan? I meet Jerome “The Bus” Bettis in Las Vegas & I was overly cool LOL
    6.  Harry Potter or Twilight or neither? NEITHER
    7. When was the last time that you were REALLY angry? When I found out I was going to be a grandmother…it was toooooo soon for me to be a grandmother LOL
    8. If you could travel back and forth in time like in the movie Midnight in Paris, what period of time would you visit? I did not see that movie
    9. Is your belly button an innie or an outie? Innie
    10.  Do you have any strange phobias? I can’t think of one…..
    11.  If the doctor informed you that you had one month to live how would you spend that time? With my family…I have a five month grandbaby I would spend that time recording myself talking about her as she got older…I would have videos for every year of her life so that she could see, hear, & remember me.

    My Questions

    1. What strange food combination do you like?
    2. Describe your ideal date night?
    3. Are you a romantic?
    4. What is one of your pet peeves?
    5. What do your spouse/significant other do to make you smile?
    6. Are you a lefty or righty?
    7. Which season is your favorite and why?
    8. If you could live anywhere in the United States, where would you live?
    9. Would you like to be on a reality show? If so, which one and why?
    10. If you were given a million dollars & told to pay it forward, how would you use the money?
    11. If you could be anyone in history who would it be and why?

 

Duck, Duck, Goose…Tag, You’re It!

Deanna @ Little Green Bow
Jocelyn @ The Science of Marriage
Brian @ Red Flag Relationships
Stoni @ The Everyday Entertainment of a Wife, Mommy, Friend, and Weirdee!!
Cari @ NighLon

Lady Pk

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Valentine’s Day 2012

Stay Together

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13 years and counting…all I can say is WOW! 13 years nowadays is like a milestone. Couples are not staying together for decades anymore.

You know sometimes I sit and think about where we started and where we are now. All, I can say is the Lord has definitely been a strong active member in this marriage.

We have faced so many ups and downs, that when I think about it I always wonder “how did we STAY TOGETHER?” Joining two people of different backgrounds, different upbringing, and different personalities will breed a complicated union.

Marriage is hard and sometimes you think the easiest thing to do is to just run & hide. We must not allow that stinking thinking to consume us.

I was listening to Jaheim and Ledisi new song, “Stay Together” and was reminded that true love and committed people can stay together.

There is a verse in the song that just resonates in my body when I hear it:

I know (I know) whatever comes our way

You know, (You know) you and me, we gonna stay… together, (together)

Baby we’ve been through so much (so much)

Our love is so strong, you know, (you know I know)

ohhh you and me, (we gonna stay) We gonna stay, (together) together, oh yeah

This verse speaks loudly about the commitment this couple has made to one another. Nowhere in the song are there any negative or wavering statements about their love and commitment to each other.

The tongue is a powerful tool. We can use it for good or bad. Use your tongue to speak positive statements and affirmations over your marriage and your spouse. Allow your words to confirm your commitment to your spouse to STAY TOGETHER through sickness and health, through the good times and the bad times.

The words you use will control your actions, your attitudes, and your motives.

How are you going to use the power of your tongue today? Will it be to condemn your marriage and your spouse or will you use it to uplift your marriage and your spouse?

It’s your choice! I choose to STAY TOGETHER!

Lady Pk

Hold your tongue!

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Anger Management

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Marriage is a wonderful covenant. You marry the person that you can’t stop thinking about, the person you can’t stop talking about, and the person that just hearing their name makes you smile.

With joining two “individuals” together to live in harmony under one roof, there is a bound to be some hiccups. Disagreements = 2 people with 2 opinions. Your opinion is important but we must understand when, where, and how to express your opinion.

We are all human and we are subject to bump heads with the one we love; however, don’t allow these disagreements to drive a wedge between you and your spouse.

When there is a disagreement don’t feed the fire with sharp words instead stop, pray, & think.

Remember the ABCs of disagreements/anger:

A: Acknowledge the anger

B: Backtrack to where the anger/disagreement began (what triggered the anger/disagreement)

C: Consider the source of the anger (what is really causing you to be angry)

The best thing to remember is there are no winners when there is an argument. Hold your tongue and agree to disagree on this subject.

Never let weak moments (disagreement) take away from the foundation (bond) you & your spouse are building…

Your love is stronger than any disagreement & your marriage is worth more to you than winning an argument.

 

Will you HOLD YOUR TONGUE the next time you and your spouse are faced with a disagreement? Try it & see how fast the disagreement is dissolved.