Marriage Partnership articles from March 2005

Marriage Partnership archives from March 2005

Puppy pointers.(Editorial)
March 22, 2005... It's official. My husband, Scott, and I just brought home an adorable Doberman puppy. Our lives have become consumed with crate training, housebreaking, and teaching simple commands like, "Sit," "Come," "Outside?" and "No bite! No bite! Nooooo...

Opposites attract.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 22, 2005... Thank you for the wonderful article "Irreconcilable Differences--So?" by Mark Galli (Winter 2004). Sometimes it seems my husband and I are too incompatible. I see what looks like happy, perfect marriages all around, while ours seems so...

Ban the bashing.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 22, 2005... Wow. Rhonda Webb's article "Husband Bashing" hit home. I recently had one of these "bashing" talks with my room. I thought I was just getting things off my chest, but that's not the case at all. We need to remember how special and precious our...

Reforming a workaholic.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 22, 2005... Thank you for this article ("My Obsession with Work") by Gary Smalley! My husband is a workaholic, and I've tried to communicate that our three kids and I need him, not the things he can provide. Gary's wife, Norma, was smart to realize...

With this ring ...(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 22, 2005... I found "The Best Sex (survey) Ever!" informative. But even more interesting was the photo of the couple on the title page--in which the "wife" wasn't wearing her wedding ring. Maybe you should have included this question: "Do you take off your...

Boyhood dreams and evil schemes: best-selling author Jerry Jenkins reveals a new fiction series that explores life before Left Behind.(The first page: the inside story on the best in Christian books)
March 22, 2005... Last spring's release of Glorious Appearing, the twelfth book in the mega-selling Left Behind series, was an occasion of both celebration and regret for loyal fans: celebration that the series ended on such a triumphant note, regret that their...

What's hot in the fiction aisle fiction firsts.(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... DREAM OF FREEDOM by Michael Phillips As the lines are being drawn between North and South over slavery, one man and his family make the decision to follow God's will for their lives and free their slaves. THE WARRIOR by Francine Rivers...

New romance from HeartQuest first love.(books)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... SWEET VIOLET by Catherine Palmer Mr. Rosse hires Edmund Sherbourne to find his wayward daughter Violet and escort her back to England. But by the time Edmund brings Violet back, they are thoroughly irritated and enraptured by each other....

Portrait of the artist: Elena Kucharik shares a story behind her award-winning illustrations.(Special Advertising Section)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
March 22, 2005... A former art director for American Greetings, illustrator Elena Kucharik first made her mark with the popular Care Bears. These days she is known as the creator of endearing illustrations for the Little Blessings series, now 27 books strong and...

The rising: an excerpt from the forthcoming release from Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins ...(Brief Article)(Excerpt)
March 22, 2005... Immediately Marilena's mind, her soul, her being felt rushed by a spiritual force. She heard no audible voice, but clearly something or someone spoke directly to her heart. The words were cacophonous and dizzying, yet the ones she was meant to...

News & notes.(books)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... MICHAEL PHILLIPS (Dream of Freedom) is not only a best-selling fiction author. He has written nonfiction as well, and is a recognized authority on Scottish writer George MacDonald--and has even edited MacDonald's books for modern readers. Dream...

What's new in nonfiction: first insights.(Excerpt)
March 22, 2005... EXCERPT FROM The Marriage You've Always Dreamed Of by Greg Smalley My wife, Erin, is a nurse, and on occasion her nursing duties require her to work the evening shift. On one such night, I felt alone and bored--and when I get bored, I...

What's new in nonfiction.(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... THE NORTH FACE OF GOD by Ken Gire addresses times of adversity when God seems to be absent. Ken Gire shows you how to hold on to hope, and reminds you that our loving Father allows storms in our lives to grow our faith in ways we never would...

Best kept secret.(Couple Minutes)(self-confidence and relationships)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... Think the secret of a happy marriage is passionate sex or a weekly date? Nope. It's self-confidence. A study at the University of New York at Buffalo and Canada's University of Waterloo revealed that people who were bothered by self-doubt were...

God provides: give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever. "For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before," says the Lord (Jeremiah 33:11).(Couples Devotional)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... When Patty and I stood at the altar and recited our vows for better or worse, in sickness and in health, we never imagined the outcome. Now Patty suffers from a physical malady that has left her fatigued and weak. Her debilitating illness has...

You said it!(Couple Minutes)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... "Marriage is not about expecting someone to make you happy every day, or to complete your life. It's a great partnership." --Reese Witherspoon "Don't over-analyze your marriage. That's like yanking up a fragile indoor plant every 20...

How do you and your spouse create "together time"?(Couple Minutes)
March 22, 2005... We make breakfast our "family meal." When we make the effort to be dressed and at the table at 7:00 A.M. sharp, we're able to connect and spend at least 30 minutes of quality time talking to each other. --Stephen end Alaina Box, ...

A royal opportunity.(Couple Minutes)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... Stuck in the "dinner and a movie" rut? Looking for a new and exciting activity to share as a couple? You and your spouse can strut your stuff in the Mrs. U. S. Beauties National Pageant. Wives--and husbands!--participate in a variety of events...

Tackling taxes.(Couple Minutes)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... Here are some little known deductibles that can double your dough: 1. Child care (all types of day care, including summer camp) 2. Any kind of birth control prescribed by a physician 3. Contact lenses and all the products that go...

Friends first.(Snapshot)(Interview)
March 22, 2005... Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. achieved international fame with The Fifth Dimension, one of the biggest pop/rock groups of the late '60s. Now co-authors of the book Up, Up, and Away: How We Found Love, Faith, and Lasting Marriage in the...

MarriagePartnership.com surveys: the forgiving kind.(Couple Minutes)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... Have you forgiven your spouse for a deep hurt? I think so, but sometimes anger creeps back in: 61 percent Yes, I've totally forgiven him/her: 26 percent No, I keep thinking of ways to get back at him/her: 6 percent No, but I...

Sex-C couples.(Couple Minutes)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... Surprise! Here's a supplement fact you may not know. Popping vitamin C daily may prod you and your spouse to hook up more. A European study found that men and women who took vitamin C had sex 68 percent more frequently than those who took a...

On the move.(Couple Minutes)(buying a new house)
March 22, 2005... The process of finding a mutually agreeable home can divide even a strong couple. Try these 5 tips to help you find a home you both can live with. 1. Identify each other's living needs. The more specific a goal, the better your chances of...

Hiking God's creation.(That Thing We Do)(Column)
March 22, 2005... About four years ago my grandfather bought my husband, Jack, a subscription to Backpacker magazine. Jack read every issue from cover to cover. That was the beginning of what has become our passion. Now, whenever we are traveling, we check...

Looking for a good book?(Couple Minutes)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
March 22, 2005... Check out these new offerings from MARRIAGE PARTNERSHIP regular contributors. Real Questions, Real Answers about Sex (Zondervan) by Louis and Melissa McBurney Finally! A book that responds with frank, sensitive, and biblically...

Love and respect.(Between the Covers)(Interview)
March 22, 2005... "Five out of ten marriages today end in divorce because love alone is not enough," says Emerson Eggerichs, author of Love and Respect (Integrity). During a tenure of more than 30 years as a counselor and pastor, and now founder and president of...

Last chance to win!(Couple Minutes)
March 22, 2005... Enter our Ignite Your Love Life Contest, cosponsored by MARRIAGE PARNERSHP magazine and NavPress, to be eligible to win an all expenses paid tong weekend getaway. Grand prize includes 2 tickets to an Intimacy Ignited seminar and accommodations...

"Don't tell me what to do": our need to micro-manage each other was driving us apart.(Starting out: what I wish someone had told me)
March 22, 2005... Do you, Steve, take this woman, and do you, Julie, take this man, to be your lawfully wedded spouse, to have and to hold, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, in constant reminders and helpful suggestions, in specific details,...

Cofrontinq the other woman?(Couple counsel: everyday advice you can trust)
March 22, 2005... Q. My husband had an affair with a friend of mine. He and I have reconciled, but I feel the need to confront my friend. I want to talk to her about how she betrayed me. What's the correct way to handle it? A. The "correct" way to handle it...

Depressed and angry?(Couple counsel: everyday advice you can trust)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... Q. Three years ago my husband was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. This has struck down his faith and sent him into a deep depression. He won't attend church, pray, or talk about God. What should I do? A. After three years of struggling with...

Expressing true feelings.(Couple counsel: everyday advice you can trust)
March 22, 2005... Q. How much should a spouse express his or her true feelings and thoughts without fear of "rocking the boat"? I get weary of telling my husband things because it seems to end in an argument. It's just easier to let things go and not have the...

Single mode.(Couple counsel: everyday advice you can trust)
March 22, 2005... Q. My wife is a flight attendant and is gone from home a lot. When she is home, she goes into what I call "single mode." She makes her own decisions, spends a lot of time by herself--she even bought a car without telling me! When I raise my...

Managing money together: a hasty investment taught Jim and Lisa Preuett the value of weighing financial decisions--together.(Work it out: real couples, real solutions)
March 22, 2005... Lisa's side: He spent our money without telling me. A few months into our marriage, Jim excitedly told me about a home-based business a friend had mentioned. The business consisted of selling new weight loss products on the Internet. ...

Husbanding by design: 6 plans of a God-honoring man.(24/7: doing marriage God's way)
March 22, 2005... Before I got married, I dreamed about how happy I was going to be as a husband. Six months after marriage, however, I was more miserable than I'd been my whole life--and so was my wife. I'd entered marriage with visions of what my wife would do...

Secrets of a soul mate: it may be time to become what you--and your spouse--really long for.(Soul to soul: where faith and marriage meet)
March 22, 2005... Are you married to your "soul mate"? Katie didn't think she was. The day she walked into my counseling office she believed that little fact was her ticket out of a passionless marriage. All she really wanted from me was confirmation that...

Terms of engagement: meet the winners of the best wedding proposal contest, cosponsored by Marriage Partnership and Robbins Bros. Jewelers.
March 22, 2005... A Fairy Tale Come True I first met Andrea in 1995 when we were placed on the same mission team in the Ukraine. To pass the time while riding trains cross-country, we read to each other from an old book of local fairy tales I'd found. We...

When silence is golden: six times when it's best not to say a word.
March 22, 2005... Stop talking. We mean it. Having a tug-of-war with your partner about where to go on your next date? Whether to relocate for a new job opportunity? How to discipline your kids? Ask anyone with an opinion and they'll tell you the same...

Real good housekeeping: how to get your spouse to help around the house.
March 22, 2005... Sharon plopped onto the couch and sighed. "Derek came home last night, took one look at the living room, and said, 'Honey, what do you do all day? This place is a mess!' But I did clean. It's just that the kids messed it up again while I was...

Why forgive? It's more about you than you think.(A Marriage Revolution)(Column)
March 22, 2005... I was their last resort. Kurt and Mary (not their real names) called me in the middle of an argument. "Dr. Anderson, you have to come and help us," Mary said angrily. After talking with her briefly, I was afraid if I didn't show up, their...

Give it the boot: when you can't forgive and forget, remember what the reminders really mean.(Forgiveness)(Column)
March 22, 2005... Before I was married, I loved wearing cowboy boots. I was reared in a western state, and as I tugged on my boots each morning, I was reminded of rodeos, riding horses, and good ol' country music. Not that I was a real cowboy. I was a city...

Grace matters: Max and Denalyn Lucado have made a lifestyle of practicing forgiveness. That's why they can say ...(A Marriage Revolution)(Interview)
March 22, 2005... He's been named "America's Pastor," and in a recent national survey was ranked one of the most widely known and respected Christian authors, second only to Billy Graham. He has sold more than 39 million books, including his most recent Come...

Simple gifts: what cereal boxes and straightened shoes taught me about love.
March 22, 2005... What are you doing?" I exclaimed with laugh as my husband Dave, stood at the kitchen cabinets busily restacking our cereal boxes. I'd put away those same boxes that afternoon after shopping. "You do this on purpose, don't you?" I saw the...

Sex ... through the decades: what you need to know now--and later.
March 22, 2005... Forewarned is forearmed, and it's helpful to know what each decade may bring sexually. A tablespoonful of attention a dash of appreciation, a cupful of communication, tossed lightly with creativity and a good sense of humor is a great recipe...

Gimme some credit! How I taught my wife the virtues of impulse buying.
March 22, 2005... I don't understand why "disagreement over finances" consistently rates as one of the key problems married couples face--especially when the Visa people have thoughtfully arranged a system whereby we can keep spending even when we don't have any...

I had an abortion: and that terrible secret was killing our marriage.(Back from the brink: true story of how a marriage was saved)
March 22, 2005... You're late. Again," I said as I glared at my husband, Art. "I'm sorry. Traffic was a nightmare." Not the traffic excuse again, I fumed as I filled Art's plate and slapped it onto the table. We'd been married only two months, but the...

She won't initiate sex.(Real sex: frank answers to everything intimate)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... Q. My wife won't initiate sex. She says it's not dignified for a woman to do that. So I initiate or we don't make love. Our lovemaking would be more exciting if the urge came from her sometimes. What should I do? A. This is almost every...

Faking it.(Real sex: frank answers to everything intimate)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... Q. I fake my orgasms. I don't want to tell my husband because it would make him feel bad. So I lie. Now I'm not sure I'd recognize an orgasm if it did happen. I know I'm not doing the right thing. But I'm not sure what to do. A. While we...

Urinary urgency.(Real sex: frank answers to everything intimate)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... Q. Often during intercourse my wife feels as if she has to urinate. If we stop, sometimes the feeling goes away. I've heard that this feeling is related to female ejaculation. Could this be the case? Is there such a thing--or what's going on?...

Feeling guilty.(Real sex: frank answers to everything intimate)(Brief Article)
March 22, 2005... Q. I'm having a tough time getting into the "sex is good" attitude and out of the "sex is wrong" attitude that my family and church drilled into my head before marriage. Everyone just accepts that married sex is dandy--but my mind can't switch...

Honey, I shrunk the clothes! What a laundry mishap taught me about peacemaking.(Ever after: marriage for a lifetime)(Column)
March 22, 2005... Norma has told me she prefers I stay away from the laundry, since I have a habit of messing up things. But if I "must" help, she's instructed me to put her clothes in the dryer for no more than five minutes, then hang them up. One day I...