Marriage Partnership articles from September 2007

Marriage Partnership archives from September 2007

When hard comes to marriage.(from the editor)(facing difficulties in married life)
September 22, 2007... About a year ago, a friend of mine said to me, "You edit a marriage magazine; you know hundreds of married couples. Whom would you consider to be your role model for marriage?" As I mentally flipped through the names and faces of those who...

Small kindnesses, big differences.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 22, 2007... After reading "Stop, Drop, and Kiss" (Summer 2007) I've vowed that today when my husband walks through the door I too will "drop the spatula." Thanks for the reminder that I chose my husband for the love of my life. Great words of wisdom. ...

Chore wars.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 22, 2007... "Oh, the Mess" highlights a need in marriages today. We tend to judge our spouse by actions, and ourselves by intentions. A little humility can go a long way in bringing partners to the understanding that we share the battle, that we need to...

Haunted by the past.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
September 22, 2007... Both my husband and I have been married before and in relationships that were not wonderful. The article "Ghosts of Marriage Past" really hit home, as we have had a lot of ghosts pop up in our year and a half of marriage. I'm printing it for...

The power of praise.(couple minutes)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... Mark Twain once said he could live a full month on nothing but a single compliment. Yet all compliments aren't created equal. Check out these four types of compliments and the effect they can have on your mate. POSSESSION. "That's a...

Unshakable love.(couple devotional)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.--Song of Songs 8:7 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] My friend and her husband have been married...

Communication do's and don'ts.(couple minutes)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... Try these EIGHT TIPS for navigating the murky waters of communication: 1. Do be honest. Keeping secrets does nothing but frustrate you and perplex your spouse. 2. Do Bring up an issue within 24 hours, or forget it. Don't allow a...

Cash in on your marriage.(couple minutes)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... Of course being married has emotional perks--love, stability, and support. But for newlyweds married three years or less, MARRIAGE CAN NOW MEAN FINANCIAL REWARDS, AS WELL. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] uTango (www.uTango.com) is a new program...

Hug your way to hotter sex.(couple minutes)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... Sure, a big old bear hug helps you feel closer to your mate. But the right kind of cuddle can also bring out the tiger in you both. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Try these three sweet and saucy squeezes: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE...

Work it out.(couple minutes)(married couples' driving styles)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... MP readers respond to: How do you and your spouse deal with DIFFERING DRIVING STYLES? My husband is a "grandpa driver." He can't make a split decision, whether that means merging quickly because the hole in traffic is going to close...

Codeword: quiet!(couple minutes)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... When Jennifer and I got married, I was in graduate school and she was teaching middle school. She'd come home exhausted, yearning for peace and quiet. But a day of only books for company left me bubbling with enthusiastic chatter about things...

A new season.(snapshot)(parenthood and faith in marriage)(Interview)
September 22, 2007... After gaining a fan base performing at summer camps with Young Life ministries, contemporary Christian artist Bebo Norman went on to write and perform such hits as "Great Light of the World" and "Falling Down," garnering multiple Dove Award...

Love your way to lower cholesterol.(couple minutes)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... NEWSFLASH: sending love letters to your mate can lower your cholesterol. In a recent study at Arizona State University, participants spent 20 minutes a week penning letters to family members about their feelings. At the end of three weeks,...

Road riders.(that thing we do)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... After four years of marriage, my husband, Todd, rekindled an old flame. Not with an old girlfriend but with a hog. A Harley Davidson, that is. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When a shiny new motorcycle appeared at church as a prop for a...

You said it!(that thing we do)(Billy Graham on wife Ruth Graham)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... "She was my life partner, and we were called by God as a team. NO ONE ELSE COULD HAVE BORNE THE LOAD SHE CARRIED.... [My] work through the years would have been impossible without her encouragement and support."--Rev. Billy Graham about Ruth,...

"Yup." "Nope." "Maybe" and "Does This Dress Make Me Look Fat?".(between the covers)(Does This Dress Make Me Look Fat? : A Man's Guide to the Loaded Questions Women Ask, "Yup." "Nope." "Maybe.": A Woman's Guide to Getting More Out of the Language of Men)(Plot summary)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... "Yup." "Nope." "Maybe" and "Does This Dress Make Me Look Fat?" by Stephen James and David Thomas (Tyndale). These two books, A Woman's Guide tO Getting More Out of the Language of Men and A Man's Guide to the Loaded Questions Women Ask, take a...

Marriage on the Rock.(between the covers)(Plot summary)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... Marriage on the Rock by Jimmy and Karen Evans (Regal). After five years of marriage, Jimmy and Karen had "fallen out of love." When an argument left them contemplating divorce, Jimmy asked God to teach him how to he a husband. That...

Cinderella Meets the Caveman.(between the covers)(Brief article)(Book review)
September 22, 2007... Cinderella Meets the Caveman by David E. Clarke (Harvest House). Clarke describes how most men are as clueless as a Neanderthal and most women mope around like Cinderella before her prince rescued her-allowing herself to be mistreated and...

Misery: the secret to marital happiness?(couple minutes)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... The key to a happy relationship could be accepting that SOME MISERABLE TIMES ARE UNAVOIDABLE, experts say. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Journal of Marital and Family Therapy reports that the pursuit of relationship nirvana can actually...

Major league mishap: I'd tried to make our trip to the ballpark perfect. What was my wife's problem?(starting out)
September 22, 2007... A swing... and a miss!" the sportscaster cried. Though he was describing the action at the plate, his call fit the drama in the stands. I'd turned a beautiful day at the ballpark into a major league mishap. I love basketball not baseball,...

Common cents.(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... question Before my husband and I got married, he purchased us a house with the money he received from the sale of his house. His name is on the deed, and he won't add my name to it. Is this right? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] answer ...

Paying credit cards before mortgage?(common cents)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... A recent study conducted by Experian credit bureau shows that a majority of people who have subprime adjustable interest rate mortgage loans (high interest, adjustable rate loans given to people with low credit scores) are paying their credit...

Build wealth by battling bulge!(common cents)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... If you bought a chicken sandwich for $2.89 and large fries for $1.79 five days a week, you would spend more than $1,200 in just one year and consume 29,100 calories, which equals 83 pounds. Why not save your wallet and your waistline? If...

Too much computer time!(couple counsel)
September 22, 2007... My wife is constantly on the computer. She surfs the internet or plays computer Solitaire. When I complain, she'll say, "I just want to check out a couple websites." But then two hours go by. Sometimes I wonder, Did she marry me or the...

Wishful thinking? Turning your "if onlys" into reality.(twenty-four: seven)
September 22, 2007... Most couples I encounter in my counseling office have dreams of how wonderful their marriage would be if only... The if only statements almost always focus on things they wish their spouse would change: * I wish she would get rid of some...

Living with an intruder: we wondered what good could possibly come from my wife's illness.(soul to soul)
September 22, 2007... It happened so gradually that Elizabeth and I hardly knew anything was wrong. She had never been much for physical exercise, but why should a walk up a hill be so difficult? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "C'mon, Mom, you can do it," our two...

We've got chemistry: understanding the science of love isn't as complicated as it seems.
September 22, 2007... Ah, young love. Do you remember first falling for your spouse? Those late nights talking on the phone? Surprising her with a dozen roses you picked up from the local flower stand? Skipping sleep to write him that epic love poem? Can you recall...

Caught unawares: temptation to look outside your relationship can sneak up on you--even in the best marriages.
September 22, 2007... This is how it sneaks up on you. I'm driving to work this morning, listening to sports talk radio, when suddenly they're interviewing a female athlete who's on the cover of Playboy. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] And the thoughts start to take...

Soulful connections: how close are you and your spouse spiritually? MP reports how couples are living out their faith.
September 22, 2007... My husband and I feel the spiritual aspect of our marriage is pretty healthy. We make it a point to pray together every day, read the Bible together every evening after dinner, and attend a couples' Bible study together every Wednesday night....

Our town: get ready to enjoy the best that small-town living (pop: 2) has to offer.
September 22, 2007... This doesn't get talked about much, but Adam and Eve lived in the world's first small town. I've often thought that if you were driving past Eden, enjoy-the weather (which was sunny and warm and early June year round), you'd see a city limits...

How to talk about sex: it's one of the most important things you can do for your marriage.
September 22, 2007... Ten years ago, before kids and mortgages and All That, my husband and I were experts in the language of love. If sex is a form of communication, back then we were on the unlimited calling plan. Although we may not have always verbally expressed...

Rest, renew & retreat: a couple's spiritual getaway doesn't have to be the typical prayer, fasting, and religious routine.
September 22, 2007... Returning from a short hike, Pete found his wife, Jenny, relaxing on a bench. He came up behind her and gently massaged her neck. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After awhile Jenny flicked a pile of acorns off the bench and motioned for Pete to...

Going from good to great: how 30 minutes a week can re-energize your marriage.(interview with life coach Christopher McCluskey)(Interview)
September 22, 2007... Your marriage doesn't have to be in trouble to benefit from an objective, encouraging third party--a life coach. "If couples are able to address an issue, goal, desire, or vision proactively, they can head off any number of potential...

Rebels with a cause: both from broken homes and dysfunctional relationships, Tripp and Barbara Curtis resolved to pursue more for their marriage and family.(portrait of a marriage)
September 22, 2007... Running away to get married is unusual when you're 32 and 28. But for Barbara and Tripp Curtis, eloping seemed like the most natural decision in the world. Little did they know God would use their "shotgun" wedding to lead them where he...

Giving pointers.(real sex)
September 22, 2007... Most of the time I enjoy my husband's moves when we're making love. But every once in a while I'd like him to try something different. How can I give him a pointer without bruising his ego? DEBRA: It's important for each couple to...

Peanut butter and jelly: we couldn't be more different, but we're an unbeatable combination.(ever after)
September 22, 2007... "They should be here by now," my husband, Barry, remarked as we pedaled up the hill. Every day for a week, I d heard this same lament: "I wonder where they are?" Exactly who "they" were didn't matter. All Barry knew was that the anonymous...

It figures.(Survey)(Brief article)
September 22, 2007... the BEST time for sex is: Morning: 23% Night: 54% Afternoon delight: 23% (3,846 respondents) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] My spouse and I are most like: Homer and Marge Simpson: 21% Romeo and Juliet: 23% Ray...