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...

There’s no such thing as not having time. When we say “I don’t have time,” what we’re really saying is that we don’t choose to make certain things a priority right now, or, there’s something else we’d rather be doing. Think about all the demands on your schedule and take a look at the things you spend the most time on. The truth is we make time for the things we want to make time for.  But that isn’t always...

I’m talking about timing in marriage – specifically, when it comes to discussing things with your spouse. You want to talk to your wife about the phone bill so you bombard her as soon as she walks in the door from work.  Your husband is sick with the flu but you go ahead and bring up the broken sink anyway.  Or, your wife is exhausted, and just as her head hits the pillow you bring up the budget.  All bad timing. ...

The marriage rate has been on a steady decline over the past five decades.  Why this disturbing trend?  It’s because some people think that living together rather than getting married is the way to go.  The number of unmarried couples living with each other jumped from 1.6 million in 1980 to 13.6 million in 2008.  Are there consequences for co-habitation?  Well, findings from Pennsylvania State University indicate...

One of my favorite things about working at Family First is the opportunity we have to influence thousands of families across the country through our iMOM Morning and All Pro Dad’s Day school breakfast programs. Parents and kids gather monthly before school to laugh, learn, and grow closer to each other. As parents, this is a valuable way to stay connected with our kids by discussing tough topics and a great way to...

There are lots of qualities that matter: character, integrity, stability. But here’s something else to consider: look for someone who encourages you and has a positive outlook. It’s hard to have a happy marriage when your partner constantly criticizes you or makes you feel inadequate. Your spouse should be trying to build you up, not tear you down. And, it’s easier to have a happy marriage when you’re with someone...

As we jump into another New Year, I’m guessing that you’ve already put the pedal to the medal and are driving into January very quickly. But before the days start speeding by, I want to briefly share with you a few things that I hope for you in 2013. First, I hope that your marriage blossoms. I so want you and your spouse to move beyond mere survival and have a flourishing marriage…a marriage filled with peace,...