Let’s Connect:
-
Join 7,708 other subscribers
- Follow The Romantic Vineyard on WordPress.com
Tom and Debi
Our Book Offers Daily———Encouragement
About Cherishing Us…
Google Translate
Member
Category Archives: Keeping It Real
Why Not Now?
I’ve been thinking how challenging communicating about hard things can be in marriage. – Maybe you don’t agree on your budget limitations. – Maybe you are hurt over something your spouse said, but you’re afraid to tell them. – Maybe … Continue reading
Spiritual Intimacy in Marriage
This week is what Christians call Holy Week. It is the beginning of following Jesus’s final journey on Earth to the cross. It is the most important week of the year. If Jesus didn’t die and 3 days later rise … Continue reading
When Hard Times Come
We’ve all had them. Circumstances don’t go the way we planned. Or worse something happens that sends your emotions reeling. It’s hard to believe the unthinkable happened and you have to deal with the aftermath of a difficult situation. This … Continue reading
Learning Curve
Tom and I have been learning about difficult issues in marriage that we didn’t know happened. We realize how we have been spared many heartaches in our 45 years of marriage. Not that we didn’t have our own to deal … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Marriage, Difficulty, Forgiveness, Keeping It Real, Troubled Marriage
Tagged Blame-shifting, Conflict in Marriage, Humility, marriage
1 Comment
Detour
Have you ever been on the way to a familiar place, so much so that you hardly paid attention to the drive? We do this most of our lives passing the same places for the same reasons. Until…a detour sign … Continue reading
Roots Remain
Oak trees are beautiful. We moved into our neighborhood 31 years ago because of the mature oak trees. They provide much needed shade from our intense Florida heat. Tom had a tree removed out of necessity in our front yard … Continue reading
Importance of Friendship in Marriage
There is one thing of most importance in a healthy marriage and that is friendship. I recently had a conversation with a young single man contemplating how to pursue a healthy relationship with hopes for marriage. I told him foremost … Continue reading
Mercy
“It’s only a surface cavity,” My dentist explained. “You may not need novocaine at all. I’ll start drilling and if you feel any pain raise your hand.” I’m ashamed to say I about took his head off! Novocaine is a … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Marriage, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, Keeping It Real, Seasons of Life
Tagged Dentist, Mercy, Novocaine, Numb
12 Comments
Tomorrow
It is said at most traditional marriage ceremonies, yet we often give little thought about it from that day forward. “‘Til death do us part.” A couple of Sundays ago, our pastor taught on 1 Corinthians 5 – 7. The … Continue reading
Posted in Biblical Encouragement, Christian Marriage, Death and Grieving, Keeping It Real, Seasons of Life
Tagged A.W. Tozer, Metro Life Church, Sexual intimacy, until death do us part, Widowhood
Comments Off on Tomorrow
Today
Today marks 15,695 days I have been a Mrs. Tom’s one and only Mrs. to be exact. I was 19. Tom was 24. We had our life ahead of us with all its twists, turns and unknowns. These 2242 weeks … Continue reading
Posted in anniversaries, Celebrations, Cherishing, Christian Marriage, Keeping It Real
Tagged 43 years, Anniversary, Everlasting arms of God, marriage
2 Comments
This Man
He serves tirelessly. He works hard when someone is depending on him. He is faithful to complete any job well. And He does it with joy. We have had a hard few seasons back to back. We have lacked time … Continue reading
Posted in Cherishing, Christian Marriage, Keeping It Real
Tagged comforts of home, serving, Strong Marriage, This Is Us
1 Comment
Comfort and Joy
It’s Christmas week and we’ve been more aware in recent years of our need for comfort and joy. Tom’s stepdad is in the final stages of life with Hospice overseeing his comfort. He has lived a full life and at … Continue reading
When The Roses Are Wilted And The Wine Is Flat
Most of you know how much we have been through the past few years. It has seemed that one crisis after another has continued since the beginning os 2019. Throw a pandemic in the middle of it all and it’s … Continue reading
Posted in Biblical Encouragement, Christian Marriage, Dating Your Spouse, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, Keeping It Real, Seasons of Life
Comments Off on When The Roses Are Wilted And The Wine Is Flat
To Cherish or Admonish?
You’ve probably had it happen in your marriage too. Your spouse is telling a familiar story to some friends and they get a detail wrong. How could they not remember how it happened? Admonishment is my knee-jerk reaction in such … Continue reading
Can You Trust Me Here?
We had only been married a few months when I became very sick, requiring surgery. The look in Tom’s eyes revealed his concern, but even more revealing was his deep love for me. I saw mirrored in him the love … Continue reading
Great Married Christian Sex Takes Effort.
This title alone may have caught your interest because once you’re married it is assumed you’ll have great sex. But sadly for many couples they struggle in their sex life from day one. It can become an increasing source of … Continue reading
Caring For A Broken Heart
My brother went to be with Jesus last week. In just five short weeks he went from being a healthy husband, father, Papa and brother to fighting for his life against Covid. Many of you have prayed with us for … Continue reading
Not Enough Suitcases
Today’s guest post is from my friend and fellow blogger, Julie Sibert, who blogs regularly about marriage and intimacy on her site at http://www.IntimacyInMarriage.com. A friend and I recently went on a long hot walk around a lake, meandering about … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Marriage, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, Guest Post, Keeping It Real
Tagged Guest Post, Intimacy in Marriage, Julie Sibert, not enough suitcases, Thank you Jesus
Comments Off on Not Enough Suitcases
No Tricks—All Treats This Halloween
I’ve started to write a post several times and my mind goes blank. Life has been unpredictable this year, and it keeps coming at us. Our youngest daughter gave birth to her first baby at 24 weeks and 5 days … Continue reading
Unexpected Expectations
Have you ever been caught off guard by unrealistic or unfair expectation of your spouse? Have you ever been surprised that you even had expectations? I have, sadly, and I regret what I put Tom through. Thankfully I have a … Continue reading
Posted in Birthdays, Celebration Dates, Celebrations, Christian Marriage, Keeping It Real
Tagged Birthdays, disappointments, Keeping It Real, marriage
3 Comments
The Romantic Vineyard 