Tom and Debi
Our Book Offers Daily———Encouragement
Member
Category Archives: Difficulty
Vintage Post – Suspicion in Marriage
This is part two of our five part series on uncovering the practices or habits that are detrimental to marriage. Today we’ll expose another practice you may or may not be aware of in your own marriage. Suspicion Seventy-five years … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Marriage, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, Vintage Posts
Tagged Detriments to Marriage, Suspicion in Marriage
Comments Off on Vintage Post – Suspicion in Marriage
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
Yoked
I read recently about the purpose of a yoke in training young oxen. They are put in a yoke with an older more experienced ox in order to teach them how to work well together. The picture described was of … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Marriage, Difficulty, Encouraging Your Spouse
Tagged marriage covenant, Marriage help, oxen, yoked
2 Comments
In Need of Shade
Must find shade! We have a black car and the temperature difference between parking in a sunny spot and a shady spot is huge as far as comfort is concerned. Add to it the windshield umbrella contraption Tom bought and … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Marriage, Difficulty, Encouraging Your Spouse, Seasons of Life
Tagged Marriage help, Seasons of Marriage, Shade, Summer
Comments Off on In Need of Shade
Stay
We have been surrounded by a lot of trying and heartbreaking circumstances. Sharing tears with friends and family about losses that will never be restored. At least not in this life. Scripture tells us to weep with those who weep. … Continue reading
Posted in Biblical Encouragement, Christian Marriage, Difficulty
Tagged endurance, Prayer, stay
Comments Off on Stay
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
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
A Long-Overdue and Necessary Adjustment To Our Blog
Over the last two years there has been a melding of our personal lives and our mission to support, encourage and build healthy marriages. It has happened so rapidly in close succession that we hadn’t realized it until now. Many … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Marriage, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, Purpose
Tagged Focus in Marriage, Marriage Poll, Mission Statement
Comments Off on A Long-Overdue and Necessary Adjustment To Our Blog
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
The Fog Has Purpose
Imagine my disappointment when we arrived at Zion National Park to cold, foggy weather. Based on my last post I was hoping the views would be not only visible but breathtaking too. I had no idea of what was coming! … Continue reading
Danger: Fog Ahead, but Summer Is Coming
Fog happens when the temperature changes drastically, usually during the changing of seasons. It can descend quickly and leave just as fast, or it can linger for days, even weeks. When it’s the latter it can bring with it a … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Marriage, Difficulty, Grandparenting, In Sickness, Seasons of Life
Tagged Breathe, changing seasons in marriage, Fog, Lighthouse
6 Comments
Creativity Wins This Valentine’s Day
As most of you know, Tom (Papa) and I (Nana) are in Arkansas helping our daughter and son-in-love with their first baby who was born at 24 weeks and 5 days in October. They came home after being 2 hours … Continue reading
Posted in Cherishing, Christian Marriage, Difficulty, Holidays, humor, Valentine's Day
Tagged Creativity, Romance, Valentine's Day Ideas
Comments Off on Creativity Wins This Valentine’s Day
Growth Through Heartache
I referred to it in our last post. Today I want to share the story that took our marriage from the honeymoon stage to the next level of intimacy–growth through heartache. Tom and I wanted children. We had decided on … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Marriage, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, Newlyweds, Parenting, Seasons of Life
Tagged heartache, Lasting Love, marriage, Miscarriage
Comments Off on Growth Through Heartache
When Opposites Don’t Attract
The old adage that opposites attract is often said in regard to marriage, and it is true most times. Tom and I couldn’t be more opposite in areas that aren’t important, e.g. how we like our eggs, hot beverage of … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Marriage, communication, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, Newlyweds, Troubled Marriage
Tagged Drifting Apart, Pre-marital Counseling questions, When Opposites Don’t Attract
Comments Off on When Opposites Don’t Attract
How Advent Informs Our Marriage with Peace
Peace. We all long for peace. But peace isn’t what many of us expect. It isn’t silence or a lack of any thing that irritates or troubles us. This is one of our favorite scenes from the movie, What About … Continue reading
When Thanksgiving Isn’t Happy
It happens, and most are more aware after this year’s events, of how life can look completely different than you expected or hoped. Who would have ever anticipated a pandemic that altered normal life for the entire world? It has … Continue reading
Posted in Christian Marriage, Difficulty, Holidays, thanksgiving
Tagged Choose Joy, COVID-19, Pandemics, thanksgiving, When Thanksgiving Isn’t Happy
2 Comments
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
The Romantic Vineyard 