You and your spouse both have needs, but are your needs the same? 

Does your spouse need what you think they do, or have you even thought about it? 

I'm here to tell you, your spouse may not be needing what you're thinking, why?  Because most likely you're thinking your spouse NEEDS the same things YOU do.

Got the picture?  It's not always sex either.  Every human being has specific things they need from their spouse to feel supported and loved.  When these NEEDS are attended, they grow closer as a couple.  They LIKE their spouse and enjoy spending time together.  So, why doesn't anyone talk about this?

Because they are unaware!  Have you really thought about this yourself?

Today I was watering my plants. I often remember when the leaves are falling off or drooping.  There's a particular plant (You see it in the photo) that sends out runners or fast-growing roots that come up outside the dirt... LOOKING for water.  Those roots are thick and desperately looking for water so it can...

You might be thinking, "My marriage was not supposed to be like this." My spouse was once a dream date—creative, thoughtful, respectful—but now, it feels like he’s everything but that. What happened?

Well, it’s kind of like my white, petite Tommy Hilfiger pants. They looked fabulous the first time I wore them, but after a few washes, they kept getting shorter and shorter. At only 5 feet tall, short people don’t usually have issues with pants being too short; they’re always too long! At first, I ignored the problem, but as time went on, those pants started to feel a bit dorky—not stylish, classic, and sharp like they once were.

Finally, I took action. I removed the factory's 2-inch hem and re-hemmed them. Now, I feel good in them again.

Marriage, like many other issues in life, can feel the same way. We’re bothered, confused, and not feeling the love, but we ignore the problems until we can’t ignore them any longer. Can you relate? It might be with one of your kids, work, a friend, o...

You're not going to adore and desire your spouse every moment of every day.  Sometimes you're going to butt heads, lose patients, yell, or want to be alone.  It's different for everyone.  But ultimately, if you want to stay married, you need to figure out how you can find that lasting love, that keeps you attracted to one another.

We just came back from camping with friends.  They too have been married over 40 years.  You might think we're old... but we still feel young, hopeful and adventurous.  We remember raising our kids, up early, non-stop, dropping into bed at night.  Our husbands worked full time and we wives worked part time, raised our kids, and took care of the home front.  We often got together for dinners, were involved in church, family get togethers, PTA, dance classes, and sports. 

I now watch my kids with their families and remember the exhaustion and how I never thought about how or if we would have a happy long-lasting marriage.  I just expected we would.

 Now I ha...

In the whirlwind of life, it’s easy to forget that your spouse can’t read your mind. Communication is vital for overcoming marital challenges, and learning to open up, trust, and express your feelings can be the key to a thriving relationship.

Here are three ways to recognize trouble, three ways to resolve those problems, and the joy of resetting and renewing your marriage.

Recognizing Trouble

1. Increased Tension: If conversations feel more like arguments than discussions, it’s a sign that something deeper needs to be addressed.

2. Emotional Withdrawal: When one partner starts to pull away or stops sharing their feelings, it can create a rift that leads to misunderstandings.

3. Unresolved Conflicts: If issues keep resurfacing without resolution, it’s time to dig deeper and address the root causes.

Resolving Problems

1. Open Dialogue: Set aside time to talk with your spouse about your feelings, needs, and concerns. Remember, this isn’t an interrogation; it’s an opportuni...

A Tapestry of Virtue:

The Founding of a Nation

Celebrating the Strength of Families and the Nation Built on Shared Values

Shared by Connie Durham

The Extraordinary Marriage

In a sun-drenched glade, where the whispering winds carried the scent of pine and the laughter of children echoed like a distant melody, a group of men gathered. They were not just any men; they were visionaries, dreamers, and fathers. They came together under the watchful gaze of a great oak, its roots deep in the earth, just like the values they held dear. As they shared ideas and listened to one another, a strong bond formed, one that would ultimately lead to the creation of the United States of America.

The men began their gathering with a humble prayer, acknowledging a higher power that guided their hearts. They understood that faith was the foundation upon which all virtues rested. Just as God was the cornerstone of their lives, so too would He be the cornerstone of their new nation.

As they spoke, t...

Have you ever heard “Your Actions are Speaking Louder than Your Words”?  Often, we say our spouse is #1, but where we spend our time says another. 

Ask yourself, in what ways do I spend time with my spouse?  Do we enjoy in-depth conversations, daily activities that we accomplish together, personal growth or new adventures together?  It is said that couples need 15 hours a week together in order to continue growing together as a couple.  Of course, there are times that this gets out a Wack, but typically is this true for you?

I myself have just come from a hard stop, relinquishing my daily routine of Social Media, Recording on YouTube, Writing new podcast, Editing, Creating the Art work, getting sucked into more and more ways to stay on my laptop with 45 windows open, hopping from here to there causing me to feel exhausted, idealess, and too tired to welcome my spouse home, cook something great for dinner, and plan our evening together.

 I’ve loved creating “The Extraordinary Marriag...

Jeff and I celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary this past Saturday Night at an extra cool restaurant called the Old Mill.  It was buzzing with people coming and going, happy people, friendly people, looking forward to their own special time.  Today is actually our anniversary but sometimes you have to move your special day to another, in order fit it in.  Today, I put on a gray T- Shirt and headed to the church to help out with Bible School.

I was thinking about all the kids that came, some from our church, others that had never been there.  Some knew all about the Bible, some followed directions really well, while there were others, that you quickly remembered their names... because you had to call their name so many times, you know, they had a bit of trouble doing what was asked, but it's ok, some need a little more attention than others.

In Imagination Station the kids learned that when you rub a needle about 80 times on a magnet, IT, becomes a magnet.  Then we put the needle o...

Common Stages of Marriage

By Connie Durham, The Extraordinary Marriage

   What is it they say… Hindsight is 20/20.  Well, that’s what you have when you’ve been married 46 years, my 46th anniversary will be June 23^rd.  As I look back, I can tell you Marriage is not a destination, but a journey.

   Way too often, more attention is given to wedding plans and the honeymoon, than to talking and planning your life together.  I know we didn’t talk much about that before we were married.  It was a time of passion, optimism, and planning where to live, figuring out budgets and who would do what in running the household, bank account, and we hadn’t even talked about kids.

   We were running on we what expected for the future.  A well-functioning family life and we were lucky, we got it!  Our families were both similar, Christian, hardworking, well mannered, nurturing, and cared about others.  Neither of us bucked the system… the family system of doing what your parents told you to do.  (P...