Marriage
Articles mainly about husbands and wives, keeping a marriage strong, romance, conflict between spouses.
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Artistic Love
One of the gorgeous books we are reading as a family is by Makoto Fujimura called “Art is a journey into the light.” He and his wife are dear friends of ours.
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In Celebration of Marrying Young
Shann and I will be married for thirty-five years this June. A young man asked us if we were glad we married young in light of so many people feeling they made mistakes by marrying too soon.
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Systemic Trouble
I was becoming high and mighty about fathers and their need to change when my husband Shann reminded me that a critical, hateful woman will always evoke or attract men who are absent, distant, violent, oppressive, and lost.…
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Secrets
I have made my house a memory palace which is a device to help me remember things.
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Where There is Strife There is Pride
One meditation I have been speaking in my mind and heart is from Proverbs 13:10, “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” Strife means to contend for superiority, quarrel…
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Love in Action
I have been finding photos of my dad when he is my age. He looks so young and healthy! I can hear him counseling me as I begin to feel myself getting uptight.
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The Importance of Conflict
I am very quick to emotion. I cry, rejoice fully, and get angry quickly. My husband Shann is cool and calm. If you want to have fun on a Disney ride, you want to go with me.
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Losing My Head
My husband Shann and I had a bit of a spat in Oklahoma City after our daughter’s junior recital. After all the planning, there was an issue with the video recording of the event.
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An Admirable Faith
Shann and I have an elegant conversation every evening. We sit together looking out a window or sitting on a porch. We hold hands and start with gratitude for each other.
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Dangerous Tendencies
Dad wanted to be wise about tendencies to make the wrong response in crisis. He believed becoming wise about how we handle stress and crisis is an important consideration, especially if there is trauma in the family history.…
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Escaping the External Illusion
One of the helpful learning lessons Dad and I received was the conscious decision to move out of the external illusion. Consider a man named Richard Smith. His first family knew and called him Dick Smith.
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Reconciling All Things
My oldest daughter and her husband, Tim, came to town, and on our last day together, we asked, “What is one way you see the beauty of the mystery of Christ in your marriage?” One of my favorite…
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Flooding
Dad and I loved to talk about relationships. Especially how they can be improved. He loved John Gottman and even met with him personally.
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Atypical marriage
One quality I admire about my Dad is that he did not speak poorly or negatively about my Mom. He worked hard to root out criticism. He believed that criticism is poison to relationships.
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Marriage Experts
My parents were married for 58 years, and they deeply admired and loved each other. They worked hard to root out bitterness, detachment, infidelity, and dislike.
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Valentine’s Day Story
I met Shann at basketball camp. We have been married 31 years. Dad met Shann before I did, and he adored Shann. He loved his work ethic, his compassion, and his deep love for Christ.
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Joyful and Triumphant
Merry Christmas to all of you at Words of Hope. I want to share this Christmas story. Tom is my father-in-law, and he and my Dad were close friends.
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Great Joy
One aspect of Dad’s character I admired was his presence. He carried himself with dignity and power. His voice could fill a room or a gym. Dad met my husband Shann before I did.
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Strong Love
Dad loved my mom. They were married for 58 years. He loved to tell the story of when he first saw her at the University of Idaho. My dad consistently spoke well of my mom.
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All in Today?
The crucial question… My daughter Jennifer tells the story of being seven years old. She braved a flight of steps to the high board at the Samford U pool.
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Story Collisions
The tendency is to believe the first story told and forget there are two sides to every story. The late Dr.
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Never Let Be Said
Of all the possible criticism words that could be leveled against me by someone I love and admire, the most heartbreaking one would be: “I HOLD THIS AGAINST YOU.” These words could hurt deeply unless guarded by mutual…
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Phenomenology – the 20% Life Experience Advantage
Doctor Shann Ferch, my highly esteemed, intellectual son-in-law, introduced me to Phenomenology (phe·nom·e·nol·o·gy). He is also respected as my daughter Jennifer’s husband and cherished father to their three miracle daughters.
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The End Game
In my career coaching years, I discovered a valuable premise which, in turn, can be transferred to practical life. I call it THE END GAME . How was it discovered in basketball?
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WHAT YOU APPRECIATE APPRECIATES – Jay Crowell
For a father I’m not sure many joys surpass the privilege of having children becoming lovely, healthy, successful parents. One of Crowell’s teaching principles is, “A son should become twice as smart as his Dad.
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Timeouts Are Vital
TIMEOUTS ARE VITAL Athletics prove time outs are critically important. The mark of great coaches is having the skill to take the complex and make it simple.
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Covenant vs Contract
The difference between a covenant and a contract is as wide and deep as the Grand Canyon. A covenant is a commitment that can never ever be broken.
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Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
An apocalypse usually leads to a catastrophic event. Dr. John Gottman speaks of four horsemen as metaphors for the destruction of a relationship, especially a marital one. His four horsemen are criticism, contempt, stonewalling, and defensiveness.
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People Relationships
Key Statement: People were created to need people, but too few people invest the time needed to master the skills to treat people well. Global People Problems World leaders keep failing to learn from previous wars.
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Too Busy or Don’t Care
Key Statement: If you are too busy or don’t care enough to spend quality time, without any distractions, with a spouse, a child, a dear friend, or a person in need you care about, the true fact is…
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Protect Your Teams
The name of the game is unity. It starts in the home. Life was not meant to be a lived alone; even my favorite childhood hero, the Lone Ranger, had Tonto whom he affectionately called Kimosabe.
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Celebrating 75 Years
Birthday presents to each other and writing off one more goal on our bucket list. So clearly, Susie King, the 19-year-old sophomore, at the University of Idaho stands out in my mind’s eye.
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At Last
The incredible moment when man meets the woman who will be the love of his life. For me the two best words in the book of Genesis came from a very lonely Adam, seeing Eve for the first…
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Woman
“God’s best gift to man” Careful study of Genesis 1 & 2 brings us to an obvious conclusion that God’s ultimate, most lovely gift to man is a woman. Think about it!
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Come and Share Your Master’s Happiness
The final week in September must be wedding weekend. The Crowell’s had three invitations. In reading the Gospels Jesus clearly spoke highly of weddings. Yesterday my former personal assistant married. All weddings are not equal.
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WEDDINGS: “Getting married is like swallowing the sun”.
MATTHEW 22 Again Jesus speaks to us about an important life principle in a parable.
