Your Ancestors Tweeted Before Twitter Was Cool

Although your ancestors did not post status updates on Facebook or tweet about their adventures on Twitter, snippets of their social lives may nonetheless have been preserved for posterity. I thought about this the other day as I was reading the local newspaper. You see, I live in Randolph, Vermont. Our local newspaper, the Randolph Herald, has retained the charm of a local small town newspaper. In the paper, there are sections that talk about the events and people that were the “talk of the town” in each of the several towns in our area. Events that happened are listed … Continue reading

Having the Difficult Talk

Some conversations in a marriage are just plain uncomfortable. You may find yourself in a position where you need to bring up a sensitive subject or one that you know will cause emotions to stir up. There are right and wrong ways to approach a difficult topic. But what’s really important is that you don’t choose to ignore the conversation just to avoid the potential problems it could cause. First, think about what you are going to say before you say it. Don’t just blurt something out. Take time to really think about the words you are going to choose … Continue reading

What Is Your Marriage Teaching Your Children?

An often overlooked area in a marriage is the influence it has upon the children. Have you ever really thought about the message you are sending your children concerning marriage? Marriage isn’t just about two people if you have children. Your marriage is a huge factor in decisions they will make in the future, including what to look for in a mate. How you treat your spouse speaks volumes to our children. If boys see their father as an overbearing, cruel husband…what do you think is going to happen when that little boy grows up? If girls see their mothers … Continue reading

Remarriage

I would like to be married again. I don’t often say that because I don’t want people to look at me with that pitying look. No, I’m not miserable and lonely but I would like someone to share my life with, someone to hold my hand and talk about the day. I’m sure I look at remarriage through rose colored glasses, the same way I looked at marriage once upon a time when I didn’t know how very wrong things could go. Now that I’m older, I wonder what exactly it means to be married now. When you are young … Continue reading

A Different View on Marriage

When I first seriously thought about writing for the Marriage blog, a topic that essentially breaks down into being about love and relationships, my initial reaction was “Eugh!” So then what am I doing here? Upon deeper examination, I realized that my reaction was not to writing about marriage and love itself, but to the forms in which that usually occurs. I don’t really go for lovey-dovey type stuff, and in many ways my husband and I have a somewhat nontraditional, or at least a different, relationship (though in many other ways we’re very traditional). I’m so passionate on this … Continue reading

Marriage and Happiness – is it possible?

While divorce is nothing new in this country, when I read about long-term marriages coming to an end, ala the Gore’s, the Schwarzenegger’s, and the Edward’s, I start to wonder if it is even possible to stay married forever anymore. I hear a lot about the “old days’, but I have a lot of grandparents due to multiple re-marriages. My great-grandparents remained together, but one spouse died long before the other. So maybe those that stay married forever over a real long time period are the anomalies. Maybe now that we live longer and more women are able to support … Continue reading

Marriage Exhaustion

When you are giving your all to your marriage, it’s natural to become exhausted. And when both of you are giving your all, then you might both experience this exhaustion at the same time. Sometimes it just takes too much energy to keep being positive and keep being supportive and keep being there for that special person in your life. You know what – that’s okay. Every good thing in your life will sap your energy, and we need to take breaks to recharge. This isn’t to say that we take breaks from the marriage – good gracious, no. Some … Continue reading

The Arts and Marriage- Part 2

Sometimes with the arts, it’s a matter of not making assumptions. Recently a friend made an assumption because her husband wouldn’t go to an arts event, no-one else’s husband would either. There’s always a danger and a problem with making blanket assumptions about people. Opportunity and trying new things can make the change. Mick found when he was willing to try live theatre, he liked it. He liked how it’s a different medium to movies and how actors, directors and stage technicians get around the scenery changes required. He also liked the immediacy of live theatre. But he wouldn’t have … Continue reading

One of the Best Things You Can Do

Another thing to talk about and one of the best things you can do for your marriage is study the bible together. As a start, I suggest getting a concordance and looking up husbands, wives and marriage and finding out what God has to say on these subjects. It will give you a clear picture of the way marriage should be. But don’t stop here. Make it a regular habit to study the bible and pray together. Meet with other married couples who are studying the same passages of scripture you are. It’s a great way of building enduring friendships, … Continue reading

Loving and Lasting Marriage Secrets

If you’ve made it to 60 years of marriage you’d surely have to figure you must be doing something right, wouldn’t you agree? This week a local couple from the South Coast of NSW celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. When asked the secret to the long and loving marriage David and Marie cited two aspects. They are communication and consideration. Does that sound familiar? It’s one of the things I’m always advocating too. Consideration means not just all those little common courtesies that are easily, and indeed often, overlooked in a marriage. Consideration also mean considering the feelings of your … Continue reading