Raising kids is HARD! It’s the most difficult thing I’ve ever done in my life. I know other parents will agree. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears go into your kids becoming adults. A year ago we were celebrating the last of our kids’ high school graduation. Last week, my youngest turned 19 years old.  With only two and a half years between all three of our kids, these coming-of-age moments have hit us hard and fast since they entered high school. As a parent, it seems like only yesterday we were bringing our oldest home from the hospital, signing our son’s adoption papers, and walking our youngest in…

Marriage is not for the faint of heart.  It takes time, effort, commitment, and sacrifice.  A huge component of making your marriage work is putting your spouse first in your relationship.  There are several ways you can put your spouse first in your marriage. In this post, we will talk about 8 ways you can successfully make your spouse a priority in your marriage.  These fall under 4 areas: getting real, thinking of their needs, putting God first, and remembering you’re a team.    Let’s Get Real First off, let’s get real.  When putting your spouse first, you have to have realistic expectations.  You need to have realistic expectations for your…

Marriage is hard work, even for the most committed couples.  With the divorce rate in the US hovering between 40 and 50%, it’s no wonder people struggle to stay happily married.  Even the best of the best have struggles in their married life.   So what’s the secret to a long happy marriage?  And what things can a couple do to have a successful and happy married life? I’ve put together a list of 15 tips for a successful marriage.  These fall under four different topics: finding joy in your marriage, communicating with your spouse, working together, and putting your spouse first.   One of the Best Tips for a Successful Marriage…