There's a reason that that commercial tagline is still in constant usage: "Calgon, take me away." The busy pace of life leaves most of us longing for an escape. Halfway to Each Other: How a Year in Italy Brought Our Family Home tells the true story of Susan and Tim Pohlman. After they spent a few days in Italy while their marriage was on their last legs, they wondered if they might be able to harness the harmony and rest that they experienced in Italy if they picked up their two teens and moved the whole family there for a year. This is a lovely memoir. A look at a marriage, an adjustment to another culture, how our face-paced life pulls us apart (husbands and wives as well as kids from their siblings and their parents). Everything was ...
Category Archives: Marriage
First Things First
Growing up with an older brother, I was forced to watch (and even play) football. He taught me a lot about the game, and now it’s my favorite sport. I’m a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, but last year’s Super Bowl put me in a dilemma. I admire Arizona’s quarterback, Kurt Warner, and I wanted to see him do well. The Steelers were victorious, but Warner is still a winner. Warner has been very open about his Christianity. He displays great character in a world where professional athletes are in the news for their antics just as often (if not more) than they are for their accomplishments. He’s a man among men. First Things First: The Rules of Being a Warner was born out of a newspaper article where the Warner children (all 7 of them) revealed some of the family rules: (1) Everyone ...
Becoming a Family That Heals
Becoming a Family that Heals rather looks suitable for just about every family in America. It is written specifically to aid and assist broken families to heal. Unfortunately, at the rate we're going as a culture, we tend to see more broken homes than whole which is incredibly sad. At the same time, as Drs. Beverly and Tom Rodgers point out, that should leave every couple feeling as if they are not alone in their struggles. I once heard Doug Wilson say that there are no unique sins, just a garden variety. In other words, none of us are quite so very perfect and no marriage should feel beyond repair. There isn't anything that you are dealing with, than someone else hasn't also had to work through. Drs. Beverly and Tom ...
Parenting Like a Pro with Kendra Smiley
We all want to parent like pros, do we not? Who wants to fail in this large and important endeavor? I certainly do not. Not only do I want to parent like a pro -- I want to parent with purpose to ensure that my children will grow up to be happy, healthy, productive and joyful members of society. I hope that they will follow after God and be honoring to all peoples. Yes, I do have high expectations of myself. But in the middle of my own high expectations I also confess deficiencies which I know every parent has (whether or not they admit it)! I'm not perfect but I wish I was. Anyone else ever said the same thing? Kendra Smiley, former Illinois Mother of the Year (!?!?!) and an engaging writer and speaker has written some books which are published ...
Marriage — In the Bedroom
The Sexually Confident Wife: Connecting with Your Husband Mind, Body, Heart, Spirit by Shannon Ethridge Shannon Ethridge is known for her books written to exhort and encourage Christian women in many issues. The Sexually Confident Wife is not published by a Christian publisher (probably because they shied away from the frank nature of her discussions), and while she does use Biblical teaching to uphold such principles as good sex = married monogamous sex and a few other things, in general this book will be helpful to any woman who acknowledges that sex as a necessary and healthy part of marriage. Ethridge not only wants women to understand and embrace those principles, but wants them to enjoy it. She addresses issues that can interfere with this very important part of the marriage relationship, such as past sexual abuse, body image ...
Learning to Live Financially Free
In today's economy, many American families are having to tighten their belts, slash their spending, and learn to survive on less. Being frugal is now chic. The media seems to be hopping on the bandwagon, with hundreds of books promising to pave the way to financial security. At first glance, Learning to Live Financially Free: Hard-Earned Wisdom for Saving Your Marriage & Your Money might seem no different from the multitude of "get yourself out of debt" offerings. Trust me, it is. Keep reading (and enter to win a copy) at 5 Minutes for Mom. Melissa has been captivated by books for as long as she can remember. She resides in Virginia, and at her blog, Breath of Life.
Home Life Devotionals
I recently had the opportunity to go through two family/home life devotional books both offered by NavPress. Both were helpful in slightly different ways although they hit on similar themes. The first was Walking Together by Jack and Cynthia Heald. I had read some of their books earlier in life and was happy to come across this devotional work. This book hits on several topics for the married couple, such as completing and honoring one another as well as discussing contentment and gracious communication. (Surely I don't need to understand THAT topic any better?!) The great thing about this devotional is that they lay it out as a Bible study first. Then they ask follow up questions in sections labeled "Understanding Myself" and "Understanding My Spouse." So not ...
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Jennifer Donovan
Managing Editor -
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