I’ve loved quotes for as long as I can remember. They were doodled on my Lisa Frank notebooks and taped on my Space Makers. (Who remembers those?!) One of my favorite quotes as a teenager: “Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instruments afterward. Start your day…with God.” ~James Hudson Taylor Even […]

We all know what it’s like to come home tired, cranky, and just kind of annoyed with life. The smallest things can set us off, and quickly. When those tense emotions make you critical of anything and everything, be careful about going into attack mode! There’s a big difference between attacking and discussing. It’s important […]

In the business world that Joel and I live in, we talk a lot about working in our business versus working on it. Working in our business means doing what I call the “busy work”. It’s writing blogs, designing albums, editing sessions, sending emails, and the four hundred and twenty-eight other details that go into every […]

Did you know that most husbands really and truly want to make their wives the happiest creatures on earth? That sounds like it’s straight out of a Jane Austen novel… The truth is that guys have a strong desire to be your hero. He wants to ride in like a knight, all decked out in […]

Sometimes when I blog, the words just come. I know my topic, I know my outline, and I know how I want to share my information. Sometimes, like today, it’s just a dreary winter day. I’m staring at the blinking cursor on my computer screen, much more tempted to curl up in bed with a […]

“The essence of marriage is a sacrificial commitment to the good of the other. That means that love is more fundamentally action than emotion.” ~Tim Keller This is something that I don’t think you can hear too many times. :)

Meet Cinnamon. She’s our sweet little furry sidekick. Joel and I love kittens! They’re so tiny and fluffy and adorable and perfect. We absolutely adore snuggling with them anytime we get a chance. There are a lot of reasons why having a cat of our own just isn’t a practical decision for us right now. […]

I think we’re all guilty of it. In the heat of the moment, words slip out. Words that you didn’t truly mean. When you’re as close to someone as you are to your spouse, it’s easy to take out the filters of your speech when you’re angry, upset, or seriously annoyed. I’m definitely guilty of […]

“Grow old along with me; the best is yet to be.” ~Robert Browning I’ve always found this line of poetry to be so beautiful. There’s just something about it. This comes to mind when I have the privilege to talk to an elderly couple. One who has truly grown old together – through the ups, […]

Today, I just want to encourage you to enjoy the little things. Enjoy the way she smiles when you walk in the door. Enjoy the way he snickers when you say something funny. Enjoy the way she refuses to let her mashed potatoes touch the cranberry sauce. Enjoy the way he gets super excited when […]

“Marriages, like a garden, take time to grow. But the harvest is rich unto those who patiently and tenderly care for the ground.” ~Darlene Schacht I love this quote so much! When you get married, everything is a fairytale. You’re ridiculously happy and can’t imagine it getting any better. After awhile, you start to realize […]

There was a survey done a couple years ago that I happened to stumble across one day. It asked married couples to share their secret to a happy marriage. The results were fascinating. And the number one thing on the list? Talking. Really, truly taking the time to talk with each other. Not just a “How was […]