Tomorrow is my special man’s birthday! This time two years ago, we were freshly home from the hospital just in time for his birthday party – a party I stressed about for a whole year. A party I almost had to cancel due to an initially small medical issue which turned into an eleven-day, three-surgery hospital stay. After that experience, any birthday without tubes, wires, and a husband writhing in pain is a happy birthday. Because his unexpected hospital stay pushed up dangerously close to his birthday party date – a party I was trying to keep a surprise as much as possible – I did not have … [Read more...]

Looking back over our thirteen years together, I can say without hesitation that miscommunication has been one of the greatest hindrances in our marriage. Sometimes, we have a long disagreement only to finally discover... we completely misunderstood each other. Other times, we leave a conversation thinking we are on the same page only to discover later... we are not! I guess that makes us a normal, married couple. ~smile~ The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. – George Bernard Shaw Communication, especially between men and women, takes learning … [Read more...]

If there is one aspect of marriage which caught Eric and me completely off guard, it was the dynamic our different drives would play in our relationship. Before we got married, I knew Eric loved to learn and had a driven personality, but I had no idea how that would influence our communication and ability to work together. We were in graduate school at the time; so, Eric did not have an accurate picture of my full personality. After marriage, he found out I am laid back, tend to procrastinate, and prioritize relationships rather than avenues typically associated with success (e.g., higher … [Read more...]

One of my most favorite people on the planet is celebrating her birthday today, and for the first time, she is more than 200 miles away. We have celebrated our birthdays together for the past twenty-five years, so we are struggling with being apart. Though missing her is not quite the same as being in a romantic long-distance relationship, some of the same principles apply. Because we cannot count on seeing each other several times a year, we have to be more intentional – something we are still working on, but we are getting there. ~smile~ I miss you, Lauran! I hope California treats you as … [Read more...]

On Thursday, I will be thirty-six-years-old. When did that happen? Kids born when I graduated from high school are graduating from high school! Well, regardless of the year, I have always loved celebrating birthdays – mine and others. Life is so full of struggle. Why not find as much to celebrate as possible. All of us who woke up this morning have a reason to celebrate. In honor of my 36th trip around this planet, here are 36 tips for creating a simple and fun birthday for your special someone! Talk in advance. Before your birthdays come around, talk about what celebrating means to … [Read more...]