<![CDATA[Great Marriage]]>https://www.greatmarriage.comhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hkPH!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fefd896af-d8d6-48b4-904b-13a6ae0c9952_864x864.pngGreat Marriagehttps://www.greatmarriage.comSubstackMon, 03 Aug 2026 20:52:24 GMT<![CDATA[Mic Drop ]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/mic-drophttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/mic-dropSat, 01 Aug 2026 12:01:25 GMTWhat is the mic drop moment in your Great Marriage?

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]]><![CDATA[The Last Nerve ]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/the-last-nervehttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/the-last-nerveWed, 29 Jul 2026 12:00:15 GMTIn your Great Marriage, what steps on your last nerve? What action solidly finds it? What creates the situation that leaves you feeling misunderstood? Overlooked? Frazzled? Stressed to the Max! What pushes you to the edge of “Leave me alone.”

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]]><![CDATA[Drift ]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/drift-718https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/drift-718Sat, 25 Jul 2026 12:00:33 GMTSweet Spot. The sweet spot of relationship. you’ve been there. That wonderful moment when everything just seems to be perfect. Connection is strong. Stress is low. Closeness is a given. Hearts are happy.

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]]><![CDATA[Tense Subjects]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/tense-subjectshttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/tense-subjectsWed, 22 Jul 2026 12:00:39 GMTSome subjects just reek of tension. They enter a conversation as if they have been soaked in stress. There is the common handful: finances, parenting, in-laws, sex. And, then there’s always one or two that are anything but common such as, “Can you look at this bump?”

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]]><![CDATA[Lying is a Big Deal]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/lying-is-a-big-dealhttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/lying-is-a-big-dealSat, 18 Jul 2026 12:01:54 GMTIt wasn’t a big deal.

It was just a little, tiny lie.

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]]><![CDATA[A Smile is the Best Gift]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/a-smile-is-the-best-gifthttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/a-smile-is-the-best-giftWed, 15 Jul 2026 11:30:51 GMTDo you have RBF? Resting Bad Face.

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]]><![CDATA[Farting Under the Sheets]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/farting-under-the-sheetshttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/farting-under-the-sheetsSat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:34 GMTHave your love story behaviors moved from I would never do that to it’s normal.

Here’s a well known secret in marriage: Everyone farts under the sheets; it is never welcomed; and no one likes to talk about it.

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]]><![CDATA[Vacation Me ]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/vacation-mehttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/vacation-meWed, 08 Jul 2026 12:02:06 GMTVacation is not a one-size-fits-all concept. For some, vacation means days of nothing but blue skies and white sand. For others, vacation means an opportunity to visit with extended family. For some, vacation means it’s home project time! None of these views is right nor wrong, but they can collide if each spouse holds a different view.

Through the years, I have heard comments such as “The longer you’re married, the more you look alike, act alike, and sound alike.” I don’t know if that’s true or not? In thirty-seven years of marriage, John and I are more connected, anticipate each other’s needs more accurately, and show more grace, kindness, and flexibility with each other. However, we definitely do not look any more like the other. Although, I would take John’s hair any day of the week.

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]]><![CDATA[Happy July 4th]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/happy-july-4thhttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/happy-july-4thSat, 04 Jul 2026 12:52:01 GMTHappy 4th of July! John and I hope your weekend is filled with celebration and you make new, fun memories as a couple/family.

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]]><![CDATA[Anger Tells a Story]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/anger-7dbhttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/anger-7dbWed, 01 Jul 2026 11:31:25 GMTHave you ever struggled your way through a weekend that was ruined by anger? Is it a recent memory?

Anger spoils a lot of moments in marriage.

I can’t recall seeing our chocolate lab, Jake, get angry. Confused. Disappointed. Hungry. Bored. Check, check, check, and check. But angry? Not so much.

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]]><![CDATA[Grace]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/grace-970https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/grace-970Sat, 27 Jun 2026 12:01:09 GMTGrace.

Such a beautiful word. The way it leaves the vocal cords; lands on the ears; and touches the heart – all simply beautiful.

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]]><![CDATA[Anger]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/angerhttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/angerWed, 24 Jun 2026 11:31:04 GMTHere is a fun (well maybe not fun, but definitely insightful) counseling type of exercise:

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]]><![CDATA[Conflict ]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/conflicthttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/conflictSat, 20 Jun 2026 12:00:47 GMTConflict. It’s common.

Even if it’s not the primary issue, most of the couples we see in our office are struggling with conflict. Turns out, the primary issue typically stirs a lot of emotional debris and chaotic thinking– which leads to conflict. In truth, the primary issue is often easier to address than the conflict itself or the damage created by the conflict.

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]]><![CDATA[Me Too! Perfectly Timed Empathy]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/me-too-perfectly-timed-empathyhttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/me-too-perfectly-timed-empathyWed, 17 Jun 2026 11:31:32 GMTIn Great Marriage, we’ve written several recent posts on empathy. Fun fact, we did that independent of one another. John sent me his two posts the day after I had written two posts on the subject. I took it as a good indicator that we had been paying attention in our prayer life and within the observations in office.

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]]><![CDATA[Me Too! Poorly Timed Empathy]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/me-toohttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/me-tooSat, 13 Jun 2026 12:00:46 GMTEmpathy is a core characteristic of healthy relationships. Without it, it’s hard to go deep in connection with another person. Without empathy, people stay in the shallow end of the pool when it comes to sharing and trusting.

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]]><![CDATA[The Bedrock of Relational Success]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/the-bedrock-of-relational-successhttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/the-bedrock-of-relational-successWed, 10 Jun 2026 11:31:28 GMTNot long ago, an online order I placed for an upcoming event went wrong. I needed it on time, but the customer service rep couldn’t promise that. I was frustrated; and I made sure he knew it.

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]]><![CDATA[An Exercise in Empathy]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/an-exercise-in-empathyhttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/an-exercise-in-empathySat, 06 Jun 2026 12:00:57 GMTAn Exercise in Empathy

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]]><![CDATA[Tears]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/tearshttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/tearsWed, 03 Jun 2026 11:30:38 GMTIn counseling, when tears appear, I slow down. Whether signaling as a caution light or a stop sign, they send a message of tread differently – lightly. Change the pace. Be more aware of what is taking place other than what is simply being spoken. Tears have their own language; as a counselor, I learn to speak it.

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]]><![CDATA[Summer Themes]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/summer-themeshttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/summer-themesSat, 30 May 2026 11:31:00 GMTIn Great Marriage, fun is foundational. If you’re missing it, you’re missing out.

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]]><![CDATA[Rot and Neglect]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/rot-and-neglecthttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/rot-and-neglectWed, 27 May 2026 11:30:51 GMTA few weeks ago I left an apple on our back porch. It was already barely hanging on in the fruit bowl, and I thought it would make good food for the wildlife. A disconnect between the kitchen and the raccoons happened when I got distracted by our dog, Jake. I set it on the ledge, forgot it, and there it sat — neglected and rotting.

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