<![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.comSubstackTue, 05 May 2026 12:09:44 GMT<![CDATA[Planting & Harvesting]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/planting-and-harvestinghttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/planting-and-harvestingSat, 02 May 2026 12:01:17 GMTHere’s a truth: One harvests what one plants.

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]]><![CDATA[Inspiration & Motivation]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/inspiration-and-motivationhttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/inspiration-and-motivationWed, 29 Apr 2026 11:01:32 GMTWhen John and I first met, two things were clear when it came to his interest and attention. First, I worked in a candy kitchen, and I smelled of homemade fudge and pralines most of the time. Second, I kept a writing journal and had dreams and goals related to it.

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]]><![CDATA[When, What, & How Much? ]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/when-what-and-how-muchhttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/when-what-and-how-muchMon, 27 Apr 2026 23:01:25 GMTThe 2/2/2 Approach of Getting Away Together is a tidbit of goodness I picked up working a marriage retreat.

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]]><![CDATA[Eggshells ]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/eggshellshttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/eggshellsSat, 18 Apr 2026 13:15:43 GMTEggshells make a poor floor.

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]]><![CDATA[Don't Excuse Hate]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/dont-excuse-hatehttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/dont-excuse-hateSat, 11 Apr 2026 12:00:57 GMTOne cannot engage in hateful behavior towards someone and expect that someone to feel cherished. Relationships just don’t work that way. Hateful behavior + loving behavior does not equal love. It equals confusion, chaos, insecurity, bitterness, judgement, and disconnection (not an inclusive list).

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]]><![CDATA[Find God's Beauty Within Your Marriage ]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/find-gods-beauty-within-your-marriagehttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/find-gods-beauty-within-your-marriageFri, 10 Apr 2026 16:02:40 GMT

Invite God into your marriage, and He will do beautiful things. Things only He can do within your relationship. No one is more dedicated to the health of your marriage than the Lord.

Be blessed,

Jo

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]]><![CDATA[Marriage is More than a Skillset]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/marriage-is-more-than-a-skillsethttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/marriage-is-more-than-a-skillsetWed, 08 Apr 2026 12:03:28 GMTDo you know a couple that struggles despite having taken all the best marital courses and/or read the best books on the subject?

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]]><![CDATA[When it Comes to the Heart, Be Wise]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/when-it-comes-to-the-heart-be-wisehttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/when-it-comes-to-the-heart-be-wiseSat, 04 Apr 2026 12:02:41 GMTUnsurprising, when we talk about marriage, we talk about feelings particularly how they show up and shape life.

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]]><![CDATA[Grace ]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/gracehttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/graceWed, 01 Apr 2026 12:03:25 GMTJohn and I recently celebrated 37 years of marriage. Having spent nearly four decades together, we share more life than I could explain. As I looked back through pictures and walked the path of memory lane, I smiled a lot. There are many, many treasured memories. I giggled as our story includes a lot of fun. We’ve been very blessed. I paused a lot, both from grief and relief. Some of our shared memories are hard; memories like loss of parents, health diagnosis’, an unexpected loss of income, etc. I sat in gratitude.

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]]><![CDATA[The Important C's]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/the-important-cshttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/the-important-csSat, 28 Mar 2026 12:01:51 GMTIn counseling, here is a concept I teach frequently: There is a difference between being critical and providing critique. Sometimes people know the difference; sometimes they don’t. Do you?

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]]><![CDATA[The Blame Game]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/the-blame-game-f3ehttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/the-blame-game-f3eWed, 25 Mar 2026 12:00:40 GMTMove away – as in back far, far away -- from conversing in blaming language.

Blaming language sounds like the following:

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]]><![CDATA[A Simple Switch ]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/a-simple-switchhttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/a-simple-switchSat, 21 Mar 2026 12:02:19 GMTIf you’re stuck in communication, switch your words.

Instead of saying, “You’re not listening to me.” (good)

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]]><![CDATA[Choose Your Marriage ]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/choose-your-marriagehttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/choose-your-marriageWed, 18 Mar 2026 16:01:05 GMTIt’s our wedding anniversary. We had big plans to be in the mountains this week enjoying the hiking trails, scenery, and days filled with board games, puzzles, and snacks. One of our favorite activities is to pass the time there with a pot of coffee on the porch – dreaming about what is next and giving thanks for all that God has done. However, our plans changed. A virus too small to see with the human eye entered our nasal passages and has clogged all systems. We both have a bad a head/chest cold. It’s very romantic – there are used tissues, medicines, and Gatorade seemingly all over the place. We have binge watched this season of American Idol, and I am increasingly aware that I need to find some shampoo soon. We are living in pajamas (or at least I am.), and I wreak of menthol.

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]]><![CDATA[StrEss, StrESSing, & StrESSed]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/stress-stressing-and-stressedhttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/stress-stressing-and-stressedSat, 14 Mar 2026 12:01:37 GMTStress, Stressing, & Stressed

  • Being stressed can feel like being pulled apart like monkey bread. Too many directions of thought and feelings; too many choices. Have you ever wanted to just scream, “ I don’t know what to do?” Have you ever needed a timeout to get yourself together?

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]]><![CDATA[Emotions are Everywhere; Trust Me.]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/emotions-are-everywhere-trust-mehttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/emotions-are-everywhere-trust-meWed, 11 Mar 2026 12:02:59 GMTIf you read the prior post, I hope you did the homework. If not, then you still have time. Seeing your emotions on paper can be very telling.

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]]><![CDATA[True Story]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/true-storyhttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/true-storyMon, 09 Mar 2026 12:03:50 GMTThe movie had been riveting; the company was my favorite; and the anticipated late night coffee was a great way to end date night. On the drive to Waffle House (the best spot to drink late night coffee), John reached for my hand and asked my thoughts on the movie. I had thoughts, and I had feelings.

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]]><![CDATA[Emotions are Everywhere]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/emotions-are-everywherehttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/emotions-are-everywhereSat, 07 Mar 2026 13:03:10 GMTEmotions, both varied and numerous in nature, they shift like sand and attach themselves to objects, places, people, etc. They are not to be exclusively trusted; yet they cannot be exclusively ignored. They make terrible (terrible) leaders; do not make the mistake of following them. But they also cannot be entirely shut out, disregarded, or tossed aside. They matter, and they tend to show up – wanted or not.

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]]><![CDATA[The Lens You Choose]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/the-lens-you-choosehttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/the-lens-you-chooseWed, 04 Mar 2026 12:30:54 GMT(If you missed the prior Great Marriage post, The Lens, tt would help to read it as today’s post builds on that information.)

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]]><![CDATA[The Lens]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/the-lenshttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/the-lensSat, 28 Feb 2026 14:00:28 GMTHave you ever tried on a pair of reading glasses and guessed your magnification? Or tried on a pair of prescription glasses that didn’t belong to you? In both cases, the importance of the lenses you choose is suddenly both apparent and important. Get the wrong glasses and life looks wonky or blurry. Doing life this way is a sure way to a bad headache or a bad mood – or worse. For example, you wouldn’t attempt to drive a car wearing glasses that make everything blurry. When it comes to glasses, you want to choose wisely.

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]]><![CDATA[Corrections]]>https://www.greatmarriage.com/p/correctionhttps://www.greatmarriage.com/p/correctionWed, 25 Feb 2026 15:15:36 GMTThere is an odd typographical error in the latest post: Love Story.

Forgive me. Regardless of good intent or the number of previews, I missed this one. Once it was posted, I immediately saw it. Sometimes, that is how the editing game goes, and it goes that way for every writer.

The following sentence “In Great Marriage, be international about fostering your love story.” should read, “Be intentional….”

However, if you want to embrace the spirit of the typographically error, then have fun. Plan an Italian dinner with candles and homemade pasta, munch on Mexican wedding cookies (a favorite in our house), start hosting afternoon English tea, learn to play Mahjong, or become fluent in French (which is widely believed to be the language of love.) The possibilities are both fun and endless.

In Great Marriage, fun ideas can boost the fun in your love story.

Also, the sentence, “A couple’s love story can fade and/or all apart in any season of marriage.” should read, “…. fall apart….”

Errors bug me long after they are posted. Thanks again for showing grace.

Blessings,

Jo

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