Marriage Partnership Newsletter

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The official newsletter of Marriage Partnership magazine
Thursday, August 23, 2007

Welcome

We clambered aboard the bus, happily exhausted after a day at the Magic Kingdom. A young couple sat there, staring straight ahead.

The man tentatively placed his hand on his bride's shoulder.

"Don't touch me!" she snapped.

At that moment, my 13-year-old self vowed never to honeymoon at Disney World (that couple certainly didn't consider it the "happiest place on earth"). I also realized that having a restful, renewing vacation sometimes takes careful planning.

Getaways are important. They allow you to refocus on the relationship with your spouse and with God. Read on for ideas on how to take a couple's spiritual retreat … no Mickey Mouse ears required.

A day at the ballpark might be your perfect getaway. For one couple, it was also a chance to look beyond homeruns and hot dogs and consider each other's needs.

Having children makes getting away even more challenging. Singer-songwriter Bebo Norman and his wife, Roshare, are transitioning into that new season of life after welcoming a son.

We're already thinking about the next season, and want to know how you and your spouse deal with difficult in-laws during the holidays. Share with us what's worked for the two of you, and be sure to include your full name, your spouse's name, and your state of residence.

And for your own little getaway, visit MarriagePartnership.com. We have articles to help you refocus, no matter what season of life you're in.

Blessings,

Elizabeth Diffin
for Marriage Partnership

To reply to this newsletter: marriage@christianitytoday.com

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Hidden Keys of a Loving, Lasting Marriage
Learn how to really love! Dr. Smalley's two best-selling "his and her" marriage guides, For Better and for Best and If Only He Knew, are now combined to give you practical guidelines for knowing, understanding, and loving each other—as well as proven techniques for saving a troubled marriage.

Featured Marriage Article

SPIRITUALITY /COMMUNICATION
Rest, Renew, & Retreat
A couple's spiritual getaway doesn't have to be the typical prayer, fasting, and religious routine.
by Brenda Jank

Returning from a short hike, Pete found his wife, Jenny, relaxing on a bench. He came up behind her and gently massaged her neck.

After awhile Jenny flicked a pile of acorns off the bench and motioned for Pete to join her.

More …

More Articles on the Marriage Channel

STARTING OUT/COMMUNICATION
Major League Mishap
I'd tried to make our trip to the ballpark perfect. What was my wife's problem?
by David Stroder

SNAPSHOT
A New Season
A chat with Bebo and Roshare Norman.
by Dawn Zemke

Good Buys

The Five Love Languages
Gary Chapman identifies the five primary love languages and teaches us how to use these languages to express our love in all of our relationships.

Sacred Marriage
Your marriage is more than a sacred covenant with a spouse. It's a spiritual discipline designed to help you know God better, trust him more fully, and love him more deeply.

The Marriage Course, 3-DVD Set
Nicky and Sila Lee offer engaged or married couples the tools needed to strengthen or mend your relationships so you can build a healthy marriage that lasts a lifetime.

The Stay-at-Home Decision
Stop the confusion! The decision whether to stay-at-home or not affects the entire family. Download this guide from Christian Parenting Today and tackle this difficult subject.

One Flame
The unity candle is a popular element in many wedding ceremonies, symbolizing the joining of two single lives into one. What happens when the winds and storms of life threaten to extinguish the flame? With warmth and humor, relationship expert Gary Smalley uses real-life examples to show you how to maintain unity.

Quick Tips

WORK IT OUT
Morning Person vs. Night Person
If you're a morning person but your spouse is a night owl, how do you cope with differing internal clocks?

Chad and I have been married 35 years. I can still remember the shock of being awakened early on Saturday mornings by my new husband, who was bright-eyed and ready to tackle a myriad of chores. After a long work week, I was used to sleeping in on Saturdays! Although it took a couple years, Chad finally figured out how to get me out of bed—he took me to breakfast.

Now that's our tradition. We go to breakfast, have a nice, leisurely talk, and then go about our errands for the day. I actually look forward to getting up and having that time with him, so I don't mind getting up on Saturdays anymore.

—Chad and Marty White, Illinois

Jeremy will stay up until all hours of the night folding laundry, emptying the dishwasher, sweeping the floor, taking out trash—you name it. And I've learned to do "quiet" chores while he sleeps in on Saturdays—scrubbing the bathroom, washing clothes, grocery shopping. Just not vacuuming!

—Jeremy and Amanda Solt, Minnesota

Alastair bounces out of bed at his peak; I crawl out an hour later and do everything at half-speed for the first hour of my day. During the week we function on our own schedules and never eat breakfast together. But on weekends and vacations he uses that extra energy for an hour of exercise, then comes back to shower and eat breakfast with a wife who has had time to wake up!

—Alastair and Lynne Tait, Australia

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This Week's Poll

How often do you and your spouse get away together?

Every month
A couple times a year
Once a year
Whenever we can
Never

Vote here, and see how your answer compares to others'.

Results of Last Week's Poll

Who usually picks the movies you and your spouse watch together?

It's pretty even / We take turns: 39%
The husband: 24%
The wife: 20%
We don't watch many movies together: 15%
The kids: 2%

Total votes: 422

Most-Read Articles of the Week

Sex After Kids?
Reinvigorate your love life with these sizzling suggestions.

Christian Sex Rules
A guide to what's allowed in the bedroom.

A Better Date Night
Eight ways to improve on the old standby—dinner and a movie.

7 Things You Need to Know About Sex
What you don't know about sex can hurt you and your spouse.

Starting Over
With God's help, it's possible to rebuild trust—even after a painful betrayal.

New Articles from
Today's Christian Woman magazine

Mourning Glories
Could he replace my pain with life and beauty?

Extending Family
Why it stretches far beyond shared bloodlines and last names.