Why the Little Things Matter: Reconnecting with Your Forever Favorite
We’ve talked about the daily practices that build trust, intimacy, and connection—those small but powerful habits that breathe life into a marriage. Things like going to bed at the same time, greeting each other like you actually like each other, carving out 20-minute conversations, praying together, and updating your “love map” (no GPS required). But […]
Small Moments, Big Love: 5 Ways to Build a Marriage That Lasts
A lasting marriage doesn’t come from grand gestures or one-time acts of kindness. It’s built on small, intentional moments shared every day—the things you do when no one’s watching, the quiet choices you make to strengthen your connection with your spouse. If you want to nurture trust, emotional intimacy, and connection in your marriage, it’s […]
Choosing Love Over Fear
Have you ever found yourself in a disagreement, feeling unseen, misunderstood, or just unsure how to turn things around? In marriage, especially one grounded in eternal commitment, these moments can feel particularly heavy. You want more than just to get along—you want to build something sacred, something lasting. Yet the day-to-day can feel overwhelming, and […]
Building a Celestial Marriage
Marriage isn’t always easy. It takes work, intentional effort, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves and jump into the mess of life together. And yet, when you do, the rewards are endless. In our latest Whole Happy Free podcast episode, Tonya and I explore what it truly means to have a celestial marriage, […]
Your Relationship Year in Review: A New Way to Reflect on 2024
I recently read about a family who does a fun birthday tradition. The night before someone’s birthday, everyone walks the soon-to-be birthday person to their room for bedtime and sings/says goodbye to the version of that person that is x years old, knowing that, the next day, they will be a different version of themselves […]
Choosing Joy!
Christmas was always magical for me as a child. My mother’s love for the season was infectious. That magic has stayed with me through the years, and I hope it has been passed down to my children and now to their families. As an adult, I came to realize just how much effort goes into […]
Rediscovering Your Love: Why the Little Things Matter Most in Your Relationship
Think back with me to the time in your relationship where all information was new … where you were just beginning to get to know each other and there was a never-ending list of questions to ask one another. There was excitement and novelty at every turn. Now fast forward a few (or many) years, […]
Kissing Under the Mistletoe
“I loved kissing,” my friend said. It made me laugh. She was sitting across the couch from me, in her late 60s, and telling me about falling in love with her first husband. She was a very prim and proper woman, and I had not expected to hear this kind of revelation fall from her […]
December Countdown to Connection
December tends to be a mixed bag of heightened emotions. On the one hand, there is the magic of Christmas—the lights, the music, the smells, the laughter. The joy of anticipation and the peace that comes with the reminder that the Savior of the World was born in humble circumstances to fulfill all prophecies and […]
Approval Power: Setting Our Summer Expectations Up for Success
Conflict. It’s an inevitable part of life, manifesting both internally and in our interactions with others. For many, inner conflict tends to intensify during the summer months when our high expectations for magical memories collide with the reality of life. Picture this: I recently packed lunch for a park outing with my children, envisioning a […]
