a latte lipstick

Love is so easy to do. Everyone loves to love. But as time passes and additional hardships are placed upon you and your loved one, love can morph into something not as beautiful as it once was. Don't let your love light dim, continue to strengthen it each day and reap the benefits of being loved unconditionally. Now I have heard from the best of them that marriage is not always easy, but love is what life is all about!

Even as a little girl I could recognize a happy, healthy marriage and felt the respect and admiration my parents had for one another. So, before I head into my very own marriage, I thought it would be helpful to hear their tips and advice!



Love this above photo! This was taken of my parent's within their first 2 months of knowing each other. My dad was so bold to ask the big question 2 months in, and my mom reciprocated that boldness with a YES! They met, fell in love, got engaged in 2 months and were married in 2 more months. Talk about a whirlwind!

That's just crazy and doesn't happen much anymore. I do like to ponder the quickness of this proposal and compare it to the more typical 1-5 years couples wait today before getting married. My parents clearly didn't know everything about each other at the time they were married, but they committed to one another and to making it work.

Now, with their 40th Anniversary under their belts, my parents have proven themselves to be a couple to watch and gain insight from to see what makes a happy marriage.

Happy marriage advice:

It goes without saying, so I'm just going to say it and move on, but always ALWAYS keep God in your marriage. Pray together and grow together through Christ.

One of the first notions my father and I discussed was respect for your soul mate. Too often couples begin to think of their mate as "theirs," and don't think of them as the individual that they once fell in love with. Too true, Dad. Too true.

On that note, remember what made you fall in love with the other. Was it the way they told a joke, their immediate understanding of you, the way they spoke passionately about something they loved to do? Or was it something as seemingly small as the way they looked at you? Remember these things when they are doing something especially annoying, like leaving the toilet seat up or sneezing way too often.

Stay true to the one you love. Once trust is lost, the relationship is greatly harmed. Maybe not irreparably, but greatly, and it will take time to build that kind of trust again. Just don't. Period.

And as we all know, intimacy. Keep intimacy alive in your relationship. Doesn't have to be crazy, but even that sweet kiss or embrace can work wonders. Other things too...but we aren't going to get into that in this post. Overall, people like to be touched and feel loved!

Humor is also a must. You should be able to laugh through the more difficult times, to know how to get through the challenging times.

Things to be cautious about in your marriage:

One caution to include is money. Money can be a destroyer to many things, including marriage. Manage your money wisely and agree as a team the best way to handle your money. Misuse, abuse, loss, lack of, or non-agreement in the spending can bring down an otherwise sturdy marriage.
Power. Don't let anyone have full power. Resentment can be built slowly but explode quickly. Decide what is most important to you in making decisions, and what is most important to the other and then move forward from there. For instance, do you care more about the expenses, the activities you do, the house you buy, the vacation you go on, etc.? If someone isn't getting a say in any matters, someone is unhappy.

What words of advice would you add to the list to make a happy marriage?