Let's Have a Good Laugh !

When is the last time you and your spouse had a good laugh together?  Laughing is one thing we love to do at our house. Even our 2 year old is in on “jokes”.  One type of joke that we use all the time is: “ I have some good news and I have some bad news”. And then we make up some ridiculous information.  

Another thing we do is laugh at each other. Yes, that’s right at each other.  If someone says something incorrectly that usually get a good laugh. Sometimes if another person gets mad, it usually ends up with both of us laughing so hard we are crying.

It may help that my husband was the class clown and one of the characteristics that drew me to him was his humor. We just love to laugh.

There are some great benefits to laughter. These benefits include physical, mental, and social benefits. You can find more about the benefits of laughing thru this site: Laughter is the Best Medicine.

Do you and your spouse laugh together?  According to “ Love, Laughter and marriage: Why Laughter is Vital to a Healthy Relationship”, here are 5 reason why you should:

1.     Laughter fosters a sense of playfulness

2.     Forges a positive bond

3.     Brings greater perspective

4.     Reduces defensiveness & opens you up to new experiences

5.     Acts as a buffer to stress (see benefits of laughing)

Connecting through laughter diminishes the time you focus on negative things in your marriage or just life in general.

Here you will find Bible Scriptures on Humor & Laughter . We serve an awesome God who knows what is good for us, for he made us in his own image. 

I hope that this week you and your Spouse can focus on the positive things in your life. Have a good laugh together and enjoy one another. 

Marriage is  a labor of  love, it takes work, time, and commit to allow it to grow.   I hope you are able to use these insights to create and/or maintain your "Loving Lasting Marriage". In addition, Pray together and Seek God together if you are seeking your Loving Lasting Marriage.

Shalasha

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National Marriage Week Real Love Stories

         Love Stories, each married couple has one.  Love Grows.  I often find myself even before I began my blog, asking my friends how they meet their spouse. I find it intriguing the varying ways people find their spouse. Most stories if not all can be tied to fate, no not fate, but God.

         My relationship began with a prayer before we even met. A prayer that I would find my soul mate, helpmate, and life mate. My husband is not perfect but I truly believe that God made him just for me. I met my husband right when I needed him the most, in high school. That may seem weird but true. We needed one another.

         From high school sweet hearts to a relationship that has lasted 11 and a half years. We have been married for 4 and a half years, we have already been through so many obstacles but we are still in Love, happy, and continuing to help one another.

            Over the next three days I will share with you three Love Stories. Each a little different but demonstrates that Love Grows.

Our 1^st Love Story is similar to my own and maybe yours too in that it is a High School Sweet Heart Love Story.

            Tell us about your Love Story.

 My Husband and I started dating October 27, 2001. I began working at Burger Shack where he also worked. I started working there in August and by October he had worked up enough of courage to ask me out.  Our Journey led us to marriage on February 12, 2005.  My husband decided to join the Air Force. He left for basic training in August 2005. We were stationed in Texas and in January 2006 we were stationed in NC back close to our families.  Being in the military can be stressful upon a marriage due to the long hours, being away from your family, and just the day-to-day life of being in the military. However, we always focused on the positives and just enjoying the time that we could spend together. Then in October 2007 we welcomed our son Aden into the world.  He is a great mix of the two of us and is our world! Military marriages have a 3.7% divorce rate but today  (2/12/12) we are celebrating our 7^th wedding Anniversary!

High School Sweethearts

Wedding Day 

Family Addition : Aden

Bobbie Jo and Brett

 What do you feel is the most important element of keeping your Marriage “Loving”?

 My hubby is my best friend and when you find that in your significant other then the love just comes along with itJ

How do you and your husband handle disagreements?

We have come to the realization that what the other is saying is important. We listen to each other’s point of view and meet in the middle. Like with any relationship even getting ill at the other is normal from time to time but by the end of the night we kiss goodnight no matter what!

 How do you and your husband make time for one another?

We both love to cook so we always enjoy cooking and grilling together almost every day!

 What do you feel are important characteristics or traits of a “Lasting Loving Marriage”.

• Always being there for the other NO matter What!
• Always be sure to let your s/o know how much you care. Sometimes just "I Love you" still gives you  butterflies but also gives you that reassurance that you need!

Have you and your husband faced a problem? If so how did you overcome it?

We all face some type problem in marriage whether it is big or small. We have never faced any huge problems though just the small ones thank goodness. We always try to compromise and understand each other in every situation. Our viewpoint is that we were all made different so we are entitled to our independent opinions and differences but we have to meet in the middle!

What advice do you think would have helped you have a smoother marriage that you can pass to others?

When you find the one you Love you will know. There is no perfect relationship but there is a great love for each of us. A lasting loving marriage is very real! Always try to understand one another and always let your spouse know what is going on from your perspective. If there’s a doubt or something you are feeling down or out about let them know.  When you communicate with one another you will be able to work through your issues. My hubby says “I Don’t know how to make you feel better, what to change, or how to make you or things better if you don’t let me know.”  Effectively communicating has been an important element in our Loving Lasting Marriage; always let your spouse know!

I hope that you have been able to use National Marriage Week as a time to enhance your marriage . I plan to highlight two additional Love Stories this week with varying elements. I hope you are able to gain something useful from each of these stories.


Please continue to share these posts with others as well as contribute your own elements for a Loving Lasting Marriage. 

Shalasha

Tips from Real Marriages

National Marriage week is about uplifting Marriage. One way we can do this is by sharing our experiences. I have gathered tips from real marriages to share with you. You can join in the conversation here on this Blog, on Twitter, or Facebook. I hope that you will share these " Tips from Real Marriages" with other couples who are married, who are thinking or marriage, or who are seeking a relationship that will lead to marriage.

We are called to be unselfish, giving to each other, even when it hurts! Treat your spouse, as YOU want to be treated.- Lezlie

Always try to keep that love fresh and exciting.... ♥♥♥- Peggy

We agreed years ago to not involve our respective parents that we're each very close to (my dad and his mom) in our domestic disputes. While we may forgive each other and move on the parent may still hold it against the other and we just don't need that kind of negative energy in our marriage. We also DO fight in front of the kids; we don't want them to have any misconceptions about marriage being easy. We also make a point to makeup in front of them because they need to understand that even though we get angry we still love each other very much.- Allison

My husband has a tip that he says all the time "the man has to continue doing what he first did to get the woman even after you are long married! This includes dates, flowers, telling her how good she looks and most importantly. " I Love yous"- Deidra

My husband and I talk about any and everything....I think it is important to be approachable so your spouse feels like talking to you about anything and everything is always possibly. It may get uncomfortable sometimes but I fill like it is a crucial part of our happiness....that and God's hand- Ramona

We NEVER say the "D" word (divorce). No matter how mad we get or how big of a fight we get into. It is just not something we ever use. That way we always know where we stand with each other. No games. We can fight and make up. Theres no need for hurt feelings. Also, we've never called each other names when we've fought. We agree to not fight dirty.- Sharon

One thing I have found to be very helpful in all things but especially in my marriage is the fact that you must communicate. Communication is very important between a husband and his wife.- Amber

It is important to read the Bible and pray together, as a couple. Not just family worship, but couple worship as well. Sometimes that might seem like you're doing devotions 3x/day, if you do individual, family and couple, but I think it's almost mandatory to help keep your relationship line "open" to God.- Lezlie

 You have to  be totally committed to those vows. In the good times and the bad, put God first and obey His Word. 50 years definitely wasn't easy, but we made it with God's help !

We have caught a glimpse of the elements that create a “ Loving Lasting Marriage”  in our jar .  I hope you are able to use these insights to  create or maintain your “ Loving Lasting Marriage”. I would like to thank each one of you that has added to our jar ! Please continue to be apart of this great effort to help ourselves through helping one another ! 

Shalasha