By Ashley McIlwain Whether you have been married for one day or for a century, there is one universal truth. You will always and forever have to continue to work at your marriage. Often times we assume that there is a point and time in the life of a marriage where you are “over the
By Ashley McIlwain Recently I’ve been inspired by Ricinda Perry’s Family Footprints: 90 Day Challenge. It got me to thinking about some stuff. One thing I asked myself was, “What have I done that’s above and beyond the usual for my husband lately?” To be honest, I had to think about it awhile, and I
By Ashley McIlwain I know that many of you have been married for a while and are finding yourselves and your marriage in a place where you’re maybe rethinking things. You don’t feel in love any more. You and your spouse have changed so much, and you’re looking at each other wondering who this person
By Ashley McIlwain Here I was watching this man struggle to pull in whatever it was he had snagged on the end of his fishing line. Back and forth. Tugs and pulls. Focused and poised. It was shocking how much effort went into reeling in this watery creature. I mean, there wasn’t even any guarantee
By Ashley McIlwain Drive thrus. Credit cards. Mashed potatoes. Digital cameras. Freezer meals. Text messages. Emails. What do all of these things have in common? They are instant. You can get them quickly and with minimal effort. They entail getting what you want when you want it. Many of us carry those same instantaneous expectations
Have you ever heard of someone going on a huge trip somewhere new, exotic, and exciting? Perhaps you have done that yourself. Let’s say though that the person headed out on their big adventure goes without a map, directions, plans, or any idea of the language, currency, weather, etc. of their destination. What if that
Photo Compliments of Jessica Lorren Photography Honey, I’m Home! Part 1 by Ashley McIlwain After a long day of work, I often dread the time and effort needed to attempt to make a delicious meal for dinner. Last night, as I mustered up the energy to start thinking about making
Photo Compliments of Jessica Lorren Photography Turn Off the TV by Ashley McIlwain At the end of a long day, it’s easy to want to come home and plop down on the couch in front of the television. After all, it’s been a long day, and a little rest and relaxation
