By Ashley McIlwain What should you expect when you are expecting? You might hear that question and immediately think I’m referencing pregnancy and childrearing. I’m not. However, I am referring to the birth of a certain mentality that can be potentially destructive – expectancy. What I want to discuss is what happens when we begin
By Ashley McIlwain See below for a special GIVEAWAY too ... How do we win at love? It’s a simple enough question, yet the answer seems to evade so many of us. I mean, we search and try, fight and conquer, but yet, somehow it slips from our grasp. After all, we can’t help who
By Ashley McIlwain Men like to fix things. Even the not-so-handy guys still like to fix things. It’s just a guy thing. If you’ve ever had a conversation with a man, then you know what I’m talking about. You pour out your heart to him, and he proceeds to go into mechanic mode. The sleeves
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 Autumn is my favorite season and time of the year. Leaves in bright hues delighting my eyes. Crisp air seducing my nostrils. Cool temperatures that beckon one to bundle and snuggle up. Hot chocolate and apple cider warming your belly and bones. Football calling for cheers and high fives. What’s not to
By Ashley McIlwain I was talking to a friend the other day who recently got engaged. She looked at me and said, “I just feel so emotional about getting married. It’s like an identity crisis because who I’ve been and known myself to be is changing forever. Am I crazy?” My reply was, “Of course
By Ashley McIlwain What now? I think a lot of us have asked that question in our lifetime. We make a mistake or a poor choice. Perhaps we are on the receiving end of someone else’s indiscretion or recklessness. Regardless of how we got there, we have all found ourselves at a point of brokenness
By Ashley McIlwain Have you ever needed to discuss something with someone, but you just knew it was a sensitive subject? Most likely even mentioning it will elicit a negative, strong reaction that makes you opt to avoid it like the plague? You cringe at the mere thought of bringing it up, so you convince
By Ashley McIlwain This is Part 2 of In Love With Your In-Laws. Check out Part 1 here. I remember on one of my parents’ visits out here to Southern California there was a moment where I was somewhat overcome by emotion. As I watched Steve interact with my parents, I felt such gratitude for his genuine
By Ashley McIlwain One of the most common problematic areas for couples centers around the in-laws. It’s no secret that marrying into a family means adjusting and adapting. How things operate for each family of origin varies, and the dynamics change when a son or daughter becomes a husband or wife. Unfortunately the transformations that
