By Ashley McIlwain Do you want to know my favorite thing about being married? The simple pleasures that come with it. There are so many wonderful benefits of marriage. Research shows a plethora of mental and physical health benefits, and of course there are other huge pluses like more financial stability, shared responsibility, and the
By Ashley McIlwain Husbands are interesting creatures. They are so different from us women in too many ways to count, and while that can be incredibly frustrating, it’s also a wonderful blessing. They can make our day, and they can turn our world upside down. They can make us feel like we’re the most loved
By Ashley McIlwain Inevitably, as a couple, you will make many big decisions during the course of your relationship. From whether to get married, what kind of wedding you’ll have, kids or no kids, how many kids, where to live, when to buy a house, what kind of house to buy, how to handle finances,
By Coleen York “Hey! How are you?” “I’m good! And yourself?” We speak these words most of the time without even really thinking. It’s become a standard greeting, almost as second nature as breathing. I’ve noticed though, that very rarely do we ever take the time to listen, REALLY listen, to what is on the
By Ashley McIlwain Recently I shared a list of things I wish men knew, but now it’s time for some candid girl talk. Ladies, we have some things we need to discuss. When I look around, I see a lot of women pointing the finger at men as the source of all discontentment and issues.
By Ashley McIlwain I sat down at my pool hoping to catch a few rays, but more importantly, to snag some relaxation. As I cozied into an open lawn chair prepared to attempt a mental vacation, my “trip” was interrupted by a group of middle aged guys talking. They weren’t far from me, and considering
By Ricinda Perry We have all been there … challenges with our in-laws. While reading this article, keep in mind that when you married your spouse, his or her family became your family. When we were dating, we liked to show the good side of our family and the good side of our spouse to
By Ashley McIlwain Growing up, birthdays were always a pretty big deal in my home. If you were the birthday girl, it was all about you that day. As a kid that meant simple yet special privileges like getting to answer the phone the entire day, being the one to get the mail, and no
By Dr. Jeff Klick God made me male, and I am very glad about it. Is that shocking? Can we men still say that in our day? Oh well, I did say it, or at least wrote it. God made me a man, and I am very thankful. In our current environment, to say such
By Ashley McIlwain There’s just something special about summertime. It energizes and invigorates. It excites, and it awakens. It warms the body and the soul. Its sunshine seems to penetrate every part of our being with its golden glow. Yup, there’s just something special about summertime. If you feel the same way about summer as
