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
By Ashley McIlwain Recently I got to go home to Pennsylvania to spend some much needed time with my parents. On Sunday we were sitting in the church I spent many Sundays growing up in, and the pastor, Rev. James Stork, was speaking on “Humanity in Community.” He discussed how God intended the church to
By Ashley McIlwain It had been nearly 24 hours since there was any sign of life. All that was left were ashes. Gray. Cold. It never crossed my mind that anything could become of it. Yet, as I piled some newspaper and kindling wood together carefully in my usual teepee formation, before I could even
By Ashley McIlwain We’ve all witnessed it … the meltdown of a random child. You’re trying to enjoy a quiet dinner for two, but instead you’re being served a big plateful of wailing child with a side of yelling, desperate parent. Perhaps you’re pushing your cart along in the grocery store when you meet the
By Ashley McIlwain Married life is an adventure. There’s always something to learn, explore, and overcome. You laugh, cry, fight, make-up, grow up, speak up, and shut up. It’s epic, memorable, fun, exciting, and worth it. Marriage is everything it’s cracked up to be and more, but it’s definitely a lifelong adventure. Like any good
By Ashley McIlwain Life is tough. There’s no way around it; it’s just full of valleys and mountaintops, ups and downs, highs and lows. At one time or another for one reason or another, we all experience pain, heartache, brokenness, sadness, and sickness. It’s inevitable and unavoidable. Since we can’t do anything about eliminating the
By Ashley McIlwain It’s not you, it’s me. We’ve all heard this cliché line often associated with a break-up. Men and women everywhere use it as a means of ending a relationship that is less than desirable for one reason or another. Maybe you’ve used it or been on the receiving end of it. This
By Ashley McIlwain Forgiveness. It’s such a simple word, but behind it lays an abyss of layers. Layers that many of us struggle with. Layers that all too often we can’t understand or put into practice. It’s just one word, but within its context is a world of freedom or bondage. Forgiveness is something that
By Loryn Purvis I learned early on in my marriage that a well-fed husband is a happy husband. If I have some important news I need to deliver to BJ, or when there is a serious decision we need to make together, things always go more smoothly when we both have a full belly. I
