Laura's Strengthening Marriage Blog

Date night is simply one of the best things couples can do for their marriage. It nourishes the relationship mentally, emotionally, socially and even sexually (…if you’re lucky!).

Couples generally do the best they can when it comes to having a date night, so I really hate to be too hard on them about it. But it may be time to step it up a notch. Consider these four rules for raising the bar on date night: Continue reading “Raising the Bar on Date Night” »

Here are the questions from “The Marital Intimacy Show” episode #043 “Let’s Play 20 Questions.”

To help make it easier for you and your spouse to talk about your sexual relationship I encourage you to play this little game called “20 Questions–Your Conversation Starter about Sex.”

Continue reading “Questions for “Let’s Play 20 Questions”” »

In honor of celebrating 19 years of marriage with my sweetheart, here are a few wedding anniversary traditions to consider for your own celebrations.

• Get your rings cleaned.
• Go out for a special breakfast, lunch or dinner.
• Watch your wedding video.
• Go through your wedding photo album.
• Write down your “How We Met” story or review it!
• Review and revise your lists of the top 10 things that make you feel loved.
• Get away for an overnight stay. A favorite place is The Anniversary Inn! Fans of StrengtheningMarriage.com can even receive a fabulous 25% discount!
• On your special getaway take the book 365 Questions for Couples and/or the Table Topics Couples Edition to get to know each other even better!
• Have a special couple portrait taken. Chek out the many fun Couples Photos on StrengtheningMarriage.com!
• Make love as many times that day (or week, or month) as the number of years you’ve been married (whichever is more doable! : )
• Go for a nice romantic walk some evening…be sure to hold hands though!
• Get some pretty flowers. You gotta have flowers! (…unless your wife is an anti-flowers type! : )

We welcome you to share your anniversary traditions and/or other marriage traditions here! Continue reading “Wedding Anniversary Traditions” »

One of my favorite websites/blogs for couples–The Love, Actually Blog (creative date ideas) is having a giveaway of our book “And They Were Not Ashamed–Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment” and my talk on CD “Love 101–Learning to Love More Meaningfully.” Be sure to check it out! The Love, Actually Blog is a fabulously fun site for couples to receive many fun date night ideas to keep your marriage strong!

Continue reading “Love, Actually Blog — Book/CD Giveaway” »

Yay for Date Night! In light of the news of Al Gore and his wife getting divorced it’s a reminder to us all that marriage requires constant nourishment. Date night nourishes the relationship mentally, emotionally, physically and even sexually…if you’re lucky! : )

Don’t miss date night. Make it a habit. Make it your highlight of the week!

For more date night tips, visit “Yay for Date Night!”

Continue reading “It’s Date Night!” »

Many couples have lost that lovin’ feeling when it comes to kissing and making out.

When was the last time you and your spouse made out?! Many couples have lost that lovin’ feeling when it comes to kissing and making out.

When couples were dating, kissing was an exciting and savored experience. But after marriage many couples seem to have abandoned sensual, lip-to-lip (face or neck) kissing not only because additional sexual pleasures are now available, but maybe for other more intimate reasons of which they may not be aware.

Continue reading “The Lost Art of Kissing” »

A while back a friend came up to me at church and said he had some receipts for me to reimburse. I looked at him like “What are you talking about?” and he said, “You know…babysitting receipts. You said you’d cover the babysitting if I’d start taking my wife out on dates.” I laughed and said “Okay. Sure.”

A couple of weeks earlier they had been at our home for a get together for a bunch of new couples in our church. In the course of introductions it came up that I was a marriage educator and that I was a big proponent of a weekly date night. Though teasing, that night he had said, “Oh sure. If you pay for the babysitter maybe we’d consider going out on dates more often.” That is when I had said that he could send me the bill for their babysitting expenses.

Apparently he is pretty serious about it as he has also reminded my husband that he’s now racking up babysitting expenses to give me. I guess I need to remind him that a babysitter costs a lot less than a marriage counselor, or a divorce, for that matter. Continue reading “Date Night is NOT Optional” »

My husband and I had a hilariously fun time at a Glenn Beck show when he was in town a while back. That guy cracks me up! Glenn Beck has a TV show on CNN and a talk radio show as well. His show was a mix of comedy, hilarity and politics. It was great!

“Bonnet Movies”

His marriage-related tirades were side-splitting. One of his marital rants involved “bonnet movies,” and I knew exactly where he was going to go with this. I’ve heard it too many times before.

Continue reading “Glenn Beck, Chick Flicks and Foreplay” »