Less than a week left til Valentine’s Day! Do you have plans?!

Valentine’s Day is one of my very favorite holidays! It’s a wonderful opportunity to make sure your sweetheart knows how much you love them, and to create a fun family tradition for your children as well. I hope you all will make Valentine’s Day a special day for showing your love!

Valentine’s Chocolate Nuggets Labels

I’m so glad I learned about this wonderful blog “Love Actually” that has tons of great romantic ideas to keep the spark alive in your marriage. It provided a perfect, fun idea for me to add to our romantic Valentine’s Day festivities this year! My husband’s favorite candy is those Hershey Nuggets with toffee and almonds, so the cute Valentine’s Day labels were perfect.

I even took the idea a step further and created my own little mini labels to add on top of the Valentine’s labels. My mini labels had messages like “Hot Stuff,” “Sexy,” “Want You,” “Stud” and “Oh Yeah!” to make the treat even more personal like those candy conversation hearts.

Very fun!

Chocolate Bowls

Another fun Valentine’s Day idea for your family might include making chocolate dessert bowls. This is a new family tradition of ours (though I don’t remember where I first got the idea–somewhere online!)

We enjoyed our second year of delicious chocolate dessert bowls filled with sugar-free ice cream, whipped topping, oreos and strawberries. There’s a bit of an art to getting these bowls to work with dipping balloons into the melted chocolate, but it’s worth the effort!

You gotta have some chocolate dipped strawberries while you’re at it!

As far as I’m concerned Valetine’s Day lasts all through February, so there’s plenty of time to have a little extra love and fun in your family this Valentine’s season!

(Thought we’d repost this post from last Valentine’s Day to share some fine ideas you might want to try this year!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For more tips to strengthen your marriage join us on Facebook!

FACEBOOK PAGE Strengthening Marriage, Inc.

FACEBOOK PAGE The Marital Intimacy Show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Subscribe to Laura’s Strengthening Marriage Blog
     Subscribe to Blog Entries
     Subscribe to Blog Comments

Subscribe to The Marital Intimacy Show
     Receive Email Updates for Each Episode

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marriage and intimacy expert, Laura M. Brotherson, is the author of a bestselling book on sexual intimacy and marital oneness entitled, And They Were Not Ashamed—Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment.

Laura shares her passion for building strong marriages and families as an author, intimacy expert, marriage and family therapist, and host of “The Marital Intimacy Show” on The Women’s Information Network (The WIN). 

Visit her website StrengtheningMarriage.com to learn more and to sign up for her “Straight Talk about Strengthening Marriage” newsletter.

StrengtheningMarriage.com is your trusted resource for education, products and services to strengthen marriages . . . intimately!

© Copyright 2012 Laura M. Brotherson. All rights reserved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Other Ways to Connect with Laura!

Happy 50th Anniversary! — Morris and Elaine Bastian

It isn’t everyday that a couple reaches that fabulous milestone of 50 years of marriage. My good friends, Morris and Elaine Bastian, have successfully done just that!

Morris and Elaine Bastian have been great supporters of my efforts through the years to help strengthen marriages. In fact, Morris Bastian was one of the editors of my book And They Were Not Ashamed — Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment.

The following is a little bit about the Bastians, and some of their suggestions for building a strong and happy marriage to last throughout the years.?????

About the Bastians

Morris and Elaine Bastian met on a blind date after Morris returned home from a mission to Northern California for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Morris and Elaine attended a dance at the Institute of Religion at Boise Junior College in Boise, Idaho. Morris said it was love at first sight, as she was the “most naturally beautiful” girl he’d ever seen. Elaine said it took her a little longer to be “won over.” Morris said of their courtship:

“We went together for about two months. I was in love, but I tried to forget her because I just couldn’t see how I could marry and do all the things I felt I had to do before marriage…especially graduate from college and get established in a career. So, I phoned her one night and called it off. I told her I was sorry, but it just wasn’t right.

Three days later, I found myself at her door at 11:30 p.m. at night with an engagement ring. I felt like a heel. I didn’t know what to say or do so I just gave her the ring and that was that. Thankfully she accepted! We were engaged on June 28, 1960, and married on September 9, 1960 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.”

Morris and Elaine have raised seven wonderful children, and have shared a life of faith and service to others. Elaine is a great woman of faith, and a believer in the promises of God. She often taught her children that, “All things work together for your good when you walk uprightly before God.”

Morris spent most of his professional life teaching at the Boise Institute of Religion at what is now Boise State University. Together Morris and Elaine have served many missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

They have served as mission president of the South Dakota Rapid City Mission (1979 – 1982); a Church Educational System (CES) mission to BYU-Hawaii as an instructor in the department of religion (1998 – 2000); and a CES mission to Southern Virginia University (SVU) as an instructor in the institute (2010 – 2011).

One of their favorite pastimes is to dance to the oldies in their kitchen!

Thoughts on Building a Strong and Lasting Marriage

The following are some of the Bastian’s thoughts about key things that help build a strong and lasting marriage:

1. Be Committed. Enduring marriages begin with a strong commitment to do whatever it takes to stay together. The commitment has to be stronger than “We’ll see,” or “We’ll try,” or “I’ll do my best.” Just like there are good days and bad days in your life; there are good times and trying times/seasons in your marriage. You have to find a way through the tough times.

2. Fight Fair. If you must fight, fight fair. No hitting below the belt. Don’t issue ultimatums, make threats, get even, etc. Marriage isn’t always easy, but it is still wonderful and worth it.

3. Stay Focused. Always keep your eye on the important things–like being a forever family. Don’t get distracted. Always remember what your marriage is about. It’s easy to be blinded by the craftiness of men.

4. Meet Each Others Needs. Follow the advice given by Martin Luther: “Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave.”

5. Be the Best Spouse You Can Be. Charles Shedd wrote: “Marriage isn’t so much about finding the right person as being the right person.” We have found that concept to be foundational in strong and enduring marriages.

Congratulations to Morris and Elaine Bastian for their wonderful life together thus far. They have been a shining example not only of a life of service and love of God, but they also set a great example of a happy and healthy marriage to all! Thank you!

Related Articles: “Happily Married Couples Needed” by Laura M. Brotherson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For more tips to strengthen your marriage join us on Facebook!

FACEBOOK PAGEStrengthening Marriage, Inc.

FACEBOOK PAGEThe Marital Intimacy Show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Subscribe to Laura’s Strengthening Marriage Blog

Subscribe to Blog Entries

Subscribe to Blog Comments

Subscribe to The Marital Intimacy Show

Receive Email Updates for Each Episode

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marriage and intimacy expert Laura M. Brotherson is the author of a bestselling book on sexual intimacy and marital oneness entitled, And They Were Not Ashamed—Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment. Laura shares her passion for building strong marriages and families as an author, intimacy expert, relationship consultant, and host of the online “Marital Intimacy Show.”

Visit her website StrengtheningMarriage.com to learn more and to sign up for her “Straight Talk about Strengthening Marriage” newsletter. StrengtheningMarriage.com is your trusted resource for education, products and services to strengthen marriages . . . intimately!

© Copyright 2011 Laura M. Brotherson. All rights reserved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Other Ways to Connect with Laura!

?????

Well, there is good news and bad news about our Christmas decorations. The good news is that we truly outdid ourselves this year.

The bad news is that we had to take them down after only two days. We had more people come screaming up to our house than ever! But two things made us take our decorations down…

First, the cops advised us that it would cause traffic accidents, as they almost wrecked when they drove by.

Second, a 55-year-old-lady grabbed the ladder and almost killed herself putting it against our house not realizing it was fake until she climbed to the top. (Needless to say, she was not happy!) She was one of many who attempted to save the poor guy.

Our yard couldn’t take it either. We have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove onto our lawn. I think we made him too real this time. But, it was fun while it lasted! ; )

~~~~~~~~~~~~

(BTW, this isn’t our home or our story. I just had to share this hilarious photo and the story that came with it! You can also check out my favorite funny Christmas Decorations photo from last year!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Facebook — Let’s Connect!

Strengthening Marriage, Inc. — Become a fan!

“The Marital Intimacy Show” — Become a fan!

Subscribe to Laura’s Strengthening Marriage Blog

Subscribe to Blog Entries

Subscribe to Blog Comments

Subscribe to The Marital Intimacy Show

Receive Email Updates for Each Episode

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Laura M. Brotherson is the author of a groundbreaking book on sexual intimacy and marital oneness entitled, And They Were Not Ashamed—Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment. Laura shares her passion for building strong marriages and families as an author, intimacy expert, online show host, and relationship consultant.

Visit her website www.StrengtheningMarriage.com to learn more and to sign up for her “Straight Talk about Strengthening Marriage” newsletter. StrengtheningMarriage.com is your trusted resource for education, products and services to strengthen marriages . . . intimately!

© Copyright 2009 Laura M. Brotherson. All rights reserved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some time ago the author of the upcoming book Famous Family Nights asked me to write a little bit about Family Home Evenings (FHE) in our home to be featured in a book with other “famous” LDS personalities. (I think she’s stretching the “famous” thing just a bit! : ) Famous Family Nights is now available on our Strengthening Marriage Online Store. I’m sure it will provide many ideas and insights into making family nights even more enjoyable and valuable for the whole family. But most of all I think it will relieve everyone to see that FHE can be a challenge sometimes for anyone!

Family Home Evening

For those who may not be familiar with Family Home Evenings, it is a night (usually Monday night) set aside by families to spend time together learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and doing other activities that “strengthen the family spiritually, create family memories, and increase unity and love.” You can learn more about FHE here or here.

New Book — Famous Family Nights

To learn more about this fun and informative new book click here. The author/editor, Anne Bradshaw, is currently having a drawing on her website (until Wednesday, July 22nd) for a free copy of the book And They Were Not Ashamed — Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment and our talk on CD Love 101 — Learning to Love More Meaningfully. Visit her website to find out more and enter her free giveaway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Laura M. Brotherson is the author of a groundbreaking book on sexual intimacy and marital oneness entitled, And They Were Not Ashamed—Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment. Laura shares her passion for building strong marriages and families as an author, intimacy educator and relationship consultant.

Visit her website www.StrengtheningMarriage.com to learn more and to sign up for her “Straight Talk about Strengthening Marriage” newsletter. StrengtheningMarriage.com is your trusted resource for education, products and services to strengthen marriages . . . intimately!

© Copyright 2009 Laura M. Brotherson. All rights reserved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s hard to find many things sexier than a daddy who loves his kids. They say men doing housework is a great aphrodisiac for women, but I think “daddywork” is way up there on the list as well. Roses and chocolates and romantic candle-lit dinners have their place for stirring the heart, but it’s hard to beat the feeling that comes from seeing your husband play with the kids, or help them with homework, or teach them something, or tuck them in at night. Now that’s a turn on!

Some men might find it strange that their wives would experience any erotic effect from them being actively engaged with their children, but when women make a point of nurturing sexual feelings towards their spouse, daddywork is a great reservoir from which those feelings can flow.

Prince Daddy

One day I was walking through a quaint arts and crafts fair in a small town when I saw this framed statement that said it all for me. It said, “My prince has come…His name is Daddy!” My prince is a daddy. He’s my kids’ daddy.

I loved the statement because it perfectly captured one of the best things I love about my husband–that he’s a great dad! It wasn’t until later that it dawned on me that the meaning I gave to the statement was probably not what was originally intended, but it works perfectly for me.

Tribute to My Kids’ Daddy

I hope you’ll forgive me for indulging in a personal tribute to my kids’ daddy at this Father’s Day season. If you care to take a look, I share some of my favorite daddy photos of my good husband from over the years. He’s not perfect, but he’s perfect for me!

Happy Father’s Day Kevin, and Happy Father’s Day to all you other good daddies out there as well. I know there are many! I see them all around me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daddy Tribute to My Honey

For more tips to strengthen your marriage connect with us on our Facebook Pages:

FACEBOOK PAGE Strengthening Marriage, Inc.

FACEBOOK PAGE The Marital Intimacy Show

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Facebook — Let’s Connect!

Strengthening Marriage, Inc. — Become a fan!

“The Marital Intimacy Show” — Become a fan!

Subscribe to Laura’s Strengthening Marriage Blog

Subscribe to Blog Entries

Subscribe to Blog Comments

Subscribe to The Marital Intimacy Show

Receive Email Updates for Each Episode

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Laura M. Brotherson is the author of a groundbreaking book on sexual intimacy and marital oneness entitled, And They Were Not Ashamed—Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment. Laura shares her passion for building strong marriages and families as an author, intimacy expert, online show host, and relationship consultant.

Visit her website www.StrengtheningMarriage.com to learn more and to sign up for her “Straight Talk about Strengthening Marriage” newsletter. StrengtheningMarriage.com is your trusted resource for education, products and services to strengthen marriages . . . intimately!

© Copyright 2010 Laura M. Brotherson. All rights reserved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~