Laura's Strengthening Marriage Blog

Mother’s Day is just around the corner! — Sunday May 13th

Few things are more enticing than chocolate—especially as a gift for your wife on Mother’s Day. But the sweetness fades and the residual calories often remain. Give your sweetheart something different this year. What’s better than chocolate you ask? How about something from the heart.

Chocolate Substitute

A friend recently asked me to write “a prescription” for her husband to provide more of a certain loving behavior to help her stop eating chocolate so much. I promptly wrote out the prescription on a napkin and handed it to her with a smile. The husband later told me he was happy to oblige. I started calling him her chocolate substitute!

Continue reading “Better than Chocolate—Give a Mother’s Day Gift from the Heart” »

It can be complicated to try to figure out all the right ingredients for a woman to experience an orgasm. Many women have tried almost everything they can imagine. Maybe they are missing one necessary ingredient…

Because every woman and every relationship is so different I thought I’d start compiling a running list here of things couples might try to bring about orgasm. Most of these suggestions are things that have specifically helped couples I’ve counseled.

So, gook luck in your sexual adventures, and let us know what suggestions have been most helpful. We’d love to have readers share their secret sexual ingredients as well if they are willing! ; )

Orgasm Helps and Hints

1. Remember for women sex is a decision, so make the decision to go there!
2. Read And They Were Not Ashamed and do the homework at the end of each chapter to clear out as many inhibiting issues as you can on your own and/or with your spouse.
3. Initiate sex instead of being the more passive recipient of his sexual advances.
4. Take the lead sexually. A woman ultimately needs to be in charge of her orgasm to be sure she is getting what she needs. Husbands do play a big role not only in providing the physical/sexual stimulation that a woman needs, but also they are a key to the mental and emotional foreplay that she needs.
5. Be sure you and your husband have specifically read chapters 3, 4 and 5 of my book And They Were Not Ashamed so that you both understand the intricacies of a woman’s sexual wiring and the differences between a husband and a wife’s sexual wiring.   Continue reading “Orgasm’s Secret Ingredients” »

Good Girls Don’t

One of the trends I continue to see in my work with couples is that there is still an ingrained belief and something of a cultural norm that says, “Good girls don’t.”

The idea is that good girls shouldn’t think about sex. Or that good girls don’t do sex, which prior to marriage is true. But the problem occurs when that gets carried over into marriage.

Continue reading “Good Girls Do!” »

“The Dating Divas” SPECIAL of just $9 (continued thru 4/28) your copy of Laura’s book –
And They Were Not Ashamed!

Click here to listen to the tele-seminar recording 
(80 mins/30 mins of Q&A at the end)

Here are the presentation slides and related information for my “Three Keys to Spicing Up Your Sexual Relationship” tele-seminar (Wed, Apr 18, 2012) for The Dating Divas “Successful Marriages” Tele-Retreat. For more information click here!

Be sure you are registered here (or here) to get the call-in information and access to the recording after the seminar! Click here to listen to the tele-seminar recording (or here). I believe it is just $1 to register for a two-week trial membership of The Dating Divas Community!

1. SLIDES — Follow the seminar presentation outline at Laura’s Strengthening Marriage Blog
2. BOOK — Get Laura’s Book – And They Were Not Ashamed—Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment — Just $9 (50% off)
3. CONNECT — Find Us on Facebook
• Strengthening Marriage, Inc. http://www.facebook.com/StrengtheningMarriage
• The Marital Intimacy Show http://www.facebook.com/MaritalIntimacyShow
4. PODCAST — The Marital Intimacy Show — Quick List of all Episodes
• www.TheMaritalIntimacyShow.com
5. NEWSLETTER – “Straight Talk about Strengthening Marriage”

  Continue reading “Spicing Up Your Sexual Relationship — Laura’s “Dating Divas” Tele-Retreat Seminar” »

Wondering about the discrepancy between the many women who dress provocatively in public and the many wives who struggle to share themselves freely with their spouses in the bedroom, one husband asked, “Does it take more confidence for a woman to dress revealingly in public, or to dress revealingly in her bedroom for her husband?”

What do you think?

The Bait and Switch

This question reminds me of the many men who feel that their wives were very passionate and affectionate before marriage then found that that didn’t translate into their marriage relationship. One husband even called it a “bait and switch.”

It’s my contention that women don’t mean to do this on purpose. They are simply poorly prepared for a healthy sexual relationship in marriage and often don’t understand the message and consequences of their flirty behavior.

Continue reading “Sexual Self-Confidence” »

Those amazing women at The Dating Divas have put together a one-of-a kind debut event to strengthen marriages — The Dating Divas “Successful Marriages” Tele-Retreat! Best of all — it’s FREE! — and you can participate right from the comfort of your own HOME.

On Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 at 6 p.m. (PST) or 7 p.m. (Mountain Time) I will be sharing some insights regarding “Spicing up Your Sexual Relationship.” Other amazing experts in love and marriage will be sharing their advice and experience throughout the week of April 16-20 as well. Rumor has it that there will also be some free gifts, so don’t miss out! : )

Register today by clicking here! You’ll find all kinds of great information and see all the fabulous presenters and their fun tele-seminar topics.

Over 1000 participants have already registered so don’t delay!

 Related Resources:

• Click here for the tele-seminar presentation slides!

Continue reading “The Dating Divas — Successful Marriages Tele-Retreat” »

Right up at the top of the list of things I get asked about the most are all of the what’s okay and what isn’t types of questions. I have addressed this topic fairly extensively in the writings mentioned below, but I do have a few additional thoughts for people to consider as they work together as husband and wife to determine what is right for them and what is in keeping with God’s plan for sexual relations in marriage.

Continue reading “What’s Okay and What Isn’t Sexually?” »

Have you been married long enough to be able to do this yet?! : )

Continue reading “Monday Marriage Funnies: Marriage Telepathy” »

The following is an email from a woman who shares her experience with feeling rejected sexually, and how it changed her perspective on many things about sex and the marriage relationship. We appreciate her willingness to share her insights.

Dear Laura,

I think I have just had a tiny glimpse into how men feel when they’re wives are not interested in sex. My husband has been very busy with work and lots of things on his plate, and so have I.

Last night I suggested we go for it! He almost seemed a bit surprised that I was seriously offering. He replied that he didn’t really want a quickie, as I guess that’s what he thought I was suggesting.

Continue reading “A Taste of What Men Feel” »

How well do you and your spouse share emotions? (Go easy on the guys ladies…women tend to have an advantage there!)

Continue reading “Monday Marriage Funnies: A Man’s Emotional Well Runs Deep” »