by Arlene | Oct 26, 2015 | Marriage, The Latest ...
My family had a huge highlight yesterday…to meet THE MAN at a concert at our home church Bonita Valley Community Church…the comedian who’s lines punctuate our home on most days… Tim Hawkins!!! Tim Hawkins is by far our favorite comedian. If...
by Arlene | Oct 7, 2015 | Marriage, The Latest ...
There was a very interesting article in the Wall Street Journal on October 6 that caught my eye. The headline read: It’s Review Time, Honey: Evaluate the job you’re doing at being married to get better at it James and I read the article together. It...
by Arlene | Sep 18, 2015 | Marriage, The Latest ...
Have you ever read something in a marriage book and thought, “I wish my husband could hear this!” Well, now he can! For the first time, I will be speaking on a marriage cruise to the Caribbean with my husband James. You’ll get to meet the happy...
by Arlene | Aug 31, 2015 | Marriage, The Latest ...
So excited to have this guest post from my friend Erin MacPherson! Erin and Kathi Lipp have a new book to bless your home (and love life): Hot Mama: 12 Secrets to a Sizzling Hot Marriage. Erin has hopped over to my blog today and I’m at Kathi Lipp’s...
by Arlene | Aug 27, 2015 | Marriage, The Latest ...
Do you find yourself fighting with your spouse? Are you easily irritated at home? If your child grew up to have a marriage just like yours, would you be sad for him or her? If you answer yes to any of these questions, I have a great date night for you this...
by Arlene | Aug 17, 2015 | Marriage, Parenting, The Latest ...
In my new book 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Mom, I share many stories from my own home with three kids (ages 5, 8, 10). Here’s one about how we can get the pecking order at home all messed up: A few months ago, James wanted to try out a small group at church to...
by Arlene | Aug 4, 2015 | Giveaways, Marriage, Parenting, The Latest ...
School has started for our family and the stress of homework, afterschool activities, church, and piano practice is kicking in. I was stressed about getting out the door after dinner. I muttered to the sink of dishes, “I’m stressed!” Guess what...
by Arlene | Jun 18, 2015 | Marriage, The Latest ...
Just the other day, a friend of ours with younger kids asked James and I for parenting advice. One thing we talked about was the importance of a united front. If mom says A is okay, but dad says A is off limits, it’s not only confusing for a child. It totally...
by Arlene | Jun 1, 2015 | Marriage, The Latest ...
What an honor to be a guest on Focus on the Family radio today! I have listened to Focus for years – long before I had any children. I think even before I met Mr. Wonderful himself. Before you have children, building a happy marriage is a lot simpler. After...
by Arlene | May 19, 2015 | Marriage, The Latest ...
Climb into the time machine with me… A few weeks ago, my mom produced this little gift booklet I made for my parents in 1995! Before I was married… Before I wrote marriage books… Before even the 21st century…. Here were my observations about...
by Arlene | May 4, 2015 | Marriage, The Latest ...
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week at my children’s elementary school. That got me thinking. What if we had our own Spouse Appreciation Week? For school, here’s what the kids are doing: Monday – Bring a school supply for your teacher Tuesday...
by Arlene | Apr 9, 2015 | Marriage, The Latest ...
What career plans have you made? Education goals? Things you want to teach your children this year? What about goals as a wife? Have you set any of those lately? Most likely not…but if you have, way to go! Most of us don’t approach marriage as...
by Arlene | Mar 23, 2015 | Marriage, The Latest ...
“What’s the weather going to be like mom?” That’s a question I hear every morning. My answer is typically the same in San Diego, “Just like yesterday.” We live in Southern California and we totally know we’re weather wimps. ...
by Arlene | Feb 26, 2015 | Marriage, The Latest ...
When James and I were engaged, we were meeting with our wedding coordinator at the church. There just happened to be a wedding happening simultaneously. After our meeting, we were walking through the lobby and noticed the wedding party getting ready to begin the...
by Arlene | Feb 12, 2015 | Marriage, The Latest ...
My daughter Lucy definitely has physical touch as one of her love languages. One of her favorite words when she was a toddler was “HUGGIE!” We often engage snuggle power for our kids, but we can forget to do that for our spouse. So this Valentine’s...
by Arlene | Jan 20, 2015 | Marriage, The Latest ...
Sixteen years ago, James and I got married…friends turned sweethearts in graduate school at Regent University in Virginia Beach. Here’s the Outback Steakhouse where James pulled a yellow rose and a red rose out of his jacket and said, “I want like to...
by Arlene | Aug 11, 2014 | Books I Like, Marriage, The Latest ...
So…is it? One small thing you can do to keep your marriage warm – and yes, even red hot – is to kiss for 5-30 seconds every day (remember that tip from my book 31 Days to a Happy Husband?). My dear friend and mentor Pam Farrel has a new little book...
by Arlene | Jul 8, 2014 | Marriage, The Latest ...
Imagine hearing the rumbling of a train. Not the little engine that could. Not Thomas. It’s the Gratitude Train. I was visiting the Virginia War Museum this week on family vacation. I was delighted when Ethan said, “Mom, look there’s the...
by Arlene | Jun 2, 2014 | Marriage, The Latest ...
It was an ordinary day. But then I had a thought. I remembered something that Bill Farrel had said to me when I was interviewing him for 31 Days to a Happy Husband. “Anything you can do to make life simpler connects to your man’s heart and makes him feel like you...
by Arlene | Apr 29, 2014 | Marriage, The Latest ...
There are many moments in my life when I think, “I need to follow the advice in my own book!” Case in point… In the introduction of 31 Days to Becoming a Happy Wife, I write about how I (reluctantly) went mountain biking with James when we were dating. I didn’t...
by Arlene | Apr 23, 2014 | Marriage, The Latest ...
On Tuesday, James and I had the thrill of being guests on The Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda. We love these ladies! Watch the segment here. We arrived at Rockefeller Center around 9:15 am. The young lady who checked us into the Green Room had been working at...
by Arlene | Apr 22, 2014 | Marriage, The Latest ...
Are You a Happy Wife? Take this quiz and find out. 1. I believe that I have control over my happiness, not my circumstances. __ Agree __Disagree 2. My husband and I do not yell at each other or give one another the silent treatment. __Agree __Disagree 3. I am...
by Arlene | Apr 21, 2014 | Marriage, The Latest ...
The last time I was in New York City, this is how close I got to being on The Today Show. If you squint, you can see Kathie Lee and Hoda in the middle of the picture. My publicist and I walked by and dropped off a book for the producer to consider. Although nothing...
by Arlene | Mar 26, 2014 | Marriage, The Latest ...
Here’s a joke I can relate to: Wife: I baked two kinds of cookies today. Would you like to take your pick? Husband: No, thanks. I’ll use my hammer. Yup…James didn’t marry me for my cooking or baking skills (although my grilling skills are...
