This time I am talking to Dr. Norm Thiesen about a shift in our generation–how we’ve moved towards being so “honest” about marriage being hard that we forget to talk about its benefits.
Because unmarried people keep hearing the horror stories instead of the stories of success, it feels to me like one more contributor to the growing delay of marriage. Read more
Joy,
I have been friends with a guy for over three years. For the last 8 months, we have been officially dating. He has met some of my family, but he has not told any of his family or friends about me–nor does he think that’s a problem.
We are really good together when it’s just the two of us.
I want to go public with our relationship, but he doesn’t. I feel like he is hiding me. Read more
Well Hello Hello!
I’ve been told that one should never explain a joke, but just in case you have never been to a bookstore, the following series is a spin-off on the book, Tuesdays with Morrie. Read more
Hi Friendlings!
I feel like it was JUST my birthday a second ago, when Stephanie and I were downing Maple Bacon Bars and blowing out candles.
While downing donuts alone this year, I had a couple thoughts. I want to give YOU two things for my birthday, and ask you for one. May the odds be ever in your favor. Read more
Hey Friends!
So I asked a bunch of you what question you would want to ask your father, or something you appreciated about your pops. Ironically many of the responses came from people whose fathers had passed away.
I realized that sometimes it’s not until we have lost someone that we start to reflect on the things we really felt or wanted to say.
Why do we have weddings? Is Happily Ever After real? Is it possible to help our friends stay together forever?
Since it’s “wedding season” and this is a post I hold near and dear to my heart, I felt it was time to share this baby again. Last week, I was contacted by two different friends telling me of their friends whose marriages were Read more
Hey Joy,
I’m a Ph.D. student from Oxford and I really desire to be married, but I feel like my academic achievements intimidate men. Does this mean I just have to act like a dumb blonde in order to find a man?
– Lonely in the Library Read more
Recently my brother sent me a picture of Jackson, my 3-year-old nephew, photocopying one of his storybooks. My brother realized the reason he was doing this was because he had seen my brother making photocopies from one of his own books. Children watch and copy.
My friend, Tim, knows the patterns he lives out will be the standard his daughters will grow to expect from the future men in their lives. This is my favorite part about this post. As I think about my future sons, or even my friends’ children who are watching me, I hope the model of how I treat and speak about others is something worthy of being copied. Read more
Hey Joy,
Women [in westernized societies] are becoming more educated than men. How is that going to impact the future of marriages?
– Jonathan
Hi Friends!
Just in case you missed it, I’m going to start hanging out with ya’ll!
My father and I recently had our Google+ hangout sesh numero dos. My lovely mother couldn’t sit down to join us because she was busy filling Easter eggs… excuses excuses.
Hi Friends!
Aukelien van Abbema is someone who, unfortunately, I haven’t been able to meet. We do have mutual friends and similar hearts about relationships. The only difference is I’m in Portland, and she’s in Holland.
Should you find yourself in Holland and want to talk relationships, look up Aukelien. Should you just want to bike around and pick tulips, well I think she could help you out with that, too.
Hey Men (and ladies like me who can’t remember holidays besides Christmas and our own birthday),
Last night I overheard a conversation between my mother and brother about how Jeff Tweedy strengthened their relationship. If you don’t know who Mr. Tweedy is, he’s the lead singer of the band Wilco. If you don’t know who Wilco is, then you should probably change that fact.
I often speak about the power a daughter can have when writing a respect card to her father. So, a couple of years ago, I had my Mommacita share some ideas of how to write a simple, but meaningful, letter to your mom (that would be far more valuable than flowers).
“Do I even have time to date?”
– Joy (In my head)
Joy, Crazy, Darling,
“Do you think married people ha Read more
Heyyyy-ooo! Another lost video from the “What I Know Now” series I did awhile back. Oops. Guess I’m just swimming in so many videos that I lose track of them. I decided to continue The Illumination Project‘s theme of bringing in older, wiser counsel and ask my mom: How do I know this is the type of guy I should marry? Mama E explains a few Love and Respect principles that will guide you to your answer and help you make a check list to …
Hi Friendlings!
Guess what? I totally misplaced this video and the one coming up on Thursday. Remember when we did the “What I Know Now” series where I asked my parents a bunch of questions?
Well, here are the two that got misplaced. Oops! Sorry!
For guys who are asking themselves “how do I know?” about their significant other… make sure you tune in for this one!
Do men and women really process words differently?
“Joy, it’s not men vs. women, but just people who process and hear things differently.”
I don’t want to argue, I just want to share some enlightening tidbits I learned from asking a few good men what they would love women to know…
Hi Friendlings!
If you haven’t heard already, I’m going to start hanging out with ya’ll!
My father and I tested out Love and Respect Now’s first Google + hangout sesh while in Dallas for Dave Ramsey’s Smart Conference. I didn’t see my two dudes from Croatia this time, but had some great questions come in that we were able to answer.
Hey Friends!
Are any of you going through The Illumination Project right now? My hope is that it will create friendships that allow people to share their own stories and illumination moments. In session two, I share the story of how I did not end up getting marred…
Today, I wanted to share a story of someone who did get married. Emily’s story is a clear progression of the different ways we can hear from God, seek and listen to wise counsel and make decisions—even when our feelings are unclear.
Hi Joy,
After dating my boyfriend for a significant amount of time, he says he loves me and can’t imagine his life without me, but can’t find the words to say he wants to marry me.
I feel like this should be a no-brainer. Am I being crazy for wanting him to fish or cut bait, or do I need to respect his needs and timing?
Hi Joy,
I have a dude friend who I really respect and appreciate, but who often complains about how lonely he is and how “all women suck.” It’s really frustrating to hear over and over again, but I’m not sure how to approach him. If I confront him at all he gets defensive.
On one hand, I can understand that he’s coming from a place of hurt and pain. On the other hand, I hate to hear him putting females down and not taking responsibility for his own actions. I really want to be respectful towards him, but every attempt seems to fail! Helpppp!
Hi Joy,
For the first half of my marriage I hadn’t read the Love and Respect book.
Now, the book has completely transformed the way I treat my husband and has made our marriage so much better. He is a great father and very funny— I even feel I have more than I could ask for in some regards.
At the same time, he tends to struggle at meeting my needs emotionally.
To say Sarah Thebarge has had somewhat of an eventful life in her few short decades is an understatement.
From breast cancer to broken engagements, and hiding in closets with refugees, she’s someone who has had to push the pause button quite a few times to say, “Uh, God? What’s going on here?” (My paraphrase.)
Hi friendlings!
About three years ago, I posted my strengths finder personality profile and emphasized that we are constantly growing in different seasons of our lives.
I enjoyed this so much that I couldn’t resist to not post it again…I hope you will join me in analyzing where you are now in this season of your life.
You might think that Katelyn is guest posting today because she is the Managing Editor of Christianity Today magazine–or because of our mutual love of improv–but the reality is that it’s none of those things.
I paid her a whole lot of money.
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