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Random Acts of Toilet Paper

Having recently established that certain bathroom habits can be harmful to marriage, I left some people feeling that the bathroom was downright hazardous. But it’s not the bathroom itself, it’s the bathroom behavior we need to look at (not literally). Toilet seat left up? Bad behavior. Cracking your spouse up  with your artistic toilet paper...

5 More Simple Ways to Keep Your Marriage Strong

Ladies’ Home Journal Magazine was onto something when they touted the importance of “The Little Meaningful Things Happily Married Couples Do.” Admittedly, as soon as I got the magazine I raced past what other couples were doing and checked to see if Steve and I were in the mix. But after I happily scoped out...

Marriage, Ladies’ Home Journal, and the Simple Things That Matter

In January, Ladies’ Home Journal Magazine (LHJ) asked what little things “you and your spouse do for each other” that make the marriage special. My husband and I had fun putting together our list to send in, reminding each other of little things the other had done that made us smile. When we heard back...

Marriage – 5 Pearls of Wisdom

Well, more from Cutie Cooper dishing up marriage talk in today’s Friday Five.* Tell us what you really think, Cutie! On opinions: The time for having singularly strong opinions is when you are a single person. Once you choose to be one-half of a pair, you must compromise, so that no one person gets what...

Marriage – 73 Years of Wisdom

Barbara “Cutie” Cooper knows a little something about marriage – as well she should after being married for 73 years! With the help of her granddaughters,  she tells her story in Fall in Love for Life – Inspiration from a 73-Year Marriage. And what a fun story it is! Full of humor, wisdom, tips for...

Marriage: The Power of Two
Marriage: The Power of Two

Do you know what a ‘Pony Pull’ is? I had never heard of it until our pastor mentioned it in a sermon last Sunday. The description reminded me of a truism in marriage. A pony pulling contest can be seen at fairs and festivals in towns like Perry, Oklahoma and Shipshewana, Indiana. There are rules...

You Complete Me – and Other Relationship Drivel

The expectation that one should have a relationship where they can utter – or have someone say passionately to them – the cliche Hollywood line “You Complete Me” has been a disservice to many a relationship. No human being can complete another. Complement, love, enhance, motivate, inspire, elevate, and bring out the best in them...

Getting Personal

Two things very important to me (that I love talking about) are keeping marriage fresh and writing. Before I talk to you briefly about my writing, first up is a casual interview Stephanie Clinton did with me for her vlog at Hugs, Kisses and Friends Chat Show about how not to get divorced. (If you...

May is Date Your Mate Month!

There are so many celebrations and weird ‘holidays’ in May, I was having trouble deciding which one to write about. When I came across Dennis Spielman’s Uncovering Oklahoma’s 2014 Date Idea Book, I knew that International Tuba Day (first Friday in May), Lumpy Rug Day (May 3) and No Socks Day (May 8) weren’t going...

5 Unique Ways to Share a Compliment

Hopefully The Power of a Compliment was a helpful reminder to celebrate your spouse with words of praise. Telling them directly is one great way to do it. But it’s not the only way. Want something a little more creative? Try one (or more!) of the five options below! 1. Answer the question. When Facebook...

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