Fight the Good Fight

by | Feb 22, 2025 | let's chat

SAT AM COFFEE CHAT

An abuse history and living in a fallen world have given me a propensity for anxiety and fear.

It’s been the work of a lifetime to combat that. I’m rather hacked off at the enemy for his plans to make my life small through fear, and I battle it in any way I can.

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

Recently, a good friend of mine has been teaching a class on dealing with anxiety. It’s pretty amazing and it’s built around this book – The Anxiety Opportunity by Curtis Chang. (hint: Don’t stuff or deny anxiety, run to Jesus with it!)

THE ANXIETY OPPORTUNITY BOOK

I share this so y’all can pick up a copy and add it to your arsenal of fear-fighting tools.

Battle on in His name!

Frost heave is a real thing. The other morning we work up to a broken window. Our back porch railing got pushed up into our bedroom window and cracked a pane.

SNOWY VIEW FROM NEW WINDOW

Thankfully, our son (who works in construction) had some extra windows. He and Paul spent the day replacing the window and redesigning the porch structure so that won’t happen again. Now we’re all toasty warm with a snowy view.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credits – The Anxiety Opportunity book courtesy of © Amazon, snowy view from new window © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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Seasons Change

by | Feb 21, 2025 | conclusions

MY THOUGHTS

SPOUSES ARE #1 –  (Day 6 of 6)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

How did your week go? What did you learn? Were you able to bless your spouse?

HAPPY COUPLE

Learning and practicing is an ongoing work for me. A part of it is that my spouse changes and grows over time. The other part is that I’m changing and growing too. 🙂

Some of the basics remain, like my husband’s love language is words of affirmation and he will forever be looking for adventure, but how that plays out is expressed differently as the seasons of life change.

So how I love on him and give him priority changes a bit as the seasons of life change as well.

Have a great weekend!

I sat down and had a serious talk with Tilly to see if she would remain on the blog when it moves to new management.

TILLY THINKING ABOUT IT

She said she would think about it. (I’m pretty sure she is holding out for treats in her contract.)

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credits – happy couple © zakiroff / Adobe Stock, Tilly thinking about it © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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What Will You Do Today?

by | Feb 20, 2025 | second try

SECOND TRY

SPOUSES ARE #1 –  (Day 5 of 6)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

Let’s take another day for practice.

CHANGE QUOTE ON NAPKIN

What did you learn over the last few days?

What could you do differently? More of? What makes your spouse feel special?

Practice. Practice. Practice.

I always like to try new things in the garden each year. Last year we grew some sweet dumpling squash and we finally tried one with our meal (with butter and brown sugar).

SWEET DUMPLING SQUASH

Sadly, it wasn’t that great. I think I like the acorn squash better. What squash do y’all like?

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credits – change quote on napkin ©  MarekPhotoDesign / Adobe Stock, sweet dumpling squash © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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Rethink Your Priorities

by | Feb 19, 2025 | road blocks

WHAT'S STOPPING YOU?

SPOUSES ARE #1 (Day 4 of 6)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

As you looked for ways to give your spouse importance, where did you struggle?

Certainly, demanding life seasons can interfere some. Babies that wake you several times in the night can leave you exhausted with little time and energy for others. Totally understand. Do what you reasonably can and assure each other that it is just a season.

It’s hard to spend time with your spouse or do loving acts when you are angry with them. Totally get it. The point here is to own it, work to remedy the problems, so you can more easily put your spouse in the #1 spot.

DISTRACTED COUPLE

Are you distracted by busyness? Without really thinking it through, it’s easy to adopt a very busy lifestyle with little time for your spouse. Rethink your priorities and time use to create a space for them. (Take time off and put your phones down now and then.)

Where and how else did you struggle?

A Tilly picture from the archive.

TILLY

The girl really knows how to relax.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credits – distracted couple © Aleksej / Adobe Stock, Tilly © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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Make Them Smile

by | Feb 18, 2025 | first try

GIVE IT A TRY

SPOUSES ARE #1  (Day 3 of 6)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

Take the day and look for ways to tell your spouse they’re your #1 person.

NUMBER ONE

Ask them how you can pray for their day. Buy them something you know they will love (chocolate works). Invite them to join you doing something they enjoy. Ask their opinion. Listen well when they speak. Lots of hugs and kisses (and more).

Make your spouse smile today.

I can’t figure out whether this is boredom or just bad taste.

TILLY SAMPLING A RICE CAKE

Tilly sampled my rice cake. She actually liked it. Now I have to hide them.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credits – pic © Marcel Eberle / Unsplash, Tillly sampling a rice cake © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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Who’s Your Number One?

by | Feb 17, 2025 | self-examination

SELF-EXAMINATION

SPOUSES ARE #1  (Day 2 of 6)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

In the scope of your marriage, what position have you given your spouse?

Are you intentional about spending time with them?

LOVING COUPLE

Do you give place to what they value (even if you think it’s a bit silly)?

Do you speak kindly and respectfully about them (even when they are not present)?

When you have good news, is your spouse the person you are most excited to share it with?

Do you know their dreams, their hopes, their desires?

Take the day and let God talk to you about the value you give your spouse and your marriage.

I was scrolling through the photos on my phone (boy howdy, do I need to do a cleanup) and came across this picture of Tilly as a kitten.

TILLY AS A KITTEN

She was taking a nap on one of my grandsons (face blurred for his privacy). This may be my only baby picture of her.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credits – loving couple © Alisa Dyson / Pixabay, Tilly as a kitten © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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