marriage Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Walking in Grace and Beauty

A Healthy Marriage…Celebrate your Differences!

June 17, 2011 By Cyndi 11 Comments

Good morning! Well I’m a day late……yesterday got really busy and I forgot to post. Oops!

Today I wanted to share about celebrating your differences in marriage.

One of the things we hear a lot of married couples say is “we have nothing in common!”

I laugh as I write that because Wayne and I are complete opposites too.

Here are some pictures of the things my preacher husband loves to do……………….

I often feel like singing the theme song to Green Acres.

You’ve heard it right?

{Wayne} Green acres is the place for me.
Farm livin’ is the life for me.
Land spreadin’ out so far and wide
Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside.

{Cyndi} New York is where I’d rather stay.
I get allergic smelling hay.
I just adore a penthouse view.
Dah-ling I love you but give me Park Avenue.

Okay I don’t really want to live in New York but I definitely want to be close to a Mall and I am allergic to hay.

We laugh all the time about how different we are!

But I think it makes are marriage interesting.

Wayne and I give and take.

I go fishing with him (well I go, I don’t actually fish, I take a good book)

and he “acts” interested in all my decorating ideas and he’ll even go shopping with me.

It works for us!!

I think it would be boring if we were just alike.

So today, celebrate your differences rather than trying to change them.

Then try to think of some things you do have in common.

Wayne and I often remind ourselves that………………..

We both love Jesus and have a passion for ministry.

We love spending time with our families and we’re both extroverts and love to be around people.

We also love vacations, movies, music and most importantly we love to be together!

Genesis 2:18 says, The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Marriage is s gift from God and we honor Him by celebrating our Marriage!

Linked to:

Homemaker By Choice

Walking in His Grace,

Filed Under: Marriage Tagged With: differences, faith, marriage

Priorities of a Healthy Marriage………..

June 14, 2011 By Cyndi 3 Comments

Yesterday I shared with you my new chapter in life….it’s Empty Nest.

Many of you may already be there and some of you are probably right in the thick of raising children

and can’t even imagine having any time alone with your spouse.

Whatever stage of marriage you’re in, your marriage is important and you need to make it a priority.

After 20 years of ministering along side my husband to couples and leading numerous conferences

on marriage I have realized we all have to work at our marriages.

Wayne and I have certainly had some struggles

but one thing we both know is that we are committed to each other.

Several years ago we led a conference on Priorities of a Healthy Marriage.

We used material we had read from Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott.

Wayne and I have shared these priorities with couples

and have also used them in our own marriage.

One thing we have realized; Satan wants more than anything to destroy marriages.

John 10:10a says, “The thief comes to steal and to kill and to destroy.”

Nothing would make him happier than to destroy

your marriage and to destroy my marriage.

It’s up to us to protect them.

The first thing we must do to keep our marriage healthy is to put Christ first.

Many people today try to have a healthy marriage without Him

but dare I say more than ever, we need Him.

I’m not talking about going to church every once in a while

but I’m talking about a real relationship with the One who created marriage. (Genesis 2:20-25)

My husband often uses the illustration of a

triangle…………………God

Husband Wife

The closer the husband and wife get to God the closer they become to each other.

(I know some of you may be married to a spouse who doesn’t desire a relationship with Christ

or think it’s important so let me encourage you to pray.

I have seen many wives who have patiently prayed for their spouses

and they are now serving the Lord faithfully.)

Wayne and I hold each other accountable

and we encourage each other in our walk with Christ.

We both know how important it is to have a marriage grounded in God’s word.

This is the most important priority and ultimately the most fulfilling way to a strong marriage.

Join me tomorrow as I share another way Wayne and I have kept our marriage healthy.

Linked to:

Walking in His Grace,

Filed Under: Marriage Tagged With: christ, family, marriage, relationships

I’m Beginning a New Chapter!

June 14, 2011 By Cyndi 6 Comments

I have often thought I should have titled my blog Surviving Change because the last few years have been filled with change.

Let me remind you of some of the changes……….

~we moved to a new town in 2009 (My husband was called to Pastor a church in this area)

~I lost my Mom to cancer the same year

~My Dad moved in with us

~Our son graduated college and started law school

~My daughter got engaged and then married in 2010

~Kitty, our foreign exchange student came to live with us in Sept. 2010

~My daughter found out she is expecting and is due in Sept. 2011

~Kitty recently left us and went back home to France

~My Dad met Janet and married her this past weekend

So now I begin the next chapter and change in my life…….

Empty Nest!

For the first time in our married life Wayne and I are alone.

You see when Wayne and I married we had children. You can go here to see how that happened.

Everyone is asking us how we’re going to handle this and what we’re going to do.

Here’s the thing………it is going to be different, there’s no doubt about that.

But thankfully we love each other and we’ve worked hard on keeping our marriage a priority.

Marriage is not easy and we have had difficult seasons (doesn’t everyone?) but we’re committed to each other.

So how do I know we can do this?

Join me tomorrow and I’ll share with you what we’ve done to keep our marriage a priority.

Walking in His Grace,

Filed Under: Beauty For The Heart, Marriage Tagged With: change, faith, marriage

My Dad Is Getting Married……

June 10, 2011 By Cyndi 26 Comments

My mind keeps drifting back to June 2009.

Mom and Dad went on vacation with us to Charleston, South Carolina.

June 2009

Mom was not feeling well and was seeing a doctor for what she thought was Atrial Fibrillation.

(Two months after this picture was taken we found out Mom had Stage 4 Gastric Cancer)

None of us had any idea that the next few months were going to be some of the most difficult of our lives.

My sister and I were talking yesterday about how sometimes it already seems like a lifetime ago.

So many things have happened in our family since she passed away.

There are still no words to tell you how much we miss our Mom.

She is the heartbeat behind each of us.

She taught us to love big, to laugh a lot, and to always go after your dreams and she was always cheering us on!

But most importantly she introduced each of us to Jesus and He was her passion.

Mom wanted each of us to find a place within the body of Christ to serve and she certainly led by example.

But here we are June 2011……..

Our precious Dad will marry Janet on Saturday. It’s hard to believe how quickly life can change.

I could not have imagined in June of 2009 that I would be watching my Dad remarry in 2011.

I’m so thankful we don’t know our future, but so glad I know the one who holds my future (John 3:16).

In the midst of all we’ve been through I have to say I’m thankful.

Thankful for God’s grace, for His faithfulness, for His protection and for His love.

Janet is not our Mom and she’s not trying to be our Mom.

But she truly is a “blessing” to our family.

You see it is going to take someone very special to love all of us!

We are a crazy, passionate, loud, loving, large family.

My family with our adopted daughter from France and a baby on the way (my daughter Courtney is pregnant)

My sister’s family….need I say more…..four rambunctious but precious boys!

Then there’s my brother’s family….more rambunctious boys and a sweet sweet daughter.

Oh my I hope Janet knows what she’s getting herself into!

Saturday will be a joyous occasion and I’m so glad Dad has found a companion. He deserves to be happy.

I have come to a place where I know, no matter what happens, Mom will always be a part of our lives.

I see her in each of us and we are each who we are today because of Mom.

She is gone from us now but one day (thank you Lord) I will see her again!

Thanks for letting me share my heart and I pray you have a wonderful weekend!

Walking in His Grace,

Filed Under: Beauty For The Heart, Family, Mom Tagged With: faith, family, marriage, Mom

Some Blogs I Love

March 21, 2011 By Cyndi 1 Comment

The weekend is almost over (sniff, sniff).

I took a few days and got away with my hubby.

This was after I babysat for my sister while she took a day to go shopping with her long lost sister, Sarah over at Thrifty Decor Chick.

Who else did you think was babysitting for her while she was shopping?

Her REAL NOT LONG LOST sister.

I haven’t been on my computer a lot this weekend but I’ve been visiting a few blogs and I wanted to share them with you.

I’m on an organizing kick lately so I’m really enjoying

I have just started reading Becky’s blog but have loved her organizing tips! So be sure to check her out.

I also enjoyed reading Michael Hyatt’s post on marriage. You can find it here.

Michael is the Chairman and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers.

He has great posts that are very informative.

Kristen has recently started a blog called

I’m seriously wanting to re-paint my entire house!

I love all the paint colors and the rooms she is showcasing.

It’s just beautiful!!

So make sure you take a look around, I think you’ll love it too!

I hope you have an amazing Monday and you find blessings throughout your day!!

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you; not as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Walking in His Grace,