Commemorating Accomplishments
Jay and Laura talk about the importance of commemorating accomplishments and achievements in your marriage, and family as well!
Committing for Life
Jay and Laura take a look at Jay’s parent’s 54 year anniversary that just passed and tell you how they’ve kept the flame burning for so long. And how you can too.
10 things it took me 50 years to learn!
I (Jay) hit the big FIVE – 0 Sunday…not rounds of golf but years on this earth…here’s TEN things I’ve learned:
1. Jesus, decide what you believe then live like you believe it.
2. Marriage, no greater joy on earth than to walk through life with your best friend.
3. Children, the greatest gift we’re given even on days we’re not so sure.
4. Parents, quit blaming them for your problems and remember how much they sacrificed for you.
5. Friends, the family we choose.
6. Health, don’t take it for granted and work hard to keep it.
7. Integrity, let your yes be yes and your no be no.
8. Work, labor at something you love and never work a day in your life.
9. Service, we’re on this earth to bless others so get to it.
10. Laughter, it truly is the best medicine.
I know it’s not much for 50 years but I’m a slow learner 
Blessings~
Jay
Surprising “survey” finds marriage is a priority amongst college students
Our son Torrey is a Junior at Central Michigan University and he recently relayed a story that took place in one of his classes. The Professor ran through an exercise designed to help everyone “get to know you better” Basically she listed around 20 items like: Find a cure for cancer, be a millionaire by age 30, be famous…etc. Each student could pick 3 items off the list then they had to “defend” why they picked those three.
One item on the list was “have a happy marriage”. Our son went on to explain that HE certainly picked that as one of his top three, but he didn’t believe many of the other students in his class would. Much to his surprise when nearly 90% of the class picked “have a happy marriage” as one of their top three from the list.
Torrey went on to say that there were two basic reasons given for picking “have a happy marriage”, they were:
1) My parents have a good marriage and I want one too.
2) My parents marriage is awful and I don’t want that.
The desire for a happy marriage is present, strong and unquenchable. The work it takes to make a happy marriage is what most people standing at the alter do not understand.
What were some of the reasons YOU chose to marry?
Send us your thoughts~
J&L
So THAT’S what my bed feels like!
Wow, in the last 3 weeks we’ve slept in our own bed a total of 4 NIGHTS! Ok so that is a little insane, but now we’re home and reflecting on the incredible experiences!
Our trip to Singapore was cut short by three days when we chose not to go to Japan as “tourists” so soon after the disaster there. As many of you have read, our time in Singapore was very special where we met fantastic people and truly had the time of our lives.
We then flew to Chennai, India and began a two day travel (via sleeper train) to the remote area in Southern India where our Compassion child James (ok he’s 18 now) resides. We spent an amazing two days with James that we will never forget! (A video recap will be coming later this week!!) India is an overwhelming country, we have no other words to describe it other than overwhelming. EVERY one of your senses is overwhelmed while there and as a result we came away very emotionally drained.
We took 4 different flights to get home and right before leaving India came down with a case of “Delhi Belly” which made travel ohhh soo fun! We got home late Sunday night, the kids did a great job of turning around and heading for school Monday morning while mom and dad spent the week recovering from what ever bug we digested in India!
This last Friday and Saturday nights were spent with wonderful people in Eden, NC and Piedmont, OK who hosted us for our Ultimate Date Night! Then Sunday we had a 4:15am wake up call so we could catch a plane for our Grove Park Inn Celebrate Your Marriage Conference. After circling Detroit Airport for an hour then being re-routed to Ft. Wayne for refueling, it became apparent that we were NOT going to make our 4pm show at the conference!
We were fortunate to have our good friend and true professional Ken Davis fill in for us at 4pm and we took his 8pm slot. Ken did a masterful job of challenging the couples to live “Fully Alive” and we shared our new program entitled “A Rock and Roll Guide to Love, Sex and Romance”. The comments and response from the couples was truly a blessing and as always a confirmation that we are changing lives with the message that marriage was meant to be a CELEBRATION!
Until next week~
Jay & Laura
