GPS to a Joyful Marriage

If it wasn’t for attraction and romance and love, men and women would probably never join together as one.   Let’s face it, without love, men and women aren’t the most compatible companions because we are such different creatures.   Yeah, yeah, some try to claim that they can have someone of the opposite sex as their best friend, nothing else, but I have my doubts.   I would bet there is love going on in at least one side of that relationship. (This information is concluded merely from the viewpoint of what I’ve observed in others and in myself before I married – and from many movies I’ve watched.) That initial “head-over-heals in love” is how God designed it to get us aliens together.   The love and romance is only the bait.   Unfortunately though, many marriages try to base their relationships on these feelings that were meant mostly to get our attention.  Those relationships don't last because people want to stay in that la-la land without applying the hard work it takes f

Before I get started, I want to take a moment to tell you about my book that will be out in the next few weeks.   It’s actually online already for a download ebook version.  I hope to have that link on my blog in the next few days. If you don’t know, my book is about the story of how I almost divorced my husband – for another man.  God intervened and saved my marriage.  I’m sure there will be lots more to come about it in the future.  Check out my new website - www.sandeelester.com for more information. Thanks for taking the time to read that brief commercial break.  I hope I don’t bore you too much with news of my book – I’m a bit excited about it.  I’ve waited a LONG time for this!  On with my article. In case you haven’t noticed, men are very different creatures than women.  I know I’ve written about this a lot, but I’m continually reminded of this little tidbit.  I truly believe that one of the most important factors in a successful marriage is realizing this, neve

Vacation time is always an anticipated adventure that I can hardly wait to get out the door and begin.   My favorite vacations are in our motor home, and they are usually spent visiting family that I don’t get to see enough.   I enjoy it so much that returning home is something I don’t always look forward to.   I know it’s a return back to reality. We (especially us women) tend to ride on this rollercoaster ride called life, jumping from highs to lows at the flicker of an eye.   We rarely stand on that even keeled middle ground for very long.   Reality has a way of influencing our emotions, and we have to constantly be on guard. If we’re not careful, our times in the valley (our lows) may send us in a tail spin that turns us away from what’s really important - God and our spouse. Our relationships with God and with our spouses can often feel like a rollercoaster ride.   One day we’re high as a kite on love (with God and/or our spouse), and the next day, we may wonder wh

Happy Independence Day!   Today we celebrate our independence from Great Britain, to begin a new country that would stand as one nation under God.   Our forefathers left Europe so they could have religious freedom. John Adams, one of the signers of the declaration, wrote a letter to his wife telling her about the significance of this day.   In it he wrote: "It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. ” I believe it should be a day that we count our blessings.   We have been a great nation, the land of the free, where countless people from other countries have fled to so they could share in that freedom.   This nation was built “under God”, and I believe our current problems are a result of turning away from Him.   Money and material things have become the gods of this country. We are in an economic predicament in this great country that came about by greed.   Along with the financial problems, we ha