People often enter into marriage armed with weapons of mass destruction. (We also possess tools to help our marriages flourish. Read about them in 4 Tools for a Happy Marriage.) These weapons will sink your marriage if you do not disarm them. Unfortunately, many people do not know the potential danger of these weapons. Many...

Grace Honor

October 19, 2015

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4 Tools for a Happy Marriage

by John Salmon

Did you know you possess a “mini-toolkit” for building a happy marriage? You received it free of charge a long time ago. The tools in this kit may have sat dormant for years, but each one can help your marriage grow. When you start to effectively use these tools, you will build years of security,...

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Grace Honor

blessing forgiveness intimacy marriage respect spouse

September 19, 2015

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The Wisdom of Annie

by John Salmon

Remember Annie, the incurable optimist who looked toward a better tomorrow and gleefully sang “You’re never fully dressed without a smile”? Well, she’s right. We need to put on a smile before we greet our families. There is a magic in your smile that will brighten your spouse’s day and your children’s lives. Your smile...

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Celebration Grace

family intimacy fun happiness intimacy listen

September 12, 2015

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The Mighty Power of Kindness for Families

by John Salmon

In this time we call our own and in a home very near to our hearts, there rages an epic battle for the families we call our own. This battle rages between those principalities that wield great power in their efforts to tear the family apart and those in the resistance who quietly, on a...

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Celebration Grace Honor

family intimacy intimacy kindness support

August 29, 2015

The Power of Sorry

by John Salmon

“Sorry” is an important word for a strong family. We all make mistakes. We all say and do things, accidentally or intentionally, that hurt other family members from time to time. Sorry helps bring restoration. I came across a quote that offers a tremendous summary of saying “sorry.” It not only shows how saying sorry...

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Grace

apology family intimacy family relationships intimacy

July 25, 2015

Hard Words for a Strong Family Bond

by John Salmon

Some things are difficult to say. They leave us vulnerable and at the mercy of the other person. These same phrases, however, are often the statements most necessary to preserve and strengthen our relationships with our spouses, children, and parents. These difficult statements are actually treasures of the heart that we protect with great caution....

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Grace Honor

apology emotional health family intimacy intimacy power of words

July 11, 2015

Are You a Straight “A” Family?

by John Salmon

Do you want to have a family filled with celebration and joyful intimacy? Start by becoming a straight “A” family. I’m not talking about grades. I’m talking about attitude. A truly happy and healthy family exhibits four “A’s” in their attitude: Acceptance, Admiration, Appreciation, and Accountability. Don’t jump to any conclusions about your standing in...

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Grace Honor

acceptance accountability admiration appreciation consequences discipline family intimacy value

June 29, 2015

The Paradox of Happy Families

by John Salmon

It seems paradoxical, even counterintuitive but it’s true; happiness is fleeting when we pursue it. The more we try to make ourselves happy, the more it eludes us. Paradoxically, we find ourselves happy when we forget about ourselves and reach out to help another. In other words, to truly experience happiness a person has to...

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Celebration Grace

compassion family fun night giving kindness politeness volunteering

May 3, 2015

We Have a New Cat…

by John Salmon

My family just got a new kitten. My wife loves kittens so we have had a cat (or two) most of our married life. My daughters also love kittens. They laugh, giggle, “ooh,” and “aww” as the cats play or snuggle up. I don’t tell them, but I kind of like cats too. I don’t...

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Celebration Grace

chores comfort compassion emotions family intimacy fun play responsibility

April 13, 2015

The Family That Laughs Together…

by John Salmon

My family loves to laugh. Just last Friday we were walking back to the car after eating dinner at a local fish fry when my daughter said something that struck her older sister’s funny bone. She started laughing. She laughed so hard we had to stop walking to allow her to wipe tears of laughter...

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Celebration Grace

emotions family intimacy fun laugh memories safety security

Family by God's Design

Family by God's Design

Family by God's Design

4 Marital Weapons of Mass Destruction

4 Tools for a Happy Marriage

The Wisdom of Annie

The Mighty Power of Kindness for Families

The Power of Sorry

Hard Words for a Strong Family Bond

Are You a Straight “A” Family?

The Paradox of Happy Families

We Have a New Cat…

The Family That Laughs Together…