Category: Expectations

• 7 Tips for Cleaning Up a Boring Sex Life in Marriage

  

  Today I’m thrilled to have author and marriage blogger Sheila Gregoire as my guest in the “Spring Clean Your Marriage” series. See her bio below to find out more about her, as well as where to connect with her on social media.  We’ve all been there. Whether you are in a hectic season of life,…

  BethSteffaniak

  May 5, 2019

  Acceptance, Affection, Alienation, Anger, Attraction, Bonding, Change, Choices, Communication, Connection, Discouragement, Encouragement, Expectations, False Beliefs, Friendship, Intimacy, Marriage, Marriage Spark, Negative Self-Talk, Passion, Positive Focus, Priorities, Realistic Expectations, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Sex & Sexuality, Sex-Drive, Spring Clean Your Marriage, Truth

  Boring Sex, Expectations, Friendship in Marriage, Sex, Sex in Marriage, Sex-Drive, Sexual Attraction, Sexual Connection, Sexual Intimacy, Truth

• Book Review and Giveaway – Doing Life with Your Adult Children

  

  My husband and I now have an empty-nest and are no longer expected to parent our adult children. Correction: we’re no longer “welcome” to parent them! 😉 So what’s an older mom to do? Sign up for senior aerobics? Spend her time at the mall, grieving away her sorrows with purchases-a-plenty? Being a mom is…

  BethSteffaniak

  March 24, 2019

  About Me, Acceptance, Alienation, Boundaries, Change, Choices, Communication, Conflict, Connection, Discouragement, Empty-nest, Encouragement, Expectations, Identity, In-Laws, Marriage, Messy Mom’s and Dad’s, Motherhood, Parenthood, Perseverance, Positive Focus, Realistic Expectations, Respect

  Adult Child, Adult Children, Boundaries, Communication, Empty-nest, Parenting, Respect

• Are You a More Perfectionistic or Realistic Spouse? Take the Quiz!

  

  My husband and I are both perfectionists—meaning we have double trouble when it comes to being realistic in our marriage. No wonder we had a very messy start and still dip into messy moments more often than I’d like to admit! 😉 And maybe, if you’re a perfectionist like us, you chant these words to…

  BethSteffaniak

  March 17, 2019

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Apologies, Attitude, Boundaries, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Connection, Criticism, Desires, Discouragement, Encouragement, Expectations, Failure, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Grace, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Love of God, Marriage, Nagging, Patience, Perfectionism, Personality, Positive Focus, Prayer, Realistic Expectations, Resentments, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Spouse I Want to Be Series, Support, Surrender, Unity, Wounds

  Acceptance, Limitations, Love of God, Perfectionism, Perfectionistic Spouse, Realistic Expectations, Realistic Spouse, Trust in God

• Are You More of a Humble Spouse or Insecure Spouse? Take the Quiz!

  

  I’ve always wanted to become and be known as a humble spouse. But for the life of me I can’t seem to grasp this elusive quality. It feels very much like chasing after a butterfly. The more I try to capture it, the faster it flits away beyond my grasp. Part of my problem stems…

  BethSteffaniak

  March 10, 2019

  Acceptance, Anger, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Control, Encouragement, Entitlement, Expectations, Faith in God, Fear, Forgiveness, Grace, Humility, Insecurity, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Perseverance, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Pride, Resentments, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Spouse I Want to Be Series, Vulnerability

  Bible Verses, Confess to Spouse, Faith in God, Humble Spouse, Humility, Persevere, Perspective, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

• Check out My Book Review and Giveaway of The Marriage Knot!

  

  I’ll be honest. Most marriage books do not hold my interest, unless they point me back to Christ in some form or fashion. So, I’m happy to say that the book I want to review and giveaway today does exactly that! It anchors the reader in the truths of Scripture—challenging us to live out the…

  BethSteffaniak

  March 3, 2019

  Acceptance, Affairs, Affection, Betrayal, Bonding, Book Review, Boundaries, Brokenness, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conflict, Confrontation, Counseling, Discouragement, Divorce, Encouragement, Expectations, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Give-Away, God’s Redemption, Intimacy, Love of God, Marriage, Marriage Mistakes, Marriage Spark, Perseverance, Positive Focus, Prayer, Redemption, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Trauma, Trials

  Affair, Book Review, Faithfulness, God’s Redemption, Gospel-driven Marriage, Infidelity, Love of God, Marriage Mistakes, The Marriage Knot

• 6 Ways to Apply God’s Word When Your Spouse Hurts You

  

  God’s word is like a salve that, when applied to the wounds and tension-filled moments we experience in marriage, soothes and heals. But just how do we apply God’s word when hurts come in life and marriage? Consider this day in the life of my marriage … I woke up to my husband’s cheerful greeting…

  BethSteffaniak

  January 19, 2019

  21 Days of Love Series, Acceptance, Affirmation, Anger, Attitude, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Blaming, Boundaries, Choices, Christ-Centered, Comfort, Communication, Conflict, Connection, Discouragement, Emotions, Enabling, Encouragement, Expectations, Faith in God, Grace, Love of God, Marriage, Pain, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Proactive, Realistic Expectations, Relief, Resentments, Respect, Responsibility, Self-sacrifice, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Support, Trials, Vulnerability, Wounds

  Acceptance, Affirmation, Apply God’s Word, Bible Verses, Boundaries, God’s Truth, Grace, Marriage Conflicts, Marriage Hurts, Neglect, Spiritual Practices

• How Can I Honor My Spouse When He Asks Me to Sin?

  

  Recently, I shared a post on how I choose to submit to my husband. My article prompted one reader to ask me to write on how to honor our husband’s, even when they ask us to sin. That’s quite the challenging maze to successfully navigate through to the other side! But it’s so very important…

  BethSteffaniak

  December 2, 2018

  Abuse, Accountability, Anger, Attitude, Authenticity, Blaming, Boundaries, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conflict, Confrontation, Deception, Expectations, Faith in God, Grace, Marriage, Negotiation, Openness, Patience, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Respect, Responsibility, Self-awareness, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Submission, Surrender, Truth

  Accountability, Bible, Guard Heart, Guard Marriage, Honor Spouse, Prayer, Respect Spouse, Sin of Spouse, Spiritual Encouragement, Spiritual Practices, Submit to Spouse

• What Is The MOST Costly Financial Mistake You Can Make?

  

  I’m excited and honored to have The Money Couple, Scott and Bethany Palmer, as my guests—bringing their financial expertise to my most recent blog series. I hope you’ll make them feel welcome by commenting, sharing and pinning all over the place! Check out their bio below!  Do you and your spouse ever disagree about money?…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 4, 2018

  Acceptance, Accountability, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Boundaries, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Differences, Discouragement, Encouragement, Expectations, Marriage Mistakes, Money Matters, Negotiation, Personality, Positive Focus, Priorities, Realistic Expectations, Respect, Self-awareness

  Communication, Confession, Financial Mistakes, Honesty in Marriage, Money Matters, Personality Differences, Priorities, Realistic Expectations

• Blended Families – Biblical Love in Action

  

  Today I’m excited to introduce you to blogger Donna Reidland, who is my guest today and is sharing about how to biblically navigate a blended family. Read her bio below to find more about her and be sure to make her feel welcome by sharing, commenting and pinning her post to all your favorite spots!…

  BethSteffaniak

  October 21, 2018

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Blended Family, Boundaries, Change, Christ-Centered, Commitment, Differences, Discouragement, Empathy, Encouragement, Expectations, Faith in God, Grief, Lessons Learned in Marriage, Love, Love of God, Marriage, Parenthood, Positive Focus, Prayer, Realistic Expectations, Remarriage, Self-sacrifice, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices

  Blended Family, Commitment, Love of God, Parenting, Remarriage, Trust God, Wisdom

• 4 Reasons to Make Love Even When Angry at Your Husband

  

  It was the eve of our one-year wedding anniversary, and my husband and I had one of our biggest fights. We went to bed angry. Rather, he went to bed, and I went to the couch. I wept through most of the night, mourning the death of the marriage of my dreams. Sprawled on the…

  BethSteffaniak

  October 14, 2018

  Acceptance, Affection, Alienation, Anger, Attitude, Avoidance, Bonding, Choices, Christ-Centered, Commitment, Conflict, Connection, Desires, Differences, Discouragement, Encouragement, Expectations, Faith in God, Gender Differences, God’s Redemption, Intimacy, Lessons Learned in Marriage, Love, Marriage, Newlywed, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Priorities, Redemption, Resentments, Responsibility, Self-awareness, Self-deception, Self-Protection, Self-Reflection, Self-sacrifice, Sex & Sexuality, Sex-Drive, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Surrender, Withdrawal

  Anger, Conflict in Marriage, Love for Mate, Prayer, Sacrifice, Sex in Marriage, Sexual Connection, Sexual Intimacy