Intentional Today

I love quotes.

I like how with a just a few words, you can be motivated, inspired or challenged to look at marriage in a different way.

I’ve compiled a list of quotes and words from some of my favorite marriage bloggers (including yours truly ..and her husband! ), from comments left on my site and the general internet.

I hope you get inspired, motivated, challenged as you read them..and smile and chuckle along the way too.

As always I’d love for you to share this post with your friends! Let’s spread this positive message on love and marriage*.

First, a big welcome to all my new email subscribers! Last week I wrote a post that went viral on Facebook (well, viral to my not-so-big-blog) In about  24 hours, 10,000 folks had clicked over from Facebook alone to read the post.  Thanks for joining me here. I hope you get encouraged and equipped as you pursue a strong intentional happily-ever-after!

I’ve been reading Beth Moore’s book “The Beloved Disciple”.

Last week I was reading through a chapter on walking closer to God and I began to think about how, in working to get our attention, God will often strip us of distractions & clutter; and everything that has captured our attention and distracted us from the important thing.

My husband lost his job 4 months after our wedding.

I was also unemployed at that time, having left my employer of 7 years three months to our wedding.

For many months as newlyweds, we tried our hand at various things to make ends meet.

Some of you reading this have experienced (or are going through ) job loss or business struggles and  failure.

Financial challenges can be hard on early-weds because they have not laid a strong foundation for the marriage yet.

Sometimes back I told a friend of mine I don’t feel married.

“He’s such a buddy of mine, I don’t feel like we are husband and wife!”

At least that’s how I remember my words.

Later on that day, my friend would say something that left me in no doubt she misunderstood my words earlier.

Nothing offensive (at least not intentionally), just borderline disrespectful.

Giving permission

So I was getting ready to get riled up, when my words from our earlier conversation came back to me – how my buddy possibly  built up her thoughts from there.

As we start 2014, I want you to know how thankful I am for you.

Thank you for reading my words every week, for sharing in Comments (and lifting me and countless other readers), for  spreading the articles on social media and reaching out via email.

You are the most amazing community, I thank God for you!

Growth

The blog readership grew in 2013, especially after I started writing about marriage exclusively.

I have since refined and narrowed down my focus  to the early years of marriage. I want support and encourage other wives who, just like me, have once in a while found themselves mired in young marriage blues.