Section 6 - Chapters 16, 17, & 18

Your Husband Needs You To Connect With Him Relationally
We will also be discussing these chapters this week. Remembering to relate to our husbands as a real person and a friend, not just a husband, is so important. One dimensional relationships are dull, aren't you glad we can have so much more?!?

Section 5 - Chapters 13, 14, & 15

Your Husband Needs You To Engage Him Intellectually
Ok, so I got really behind with updating this blog. I'm going to try to finish strong! This week we are going to be talking about how we can engage our husbands intellectually. We'll be talking about hinting, love jars, leaky faucets, and dreams for the future.

Chapter 11 - Don't Clip His Wings

We really do have a lot of influence on our husbands and this chapter was a good reminder of that. We can so easily build them up or tear them down. I really liked the relationship builder, too. Asking our husbands to share their dreams can be a huge step in knowing their hearts. This could be really fun, try to discover some of the small or big dreams that your husband has. Maybe something they've always wanted to try, or someplace they've always wanted to go. Maybe you can help make one of his dreams come true!

I tried to paraphrase the four steps to helping, not hurting, our husbands so they'd be easier to remember. Here's my attempt:
1. Listen to him with respect
2. Show gratitude to him
3. Make your pride in him obvious
4. Pray for him

Chapter 10 - Your Provider: Puffed Up Or Pooped Out

This chapter was somewhat challenging for me. We have always been pretty happy and content with our circumstances and, because we have always worked together, I usually think more of "we as provider" then of "Jeff as provider" - but maybe I should think of Jeff that way. He does provide - so many things and in so many ways. This week, I'm going to try to show more appreciation for Jeff's intelligence, hard work, financial abilities and gift for teaching. I'm also going to try to show more gratitude (not just contentment) for the life we have.

WEEK 4: APPRECIATE HIM VOCATIONALLY

Chapter 6 - Boys Will Be Boys

We definitely have a group of masculine men in our class. Jeff loves to work outside, cut trees, run chainsaws, mow, work cattle, etc. He even does the whole "manly grunting" thing once he's all dirty and sweaty. It's great, no really - aren't you glad your husbands are manly? What are some "manly" things your husbands do that you can appreciate and encourage?

Chapter 5 - Touching the Heart of Your Tender Warrior

It is easy to get so comfortable with the strength our husbands bring to our marriages and the safety and protection they provide that we sometimes forget they need reassurance, too. I think it is even easier to forget how hurtful our words can be, though. We really do have to be careful with the power our words have. Try the Relationship Builder idea this week, use words to build up your husband!