These are some of the best marriage and relationship books we have come across over the years. I’ve recommended them all, but we most often give away copies of Love & Respect.
Click on any of the pictures to learn more.
marriage
I Didn’t Marry My Best Friend
I didn’t marry
my best friend.
I married a girl
I really liked
Who really liked me.
We seemed to have complimentary values
and agreeable personalities.
There was an hormonal magnetism.
But despite what we might have said
at the time,
I didn’t know her
and she didn’t know me.
We jumped through the hoops
and tied off the knot
moving away from family and friends
Including our respective best friends.
We walked through the routine of life
punctuated by
the births of our children
the deaths of our parents
vehicle breakdowns
laughter and arguments
crisis and success.
But mostly the routine of life.
Then one day I woke up.
And there, lying right beside me,
was my best friend.
———————
For Kristin, on our 30th
Ziglar
Back in the late ’90’s I went to a daylong event full of motivational speakers, marketers, health experts and some famous but not so profound individuals who were clearly there for their name recognition, not their content.
However most of the speakers were outstanding.
One of the highlights of the day was Zig Ziglar. I’d heard about him, but didn’t know much about his story or personality.
In addition to his famous pump story which I’ve linked above, he shared insights into relationships, forgiveness, success and faith.
Advice to My Younger Self
Advice to My Younger Self Through the Years
or
A Few of the Many Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me
Advice to my 5 year old self: Get along with your brothers. They could become your best friends.
Advice to my 10 year old self: Be nice to those girls everyone thinks are ugly and torments. Many of them are smart and will be beautiful in a few years. And all of them are valuable.
Advice to my 15 year old self: See, I told you. They’re beautiful or fascinating or both. But it’s not too late to start being nice. Getting to know the people others avoid will give you relationships and perspectives few others have. And your kindness might just be a lifeline for them.
28 Years of Marital Bliss
Kristin and I just celebrated our 28th anniversary this past weekend. 
How did we celebrate? Well, we went camping. Actually, we went moose hunting and stayed in a tent while we were in the bush. Yes, I am a romantic genius. Actually, it is interesting how this unique anniversary trip happened. (And btw, no moose were harmed in the celebrating of our marriage. Not yet.)
For years I have hunted and Kristin has not. We have always, since our courting days, canoed; more recently we began hiking.
One day this spring we were out hiking along the Peace River and I asked Kristin if she was enjoying herself. She said she certainly was! I pointed out that what we were doing- walking along through the gullies along game trails, looking for signs of animals as well as the animals themselves- was exactly what we would be doing if we were hunting, though in the latter case we would be carrying guns. I said “If you enjoy this you will enjoy hunting.”
Shortly thereafter, of her own volition, Kristin took the CORE course which gave her the right to buy a hunting license. We applied for a shared moose hunt and were drawn; hence the anniversary celebration.