For the past week, the hottest topic on the internet and on television has been the saga of Tiger Woods.  He has traveled the road from a world-renown golfer and beloved by most everyone, to a vilified adulterer, scourged by anyone with a blog or webcam.  We have been bombarded by the media with 24/7 coverage of his house, his car, and his voicemails.

However, this is not just another blog about Tiger.  Here at NWA Healthy Marriages, we are more concerned with an alarming trend in our society.  Namely, that in the first sign of marital trouble, we immediately look towards divorce.  Take a look at the headline in this story about Tiger Woods:

Tiger Woods’ Wife Could Receive $300M in Divorce Settlement

We are not saying that his wife would be wrong in seeking divorce, nor that it would be right — we are just concerned about how divorce is considered a ho-hum reality of life and that the dollar signs are more important than the bond of marriage.

Should we flee our marriage at the first sign of trouble? (Let’s not be naive. The case of Tiger Woods and his “transgressions” may not be classified as the first sign of trouble.)  Or should we fight to make it better?  Here at NWA Healthy Marriages, we would encourage you to fight for your marriage, even in the face of “transgressions” and other problems.  Though the divorce may payoff in a large amount of dollars, it also may cost you in your quality of life.

We would love to hear what you think about this idea, so leave us a comment!

Have you noticed how the pace of life rapidly quickens around the Holiday season? It’s no wonder that most of us are already feeling the effects of our hectic pace with Thanksgiving right around the corner and Christmas close behind. As a result, the typical couple spends less than 4 minutes per day having meaningful conversation.

We (Greg and I) have become acutely aware of this issue in our own relationship. It has become very clear that there is much to be missed when traveling at such a fast pace and with little margin.

The definition for thankfulness is “to be aware of and to appreciate a benefit; to be grateful.” Can you imagine what we are missing by not intentionally having a spirit of thankfulness in our marriage? Take time this Thanksgiving and Christmas Season to display a grateful spirit to your spouse. Are you frustrated that your spouse didn’t cook dinner? Be thankful that you have a spouse to eat with—whether it is macaroni and cheese or a gourmet meal. Upset that the house is a wreck after you spent all day cleaning? Be grateful that there is someone else sharing your home with you.

There is no greater way to honor your spouse than to be grateful and thankful for their presence in your life. First and foremost, notice what your spouse does that you appreciate. Slow down and make a list of 10 things you appreciate about them and are grateful for. Then, express your list by sharing one item each day for the next 10 days.

Want to be an appreciated spouse? Be one!

Let’s play a word association game! I’m going to give you a word, and I want you to see what words first pop into your head. Ready?  Ok…here it is…

Fortune.

Here are some of the things that first came into my mind when I thought about it: Fortune 500. Money. Wheel of Fortune. Fortune cookie. Wealth. How many of you thought along the same lines as me?

Most of us generally associate the word fortune with accumulating material possessions and wealth. In fact, we even have a game show (Wheel of Fortune) that tells us so. Spin the wheel, win a fortune. But what is it in life that really makes us “fortunate”? Is it having a lot of money? Or are we missing the point?

Take some time to reflect on your own meaning of fortune. What are the things that make someone fortunate? What are the first things that pop into your head now? Family? Friends? Love? How many of you thought of your spouse?

Take a second and let your spouse know just how fortunate you are to have them. Make a call. Write a text. Shoot an e-mail. Remember that you can amass your own fortune without ever cashing a big check.

Lately it seems that there has been an absolute “onslaught” of October birthday celebrations. Whenever I (Erin) come upon that, it makes me curious as to what might have caused the increase in birthdays. Maybe you don’t think about things like this, but as someone who loves research, it fascinates me to know that there are months that actually have a higher rate than others because of optimal “seasonal conception conditions.” After doing a little research, I found that some studies report Autumn and Spring to be two of the perfect times to conceive a pregnancy. According to one analysis, the perfect time of year is when the sun shines for about 12 hours and the temperature hovers between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Interesting research, isn’t it? However, as we enter into the Autumn months, it provides the perfect temperature for many things besides conception….including relationships. What is the current “temperature” in your marriage? Is it warm and inviting, or is it cold and icy? Are you content with the current conditions? We are thrilled if you are happy with the current condition of your relationships, however, if you’re not, think of one thing YOU could do to “warm it up” in your relationship either physically or emotionally.

Although the temperature outside can influence the birth rate, what will you allow to influence your marriage? Be intentional during this ultimate “conception” time. Choose to grow a healthy marriage.

NWA Healthy Marriages wants to help you laugh, love and reconnect with your spouse.

Therefore, we are proud to present, Marriage Monologues.

We promise that Marriage Monologues is an event like you’ve never experienced before.

Every marriage gets stuck in one of these dead end conversations from time to time, right?

“Why can’t you help out more around the house?”
“You’re always nagging me!”

“You never want to talk!”
“You always want to talk.”

“I’m not your maid!”
“Quit criticizing me… nothing will ever be good enough for you!”

“You never appreciate me.”
“You don’t respect me.”

Sound familiar? This entertaining marriage event features a real life husband and wife acting team, called Acts of Renewal (see video below), who will not just “teach” you how to have a great marriage but will “demonstrate” through hilarious performances how to cultivate conversations that strengthen your relationship.

Don’t miss out on this exciting and fresh take on the real life of marriage!

Register Now

October 24, 2009 | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Embassy Suites / Rogers, Arkansas
$39.00 per Couple *
Doors open at 8:00 am

Register by October 20, 2009
Box Lunch available for purchase ($20 per couple)**

You and your spouse will receive a Couple Checkup assessment code to take online once you have registered for this event. Taking the Couple Checkup is a great first step in helping you build a stronger relationship and laying a solid foundation for your marriage.

* Conference fees are non-refundable
**Box Lunch Includes: 2 Box Lunches, Classic Deli Sandwich, Chips, Piece of Whole Fruit, Pickle, Brownie or Cookie, Bottled Water or Assorted Soda

Here is a video of what you can expect from Acts of Renewal