Building Family Life

Get tools for renovating your relational space in this new book from Gary Chapman and Shannon Warden.

Do you feel overwhelmed and completely unprepared for marriage? Are you worried about failing in your marriage, second-guessing your decision to even get married, or considering a divorce? Here's how to adjust to married life, build a strong foundation, and survive your first year of marriage - EVEN if you don’t know where to start.

Over the last 60 years, women's lives have transformed from generation to generation. Without a template to follow, women make important decisions blindly, groping for a way forward, winging it, and hoping it all works out. Whether you're deciding if you should pass up a promotion in favor of more flex time, planning when to get pregnant, or wondering what the ramifications are of being the only person in your house who ever unloads the dishwasher, The Ambition Decisions is a guide to the changes that may seem arbitrary but are life defining, by women who've been there.

2012 was the hardest and best year of my life. I did not see this crisis coming, but am glad it came before it was too late. Throughout this difficult time I discovered my Heavenly Dad likes me just the way I am. Even though my path went through deep waters, God was with me every step of the way. I discovered I cannot hide my toxic issues for eventually they will leak out and hurt those who are closest to me, primarily my wife and children. The more I comprehend the grace of God, the more I am equipped to confront my own baggage and wounds.

They say that raising a child is difficult. If you ask us, you have to be more specific. First, raising a baby and a child are two completely different things. From the moment your baby is born to when they reach an age they can follow what you are saying, the journey is not that difficult. The road that comes after that is treacherous filled with temper tantrums and unreasonable requests. Not to mention the imaginary friends and the blanket or stuffed toy they are not ready to let go of.

Love never dies. Do you believe that? If yes, you are one of those couples who know and believe that your spouse is your whole world. This love emerges when you enter your Golden Years. Gray hairs, holding hands, long walks, sneaking your grandkids candies. All these tell a story of how happy you have lived. Now that reality has set in, don't let it become your routine. Expectations can be kept because by now, you both know absolutely everything about each other.

Now you have raised a baby first and then a child, so now its time to raise a teenager. The bigger they are, the bigger problem they bring. At the same time you will develop your own skills during the road. But the road might be bumpy and you will never know what to expect. It might be calm or it might be a stormy journey, and not all but a lot of it is a reflection of your own behavior in different situations, and some of it is the personality of the teenager itself.

The start of every new relationship is very exciting. The first touch, the first kiss, and that first intimate look that sweeps you off your feet — those are just the surface emotions. To make your relationship last longer, you need to dig deeper. Once you are committed to your relationship, time starts… to not take each other for granted.

The start of a relationship is quite delicate. Since both partners are testing the waters and navigating the complicated maze of boundaries and emotions, finding your place can be confusing. The dating rules are different for men and women. It's the feminine charm of a woman that attracts a man and vice versa when it comes to chivalry. There are certain points in every persons mind, which they want in their partner. However, your soulmate is not just roaming around waiting for you. You have got to put in the effort!