Keep Communication Lines OPEN! By Cindy Rushton

When my children became pre-teens, my husband and I were talking about what we needed to do to capture their hearts and KEEP their hearts during the teen and young adult years. We have always wanted to have our children’s hearts softened toward us and close to us. When they open their hearts to us and keep them open, we can minister to their hearts and disciple them up for the glory of God.

As Harold and I were looking at how to capture and KEEP their hearts through the teen and young adult years, Harold said something that forever changed ALL of my relationships–with the children, with my friends, and WITH HIM! He said that we needed to do what it takes to “KEEP THEM TALKING.”

Think about that.

It is sooo important! It worked! The kids may have disagreed with us from time to time. They may have been confused about why we do what we do. They may have thought we were crazy or OLD from time to time. And, yes, there were many, many times along the way that we did not understand them either. Even since they have been adults, there have been many decisions that they have made that we have not liked. But, through it all, this one thing has worked–keeping them talking! It has kept us close. It has pushed past disagreements. It has kept an atmosphere of mutual respect, honor, and unconditional love. It is soooo important!

And, in nothing could it be MORE important than in our marriages.  If we want to build a passionate, forever, happier-and-happier-ever-after marriage, Read more

Matthew Proposes to Whitney!

We had an amazing weekend last weekend. I just MUST spill!

We had the kids home for the weekend. Most of you know that I have an empty nest–well, except for beloved puppy dogs who are promising me that they will not ever, ever grow up!

It is SUCH a treat to have the kids home and around. I love making memories. This weekend, we made a memory that I don’t think ANY of us will ever forget: Matthew proposed to Whitney. It was one of my most precious memories ever!

I think it is better for you guys to  “join” us by video to “be there” with us. How about it? Well, here we go… Read more

Invest in Relationships!

It is not easy cultivating relationships today. It takes an investment. It takes an intentional investment to cultivate relationships.

Think of a garden. In order for the plants and flowers to grow well they need love and attention. Turning over the soil, adding mineral nutrients and watering are all a part of the relationship that you want to nurture.

There are several ways to keep the relationships in your life “well tended.” Let’s look at a few.

1.    Communicate. It is easier these days to lose touch. But, there is also a variety of ways to let someone know they are special in your life: cell phone, telephone, letter, texting and email besides face to face meetings. Let the special people in your life know you haven’t forgotten about them even though the years and miles keep you apart. Read more

Romance On a Shoestring with Cindy Rushton

Romance is vital for a forever marriage. Satan has stolen romance and perverted the beauty in romance. He has made it look wrong, nasty. Even for those who do not buy into that lie, he has made it look out of reach for the Christian home. It is time to take it back!  Begin by dating your mate!

Dates are an important part of any couple’s relationship, but especially married couples. Dates are fun and add a bit of spontaneity to a marriage.  For couples with children, dates can be few and far between for a few reasons.  It’s easy for couples to forget to make time to go out together sans kids.  Then, there’s the money issue.  With kids money can get tight, especially if you have to pay not only for the date but a sitter as well. If you’re having a hard time coming up with wallet friendly date ideas, try these seven. I think you will find them doable…

Seven Shoestring Date Ideas for Couples Read more

Quick Dating No-No’s…

Ready to date your sweetheart, BUT! Want to make it great?

There are some MAJOR dating “No-No’s” that you just might not find anywhere else. Well, let me dig in and just quickly share a list of them. This list is simple, sweet, and quick. Just be sure to make your date with your mate great by saying “NO” to….

TV - Yep! A date is a time to CONNECT. So, disconnect the TV and connect with your sweetie.

Cell phone calls - Yep! AND…your Facebook. AND…Twitter. Turn it off. Tune in to your darling.

Email - Obviously! No place for email on a “date” with your darling!
Read more

Help Your Husband Become Mr. Romance King!

What is the biggest complaint of most women?  They receive romantic gifts from their husbands that miss the mark totally.  The gifts are either appliances for the house or something that the husband could use more than they can.  What is going on?  Instead of meeting his gaze and gift with a frown and a sigh, give him a helping hand.

Sweet friends, we want him to be a mind reader, but the truth is that he will never be able to read our mind.  No matter how long you are together, guessing what we want is not going to be one of his strong points.  Cut him some slack with a romance list. You will help your husband become Mr. Romance King! Yes, a romance list.

This is not just any list though.  Give it real thought. Read more

Know Your Enemy–Who is NOT Your Enemy!

The battle is raging. You feel the enemy closing in. You can feel his breath on your neck. But, you don’t SEE the enemy. You look all about. You feel his presence, but you cannot see him anywhere.

How do you fight?
How do you take on an enemy that you cannot even see?
How do you take guard against an unseen enemy?

Elizabeth Awes from Becoming a Prayer Warrior writes, “The key to victory in both natural and spiritual warfare is clearly identifying the enemy and to understand his character and methods (tactics).”

You must know your enemy! But, how? That is what our next few lessons are going to be about. I think this will help you as you step up as a good soldier to fight the good fight. Today, we will look at who your enemy IS NOT.

Is not…

Right. I cannot tell you how many letters come into our office, how many emails come into my inbox, and how many times I have personally heard people share about their battles in life yet name their enemy by names like GOD, their spouse, their child, their mother-in-law, their father-in-law, their preacher, their best friend, on and on. Got someone popping into your head? Read more

Let’s Organize OUR Bedrooms Today!

Ok…let’s get honest here. If you are like me, the one place that is the last place that gets our best investment when organizing is the bedroom. It was the last place that I remodeled. It was the last room to get fresh new furniture and decorations. And, real truth…when company comes last minute, that is the last room I work on and if it is not finished, I gently close the door and work very hard to distract everyone from going near there. Anybody relate?

Several years ago, I was talking with a beautiful older lady from my church. As Mrs. Ettie and I talked about secrets to her beautiful marriage relationship, she shared that the her biggest secret was to invest in her bedroom. Her bedroom is the first place she cleans each day. It is where she set up a beautifully decorated “getaway” for her sweetie. Talk about convicting!

I went home that day to look at my bedroom. It had my sewing goodies out with a project in the works…the bed unmade (I said that I wanted to get honest here)… the computer with project piles all around it… laundry piled to overflowing in the basket I had brought up the day before…it was far from a beautifully decorated “getaway.” Well, when you come in the room, you DID want to getaway–FROM THE ROOM! ha! Read more

Build Your Marriage!

“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” Proverbs 14:1

Building your marriage? Is it on the back-burner? Busy with the children and the house and homeschooling and working in your business? Just dropping at the end of the day with nothing left over?

I am not trying to give you another thing to do with your busy day. Rather, we need to get back to God’s design for the godly home. Take a peek at this passage from 1 Corinthians 11: 7-9

“The woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.” 1 Corinthians 11: 7-9

Our number one priority after our relationship with God is our marriage. We are created to be a helpmeet. Not a small thing! Not an extra thing. It is absolutely essential. Read more

Five Free Ways to Show Hubby Your Love

Husbands need love, too. They work hard for their families and deserve to have a little appreciation. As wives, we know all about the need for appreciation. Here are some ways that you can show that love and affection to your significant other without spending a dime.

• Tell him that you love him. We don’t say it near enough to each other. For most, the words are “understood.” The flaw in that train of thinking is that the understanding can get confusing as time goes on and there is no communication. Tell him when he leaves and when he returns home. End your emails and calls with a special I Love You! Even write a note for him only.

Read more

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