I made my husband cry within the first weeks of marriage. During 31 years We have fought about money. We have fought over where to travel to see who. We have fought over whose memory is more accurate 🙂 depending on the issue. We have fought over frictional force formulas when trying to help kids with homework. Among other topics. (both engineers) Everyone’s list is different but likely long. In conflict we either go to…
Leave a CommentCategory: Family
This short piece is one part of my personal morning routine. You can read the whole article by subscribing to my blog. When I got my married, Gary and I made some agreements. Â We made a commitment to practice going to sleep and waking up at the same time. For over 30 years that habit has been a daily practice that has been an anchor for our marriage. Having nine children, has presented many obstacles…
Leave a CommentConversation before marriage: Gary: How do you want to set up our bank accounts? Do you want separate or joint accounts? Mary: Let’s make them joint accounts so we can talk together!  Conversation after marriage: Gary: I don’t see a recording for this check #. Can you tell me what that is about? Mary: I don’t want to talk about it.
Leave a CommentAgreeing and carrying out an agreement are two different things. One of the habits Gary and I agreed on 31 years ago, was going to bed at the same time. From a marriage perspective, there are all kinds of obvious good outcomes. From a health perspective sleep is necessary! It all sounds like a good idea until you have to put it in practice. And that was the rub for me. If the open windows…
Leave a CommentBefore Gary and I married 31 years ago,  we worked together on a list of our agreements in marriage.  Long before I realized the power of a habit and long before I understood the power of writing it down. Here’s the list that we can remember. I am sure it was longer but not bad for 31 years later! No TV the first year. Go to bed at the same time. Get up at the…
Leave a Comment
Today marks the 4th anniversary of my dad’s passing. I could write a book about Frank Arland Andrews. For many who read this, they may not have had a dad they’d like to remember. But all of us need to recognize how vital these relationships are to creating our ideas and images of who we are. My dad was not perfect. I remember times when I thought he was a huge pain in the neck.…
1 Comment