Marriage Minutes with Maria <3


Four Things to do after a Serious or
Long-Lasting Conflict

* Apologize
* Remind him/her that you admire and respect him/her
* Show your regret
* Demonstrate pain
* Ask for forgiveness
Darrell & I have very few disagreements...but, they do come.  When they do, we apologize almost immediately & move on.  We demonstrage regret for the silly pettiness of the disagreement.  We let the other know how much it may have hurt us & we always ask for forgiveness. 

Marriage Minutes with Maria <3

This one's for the guys!!!

Pray for your Wife that...

* She will remember to put God first
* She will take time for you
* She will balance her time with the children
* She will take needed time for herself
* She will be able to create a warm and inviting home
* She will always use her time wisely
* She will understand what her priorities are

Darrell prays for me daily.  He prays that God gives me wisdom to make good choices for our family as a whole.  He prays daily for my safety.  He prays that have good days at work.  He prays for me every morning & every night.  We need you (husbands) to pray for us (wives)....daily.  Anything you feel your wife needs prayer for, you should be the FIRST person that is praying for her daily needs. 

My beautiful daughter, Kaitlyn....my handsome grandson, Curt....& my handsome son-in-law, Ryan.  What a beautiful family!

MARRIAGE MINUTES WITH MARIA~JULY 19, 2012:

The Don'ts of Conflict

* Don't be ashamed of your anger
* Don't call in heavy artillery or use deadly weapons
* Don't air your dirty linen in public
* Don't paint yourself in a corner
* Don't use the turtle approach (don't climb into your shell)
* Don't keep a chip on your shoulder
* Don't use sex as a weapon

Darrell & I are definitely not ashamed to show anger.  We do express it calmly however.  We never go into "shells".  We express our disdain and move on.  We don't hold grudges.  We just let one another know how we feel.  We settle it & that's that.  We do not withhold sex as a weapon.  Big no-no!  We never go to bed mad & always kiss good night....our feet touching all night long.  Haha...it's "our thing."

Marriage Minutes with Maria Fulcher: July 18th, 2012



Developing Intimacy:
Setting Goals ...

* What would enhance our marriage relationship?
* What would each of us like to see happen in our marriage?
* What are the kinds of activities that would keep our
marriage alive?
* Would a daily sharing time enhance our relationship?
* How often would we like to go out for dinner?
* How often would we like to experience sexual intercourse?
* How often would we like to go on a weekend trip or take
walks in the park?

What most enhances my marriage relationship with Darrell is the time alone we spend together each and every night.  We share our days with one another, vent some & reflect on the good.  What we'd most like to see happen in our marriage is to renew our vows.  We are waiting on our 20 year anniversary.  Three years to go!  The kinds of activities that keep our marriage "alive" are: 1) date nights 2) date nights with friends 3) quarterly trips alone 4) always, always considering the other's feelings & thoughts on every aspect of our lives.  Daily sharing time definitely enhances our relationship.  We share each & every night. We love going out to dinner & do this often together...just the 2 of us.  We love experiencing sexual intercourse often....lots. :-)  It is important to develop intimacy with your spouse as often as possible.  These are the many ways we achieve it.  Give it a shot!  'Til next time....this has been Marriage Minutes with Maria. 

Today's Marriage Minutes

SPIRITUAL INTIMACY WITH ONE ANOTHER

The Benefits of Spiritual Intimacy

 • Spiritual Intimacy nurtures a safe environment for

   optimal growth

 • Spiritual Intimacy accesses all of God's healing resources

   of love, grace, and forgiveness into a marriage

 • Spiritual Intimacy alters a husband or wife's perspective

   about the other and introduces into the relational

   dynamic all of God's creative problem-solving genius

 • Spiritual Intimacy redirects us appropriately towards God

   as our greatest love and the One most able to meet our

   needs. It releases couples from unrealistic

   expectations  about being "perfectly" matched

 • Spiritual Intimacy ensures the formation of a

   three-way alliance: with God and each other. This

   strengthens the couple as they stand together in

   the inevitable storms of life

 • Spiritual Intimacy restores our marriage relationship

   as it moves us gently toward God and each other.

 • Spiritual Intimacy brings us into a higher level of

   relating to each other.

At this time, 16 years ago, I was in labor with my second child....my first son, Dalton Mathew Fulcher.  I was so eager to get to the hospital.  But, Darrell was still at Marine at that time.  We lived in North Carolina.  My entire family was in Georgia.  I called my mom & my dad and said "It's time."  My mom got home, packed...then she & Robert headed to N.C. in hopes of not missing the big moment.  She begged me....."Please don't go to the hospital if you can help it until I get there."  I walked the floors, laid in the bed, sat in the recliner....rinse, repeat.....all through the night waiting on them to arrive.  Darrell was so sweet....right there with me every step of the way.  My mother finally arrived at around 5 a.m.  I was sittin' on ready.  Then, she's like "Well, you don't seem ready just yet.  So, we are going to lie down for a quick nap and you wake us when you're REALLY ready."  I was like....."WHAAAATTTT?!?!"  I held out for one more hour and I just could NOT take the pain another second.  Darrell & I left.  My mom stayed with Kaitlyn.  She said to me, "Call us if they keep you."  Oh, Dear Lord woman!  I AM IN VERY ACTIVE LABOR!!!!!!!!!!  So, I got there.  They "checked" me.  I was dilated to 6.  They kept me!  Duh.  I MEANT no drugs with this baby.  I was going all na-tu-ral superwoman!  Oh...big, BIG, BIGGGGG mistake.  But, I delivered drug free with loads of screamin'!  Dalton's head seemed to be the size of an actual cantaloupe!  But, wait....he's not breathing.  His face is black!  What is wrong with my baby????  Before I could even get a look at whether he was a boy or a girl....they were rushin' him out of my room.  I sobbed.  Darrell sobbed.  I sent him to be with our baby.  He went.  Robert with them.  My mom & Kaitlyn came in my room with me.  I was so panicked.  I didn't care about my own pain any more.  My only concern was my sweet baby.  What was happening?  Was he breathing. God!  Please give my child breath of life.  Darrell came back to report a few minutes later (which seemed like eternity) that my sweet baby BOY!!!! was indeed breathing and doing just fine.  His body temp was still extremely low & I wouldn't be able to see him until he warmed up.  But, oh God....I was so relieved.  I look at Dalton today and realize what a huge blessing God gave me.  He has grown into a kind, gentle, loving young man who loves the Lord, his mother, his father, his siblings, his nephew & the rest of his extended family with all he has in him.  He is the most wonderful son I could've ever asked for.  Happy Birthday Dalton (tomorrow).....I love you.  Now.  Always.

So, I don't usually like to play "matchmaker" much.  But, I am.  *Sigh*....Only because I feel this guy is a really nice guy & would genuinely make a good match for a very good friend of mine.  I will keep you all updated as to how this goes.  Really nervous about this.