My week was pretty hectic so this goal wasn’t accomplished every day. It will be a work in progress for me. There is nothing more important in your life than your health and your marriage. Both need to be made a priority and I’ll be actively working on it. Slow and steady wins the race, right?

I have however been trying to do something nice every day and ensuring my husband knows he is loved.

52 Weeks to A Better Marriage (Week 3)

This week I’d like to focus on compliments. A great compliment can really turn an ok day into a great day!

I think that there are times when us women forget that while it’s nice to receive a compliment we should also be giving them out to our husband. I know it’s a little awkward at times to give a man compliment but trust me he will appreciate it!

So the challenge this week is to give your spouse a compliment every single day. Tell him he looks handsome before he goes to work or just say something that you love about him. A small compliment can go a long way!

I don’t give my husband compliments very often but when I do it always puts a smile on his face! If there is one thing I know about men, it’s that they like to know they are wanted and appreciated by their spouse. Men can’t read our minds so we need to verbally let them know how much we love them.

If you missed the first two weeks in this series you can find them here:

52 Weeks to a Better Marriage (Week 1)

52 Weeks to a Better Marriage (Week 2)

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My goal last week was to make the better every day since that’s a big one for my husband. I gave it a good try but did not get around to making the bed every day.

I will tell you that the few days I did make the bed, he was extremely happy! Seeing your spouse happy really does make your heart happy!

52 Weeks to A Better Marriage (Week 2)

My husband loves affection. When I hug him, kiss him or just snuggle him on the couch he feels loved.

Sounds easy enough to do right? Give your spouse some affection.

Well for me it’s easier said than done. I’m not a super affectionate person so I really do have to make it a point to give him the affection he needs. He doesn’t need much, but just a little something to let him know I love him.

This week I’m going to continue working on making the bed every day and I’m going to add in giving him some dedicated time.

Sometimes life gets in the way of giving our spouse the time and attention they deserve.

Your challenge this week is to carve out 30 minutes every day that is 100% dedicated to your spouse.

Spend 30-minutes talking to each other, go for a walk together, snuggle on the couch, take a quiet drive or anything else that will give the two of you some quality time.

Spending some time together each day will give the two of you a chance to reconnect. It’s also a nice break from our hectic lives.

If you missed week one you can read it here: Week 1 of 52 Weeks to A Better Marriage

Do you spend quality time with your spouse every day?

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Sadly, I know several women who settle for less than they should.

When picking the man that we will have kids with and spend the rest of our lives loving, we should be picky. Every man should have certain qualities and while your list might differ than mine, there are 20 I think every man should have!

20 Qualities Every Man Should Have

1. Be a Good Listener – Your partner needs to be able to listen to you to understand your wants, needs and any concerns.
2. Has a Sensitive Side – Of course, we don’t want a man that’s a cry baby but he also needs to show some emotion.
3. Loves Animals – If a man loves animals is probably safe to say he has a soft side.
4. Loves Children – If you want to have children then the man in your life needs to love children. You don’t want to end up with a man that can’t stand being around kids.
5. Love Adventure – If he’s up for anything then you know the two of you will always have a good time.
6. Has Morals – Pretty simple, morals are important.
7. Is Open-Minded – Having an open mind is a great trait! He’ll be open to change and new ideas.
8. People Love Him – If other people love him then chances are he’s a really good guy.
9. Enjoys Learning – Life is one big learning experience. He needs to learn in every aspect of life in order to grow.
10. Will to Help Others – If he’s willing to help others chances are he truly enjoys people and doing for others.
11. Wants to Please His Partner – A good man wants to please his wife. This will come in handy in more than one way!
12. Has Close Friends – A man with close friends is a good thing! He is able to keep long-term relationships.
13. Enjoys the Outdoors – He doesn’t need to be super active but getting out and enjoying some fresh air is a good thing. He’ll probably enjoy playing outside with the kids.
14. Has Patience – Marriage and kids require patience.
15. Good Hygiene – Pretty self-explanatory.
16. Has Ambition – He wants to better himself, achieve goals and make a better life for his family.
17. Has Hobbies – It’s healthy for couples to have their own hobbies. Encourage the man in your life to pursue his hobbies.
18. Team Player – This shows he can work well with others.
19. Treats His Mom with Respect – A good man know’s how to treat his mom.
20. Can Cook – Obviously this isn’t a must but it sure is sexy when a man can cook! Not to mention helpful on those nights when you’re busy with the kids.

What qualities would you add to this list?

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5 Ways to Love Your Spouse

1. Say, I love you! This is by far the easiest way to let your spouse know that they still mean the world to you. And I don’t mean a quick I love you as they walk out the door or through text message. Look your spouse in the eyes today and let him or her know that you love them with all your heart.

2. Do something special for your spouse. The great thing about marriage is you get comfortable with your spouse. The bad thing about marriage is you get comfortable with your spouse! We get in a rut, going about our daily routine, day after day that we forget to stop and do those small things that make our spouse feel special. Maybe you cook your spouse his or her favorite dinner, buy a small gift, leave a love note out for them or anything else that you know puts a smile on their face.

3. Plan alone time! Yes, we love our children but every married couple needs some quality alone time! Alone time gives you the opportunity to reconnect with your spouse and remember those wonderful qualities your spouse has that have nothing to do with being a good mom or dad. Make a pact to spend quality time together where you do NOT talk about the children! Ask each other questions, hold hands, kiss and just rekindle the love.

4. Show an interest in your their hobbies. Does your spouse like to cook, watch football, hunt, dance or knit? It doesn’t really matter what their hobby is but take time to show an interest. This isn’t to say you have to be 100% involved in their hobby, but you can have a vested interest. If your spouse likes to watch football, sit down and watch the game with him or her. Ask questions and try to learn what your spouse enjoys about this particular hobby! You just might be surprised at how happy your spouse will be.

5. Affection, Affection, Affection! I really can’t stress this one enough. Nothing tells your spouse you love them like physically showing your love. A simple kiss good-bye in the morning, snuggling up on the couch or any kind of affection can do wonders for a marriage. It’s amazing how many marriages lack affection and it’s even more amazing what affection can do to repair a marriage.

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What are your tips for loving your spouse?

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