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Welcome to this episode of the Stupendous Marriage Show!
On This Podcast:
- Win “Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage from Mark Gungor Leave a Comment ON THIS EPISODE BELOW (contest closes Sept.8, 2011)
- WebMD article about Putting Your Marriage First (before the kids)
- Oklahoma’s got the #1 Divorce rate, but there are 2 specific ways to keep your marriage going according to this writer
Be Part of the Show:
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Email Us! (if you have an iphone, send a voice memo to onair@stugray.com!)
Comment and Like us on iTunes!
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Stu & Lisa have been married 8 years (together 11) and have a heart to encourage couples in their marriages. They live in Middle Tennessee, have an awesome 6 year old, and a mutt named 'Boo'.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
The day of our wedding, I was so busy trying to make sure everything that we needed for the ceremony got to the church and that everything we needed for the reception got to the reception site, that I didn’t fully think through how everything I would need would get into my overnight bag. We were going to have a delayed honeymoon, so after the reception we would spend the night in a local hotel for our wedding night to be like a pre-honeymoon.
I figured that after I changed into my wedding dress at the church, I could put the clean clothes I wore into my overnight bag and be set for the next day. But in the excitement and process of getting my dress on, I didn’t think to make sure my clothes actually got in my bag. It wasn’t until the next morning, when I went to put on my pants, that I realized my overnight bag had made it with everything BUT jeans. It was the day after our wedding and I was stranded in the hotel room with no pants. I couldn’t wear my wedding dress out of there! So in desperation I called my parents, who lived nearby, and asked them if they could bring me some pants. I was lucky (ahem) enough to get my dad on the phone, who suggested I wear my new husband’s pants. “Great,” I thought. “I go from a glamorous day of looking and feeling gorgeous to wearing man pants!”
Luckily, we are about the same height, so I tried on his pants and they fit well enough for us to check out of the hotel and head to my parents’ house, where MY jeans were waiting for me.
Now when anyone asks us who wears the pants in our relationship, we just look at each other and laugh and say, “We share them!”
Amber – That is a Great Story!!! Love it – Thanks for sharing
Your Walmart lunch reminded me of my proposal day….my then future fiance was driving me to a job interview on Valentine’s Day and we stopped near his alma matter for lunch…and we went to Subway. He was strangely quiet the whole time. Then we went for a walk and he proposed to me on the bridge on the Grove City College campus (like a true Grover!) My engagement ring belonged to his grandmother. We still frequent Subway often…and with a one year old, neither of us are strangely quiet! Love the show! The talk about expectations was extremely helpful for me!
Nicole – Thanks for the memory and the kind words! I can understand why he was strangely quiet – those moments before ‘the moment’ is intense!!
No really funny stories here about our proposal/wedding. But I have learned a few things in the 7 years of our marriage:
1. Laugh together. A lot. In the good times, bad times, even during sex. In a few years, the kids will be gone and you’ll be left with just the 2 of you. You need to be friends to make it for the long haul!
2. Say “thank you” – we do this often, for everything. He thanks me for making dinner. I thank him for mowing the lawn. We try to show our gratitude for each other in even the most mundane things.
3. Let the little things go – so many things are not worth getting upset over. You really have to weigh what’s worth an argument and just learn to let the minor things slide.
I’m sure I have a few other gems of wisdom I could pass along, but we’re still learning too! Thanks for the podcast! I listen to them when I’m at work and think it’s great!
Hey Shannon!
Thanks for the thoughts and the kind words…Learning to be thankful in all things is a great reminder!
It poured and rained on our wedding day 10 years ago and it was August!
It was a wonderful still and I was still so relaxed and happy. Everyone remembers it as a special day.
Thanks Jessie! We dealt with Love bugs…nasty little things that stick together and get in everything. Hair, Dresses, eyes, ears, windshields, teeth. You name it. Good times
My wife and I knew we wanted to get married, but I hadn’t popped the question yet. Early in the day I had gone to the place where our rings were. I wanted to secretly pick up the engagement ring that she had picked out. She called me and I pretended to be at work.
We had decided that we wanted to go check out the church that she wanted to get married at this afternoon. I had planned to propose to her on the same altar that we would be married at. She didn’t know that I picked the ring up, and she also didn’t know that I had asked her dad if I could marry her…Yup, had that taken care of.
As we wandered around the altar checking out the tiny little church I had one hand in my pocket opening the ring box and picking the ring out. Right there on the soft cushions of the altar I took her hand and kneeled at the altar and asked her to marry me. She said yes, and I think she also asked me if I had talked to her dad.
We were married on July 29, 2006. 5 years this year.
kneeled = knelt
Nice!
Thanks for the comment Robbie
Congrats!! 8 Years! That is awesome. And that is exactly how long my wife and I have been married. Our whole marriage seemed to follow our personalities to a T. Katie and I are not big on “Hallmark Holidays” like Valentine’s day, or anniversary dinners or birthday celebrations for ourselves. Our kids on the other hand – we are all about it – but I think it goes along without personalities – which brings me to the proposal. I proposed to Katie talking to her on my cell phone in my car. She was (obviously) on her cell phone and in her car – right in front of me
We had just decided to purchase our first house together. She was still living at home, and i was renting a house that did not accept pets (but I secretly had a Yorkie named Cisco – After the Cisco routing class where I met Katie). But the conversation on the cell phone went a little like this – “Katie: So are we really going to get this house? Ryan: Definitely – I think it is definitely for us. Katie: So, that is a big commitment. Ryan: I know, we should probably get married. Katie: Are you serious Ryan: YES – Definitely! Katie: Yes – let’s get married! ….) that conversation – the decision we made to purchase the house – fit our personality so much – for we do not get so worked up on the things that many people stress over about. Heck – Our first kiss was at a gas station after she got us both Cappuccinos. But after eight years – we have not changed a bit really. We are totally in love with each other – in love with God – have a great balance with work and family (more family than work) and have great intimacy for each other! I am so blessed to have met her and been with her for 8 years – and cannot wait to spend the next 80 years with her!
Congrats again! Here’s to many more! Keep up the awesome work!
On a cell phone! LOL thats good stuff. Technology has changed how things are done for sure!
Our first kiss was on our first date, that wasn’t really a date at a Mexican restaurant..:)
Here’s to 80 Years for all our marriages! Thanks Ryan!
I married my dream girl 10 years ago. On our first date, we both knew that we were to be together, though neither would tell the other that. Three months later we were engaged, and a year after that we were married. 10 years and 3 kids later, I still can’t believe she’s with me. She is the prom queen cheerleader who chose to be with a band dork, and I am grateful everyday. Marriage is hard, and kids are even harder. But with a gracious, merciful partner it is the greatest blessing.
Love your podcast, by the way. I have listened to a few other marriage podcasts, and none of them are on the same level as yours. Your honesty, candor and passion for marriage are contagious! And thanks for not peddling any of your books or CD’s every chance you get like some other shows! I will listen to you faithfully for as long as you are “on the air.” Thanks again!
Thanks for the story Anthony – and the encouragement!! Love the fact that you guys are in ‘different leagues’ and found love! I’m a band geek too! WOO HOO Band Geeks!
I have now been married 17 years with two daughters 11 and 5 years old. Two weeks before we were to get married I had to quit my job, we were moving closer to law school for my husband who was starting school two weeks after we go married, he couldn’t work, we had no place to live and I was just not sure what was going to happen. We had not lived together before we were married. We found a place a week before wedding. The funny part of this is that I had taken the time to have my long hair done up for the wedding and it taken a long time to have done. When I walked down the aisle and came to the front the first loving words out of my husband to be’s mouth was “What’s up with the Do?” Marriage is definately not for the faint at heart. We have had our issues and did have the “7 year itch” but with counceling and working very hard on both of our parts we are here today celebrating and working to keep this marriage the best we can make it.
Love the show so glad I found you two. You have definately helped me feel like I am not the only one going through some of this stuff.
Keep up the great job! Love you both!
Cathy
Thanks Cathy! That was really sweet of you to say. Leave it to us guys to be oh so ooey-gooey with our words, right?
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