REMEMBER WHEN

There are days you wake up and have no motivation to workout. But what happens when the lack of motivation creeps into marriage, and you begin struggling to want to work through marital challenges—it’s time to sound the alarm.

Is it unusual to get to a place in your marriage where you want to give up? Recently, I asked this question to a couple who had been married 40 years.

They looked at me and said “Are you kidding me? Yes!” Then, they shared some dark moments in their marriage. They admitted there were times when they just weren’t sure. But, they also said, “We’re glad we stuck in there because we wouldn’t trade these 40 years for anything.”

How did they stay motivated? The couple told me their secret: “You just have to remember.” Remember what exactly?

Remember your why.

Why’d you get married in the first place? People marry for several different reasons: love, kids, a passion for another or to have companionship. Your why doesn’t have to match anyone else’s why. The never-ending nature of your why can help you outlast the temporary challenges you face in marriage.

Remember your story.

Pictures. Videos. Experiences. Memories mean little without the story attached to them. You look at them to remember the story. It connects you with the positive energy captured during the moment that’s worth remembering. Let that energy motivate you to keep going. Your story can help you remember what you’ve built together.

Remember to never stop connecting. Keep searching for better ways to communicate, be playful, and spend quality time with one another. Regardless of how challenging marriage gets, to stop communicating is never the answer. Connecting in hard conversations, through disappointments, and in the midst of hurt is better than not communicating at all.

Remember you’re not alone.

Many couples, if not most couples, have gone through difficult moments where they felt like giving up was really the best option on the table. So, when you find yourself hurting and questioning if it’s worth it to hang on, reach out to other couples who have walked the road before you and made it to the other side in one piece.

When you remember these things, you’ll realize no matter how big the problems may seem, your commitment to each other is bigger.

PURSUIT

Answers on pg. 27

1. Which movie gave actor Tom Hanks his first Oscar?

2. Apollo astronauts reported that the Moon smelled like what substance?

3. How many stars are on the Australian flag?

4. Which president killed a man who insulted him in a duel?

5. Which signaturesounding pop group produced the mid 1960s hit song, “God Only Knows”?

6. “The Brady Bunch” TV show features how many blended family members?

7. What is the official language of the United States?

8. What is the state capital of Rhode Island?

9. Which is the only planet in our solar system that is not named after a god or goddess?

10. What is a cheese connoisseur called?

Best Blueberry Muffins

DIrections

Preheat oven to 425°. Grease a standard 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating to blend after each addition. Add sour cream, milk, and vanilla and beat until smooth. Fold in dry ingredients until only a few streaks of flour remain, then fold in 1 3/4 cups blueberries. Divide batter among prepared cups. Press remaining 1/2 cup blueberries into top of batter and sprinkle each with 1 teaspoon sparkling sugar.