You should put scent where you like to be kissed. Catherine Deneuve

Great post to read and discuss with your hubbie ~ Man Up & Take Me! Alpha Male or Beta Hubby? (from Hot, Holy & Humorous)

I love this gardening analogy ~ Companion or Foe? I gotta get some marigolds! (from The Romantic Vineyard)

He has far more clothes and shoes than I do. I think the color and variety makes him happy. 

The only problem is ... the shoe organizer. It falls apart, gets knocked around and generally makes the closet difficult to navigate. After I finish writing this post, I'm going to go buy a new one and reorganize the closet. It will make life easier for the both of us.

Is there an area of your house that is difficult? What can you do to make it work better? (without complaining about his stuff)

A place for everything and everything in its place. Mrs. Beeton

Great idea from To Love, Honor & Vacuum ~ Swap Baby-Sitting for Cheap Date Night! 

This post appeals to the geek in me ~ Are you sure you encourage? What would your analytics look like? (from Encourage Your Spouse) 

Have a “Me Menu”

Often times when I ask moms what they enjoy doing, they are left speechless.  It seems they have forgotten the things that brought them joy or activities they once enjoyed doing.  Take some time to jot down ideas of what you would like to do if you had 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour and several hours.  Keep this list handy so that if you happen to get 15 minutes of time, you can look at your list and make that time useful for you!

A "Me Menu" is a great idea, but why not create a "We Menu" as well? What could you do with your husband if you had 5 minutes of couple time, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour or several hours. Create a list and keep it handy.

Recently I've started my days with this song shared on The Mommy Calling (a NOBH blogger) ~ GOOD MORNING! 

Alecia (of Marriage Life) shares her perspectives about erotica ~ I Found Sex at the Library (love the title)

       
       
(aff links)

Just a reminder ~ You can get The Generous Wife by email, RSS, Facebook and Twitter. Twitter and Facebook followers get a few more encouragements and resource links. And don't forget Pinterest (creative ideas and links to marriage and romance resources).

Respecting your spouses differences ~ Sweep Around Your Own Front Door (from Marriage Works!)

I enjoy crocheting (I'm good at it). I don't enjoy knitting (we're talking ... really bad). 

I know that if I took the time to practice I would get better at knitting and enjoy it, but I tend to fall back onto crocheting (because I do it well and, let's be real, the effort it would take to learn to knit well is a bit daunting).

What does this have to do with marriage (you might ask)?

When you look at your marriage, what do you feel "good" and "bad" about ? Would getting "better" at what you feel "bad" about make it easier and nicer for you? For your husband? What would it take to get "better"? What would you have to learn? What would you have to practice? What kind of motivation do you need?

I would encourage y'all to talk to your husband about these questions. How do you practically work on something that is difficult in your marriage and turn it into a success, something that you can enjoy? 

The best way out of a difficulty is through it. Will Rogers

Nothing is more important than this moment ~ Listening (from (in)courage)

I like this post ~ Living a life with assurance  ~ Confident action applied to your marriage, what would that look like? (from Ferguson Values)

The question came out of left field, so I muddled around a bit and then basically wandered back to talking about the battle that rages between a woman's ears. We get so many messages about sex from family, friends and culture (and some of those conflict). We hardly know how to act and what to feel. Add a bit of injury and you've got a recipe for sexual struggles.  

As a practical help, I suggested that a gal might get a piece of paper, draw a line down the middle and then write on one side what she feels and thinks about sex (perhaps also write down all the different messages that she heard growing up). Then she could begin to pray and ask God what He says about sex and write that info on the other side. (Not sure what God thinks? That's where the Bible, godly friends and godly authors can help.)

This simple chart would offer a clearer picture of the struggle and give a gal some understanding and a direction for sorting out the battle in her head. God can teach us truth and set us free to be who He designed us to be ~ in and out of the bedroom. 

If you can change your mind, you can change your life.  William James

I love Scott's heart on this one ~ Intimacy with God: The Ultimate Power Source (from Journey to Surrender)

Must Your Bedroom Be a Love Den? Practical and thoughtful. (from Hot, Holy & Humorous)

When you pray for your husband what do you ask for?
What scriptures help frame your prayers?
Are there any books or helps for prayer that you like?

Share your ideas as a comment to this post. I'll generate a random number and the author of the comment on that spot will win ~ a copy of Real Marriage (aff link) by Mark & Grace Driscoll (book or Kindle, winner's choice).

I'll announce a winner on May 31st.

Perspectives to consider ~ Third Alternatives to Children / No Children (from Assume Love)

Nice. Nice. Nice. ~ Influence. You Already Have It. (from Becoming Minimalist) How to use the influence you already have.