All Posts By

Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott

3 Romantic Ideas for a Valentine’s Date Night In

By Intimacy, Marriage, Relationships No Comments

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and this year, why not enjoy a romantic date night at home? There are a number of fun, entertaining, and romantic date nights you can create in the comfort of your own space. A date night at home means your comforts are at your fingertips, and it’s a great way to connect intimately with your spouse in multiple ways. Want some ideas for creating an unforgettable “date night in” this Valentine’s Day? Read on. 1. Share a Candlelit Dinner Everyone loves a nice meal, and you can create one in your own kitchen….

Read More

How to Appreciate Your Spouse More

By Intimacy, Marriage 2 Comments

Do you appreciate your spouse enough? It’s easy to get swept up into our daily routines and forget to show them appreciation. But fully appreciating your spouse is one key to keeping your love alive and your marriage thriving. Want to know how to appreciate your spouse more? Read on. Notice the Little Things Again Appreciation is all about taking notice of the details that slip past us when we’re caught up in the daily grind. To notice the little things, we have to slow down and be intentional. We must mean to notice the details if we want to…

Read More

5 Reasons You Need Daily Prayer in Your Marriage

By Marriage, Relationships, Self Reflection 12 Comments

Do you and your spouse pray together? Want to get started in a new daily routine for the new year? We’ve compiled a list of important reasons why you and your spouse should be incorporating daily prayer into your marriage, right now. Want to know more? Read on. 1. Prayer connects us on a spiritual level. Praying together is a great way for you and your spouse to connect on a spiritual level. Communicating about prayer and deciding where you want to focus your prayers is also a way the two of you can work to prioritize the issues you’re…

Read More

How to Navigate Life with Demanding Family Members

By Conflict, In-laws & Family No Comments

All families face personality clashes, strain, and conflict from time to time. If someone in your family is demanding or difficult to interact with, their behavior makes interactions tough for everyone. A demanding parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle can put a significant strain on a married couple’s relationship if the couple doesn’t have a game plan for navigating that relative’s demands. Demanding family members can create unnecessary drama for everyone–something most people want to avoid. Planning a calm, loving response to neutralize stress is important so that you, your spouse, and the rest of your family can enjoy a healthy,…

Read More

Should I Confront My Passive-Aggressive Spouse?

By Communication, Conflict One Comment

Imagine that you come home from work, and the garbage can is full. Your spouse is milling around the kitchen, slamming drawers and pot lids. As you attempt to wind down from the work day, you can’t help but notice that they’re really making a lot of noise. So, you head into the kitchen to find out what’s going on. “Honey, are you all right?” “I’m fine,” they say…but the dishes keep rattling. You’re distinctly aware that something isn’t right, but you can’t put your finger on what, exactly, it is. And if they won’t tell you what’s happening, how…

Read More

How to Keep Dreaming with Your Spouse in an Uncertain Time

By Intimacy, Marriage, Relationships, Time One Comment

Dreams can help anchor you when other things in your world are out of control. If you and your spouse are navigating an uncertain time right now, then it’s crucial to keep dreaming together, no matter what’s happening in the world around you. Wondering how to stay focused on your dreams when you’re living through chaos or uncertainty? Read on. 1. Revisit old activities, pastimes, or talents you’ve abandoned. Often, we let go of talents and passions that make us happy because life gets in the way. Reigniting your love of a specific pastime, talent, or activity could help to…

Read More

6 Ways to Start the New Year Fresh with Your Spouse

By Marriage, Relationships, Self Reflection One Comment

The New Year is almost here. It’s a time of year when individuals, couples, and families take time to look back at the year that’s passed, and look forward to the coming months. Do you and your spouse observe the changing of years as a couple? Do you want to start? If so, we’re sharing six ways the two of you can welcome the coming year together. Let’s dive right in. 1. Recap this past year. Knowing what you want out of the new year becomes clearer when you recap the year that has passed. Talk about this past year…

Read More

The Best Gift You Can Give This Christmas

By Intimacy, Marriage, Relationships One Comment

It’s not unusual to experience the familiar push-and-pull between holiday gift-giving and the higher purpose of the Christmas season. Exchanging gifts with family and loved ones is the highlight of Christmas for many, and that’s wonderful–gifts bring joy to both the giver and the receiver. However, a seasonal gift exchange is fleeting, and we’re back to our regular lives before we know it. But what if we gave a gift this Christmas that was permanent? So many of us recognize that Jesus is the true reason for the holiday we love so dearly. But we don’t always keep that in…

Read More

How Laughter Can Help You and Your Spouse During Tough Times

By Intimacy, Marriage 3 Comments

Have you and your spouse taken time to laugh together lately? Laughter can be an incredible relief on an ordinary day, but it’s especially important during difficult times. In order to endure tough times and come out stronger on the other side, we must be able to laugh. Wondering how laughter can help you and your spouse during tough times? Let’s take a look. Laughter lightens the mood. Going through a time of prolonged challenge can make us prone to dark moods, negativity, and pessimism. When we make an effort to laugh, we have the power to lighten the mood…

Read More

4 Ways to Help Your Spouse Trust You Again

By Conflict, Marriage 2 Comments

Have you ever damaged or broken your spouse’s trust in you? Earning that trust back takes hard work and patience on both your parts. The good news is, in many situations, it’s possible to earn their trust again. First, you’re probably already aware that your actions have had a grievous impact on your spouse and their sense of wellbeing. Second, we understand that it’s painful to learn you’ve hurt the person you love most. This may be one of the most painful situations you ever walk through together. Easing back into a trusting relationship with your spouse takes commitment, time,…

Read More