Kate Marshall's Blog - Posts Tagged "relationships"
Letter from a Military Wife
David and I have heard from a number of military couples who have used our couples journal, What I Love About You, as a way to stay connected during training and deployments. It gratifies us to think that this little journal is giving some comfort to military families serving our country. Last week we got a sweet letter from a new bride about to give What I Love About You to her new husband, as he departs for training. She included two photos or her and her new busband beaming at each other on their wedding day. With her permission, I’m posting parts of her letter here:
“Kate and David,
I really wanted to thank you so much for creating this book. Me and my husband just got married 9/11/12. He is currently a U.S. Marine. He is training to be on the front lines – an infantry man. I send a lot of letters to him during his 3 months of boot camp since they aren’t allowed to make any phone calls, but maybe 1 or 2 to talk about travel arrangements or to let you know that they made it to boot camp. I’m always trying to find a new way to tell him “I love you” or to show him. He’s such an amazing guy! I got really sick and he stuck by my side. So we have both been through a lot. I was at B&N and saw this book and just HAD to buy it. Now I’m filling it out. It was a great idea to have a place to put pictures.
Your book is more than a book to me and to my husband. There are times where I can’t talk to him, times where he won’t be able to contact me. He will probably take it with him on a deployment, and re-read it every day. Your book is so helpful – a life saver. And it’s a way for J to always carry me with him. So when he’s sad, or down, or having a bad day on a 7-month deployment, he can open it up and know I’m always with him. That’s what this book means to me…
I hope that everyone gets the happiness with this book that I got.
Love, S”
“Kate and David,
I really wanted to thank you so much for creating this book. Me and my husband just got married 9/11/12. He is currently a U.S. Marine. He is training to be on the front lines – an infantry man. I send a lot of letters to him during his 3 months of boot camp since they aren’t allowed to make any phone calls, but maybe 1 or 2 to talk about travel arrangements or to let you know that they made it to boot camp. I’m always trying to find a new way to tell him “I love you” or to show him. He’s such an amazing guy! I got really sick and he stuck by my side. So we have both been through a lot. I was at B&N and saw this book and just HAD to buy it. Now I’m filling it out. It was a great idea to have a place to put pictures.
Your book is more than a book to me and to my husband. There are times where I can’t talk to him, times where he won’t be able to contact me. He will probably take it with him on a deployment, and re-read it every day. Your book is so helpful – a life saver. And it’s a way for J to always carry me with him. So when he’s sad, or down, or having a bad day on a 7-month deployment, he can open it up and know I’m always with him. That’s what this book means to me…
I hope that everyone gets the happiness with this book that I got.
Love, S”
7:1 = A Happy Couple
The secret to a happy marriage is sincere, loving affirmations according to John Izzo PhD, author of The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die. He sites a study that claims that couples who express seven positive affirmations for every one negative criticism of each other have longer lasting marriages than those who do not.
Although we've never kept count, my husband and I agree with Dr. Izzo's point. That's why we created our two couples journals, The Book of Us and What I Love About You. They are different in style and focus, but share a common goal of helping couples focus on the very best of their relationships. Giving your partner love and gratitude is a gift to the relationship and to yourself.
Kate
www.marshallbooks.net
Although we've never kept count, my husband and I agree with Dr. Izzo's point. That's why we created our two couples journals, The Book of Us and What I Love About You. They are different in style and focus, but share a common goal of helping couples focus on the very best of their relationships. Giving your partner love and gratitude is a gift to the relationship and to yourself.
Kate
www.marshallbooks.net
Love Language #1: Words of Affirmation
According to Gary Chapman, author of The Five Languages of Love, Love Language #1 is "Words of Affirmation...best expressed as simple, straightforward statements of affirmation." He writes that "the need to feel loved by one's spouse is at the heart of all marital desires." When one person invests energy in filling his or her partner's emotional love tank, the other person naturally reciprocates and this sets the course for a long-lasting, loving relationship.
Singing each other's praises feels indescribably good. That's what our two couples journals are all about: The Book of Us: A Journal of Your Love Story in 150 Questions and What I Love About You. The writing prompts and fill-in-the-blank format of both of these keepsake journals help you find the words to affirm your partner in a way that can be read over and over.
Kate
www.marshallbooks.net
Singing each other's praises feels indescribably good. That's what our two couples journals are all about: The Book of Us: A Journal of Your Love Story in 150 Questions and What I Love About You. The writing prompts and fill-in-the-blank format of both of these keepsake journals help you find the words to affirm your partner in a way that can be read over and over.
Kate
www.marshallbooks.net
To Mom,
How would you answer these prompts for your mom? Here are a few of the answers I wrote in the journal I gave my lovely mom:
I. You might have thought I wasn't listening, but I have. Here are a some life lessons I've learned from you...
Top 5 List
1. Be frugal, whether you need to be or not.
2. Eat healthily (no processed foods, except chocolate)
3. Connect with nature as often as possible (at least once a day)
4. Smile until you mean it.
5. Look to dogs as good role models.
II. I was or am happy that you are my mother when...
I see friends losing their mothers. I'm glad you have taken such good care of yourself so that you are so vibrant and able to be a part of our lives at 85. You are a role model for aging well!
III. If I could make three amazing things happen for you by waving a magic wand, I'd...
1. bring Dad back to keep you company (and do the taxes for you)
2. erase all your occasional aches and pains so you can scamper along on hikes, free of pain
3. let us both travel the 3,000 miles between our homes with the snap of our fingers
These prompts are from the gift journal - What I Love About You, Mom - a sweet way to share memories and appreciation with your mom.
I. You might have thought I wasn't listening, but I have. Here are a some life lessons I've learned from you...
Top 5 List
1. Be frugal, whether you need to be or not.
2. Eat healthily (no processed foods, except chocolate)
3. Connect with nature as often as possible (at least once a day)
4. Smile until you mean it.
5. Look to dogs as good role models.
II. I was or am happy that you are my mother when...
I see friends losing their mothers. I'm glad you have taken such good care of yourself so that you are so vibrant and able to be a part of our lives at 85. You are a role model for aging well!
III. If I could make three amazing things happen for you by waving a magic wand, I'd...
1. bring Dad back to keep you company (and do the taxes for you)
2. erase all your occasional aches and pains so you can scamper along on hikes, free of pain
3. let us both travel the 3,000 miles between our homes with the snap of our fingers
These prompts are from the gift journal - What I Love About You, Mom - a sweet way to share memories and appreciation with your mom.
