Every Wednesday my Millard West Gals come over for WAG.  WAG stands for women and God and this group has been in existence for about 4 years now.  I have had the honor of walking through the high school years with these students.  We choose a book to read and each week we discuss a chapter.  Some of the books we have read together are:

Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild
She's Got Issues
Moral Revolution
A Young Womans Guide to Making Right Choices
To Save a Life
Lies Young Women Believe

I love being a part of their journeys and helping them navigate the crazy years of high school.  Once in a while we bake together and recently we whipped up a batch of my mom's famous "Pumpkin Cookies".  They are for sure a crowd pleaser, especially this time of the year.   

I am never happier than when my whole family is home. They were all home last weekend and the time went way too fast.

 Last fall 2011 we became empty nesters.  I had heard all about the "empty nest", but nothing really prepares you for it.  The house gets quiet and the laundry decreases considerably.  After being a stay at home mom of 4 I hardly knew what to do with myself.  I guess what I am most grateful for is the fact that Ty and I really enjoy spending time together.  He is my best friend and we were intensional about working on our relationship and prioritizing marriage in the midst of parenting. 

I am on a mission to help women prioritize having a healthy marriage in the midst of raising their children and all the demands of running a household.  So here we go:

Always make your husband glad he came home!!!  How does he feel when he walks through the door?

Regular date nights are important.  Even if it is not fancy, go out together and do not talk about the kids.

An annual get away is very important and again if the budget is tight, get creative.  A whole weekend to focus on each other will pay dividends in the long run.

Make it a point to compliment him regularly.  You can always find something to thank him for.  Does he get up and go to work every day?  Thank him for that!!!

Read books on marriage to keep moving in the right direction. 

There you have it for now.  Keep the fire burning ladies and if the fire has gone out, relight the flame.  A healthy marriage takes work so tend to it!