The Great Seasonal Stand-off—the annual decision of where to go for holidays—may be one of the first major compromises for newlyweds. When my husband and I were first married, my parents lived in Alaska and his parents in Michigan. It was impossible to visit both places for our first Christmas together. Would we split the…
Call them what you want: arguments, fights, disagreements, or United Nations Peacekeeping Summits, every couple has them. The fights may look different: some are filled with a quiet tension while others are loud and explosive. But put two people together and they will have different view and opinions. In our marriage, we’ve found that the…
One year ago, I packed my lunch bag and headed to my classroom—for the first time in three years. It definitely wasn’t in “my plan” to take three years off from teaching, but let me take you back before I get ahead of myself. Right after college, I landed my dream job: teaching in rural…
Justin met Aaron his freshman year of college. They are a testament to the fact that “potluck” (random) rooming assignments can work. After living together during their freshman and sophomore years, they served as dorm leaders their junior year and remained close friends. The summer before their senior year, I entered the picture as Justin’s…
Over the years, Valentine’s Day has brought a variety of experiences for me. In middle school, I received my first rose (a chocolate one) from a boy in my class. One year I received a dozen roses from a friend’s dog. A few years later, my fiancé surprised me by sending daisies when we lived…
