When we remember our identity in Christ, it changes the way we see these relationships because we no longer base our worth on the approval of others but the approval we have already received from our Father through the work of His son.

If you have nothing in common with the person you are dating and his parents hate you and your friends hate him, this is not romantic; it's a bad idea.

Just having friends isn’t enough, however. Our friendships should be ones that are pleasing to God and edifying to us as well as our friends.

I want my kids to enjoy romance as part of the entirety of marriage, when it has been earned with commitment and hard work.

..."Dont marry an orange and expect him to turn into an apple." If you want an orange, great. If not, put him back in the proverbial fruit bowl for someone else to enjoy and move on.

It’s funny how when you say “yes” to something (like the man of your dreams), you don’t think about the fact that you are also saying “no” to something else.

Part of growing up is narrowing your life choices to a manageable size.

..balancing time you spend with or without people is crucial for mental health.

One of the ridiculously difficult things about raising children is that they are constantly developing and changing so that just when you think you have them figured out, they throw you a curve, a new twist you never saw coming. They are like mutating viruses - as soon as you have become immune to their latest shenanigans, they develop a new strain to which you have yet to be exposed. While this constant shape-shifting is one of the greatest challenges of parenting, it is also one of the things which makes them so fascinating and wonderful.