wednesday night bible study

Ford and I had the most fabulous marriage counseling experience ever. We love our pastor and the advice he had for us. We loved the "homework" he would assign because it really got us talking and understanding one another on a deeper level.

Recently we've started a little accountability group with John and Ashley {of Award Inspirations}. We are meeting once a week and doing a short couples' study together about communication within marriage. We are switching off meeting at one another's homes and eating dessert together while we study the Word.

We started last week at the Wards' house, were Ashley served warm, homemade chocolate chip cookies and cookie dough ice cream {our favorite dessert from Fox & Hound}... it was so delicious. AND, just as a little plug for my sweet friend, Ashley sells her treats, so if you are interested in decorated cookies or cakes, make sure you check out her blog!

This week, since we were meeting at our place, Ashley requested to try the cake mix cookies. I mixed it up a bit and tried making the cookies with a chocolate cake mix and they were SO good. I personally think they were better than the yellow cake mix ones, but Ford says it's a tie. If you haven't made these cookies yet, I posted the recipe a few weeks ago and you should definitely try them out. You hardly even dirty any dishes in the process, which is shamelessly my favorite part... :)

As we've been discussing the importance of having genuine, honest, respectful communication, we have talked about how to do so in a constructive manner. One of the ways our pastor advised communicating effectively when both people have strong {probably opposing} opinions is to "Pass the Pen."

When you have the pen, you may speak. When you are finished, you pass the pen to your spouse. Your spouse must then repeat what you said, and then state their side. You have to continue doing this until the situation is resolved {pass, repeat what the other said, state your side}. It is so helpful because it causes you to really, truly listen to what the other person is saying and not just scheme what you are going to say next.

We told John and Ashley about this method, and we, as a group, decided that J & A would make me & Ford an object to pass and we would make them an object to pass. Well, Ford and I were being silly and came up with the "Argument Loofah." I don't even want to get into my history with loofahs {but if you knew me freshman year of college, you would understand that statement} but it just seems like something that screams conflict to me {again, you'd have to know me}.

I hope that you will be encouraged this week to work on your communication with those that you are closest with. It is amazing how much less arguing you do when you are being open and honest but also listening with respect for the other's feelings.

COMING UP THIS WEEK: Another GIVEAWAY! Get excited :)