This beautiful guest post is from my husband.

I’ll never forget the bright eyed smile staring down into the home made wooden pin at seven feisty golden retriever puppies. They were almost as cute as my cotton topped 9 month old peering over the edge with wonder.  And then it happened.  It was the last thing I expected to hear.  I had been coaching her for weeks…”Da Da.”  I was taken aback when she squeeled and uttered the words, “Pup Pup.”  I was so proud.  It was adorable.  I should have seen it coming.  Today it is clear.  I was raising a very independent, strong, beautiful girl.

Over the years I’ve dressed up as a princess, carted bundled baby dolls, unhooked slimy fish, played in the mud, and taken her on her first real date.  I was made to be her dad.  Unfortunately, no one gave me a manual on how to do this.

The last year has had it’s challenges, more for me than her.  She is becoming a young lady.  This tween of mine has new distinct interests, and freely shares her autonomous, informed opinions.  Part little girl and part emerging woman. And me, I struggle, holding a handful of fine grain sand and the delicate balance shift that plays out between authority and influence.

My advice, embrace this transition.  That’s just what she and I did a few weeks ago at a unique event held annually  The Father Daughter Summit.

What I loved most about this purposed day was the format of the summit.  A general session followed by a Dad’s only or daughter’s only session, capped off with one hour of Daddy-Daughter Dialoque. My favorite part was the amazing talks with my girl during the Daddy Daughter Dialogue.  I want to share some of the things that I learned with you.

Investing in your children has legacy and eternal implications

Time, love, and availability translates into stability for our daughters

Your daughter sets her expectations about how a man should treat her by observing how you treat her mother.

As a father it is my responsibility to shepherd and develop my daughter’s relationship with God

The five needs of daughters (from www.fathers.com)

Comfort

1. Allow her to express her opinions
2. Actively listen to her – Dad’s this means undivided attention
3. Respond with empathy

Guidance

1. Discerning
2. Correcting
3. Teaching

Encouragement

1. Become comfortable affirming her verbally
2. Get involved in HER (emphasis added) pursuits
3. Demonstrate confidence in her abilities

Vision

1. Cast a positive vision
2. Speak destiny – tell her  the future has great things in store

Protection

1. Be aware and guard – this includes people, media, internet, clothing etc.
2. Prayer – we can’t always be there be we can pray for her protection

A very special moment for me in this conference was the first Daddy-Daughter dialogue time.  We were discussing which needs and fears were most important in my daughter’s life.  I leaned in close and tried to maintain my composure as I watched tears stream down my 11 year old’s face.  “All of my friends parents are getting divorced.  I am really fearful that this will happen to you and mom and we won’t be a family anymore.”  I held my little girl in my arms and cried with her.  I assured her that divorce was not an option for Kristen and myself.  I then took her face in my hands, looked deeply in her scared eyes and said, “Honey, your mother and I love each other and we love you.  We are not ever getting a divorce.  I want you to know one thing though,  we may disappoint you sometimes and we may let you down, but your heavenly Father will never disappoint you or let you down.  As much as we love you, he loves you more.”

I certainly don’t know everything about raising a daughter, but I learned that day how important it is to love her mother!

[Alternately titled: I Married a Stud]

I crawled into bed, weary from the day, pulling covers to my nose. My hubby kissed me and locked us safely in our home-the last I remember until the sun and small warm bodies wake me the next morning.

But the night was just beginning for my man. At the last minute he decided to go for an early morning ride and while prepping his bike, he cut his index finger–deeply. He needed 5-6 stitches.

Instead he muffled his pain.  Tried to stop the bleeding and quickly washed his finger, careful not to leave a blood-trail or make a mess. Next, he super-glued the wound closed. (!!) He took ibuprofen, wrapped it tightly, and crawled in bed, over an hour later than planned, never waking me.

This is what it feels like to be married to a stud.

I was shocked the next morning, considering my own pain tolerance.

I would have called him from the ambulance.

But my hubby didn’t want me to worry about him. He wanted to protect me, even in his own pain, he put me first.

I think one of the great answers to building a great marriage is simply, but profoundly, found in treating your spouse like you want to be treated, putting their needs in front of your own.

The greatest commandments are to love God and love others. Sometimes loving people outside the house is easier than loving the one that forgets an item on your list, leaves his clothes piled up high, and sometimes acts like your fourth child.

Tonight my hubby took over cooking my pot of soup while I finished up a couple of things. He veered from the recipe and added a can of green peas to the soup. I don’t like peas and I let him know it.

I acted like a complete baby, stomping out of the kitchen.

When I realized I was acting ridiculous, I found him with a spoon meticulously picking out peas! I felt terrible.

I acted like a brat. He responded with love.

He still doodles our names

I’ve been married nearly 17 years and I’m still learning how to have the marriage I really want. Here are some tangible steps:

1. You never arrive-marriage takes consistent, conscientious work! We never attain perfection or reach some plateau. Daily communication and a commitment to work hard are a must. Throw yourself into your marriage!
2. Work on changing yourself- We spend a lot of time blaming our spouse for the rough patches. If we focus on changing our impatience, our expectations, our control issues, our marriages will improve and spouses will too.
3. Serve-If you make a habit of putting his/her needs in front of your own, it will revolutionize your marriage.
4. Invite God in- If your spouse will pray with you, then pray together daily. Be quick to forgive, slow to anger.

By the way, the soup was delicious. Peas and all.

How do you really have the marriage you want? What would you add?

P.S. As I publish this, my hubby is at the ER, getting stitches. After two hours of profuse bleeding (from another finger injury), I begged him to go. Honey: you’re still a stud.

P.S.S. An accident-prone stud.

*Updated with Book Winners* Leslie, reader SandiW, and Cindy Roberts!

I never thought I’d write about getting my kids to talk.

Because they talk a lot. Or make noise. Is this the same?

Seriously though, they are v-e-r-b-a-l.

But as my daughter moves into her tween years with her brother at her heels, I’m realizing that while they are still talking, they aren’t telling me as much as they used to.

It’s part of growing up, internalizing, maturing, thinking through some of life’s rough spots.

But this is when I really want them to open up. I want them to know that sometimes I feel different in this world, alone. I want them to tell me when their heart aches and they feel afraid. I want to know the last time they cried.

I want to walk with them, not just beside them.

I’ve told y’all about our dinner routine. It has really opened the door to some amazing communication. Recently, we’ve add this little book (150 Quick Questions to Get Your Kids Talking by Mary DeMuth) to our routine. It has taken us down a road of deep thoughts, engaging conversations and just good family time.

(I’m just digging into some of Mary DeMuth’s parenting books and I’m learning a lot!)

So, how do you get your kids talking:

• Ask them questions–and not just “how was school?” Dig deep. Don’t press for answers though. We offer a FREE PASS on all questions. But just because they don’t answer immediately, doesn’t mean they aren’t processing and may even open up later.
• Answer the questions yourself–our kids need to hear about our own failures and struggles. They need to know that a VERY long time ago, you roller-skated out of the bathroom at a junior high party with toilet paper wrapped tightly around your skates, only to be mocked by party-goers. Not that it happened to me. *ahem*
• Accept their answers-the other night a question came up and I was very surprised at my kid’s answers! I wanted to say “well, what you really mean is…” but I stopped myself and just listened. They were giving the answer they knew and I realized I needed to do a better job teaching them in that area.

How do you really get your kids talking? Leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win one of three copies of Mary’s book, 150 Quick Questions to Get Your Kids Talking.

I used to think making a home required loads of money and an eye for style.

I was wrong.

(Good thing because my money tree is withered and I’m nearsighted).

It has so little to do with square footage and updated flooring and *stuff*.

Making a home has a lot to do with perspective and inspiration.

I’ve had a millionaire in my home with more money than I can imagine. I watched their eyes take in my small space and simple taste. I wanted to offer excuses.

I’ve had religious refugees in my home with less earthly possessions than I can imagine. I watched their eyes take in my wealth and excess. I wanted to offer excuses.

Perspective: My house is big to some, small to others, but it is more than enough. It may get smaller next year or it may get bigger in five years. Size doesn’t matter, decor isn’t important. It’s putting myself in the shoes of the people who walk through the door and realizing that there is no comparison. What I have is a gift.

I don’t have designer brands or well-known pieces, but I have inspiration on my table:

I have soul-stirring words at every glance:

I have reminders of perspective in my kitchen:

And words to live by on my walls:

Pieces of the globe perched in view, celebrated like memorials, so I will never forget:

Simple invitations to stop and give thanks for life’s simple gifts, bird and nest:

Inspiration: Making a home is really simple. It’s providing a safe, warm place for the inhabitants to grow closer to each other and God. A place that encourages them to love one another and Him….

How do you really make a home?

Where I got my inspiration:

• Beautiful Abide in Him Metal Wall Hanging
• How to Create a Family Mission Statement
• Gorgeous Giving Thanks Hurricane Vases
• Modern Bird Studios Photography Art
• This is It and Love Your Family Prints
• Hand-carved Advent (Christmas, Easter) Wreath
• Lovely Inspired Lazy Susan
• You Were Made to Make a Difference-current Family Devotion Book (more posts on this later!)
• Compassion calendar (not to be sold) and paper basket (local market)

*I’m not getting paid to link some of my favorite things, but there are a couple of affiliate links thrown in.

My heart beat fast, I could feel the hot, red crawl of indignation course its way up my neck as I listened to another Christian mom say:

“I know kids. Sooner or later all kids will cave to the pressure around them. How can they not? They are exposed to sin and the world all day long and they are only human. And then she looked at me and said, “Your kids are like everyone else’s. When you’re not around, they act like every other child.”

My kids walked up to the conversation as I turned to leave, but before I did, I said, “I  disagree with you, I’m not raising perfect kids, but I am raising them counter-cultural.”

[Go against the flow]

[Be different, be yourself]

[Know who you are in Him]

[Don't be ashamed]

[It's okay to be alone]

I know my kids are going to mess up. I’m not so naive to think that we’ve figured out perfection or even aim for it. But I believe in setting God’s standard before them, so that when they do face pressure and even fail, they know where they stand and they know how to get back on track.

So, I’m turning the table this week….

Can we really raise kids who are counter-cultural? or am I kidding myself?

Kids who not only say no, but stand and say yes.

I’m in.