 By Abby Glaser For many of us the new year brings reflection and reevaluating of goals and priorities. A new year brings a new slate to determine what we do and who we will be. My family finds ourselves looking at this more than usual as we’ve lost two family members already in the new year. There are few experiences in life that will force you to evaluate your own legacy than losing a loved one. What will be said about you in your eulogy?
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 By Kermit Rowe There is just something about a couple working together to achieve a common goal. It just seems if they do it for the right reason, the right way, there’s an incredible power in it. My wife of 34½ years, Nancy, and I ran across a program called New Life Promise and its motto is “Where Food Meets Faith.”
 By Lavern & Ronda Nissley We have enjoyed exercise activities and adventures for years. The big 3 have included tandem biking, racquetball and cross-country skiing. Recently we've added another activity, especially for achieving fitness inside when outside activities aren't as comfortable during the winter months.
But first, the 3 benefits to exercising as a couple . . .  By Abby Glaser “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…”
The holiday season is upon us after a monumental year! You may be looking forward to the holiday or you may be dreading it. You might even be feeling a little bit of both! Nothing has been typical about 2020 and that includes how we will all celebrate the holiday season. For many, holidays can bring stress, anxiety or loneliness. After a crazy year you might be unsure how to navigate this season. Here are five tips to help your days be merry and bright!  (Steve and Sara completed the newly updated RINGS Experience Online with coaching in September, 2020)
We have been married for over 21 years. But we weren’t happily married. We had previously sought marital counseling, but that didn’t really help us to identify and acknowledge our strength and growth areas. And it certainly didn’t equip us with the understanding and skills to be more effective in our communication. We had a covenantal marriage, a promise to each other for better or worse. But life in the “worse” was not sustainable for us or our family.  By Lavern Nissley
A woman asked this question to a marriage and family expert: "How do I love my spouse, but still express my own voice and needs?" (Barbara G.) The underlying question actually has to do with boundaries, and whether they are healthy or unhealthy. The marriage and family expert then proceeded to lay out a framework for evaluating the health of boundaries. You'll want to see this simple, sensible and visual distinction. 
By Lavern Nissley
Spender. Saver. Risk-taker. Security seeker. Flyer. All ways of how people are "wired" around money. Even as there are behavioral personality characteristics such as outgoing, reserved, confident, calm, etc., there are also personality types related to our engagement with money and financial management. Differing money personalities can create disagreements and even major conflicts in marriages, families, groups and organizations. But learning your own money personality(ies) can bring insights and more realistic expectations. Discover your money personality in about 3 minutes through a FREE online assessment that we've developed for use in The RINGS Experience.  By Lavern Nissley
Not everyone enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles. I didn't grow up with them as Ronda did. But I have come to enjoy the challenge and synergy of working together on a puzzle until the very last piece is inserted. It's been good for our marriage, and it has extended to a fulfilling family activity with our granddaughter, Ali, age 10. What is it about puzzles that bring such fulfillment and a sense of achievement? Why even spend the time putting one together when you just pull it apart and put it back in the box when done? Are there actual physiological and psychological benefits?  By Lavern & Ronda Nissley
How often do you experience unmet relationship expectations? Have you noticed that even a few unmet expectations can feel like a wet blanket over an otherwise good thing? After almost 42 years of marriage, both of us can point to a lengthy list of disappointments in each other. Generally speaking, all disappointments are the result of unmet expectations. What if we adjusted our expectations to more realistic levels. Like from being met 100 percent of the time to, say 70 percent of the time? By Lavern Nissley
Forgiveness isn't easy, but it's so necessary to avoid living in confinement or "in prison". This brief video clip comes from the TV show Code Black. Dr. Leanne Rorish visits the man in prison who killed her husband and two children as a drunk driver. Notice their use of the word "prison" to describe their pre-forgiveness situation. |
HostsLavern & Ronda Nissley are co-directors of Encompass. Married since 1978, both enjoy coffee, riding their tandem bicycle and working together to build strong relationships. 
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