 By Lavern Nissley In early October of 2020 as a client couple was wrapping up the final session in the RINGS course, the husband asked an intriguing question: "Do you have a RINGS quick reference guide to help us remember all of the skills and insights we've learned. We don't want to forget what we've just completed."
"What a great idea!" I responded. Since its launch in May, 2007, RINGS has been experienced by thousands of couples. And this was the first time such a request had ever been voiced. What could we develop for completing couples to post on their refrigerators or bathroom mirrors? What you'll see below is the final outcome - with much appreciation to Joe Candio for the initial idea.
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 By Kermit Rowe I like to call it “The Flip.” It is as unnatural as it is powerful. But if a couple can make “The Flip,” then the future growth of their relationship and happiness takes an upward trajectory.
What I am speaking of is a change of focus in our relationship. If we are honest, when we enter a relationship with a significant other, we do so with the expectation that this person will make us happier in our life. We love them, but a big component of that love often is how that person makes us feel. But what if we changed our approach, turning to a divine truth to transform our relationship and home?  By Lavern Nissley So, how’s that for a blog post title just over a week before the day of love? Yet, it truly reflects my heart on the emphasis of singling out one day a year for an inferior type of love that has a truly bizarre origin.
Go ahead, please click through to hear me out. Then watch the brief video at the end about a Virtual Date Night we're planning for couples February 14, 7-8 pm.  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 . . .  (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
There is something good and infectious about a good laugh. The other day, on Ronda's birthday, we had a brief exchange that led us both to laughter. Me: "I think you look good in your birthday suit." Ronda: "It has wrinkles." Me: "But it looks good on you." Ronda: "I guess it still fits." While intuitively it would seem that "laughter is the best medicine", there are some interesting findings on how it affects romantic and marriage relationships. By Lavern Nissley In April, 2016 John and Julie Balzer completed the RINGS Experience and then requested follow up step-family mentoring. Both had gone through previous marriage failures and wanted to ensure health in their current marriage journey. They completed most of their mentoring sessions before their wedding in mid-June, 2016. Let's listen in to their reflections. They are pretty specific and tangible on how they've been affected by gaining emotional intelligence and relationship literacy. Seth and Lisa Perdue are Encompass board members and have a compelling marriage story that they shared for Fellowship Church, January 27, 2019. As they indicate in their story, it is only with the help of God that they are still together, having navigated one of the most challenges hurdles and couple could face.  By Lavern Nissley
You would think that more time together is good for marriages, right? However, some countries are reporting increased divorce rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Travis Childress, in an April 20 blog post observed: "The problem, according to some experts, is that time together actually acts as an X-factor to the quality of the marriage. If the marriage is strong, time together can bring the couple closer together. If the marriage isn’t strong, it can drive the couple apart." We're interested in how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected your marriage relationship. If you are married, we invite you to complete a brief survey, and we'll share the results this weekend from those completing it by noon Friday, May 8. Starting this month we'll be alternating blog posts and "our stories" videos on Tuesdays. Blog posts will appear on the 1st/3rd Tuesday and videos on the 2nd/4th Tuesdays. Everything we post here is under the umbrella of practical tips & insights for your relationships. |
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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