Prepared to succeed in marriage

Jerrod and Ashley Evans

By Lavern Nissley
Encompass Executive Director

(Our March blog posts are featuring elements related to preparation. Thanks to Jerrod and Ashley Evans for sharing how they have been prepared through an Encompass resource.)

This past Monday I received an "out-of-the-blue" email from a couple who had taken the RINGS course and coaching two years ago. They are approaching their 15th anniversary, and their sense of confidence for their marriage to go the distance has greatly increased.

​I'd love to have them speak for themselves on the impact, particularly of how the tools and skills acquired in RINGS are affecting them two years later.

Here's the update:​

Jerrod and I are approaching two years since we graduated from The RINGS Program (3/31/2021), and our 15th wedding anniversary is on June 14th. Throughout our almost fifteen years of marriage, we have had some great moments including our wedding, our first home, and the birth of our first (and only son).

We have also had some very challenging times as well. Miscommunications, turning to others when we should have turned to each other, and death of close loved ones and pets.

When we made our first appointment to meet Lavern at Encompass for The RINGS Program and relationship coaching, we weren’t sure how things would be restored. We wanted to break the cycles in our family relationship histories. We both did not communicate our feelings well, but rather would shut down and go on living life as “normal” until years passed and we grew further apart.

The most beneficial thing we learned from RINGS was communication and the RINGS Chat. As time progressed, we still use it, but not exactly by the script, but it has allowed us to normalize sharing our thoughts and feelings.

The longer we are married, the more we realize it takes hard work and that the magic feelings only last so long and you have to work at keeping those as well. We have incorporated a monthly date night, even if it’s just a few hours away for dinner.

We have also started planning for the future once our son graduates high school. We want to be the exception when it comes to marriage in the 21st century. We want to prioritize our marriage and do whatever it takes to live up to the vowels “Til Death”.

Thank you so much to The Encompass Connection Center and especially to Lavern. Without you and the program I am afraid to know where we would be today. 

Thank you for restoring our marriage! 
Jerrod and Ashley Evans

We're always encouraged by updates like this, as they motivate us to continue investing into healthy relationships.

Perhaps you read this update and would like to learn more about options we offer. You can do that whenever you are​ ready! We'd love to hear from you.

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