Table of Contents

contents A Letter to Our Readers 7 1. Taking Inventory of Your Marriage 9 2. Exploring Your Marital Armament 12 3. Why Every Marriage Has Everyday Problems 14 4. What Did You Expect? 16 5. The Big Question 18 6. So Many Choices 20 7. Your Attitude Quotient 22 8. What Have You Been Looking For? 24 9. Coping with the Invasion of Intimacy 27 10. When Husband and Wife Become Mom and Dad 30 11. Refueling the Sexual Fire 32 12. Taking Control of Your Time-Starved Marriage 35 13. Getting to Know You . . . All over Again 37 14. Healing Your Painful Past 40 15. Owning Up 42 16. High Hopes---Even When You’re Hurting 45 17. Walking in Your Partner’s Shoes 48 18. Assessing Your Spiritual Language 50 19. Finding the Inspiration around You 52 20. Taking Cover from a Bombshell and Its Fallout 55 21. Surviving Your Private Gethsemane 57 Small Group Discussion Guide 59

About the Author

Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott are codirectors of the Center for Relationship Development at Seattle Pacific University (SPU), a groundbreaking program dedicated to teaching the basics of good relationships. Les Parrott is a professor of clinical psychology at SPU, and Leslie is a marriage and family therapist at SPU. The Parrotts are authors of the Gold Medallion Award--winning Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts. They have also written Love Talk, I Love You More, Your Time-Starved Marriage, and the Complete Guide to Marriage Mentoring. They have been featured on Oprah, CBS This Morning, CNN, and The View, and in USA Today and the New York Times. They are also frequent guest speakers and their radio program, Love Talk, is carried by stations throughout North America. They live in Seattle, Washington, with their two sons. www.RealRelationships.com Drs. Les y Leslie Parratt son codirectores de Center for Relationship Development en Seattle Pacific University (SPU). Les Parrott es profesor en una clinica de psicologia en SPU, y Leslie es terapeuta de familia y matrimonio en SPU. Los Parrotts son escritores y ganadores del Medallon de Oro Salva Tu Matrimonio Antes que Empieze, Amor Es, Relasiones, y Cuando Malas Cosas Pasan a Un Buen Matrimonio. Ellos se an estado presentando en Oprah CBS Esta Manana, en El Paisaje, USA Hoy y en New York Tiempo. Ellos tambien son hablantes frecuentes y han escrito para una variedad de revistas ellos viven en Seattle, Washington con sus dos hijos. Dr. Leslie Parrott is a marriage and family therapist and codirector with her husband, Dr. Les Parrott, of the Center for Relationship Development at Seattle Pacific University. She is the author of God Made You Nose to Toes, and coauthor with her husband of several bestselling books, including The Complete Guide to Marriage Mentoring, Relationships, Love Talk, and the Gold Medallion Award-winner, Saving Your Marriage before It Starts. Leslie is a columnist for Today's Christian Woman and has been featured on Oprah, CBS Morning, CNN, and The View, and in USA Today and he New York Times. The Parrotts' radio program, Love Talk, is carried by stations throughout North America. Leslie lives in Seattle with her husband and their two sons. www./RealRelationships.com