Recipe For Creating a Happy Home Together

Creating a Happy Home: A Recipe for Wives

by Kathryn Bechen

Houses may be built of sticks and stones but a true home is more.

Combine these tasty tidbits to create a happy home recipe with your husband:

* Understand that he loves you to make him his favorite homemade meal once in awhile.

* Hug and kiss him hello when he gets home from work at night, but give him some downtime afterwards if he needs it.

*Even though your home is your little castle, don’t keep it so overly neat, or overly messy, that he dreads coming home at night.

*If he asks you to go golfing, to a baseball game, or hiking with him, he wants your company, so go. If he wants to go alone, say okay. (Without whining.)

*Buy him some sports equipment once in awhile, rather than a tie.

*Wear your outfit that’s his favorite, at home.

*Tell him thank you every day for providing for you and your kids, no matter what his line of work, because he works hard at it, and he needs to know you appreciate him.

*Make him breakfast in bed once a month.

*Don’t wear ratty PJs to bed, no matter how long you've been married!

*Watch an action movie on TV with him now and again, even if you have to cover your eyes for the gory parts.

*Even if you've been married for years and years, tell him you’re in love with him every day.

*Remember that as his wife, he needs you to be his best friend, devoted lover, and an honorable woman of grace that he’s proud to be married to. ‘Til death do you part.

© Kathryn Bechen Ink. 2010. All rights reserved worldwide.

Creating a Happy Home: A Recipe for Husbands

by Kathryn Bechen

Houses may be built of sticks and stones but a true home is more.

Combine these tasty tidbits to create a happy home recipe with your wife:

* If you can make her laugh often, and you take out the trash without her asking, you’re truly her prince.

* Understand that when she wants the house to be so clean it sparkles, it’s because she’s proud of her nest, as it’s an outward reflection of her inner beauty and grace.

*Go out with your guy friends once a month, no matter how long you’ve been married. It will give you another life perspective and her a break from the demands of being a wife.

*Tell her at least once a day, no matter how long you’ve been married, that you’re still in love with her. Yes guys, really.

*Wear the shirt she buys you even if you don’t like it; she spent precious time choosing it because she thought it would look good on you.

*When she’s cranky, crying, and overwhelmed from the busy demands of being a modern woman, say, “How can I help?” instead of “Stop; I can’t take this drama!”

*Take the kids somewhere fun on Saturday morning so she can get a pedicure.

*Realize she doesn’t need you to “fix” everything in her life; but she does love it when you can fix the toilet. (Or at least can call the plumber without her help!)

*Take her out and buy her a pair of new high heels. And act interested.

*Buy her flowers. Just because.

*Leave the kids with grandma twice a year and take her to a fancy hotel. Even though she’s the heart of your home, she needs time away from it once in awhile, with you, and you alone.

* Remember that as her husband, she needs you to be her best friend, devoted lover, and an honorable man of integrity that she’s proud to be married to. ‘Til death do you part.

© Kathryn Bechen Ink. 2010. All rights reserved worldwide.

AUTHOR NOTE: Kathryn Bechen has been happily, and yes, sometimes stressfully and hilariously, married to her husband Steve for over 30 years, and they have several close couples friends who have also experienced the grace of long term, loving, committed marriage. This article is based on Kathryn's "writerly observations" of the heart-tests, hilarity, and holy love of these marriages, where they take place most of the time: at home.