In this week's episode, Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy unpack the powerful topic of expectations—focusing on how to clearly express what you need from your spouse. With honest conversation, a willingness to listen, and an open heart, you can transform how you communicate and connect in your relationship.

Quotes from this episode:

"I just thought you knew. And when you didn't I would go along and get resentful"

"We were trying to fit each other in the mold."

"Our first big argument scared the heck out of me. My unrealistic expectation was that we would never fight."

"It's a good idea to have a signal or cue so that you make your spouse aware."

Questions for Reflection:

What are some expectations—spoken or unspoken—that we each bring into our marriage, and how well do we feel they've been understood by each other?

When was a time we misunderstood one another because expectations weren't clearly communicated? What can we learn from that moment?

How can we create more space in our relationship for honest, judgment-free conversations about what we each need or hope for?

What's one expectation we can both express more clearly this week—and how can we support each other in meeting it with love and grace?

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Find Dr. Kim on Instagram

• If expectations feel like too big of a topic to tackle alone- try out Dr. Kim's Marriage Expectations Worksheet. He has used this resource in his counseling office for over thirteen years and now we are sharing it with you!

• When you're frustrated, it's easy to let words fly out of your mouth. Our new FREE resource: 17 Unintentionally Disrespectful Phrases To Cut Out When Speaking To Your Spouse will help couples choose words that bring life instead of cause chaos.

• Awesome Marriage has a great Premarital course to help couples have important conversations before their big day. Communicate expectations effectively and be proactive in learning your future spouse with this great course. Already married? Share this course with a couple who's looking forward to their big day.

• Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word as you intentionally choose to puruse the marriage God intended, find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Try this FREE YouVersion plan: 14 Keys to Lasting Love

• If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !

• Sign up for Dr. Kim's Marriage Multiplier email for practical weekly marriage tips!

• Now is the perfect time to join our Marriage Changers program. Enjoy every resource of the month plus bonus content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy. Join now, just in time to receive our resource of the month.

In this episode, Dr. Kim sits down with Ron Deal to talk about what it really means to build a mindful marriage. Ron shares lessons from his new book, Mindful Marriage, and how restoration therapy helped him and his wife Nan find healing and deeper connection. Together, they explore how faith, self-awareness, and emotional regulation can transform your relationship from the inside out.

Episode Insights:

Authenticity is the foundation of lasting happiness.

Emotional dysregulation is normal.

Our brains respond to threat, not fairness.

Pain cycles drive repeated conflict.

Growth and redemption matter more than blame.

Quotes from Today's Episode:

'Happy wife, happy life' sounds catchy, but in reality, it's an empty promise. Lasting happiness in marriage comes from authenticity, not performance or pretending everything is okay.

Every single one of us gets thrown off-balance emotionally. Some stay there longer, others move through it quickly, but emotional dysregulation is part of the human experience. There's nothing wrong about you because you get dysregulated.

The brain can't tell the difference between a rattlesnake, a near-miss in traffic, or your spouse's criticism. Threat is threat.

Our brains are wired for survival, not perfect communication.

You don't have fifty different fights in marriage. You just have one ongoing pain cycle. Once you identify and understand your pain cycle, you can finally move beyond it together.

Ignoring your pain doesn't make it go away—if anything, it makes your pain stronger, more insistent, and harder to escape.

It's easy to point out the flaw in someone else, but it's vital to focus on your own growth.

You may not forget your pain, but you can redeem what it does in your life. Choosing redemption over resentment is liberating.

Couples Conversation Guide:

Are there areas in our marriage where we tend to "perform" or pretend things are okay instead of being real with each other?

When conflict or hurt arises between you, how aware are you of what's really going on beneath the surface—your emotions, triggers, or past experiences?

What's one practical step you can take this week to be more mindful in your marriage—whether that's pausing before reacting, praying together, or choosing to listen with empathy?

Mentioned in this episode:

• #1 Amazon Bestseller is available! The Mindful Marriage (designed for every marriage).

• Ron Deal

• What's your reactive coping style? We all have one. Take our free assessment (15 minutes).

• Find Awesome Marriage on Instagram

• Need help starting the practice of prayer in your marriage? Here's a great resource: 21 Prayers for Building an Awesome Marriage

• Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. We even have a plan for praying as a couple! Check out 7 Prayers to Grow Your Marriage.

• If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !

• Sign up for Dr. Kim's Marriage Multiplier email for practical weekly marriage tips!

What if marriage was never meant to be primarily about your happiness?

In this episode, Dr. Kim sits down with Randy and Rozanne Frazee, authors of Encountering God's Love from Genesis to Revelation, to explore how God's design for marriage is part of a much bigger story. Together, they discuss how understanding God's love throughout Scripture can transform the way couples view their relationship, shifting the focus from chasing happiness to living out a covenant that reflects Christ's love.

Randy and Rozanne share wisdom from their own marriage, practical ways couples can encounter God together, and encouragement for those who feel spiritually disconnected. You'll learn why spiritual intimacy doesn't require grand gestures, how your relationship with God directly impacts your relationship with your spouse, and why counseling can be one of the healthiest investments you make before a crisis ever arrives.

Whether you're in a thriving season or feeling stuck, this conversation will help you see your marriage through a wider lens, one that is rooted in God's purpose, sustained by His love, and strengthened through intentional connection.

Episode Highlights

• Marriage Was Designed for More Than Happiness
• How God's Bigger Story Gives Marriage Greater Purpose
• Your Relationship with God Shapes Your Relationship with Your Spouse
• Simple Ways to Build Spiritual Intimacy Together
• Why Counseling Should Be Preventative, Not Just a Last Resort
• Practical Steps for Reconnecting When You Feel Spiritually Disconnected

Key Takeaway

The healthiest marriages aren't built by pursuing happiness first. They're built by pursuing God together, faithfully living out your covenant commitment, and allowing His love to shape the way you love one another.

Quotes from This Episode:

1. "The closer we move to Christ, the closer we move to each other."

2. "Marriage is really more about sacrifice. God instills this amazing agape love in you, and your job is to pour it out to others—especially your spouse."

3. "The pursuit wasn't happiness. The pursuit was fulfilling our covenant commitment. As a result of that, we received happiness."

4. "When you go after the feeling of happiness, it almost always devastates the relationship you're in. When you go after the responsibility of being like Christ for the sake of others, happiness often follows."

5. "Marriages don't drift toward intimacy—they drift toward chaos. That's why intentionality matters."

6. "The love you have to offer apart from God will eventually get you into trouble. You need God's love flowing into you before it can flow through you."

1. "I can't put expectations on him because he will always let me down. God will never let me down."

2. "Marriage in Scripture is never presented as a right. It's presented as a responsibility."

3. "The wall of resentment goes up very quickly, but it comes down one brick at a time."

4. "Knowing that God loves me unconditionally gives me the freedom to risk loving another person."

5. "If you want your husband to become more of a spiritual leader, encourage what he's doing instead of criticizing what he's not doing."

6. "As you grow closer to God, you'll naturally grow closer to each other."

7. "Don't wait until the last minute to get help. Go early. Go often. Go preventatively."

1. "We can't put our marriage on the back burner for eighteen years while we raise kids and expect it to still be thriving when they're gone."

2. "You'll never regret carving out intentional time for your marriage, but you will regret not doing it."

3. "Your obedience is to God. Keep doing what God is calling you to do, whether your spouse responds immediately or not."

4. "A thirty-second prayer, a verse of the day, a simple step—just start somewhere. God can grow it from there."

5. "What makes the difference isn't doing marriage perfectly—it's continually coming back to God's design for it."

6. "Sometimes the most important thing a couple can do is simply make the time to reconnect."

Time to Talk About It:

1. What is one thing you see God doing in me (your spouse) right now that you appreciate and want to encourage?
2. Have there been times when we've expected each other to meet needs that really need to be taken to God first?
3. What's one small thing we could do this week to be more intentional about growing closer to God together?
4. Is there anything we've been putting off talking about that would be better to address now instead of letting it sit?

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Get your copy of Encountering God's Love from Genesis to Revelation

• Check out Awesome Marriage's Two Week Scripture Challenge with your spouse.

• Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Check out our Men of Virtue plan. Dr. Kim dives into the lives of five extraordinary men whose lives are still shaping ours today.

• If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !

• Be the first to hear about all things Awesome Marriage, receive monthly bonus content straight from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy, and take advantage of big discounts by becoming a Marriage Changer!

What does it mean to build a life that truly matters? In this episode of The Wider Lens, Dr. Kim sits down with Tom Pfeiffer, former Air Force JAG officer, attorney, coach, trainer, husband, and dad, to talk about the experiences and values that shaped him. From growing up in a blue-collar family on Long Island to playing college football, serving in the military, and eventually leaving a successful legal career to pursue a different calling, Tom shares lessons on work ethic, purpose, fatherhood, and taking risks.

Along the way, they discuss the importance of showing up for your kids, the life lessons sports can teach, and why success on paper isn't always the same as fulfillment. This conversation will challenge you to think about the legacy you're building and the choices that matter most.

Episode Highlights:

• Why the best lessons in life often happen outside the classroom

• The impact of a father who always showed up

• How to pursue purpose over prestige and redefine success

Tune in for an honest conversation about work, family, calling, and what it means to live with intention.

Quotes from Tom Pfeifer:

"For me, it was a non-negotiable starting point. I'm just going to be there."

"Now I have margin in my life. On a Tuesday afternoon, I can block my calendar and just hang out with my kids."

"Everything you do has a cost."

"Every yes, every extra commitment, every extra dinner—that's time you're taking away from something else."

"Most kids just want somebody to say, 'I'm proud of you.'"

At what cost do you continue doing something that looks successful on paper but leaves a void inside?"

"When things are scarce in your life, you become hyper-focused on getting them."

"Your kids aren't going to remember how hard you worked. They're going to remember that you were there."

Time to Talk About it:

1. What is one area of your life where you're pursuing success, and what might it be costing you in your relationships, faith, or personal well-being?

2. When you think about the people who impacted you most growing up, what did they do that made you feel valued—and how can you offer that same gift to others today?

3. If your children, family, or closest friends described the legacy you're building right now, what would they say matters most to you? Is that the legacy you want to leave?

Prayer, Bible reading, and spiritual leadership are all good things, but what happens when faith becomes a source of tension instead of connection in marriage?

In this episode, Dr. Kim tackle the unhealthy spiritual dynamics that can quietly create distance between spouses: spiritual superiority, spiritual withdrawal, and using faith as a weapon. While most couples don't intend to hurt each other spiritually, it's easy to fall into patterns that leave one spouse feeling judged, inadequate, or alone.

He discusses why spiritual loneliness can be so painful in marriage, how comparison and pressure shut down connection, and what it looks like to pursue spiritual intimacy in a way that invites both spouses closer to God and each other.

If you've ever felt frustrated that your spouse isn't where you'd like them to be spiritually, or if you've ever felt like you could never measure up, this conversation offers practical encouragement and hope for building a healthier, more united spiritual foundation.

Episode Highlights:

When Faith Creates Distance Instead of Connection

The Hidden Damage of Spiritual Superiority and Withdrawal

Moving from Weaponized Faith to Shared Faith

Quotes from This Episode:

God designed marriage as the most intimate of all earthly relationships.

There's a oneness God intended for marriage that touches every aspect of life.

When one spouse longs to pray together and it never happens, it doesn't just feel frustrating it feels lonely.

Loneliness can turn into resentment or even despair.

Nothing will shut your spouse down faster than feeling spiritually inferior in their own home.

The spouse that feels like they can never measure up will stop engaging.

When scripture becomes a sword instead of a shared foundation something has gone badly wrong.

Spiritual growth cannot be forced. You can model it. You can invite. But you cannot drag your spouse into a deeper faith any more than someone could have dragged you. God does that work.

Time to Talk About it:

Are you feeling disconnected from your spouse spiritually?

If you are, have you approached your spouse honestly with your concerns?

Ask them: How can we use our faith to encourage each other rather than pressure, correct, or compare one another?

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Awesome Marriage is on Instagram!

• Do you feel misunderstood and defeated when it comes to disagreements with your spouse? Feeling misunderstood in conflict is usually a sign of something deeper. This assessment walks you through what needs to change, step by step.

• Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. If you're feeling disconnected from your spouse, try this plan together: 7 Prayers to Grow Your Marriage.

• If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !

• It's the perfect time to become a Marriage Changer! When you become a Marriage Changer you'll receive exclusive content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy as well as our resource of the month! Become a Marriage Changer today!

Prayer, Bible reading, and spiritual leadership are all good things, but what happens when faith becomes a source of tension instead of connection in marriage?

In this episode, Dr. Kim tackle the unhealthy spiritual dynamics that can quietly create distance between spouses: spiritual superiority, spiritual withdrawal, and using faith as a weapon. While most couples don't intend to hurt each other spiritually, it's easy to fall into patterns that leave one spouse feeling judged, inadequate, or alone.

He discusses why spiritual loneliness can be so painful in marriage, how comparison and pressure shut down connection, and what it looks like to pursue spiritual intimacy in a way that invites both spouses closer to God and each other.

If you've ever felt frustrated that your spouse isn't where you'd like them to be spiritually, or if you've ever felt like you could never measure up, this conversation offers practical encouragement and hope for building a healthier, more united spiritual foundation.

Episode Highlights:

When Faith Creates Distance Instead of Connection

The Hidden Damage of Spiritual Superiority and Withdrawal

Moving from Weaponized Faith to Shared Faith

Quotes from This Episode:

God designed marriage as the most intimate of all earthly relationships.

There's a oneness God intended for marriage that touches every aspect of life.

When one spouse longs to pray together and it never happens, it doesn't just feel frustrating it feels lonely.

Loneliness can turn into resentment or even despair.

Nothing will shut your spouse down faster than feeling spiritually inferior in their own home.

The spouse that feels like they can never measure up will stop engaging.

When scripture becomes a sword instead of a shared foundation something has gone badly wrong.

Spiritual growth cannot be forced. You can model it. You can invite. But you cannot drag your spouse into a deeper faith any more than someone could have dragged you. God does that work.

Time to Talk About it:

Are you feeling disconnected from your spouse spiritually?

If you are, have you approached your spouse honestly with your concerns?

Ask them: How can we use our faith to encourage each other rather than pressure, correct, or compare one another?

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Awesome Marriage is on Instagram!

• Do you feel misunderstood and defeated when it comes to disagreements with your spouse? Feeling misunderstood in conflict is usually a sign of something deeper. This assessment walks you through what needs to change, step by step.

• Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. If you're feeling disconnected from your spouse, try this plan together: 7 Prayers to Grow Your Marriage.

• If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !

• It's the perfect time to become a Marriage Changer! When you become a Marriage Changer you'll receive exclusive content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy as well as our resource of the month! Become a Marriage Changer today!

Prayer, Bible reading, and spiritual leadership are all good things, but what happens when faith becomes a source of tension instead of connection in marriage?

In this episode, Dr. Kim tackle the unhealthy spiritual dynamics that can quietly create distance between spouses: spiritual superiority, spiritual withdrawal, and using faith as a weapon. While most couples don't intend to hurt each other spiritually, it's easy to fall into patterns that leave one spouse feeling judged, inadequate, or alone.

He discusses why spiritual loneliness can be so painful in marriage, how comparison and pressure shut down connection, and what it looks like to pursue spiritual intimacy in a way that invites both spouses closer to God and each other.

If you've ever felt frustrated that your spouse isn't where you'd like them to be spiritually, or if you've ever felt like you could never measure up, this conversation offers practical encouragement and hope for building a healthier, more united spiritual foundation.

Episode Highlights:

When Faith Creates Distance Instead of Connection

The Hidden Damage of Spiritual Superiority and Withdrawal

Moving from Weaponized Faith to Shared Faith

Quotes from This Episode:

God designed marriage as the most intimate of all earthly relationships.

There's a oneness God intended for marriage that touches every aspect of life.

When one spouse longs to pray together and it never happens, it doesn't just feel frustrating it feels lonely.

Loneliness can turn into resentment or even despair.

Nothing will shut your spouse down faster than feeling spiritually inferior in their own home.

The spouse that feels like they can never measure up will stop engaging.

When scripture becomes a sword instead of a shared foundation something has gone badly wrong.

Spiritual growth cannot be forced. You can model it. You can invite. But you cannot drag your spouse into a deeper faith any more than someone could have dragged you. God does that work.

Time to Talk About it:

Are you feeling disconnected from your spouse spiritually?

If you are, have you approached your spouse honestly with your concerns?

Ask them: How can we use our faith to encourage each other rather than pressure, correct, or compare one another?

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Awesome Marriage is on Instagram!

• Do you feel misunderstood and defeated when it comes to disagreements with your spouse? Feeling misunderstood in conflict is usually a sign of something deeper. This assessment walks you through what needs to change, step by step.

• Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. If you're feeling disconnected from your spouse, try this plan together: 7 Prayers to Grow Your Marriage.

• If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !

• It's the perfect time to become a Marriage Changer! When you become a Marriage Changer you'll receive exclusive content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy as well as our resource of the month! Become a Marriage Changer today!

In this episode of the Awesome Marriage Podcast, Dr. Kim sits down with bestselling author Gary Chapman for a practical and honest conversation about what it really looks like to keep a marriage growing, not just surviving.

They talk about why marriages don't just "stay the same," how couples slowly drift without realizing it, and what it takes to stay emotionally connected over time. Gary unpacks how love languages can shift through different seasons of life, why assumptions create so many problems, and how simple things like curiosity, communication, and daily check-ins can completely change the tone of a relationship.

If you've ever felt like you and your spouse are just "off" lately, or you want to be more intentional about loving well, this conversation gives you real, doable ways to start moving back toward each other again.

Episode Highlights:

• Without intentional effort, connection naturally fades into distance or "roommate mode."

• Couples often miss each other because they're expressing love in ways that feel right to them, not in ways that actually land with their spouse.

• When couples stay teachable and intentional, even conflict becomes an opportunity for deeper connection.

Quotes from this Episode:

Gary Chapman:

1. "Marriage is either going to grow or regress—there's really no drifting in place."

2. "I don't talk about a perfect marriage. I talk about a growing marriage."

3. "Life satisfaction is found in relationships, not in the accumulation of things."

4. "We cannot read each other's minds—you have to ask questions and listen."

5. "The objective is not to win the argument—the objective is to find a solution together."

6. "It's no fun to live with a loser. Why would you create a loser? You're on the same team."

7. "Love has to be communicated in a way that's meaningful to the other person."

Kim Kimberling:

1. "I don't think I'll ever learn everything there is to know about Nancy in a lifetime."

2. "Marriage is an adventure because you're always discovering new things about each other."

3. "If you're not feeling loved, turn into your marriage—not outside of it."

4. "Assumptions in marriage are usually way off."

5. "The distractions we entertain today are often stealing the connection we could be building at home."

6. "There's so much value in the person God put in front of you to do life with."

7. "Small, intentional steps done consistently really do make a difference over time."

Time to Talk About it:

1. Where in our marriage are we currently growing—and where might we actually be drifting without realizing it?

2. In what ways am I trying to show love to my spouse, and are those actually the ways they most feel loved?

3. How well do we really ask questions and stay curious about each other instead of assuming we already know what the other thinks or feels?

4. What would it look like for us to build a simple daily rhythm of connection (even 10–15 minutes) to stay emotionally close?

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Awesome Marriage is on Instagram!

• Take the Love Languages test.

• Get your copy of The Love Language That Matters Most.

• Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Unpack what scripture says about how to demonstrate love well in your marriage with our plan: Speak to Their Heart: 5 Ways to Love Your Spouse Well

• If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !

• It's the perfect time to become a Marriage Changer! When you become a Marriage Changer you'll receive exclusive content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy as well as our resource of the month! Become a Marriage Changer today!

In this episode of the Awesome Marriage Podcast, Dr. Kim sits down with bestselling author Gary Chapman for a practical and honest conversation about what it really looks like to keep a marriage growing, not just surviving.

They talk about why marriages don't just "stay the same," how couples slowly drift without realizing it, and what it takes to stay emotionally connected over time. Gary unpacks how love languages can shift through different seasons of life, why assumptions create so many problems, and how simple things like curiosity, communication, and daily check-ins can completely change the tone of a relationship.

If you've ever felt like you and your spouse are just "off" lately, or you want to be more intentional about loving well, this conversation gives you real, doable ways to start moving back toward each other again.

Episode Highlights:

• Without intentional effort, connection naturally fades into distance or "roommate mode."

• Couples often miss each other because they're expressing love in ways that feel right to them, not in ways that actually land with their spouse.

• When couples stay teachable and intentional, even conflict becomes an opportunity for deeper connection.

Quotes from this Episode:

Gary Chapman:

1. "Marriage is either going to grow or regress—there's really no drifting in place."

2. "I don't talk about a perfect marriage. I talk about a growing marriage."

3. "Life satisfaction is found in relationships, not in the accumulation of things."

4. "We cannot read each other's minds—you have to ask questions and listen."

5. "The objective is not to win the argument—the objective is to find a solution together."

6. "It's no fun to live with a loser. Why would you create a loser? You're on the same team."

7. "Love has to be communicated in a way that's meaningful to the other person."

Kim Kimberling:

1. "I don't think I'll ever learn everything there is to know about Nancy in a lifetime."

2. "Marriage is an adventure because you're always discovering new things about each other."

3. "If you're not feeling loved, turn into your marriage—not outside of it."

4. "Assumptions in marriage are usually way off."

5. "The distractions we entertain today are often stealing the connection we could be building at home."

6. "There's so much value in the person God put in front of you to do life with."

7. "Small, intentional steps done consistently really do make a difference over time."

Time to Talk About it:

1. Where in our marriage are we currently growing—and where might we actually be drifting without realizing it?

2. In what ways am I trying to show love to my spouse, and are those actually the ways they most feel loved?

3. How well do we really ask questions and stay curious about each other instead of assuming we already know what the other thinks or feels?

4. What would it look like for us to build a simple daily rhythm of connection (even 10–15 minutes) to stay emotionally close?

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Awesome Marriage is on Instagram!

• Take the Love Languages test.

• Get your copy of The Love Language That Matters Most.

• Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Unpack what scripture says about how to demonstrate love well in your marriage with our plan: Speak to Their Heart: 5 Ways to Love Your Spouse Well

• If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !

• It's the perfect time to become a Marriage Changer! When you become a Marriage Changer you'll receive exclusive content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy as well as our resource of the month! Become a Marriage Changer today!

Marriage isn't supposed to be all work and no play. But somewhere between busy schedules, responsibilities, stress, and everyday life, a lot of couples find themselves feeling more like roommates than best friends.

In this episode, Dr. Kim and Nancy talk about why fun matters so much in marriage, how couples gradually lose it, and what it takes to bring it back. Whether your marriage feels stuck in a rut or you simply miss enjoying each other the way you once did, this conversation offers practical encouragement and simple ways to reconnect.

Tune in as they discuss the signs that fun has faded, why couples often settle for "fine," and how even small moments of laughter, playfulness, and intentional connection can help strengthen your relationship. Plus, you'll walk away with one simple challenge you can put into practice this week.

If your marriage could use a little more joy, this episode is for you.

Episode Highlights:

Why fun matters more than you think

What's causing the joy to fade

How to reconnect and enjoy each other again

Quotes from this Episode:

It's not exactly what we do, it's how we feel when we are doing something together.

Losing fun doesn't happen overnight. You start feeling kindof bored together so you stop laughing together. You stop talking. You quit interacting.

I don't think in a lifetime you can learn everything about your spouse. You have to stay curious.

Life isn't all about fun. But fun does sure make a lot of life go better.

If you're just coasting, you're missing out on so much of what God has for you in marriage.

Time to Talk About it:

When we dated, how would you rate our fun 1-10?

How would you rate it now?

Are we using efficiency as an excuse to neglect intentionality?

What do you enjoy doing with me (with spouse) for fun?

When is our next date night?

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Awesome Marriage is on Instagram!

• Marriage should be FUN! That's why we created this resource: 14 Days of Marriage Fun

• Has date night gotten boring? Here are some pre planned date ideas!

• Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Intentionality is key for a healthy marriage. Commit to our free One Thing to Grow Your Marriage plan.

• If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !

• It's the perfect time to become a Marriage Changer! When you become a Marriage Changer you'll receive exclusive content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy as well as our resource of the month! Become a Marriage Changer today!