Here is what you will learn after listening to this episode

1) To know who you are

2) To know your core values

3) Know your goals are in a relationship

4) Know your needs

I lead you through a short self reflection exercise to be open to love. I live you with some self reflection questions to ponder

In this episode I am providing you with updates and some exciting new things happening with Real Love Real Stories. 

Thank you for all your support. I am excited to be back with new and exciting new content.

Thank you for going on this journey with me and for your support. I am so grateful and humbled that these love stories are being listened in 64 countries and counting. As I raise the glass to toast to this one year I want to thank all the guests that took time and shared their stories on my podcast. These stories give hope and inspiration to a lot of people. Cheers to one year!!! 

Excited to come back on August 3rd with bigger and better things.

One of the ironies of modern life is that we can spend more time being connected, and yet, sometimes wind up being less present for each other. Maybe you're in the same room with a group of your friends, but each you is busy texting or talking on your phones. Maybe you're sitting down to a family dinner, but your mind is still back at the office or looking ahead to the chores you need to do this weekend. If you feel like you're missing out on something, you could be right. Relationships are more fulfilling when you give others your full attention and share the real you. Try these ideas for becoming more mindful in your personal and professional interactions

Excited to share this episode for 2 reasons: it's family and it's an opportunity for you to learn about the Zimbabwean culture when it comes to love, marriage, weddings and lobola. Isaac and Ruth Anne tell their story so beautifully and also they explain the cultural norms regarding bride price etc

Book recommendations: His Needs Her Needs by Willard F Harley Jr. 

Some words used in this episode and their meaning:

1) Tete - Aunt

2) lobola/ dowry - token of your devotion aka bride price 

3) Mukoma - Brother or sister or a senior person

Some of your questions and comments from facebook answered in this episode regarding: "Have you or are you going through pre-marital counseling? What did you gain from it? 

Is it important to go through pre-marital counseling and also when is a good time to go through it?

• TRUTHS OF A GOSPEL-CENTERED MARRIAGE

1. You’re marrying an image-bearer (Gen 1 & James 3)
2. You married not a finished product but a work in progress, and YOU are also a work in progress.
   • Phil 1:6, 2 Cor 4:16, Romans 8.
   • Marriage is all three:
     • Back – to – back
     • Side by side (CS Lewis)
     • Face to face

1. Out of reverence for Jesus, submit to one-another (Ephesians 5).
2. Love God more than you love each other.

10 MOST COMMON “ISSUES” IN MARRIAGE 

1. Most spouses refuse to see themselves as the biggest problem in their marriage. 

1. The purpose of marriage is to fulfill me and make me
2. Marriage shouldn’t be hard work if we are truly “meant” for one another and we have feelings of love for each other.
3. If I am diligent to meet my spouse’s needs, all my needs will be met by my spouse.
4. Communication styles of men and women are SO different; it is a cross-cultural communication experience when husbands and wives talk to each other.
5. A healthy marriage is all three: Back-to-back, side-by-side, face-to-face.
6. Spouses are going to fight, but they don’t fight well.
7. One of the biggest problems with the Church in America is the number of sexually active singles and sexually celibate marrieds.
8. Balancing parenting with the genuine needs of the parents.
9. Married couples rarely spend enough time talking about what the future might look like ... dreaming, budgeting, planning, brainstorming, & encouraging each other.

Book recommendations: 

1) The meaning of marriage - Timothy Keller

2) Theories of human communication - Stephen W. Little John

Barry and Sherry have been married 30 years. They enjoy admiring beautiful women together. They are open and honest with each other and he looks at a marriage as a business proposition that needs a return on investment.

Continuing the love story of Tim and Adia and this time we are talking about their experiences of being in an interracial marriage.

Interracial couple from Phoenix Arizona share their love story. Tim and Adia have been married 6 years and counting. When Tim asked Adia to marry him she asked for a week to pray and fast about it before she gave him her answer.