Team Us

We’ve all had situations or experiences where we’ve felt anxious. Maybe before a job interview, during a move or the house-buying process, or when faced with a daunting project or deadline. For some of us, though, anxiousness isn’t limited to a situation or experience. It can be a daily struggle. Listen in as we share our story and give you some practical suggestions on how you can support, encourage, and stay united when anxiety impacts marriage. 3 Practical Ways to Face Anxiety as a Team Identify triggers. Establish needs. Practice patience. Us Time Challenge Talk to your spouse about a time when you felt anxious. What triggered it, and what did you need? How can you prepare to face anxiety as a team in the future. Team Us Resources Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/) FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/) Links Mentioned in This Episode List of Phobias: Common Phobias from A to Z at verywellmind.com (https://www.verywellmind.com/list-of-phobias-2795453) Connect with Ted and Ashleigh Website (https://ashleighslater.com/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ashleighslater_author/) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ashleighslaterauthor) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How often do you need to be right? And how do you respond when you’re not right, and your spouse is? We’re digging into all that today and discussing why being right in marriage can be wrong. Listen in as we chat about how we can help maintain the peace, not by hoping that our spouse, if ever asked, applaud us as always right. But instead, by actively practicing humility. 2 Practical Ways to Choose Humility Reject me-centeredness Choose both/and Us Time Challenge  Identify if there are any little areas where you insist on being right. We all have them. Then, figure out how you can practice both/and in this area. Team Us Resources  Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/) FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/)  Resources Mentioned in This Episode Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis  Connect with Ted and Ashleigh Website (https://ashleighslater.com/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ashleighslater_author/) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ashleighslaterauthor) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode, we’re talking about something that’s in every marriage—and that’s money! We’ll be the first to admit that finances aren’t an area we have all figured out. But a recent message from our pastor got us freshly contemplating how much trust and dependence we put in it. Listen in as we reflect on his sermon and share our results from a money personality assessment. We also discuss how we aren’t 100% on the same page in every area regarding money, but we’ve learned not to let it divide us. Us Time Challenge Take the 5 Money Personalities Assessment at 5moneypersonalities.com this week with your spouse. Share your results with each other—and with us on social media. Team Us Resources  Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/) FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/) Links Mentioned in This Episode The 5 Money Personalities Assessment (https://5moneypersonalities.com/) For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn (https://amzn.to/43Tpfbv)  Connect with Ted and Ashleigh Website (https://ashleighslater.com/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ashleighslater_author/) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ashleighslaterauthor) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Have you ever looked at your spouse and asked, “What do we have in common?” Maybe there have been times when you’ve even felt like you have more differences than similarities. In marriage, there’s always the potential for our differences to eat away at our unity—especially if that’s what we focus on. Today, we’re sharing five practical ways you and your spouse can stop your differences from dividing you. How to Stop Your Differences from Dividing You Understand that you are innately different Don’t despise each other’s differences Learn to appreciate and respect each other’s differences Have shared interests that unite you Spend time together   Us Time Challenge  Identify one difference that’s been dividing you and your spouse lately. Take some time to think about what you can appreciate and respect about that difference. Then, tell your spouse—and be sure to keep it all positive!   Team Us Resources  Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/) FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/)   Links Mentioned in This Episode Loving Him Well by Gary Thomas For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn and For Men Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn 9 Lies That Will Destroy Your Marriage by Robert Paul and Greg Smalley   Connect with Ted and Ashleigh Website (https://ashleighslater.com/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ashleighslater_author/) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ashleighslaterauthor) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How often do you intentionally stop to praise your spouse? To recognize and affirm their character or actions? Many of us probably cringe at answering these questions because we know we could do better! If you struggle to feed your spouse praise regularly, this episode is for you. Listen in as we share some practical steps we all can take to criticize less and affirm and build up our spouse more. 3 Ways to Praise Your Spouse More Adopt a grace-filled perspective Check your vocabulary and the tone of your praise Keep your praise focused on your spouse Us Time Challenge Make it your goal to praise your spouse more this week! Team Us Resources Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/) FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/)  Connect with Ted and Ashleigh Website (https://ashleighslater.com/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ashleighslater_author/) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ashleighslaterauthor) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you remember the “Anyone can cook” catchphrase from the film Ratatouille? Well, we believe anyone can record a podcast—including you and your spouse. Listen in as we share some ways podcasting together has strengthened our marriage, and we think it can strengthen your relationship too. 3 Ways Podcasting Can Strengthen Your Marriage Podcasting gets you talking. Podcasting helps you be vulnerable. Podcasting is a fun, shared activity. Us Time Challenge Record a podcast together! It doesn’t have to be long, fancy, focused on marriage, or even distributed on iTunes. You can record it for family and friends and simply post it on your social media feed. And be sure to tag us when you do! Team Us Resources  Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/) FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/)  Connect with Ted and Ashleigh Website (https://ashleighslater.com/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ashleighslater_author/) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ashleighslaterauthor) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Parenting can be wonderful, but it is also demanding and exhausting. We have four kids—we get it! It can be easy to put our spouse and marriage on the back burner. But today, we’re encouraging you not to do that! Listen in as we share three practical reasons why your marriage relationship needs to take the highest priority after your relationship with God. (And know, this is a conversation full of grace for whatever parenting season you are in!) 3 Reasons Marriage Comes Before Parenting Your marriage is a life-long, interdependent commitment Your spouse and your marriage aren’t static Your kids need you to put your spouse first Us Time Challenge Spend time together! If your schedule and current parenting stage don’t easily allow for a date, find time together at home. Sit on the couch or back porch and talk. Take a walk, or have a fun conversation while you drive. The point is not to put your relationship on the backburner! Team Us Resources Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/) FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/) Links Mentioned in This Episode “I’m 99% Mother and 1% Wife — And It Has to Be That Way” at GoodHousekeeping.com (https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/parenting/a31760/balancing-mother-and-wife/) “I’m 49% Mother and 51% Wife — And It Has to Be That Way” at iBelieve.com (https://www.ibelieve.com/relationships/i-m-49-mother-and-51-wife-and-it-has-to-be-that-way.html) Connect with Ted and Ashleigh Website (https://ashleighslater.com/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ashleighslater_author/) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ashleighslaterauthor) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What kind of couple do you want to be 5, 10, or 20 years from now? We recently spent a week surrounded by couples who are older than us, and we asked ourselves this exact question. Listen in as we share our thoughts on how you can grow older together and love the couple you become. The Kind of Couple We Want to Become Youthful in spirit Joyful in heart Hopeful in perspective Us Time Challenge Ask yourself: What kind of couple do we want to be in 5, 10, or even 20 years. Then come up with a game plan to start becoming that couple.  Team Us Resources Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/) FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/) Connect with Ted and Ashleigh Website (https://ashleighslater.com/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ashleighslater_author/) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ashleighslaterauthor) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Have you ever thought, “My marriage would be a lot easier if my spouse had a personality more like mine”? If so, you’re not alone. We’ve all had moments where something about our spouse’s unique wiring annoys us. Listen in as we talk about what you can do in those moments when your spouse’s personality drives you nuts. 3 Things You Can Do When Your Spouse’s Personality Drives You Nuts Consider your spouse’s upbringing and past influences. Respect your spouse’s individual wiring even when you don’t understand it. Pick your spouse instead of picking a battle. Us Time Challenge Pick one of the popular personality tests out there and take it with your spouse. Then talk about your results and share something positive about your spouse’s personality that now makes more sense to you. Team Us Resources Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/) FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/) Connect with Ted and Ashleigh Website (https://ashleighslater.com/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ashleighslater_author/) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ashleighslaterauthor) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Have you and your spouse ever been on a getaway together or a family vacation and it didn’t go so well? We can relate! Today we’ll share a few of our stories, list some reasons you might be experiencing conflict away from home, and give you five marriage survival tips to help you vacation-proof your marriage.  5 Possible Reasons Couples Have Vacation Conflict  1.    We’re out of our normal routine.2.    We’re “living” in small spaces.3.    We have different vacation styles.4.    We’re sleep deprived.5.    We’re navigating challenges with kids. 5 Must-Pack Marriage-Survival Tools for Vacation 1. Accurately assess your situation and realize sometimes it will bring out your worst.2. Remember that you’ll be home soon and back to those regular, comfortable habits.3. Fake it until you make it. You know you love your spouse; you just don’t feel like it.4. Have a common enemy.5. Laugh about it together and don’t wait until it’s all over. Us Time Challenge This week, look back at a previous vacation that maybe didn’t go so well. Talk and laugh about what you could have done differently. Focus on your own behavior and attitudes, not your spouse’s.    Links Mentioned in This Episode •    “Your Daily Routines Aren’t Mundane—They’re Actually Keeping You Sane and Healthy (It’s Science)” from RealSimple.com (https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/benefits-of-routines)  Team Us Resources •    Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/) •    FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/)  Connect with Ted and Ashleigh •    Website (https://ashleighslater.com/) •    Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ashleighslater_author/)  •    Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ashleighslaterauthor)  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.