Plan some fun family outings to get everyone into the Christmas spirit. Go to a Christmas play or musical, attend a local Christmas tree lighting, ride a horse drawn carriage, or gather everyone in the car and look for Christmas tree lights.

Make the most of spending time with family.

Photo by Ian Stauffer on Unsplash

Who doesn't like a surprise?  Go ahead and get your wife an early Christmas present. Do a little reconnaissance to find out what she has been waiting to buy for herself. You can include your children to ask her for ideas, but make sure they can keep a secret.

Wrap it up and give it to her this week.  Be creative in your presentation.  Add a little romantic music and lights, or wherever your imagination takes you.

Photo by Kateryna Hliznitsova on Unsplash

This week our nation celebrates giving thanks for all the blessings we have.  Before you gather for Thanksgiving dinner, write down everyone's name on a piece of paper.  Have each person draw a name from a hat and say something they are thankful for about the person they draw. 

As you say the blessing, remember to thank God for all the people that are in your life.

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On our wedding day, we vowed with our wife to take the good with the bad. When we get prickly with one another, it can be hard to remember that commitment.

Our wife's true beauty goes far beyond the issues that can arise in our relationship. Just like a rose, let her know you love her, thorns and all.

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Take your bride to a place where you can explore beautiful craft items together.  This might be a local craft fair, Hobby Lobby or even Crackel Barrel. Look around and see if there are home decor items you need, or just window shop and find signs that says something you want to share with each other.

My wife and I stopped into Buc-ees and found these two wall plaques.  The first has been my marriage motto since the day we wed. When my wife says she loves me, I say I love her more.... than I have before.

Photo by Dan White

Take a walk with your wife and gather the prettiest fall-colored leaves you can find. With a Sharpie marker, write on five leaves something you admire about one other and share it. Put the leaves in a vase to display in your bedroom throughout the fall. 

Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash

With the temperature cooling, it is a great time to find a local fall festival or county fair.  Check local papers or google where to go. Take your whole family and enjoy the festivities.  Bring your camera and capture the memories.

With the temperature cooling, it is a great time to find a local fall festival or county fair.  Check local papers or google where to go. Take your whole family and enjoy the festivities.  Bring your camera and capture the memories.

Photo by Rene Porter on Unsplash

Our nature as men is to want to fix things. Whatever your natural bent is, if it is broke, you want to make it better. If you are good with cars, electrical, wood, plumbing, computers, finances, etc., and there is a problem, you probably believe you can solve it.

The issue is that this doesn't necessarily work in relationships. For example, if our wife comes to us with a concern or burden, our first instinct may be to give a prescriptive plan to resolve the issue. However, many times our wives just want someone to share their thoughts and feelings with.

One of the best ways to get to the bottom of why someone is coming to you is to just ask. "What is it that you need from me?" is a simple question that clarifies their intent and helps quickly get at what is  needed. The next time your wife comes to you to discuss something, try it. See how you can really help and then come alongside her in the way she needs you to.

Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash

I was in Atlanta when Hurricane Helene passed by. Little did I know when they were projecting mud slides in North Carolina, the devastation that was to come. My wife and I were just in Black Mountain, NC a few weeks ago, one of the towns that was almost completely wiped away. Anyone following social media or the news knows the tragedy that is still evolving throughout the region and the heroism of individuals to help their fellow neighbors. It is times like these that we see the best in people. 

As a family, discuss how you can help those that are in dire need. Coming together to pray for the survivors and those still helping is a great place to begin. Participate in local fund raising or start one of your own, work with churches in your area providing assistance, and dig deep into your own savings to help. Assisting through local ministries will make sure your donations get to where you want them to go. 

Finding ways to help others brings your family together for a common purpose.  ...