relationships

  • Growing in Love: Keeping a Relationship Happy

    Dena October 1, 2019

    Here on the blog I’ve written about divorce, but I have yet to talk about what came next for me. I am working on a series of posts about separation, divorce, single motherhood, starting over, and transitioning to a blended family. Based on those topics, you can tell that it has been an “interesting” few years for me, laced with pain, learning, healing, and growth. The most important lesson that…

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  • Home Renovation

    Dena August 27, 2013

    When Matthew & I moved into our house almost five years ago it was a fixer-upper. (Fixer-upper being a euphemism for: a piece of…) I digress. An elderly woman lived in the house before us. It smelled like cat. There was a thin layer of…

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  • Becoming Wife

    Dena August 1, 2012

    I love you. You are closest to my heart, closer than any other human being. You are my extension. You are my prayer. You are my belief in God. For better or worse you inherit me. —Anne Sexton The truth is that I didn’t think…

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  • Throw Away ‘The Golden Rule’

    Dena January 30, 2012

    “Treat others the way that you would like to be treated.” You’ve heard it all your life. From the time you were old enough to understand, your parents advised you of the golden rule. Today, I’m asking you to forget it. It’s terrible advice! Treating…

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  • Way Back Wednesday: How to Forgive

    Dena November 2, 2011

    Beginning today, every Wednesday I’ll sift through the archives & pull out one of my favourite posts from the past three years. This week, I am featuring a post from September 2009—How to Forgive. Here is an excerpt: Forgiveness is a journey and like all…

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  • Carousel—07.03.10

    Dena July 2, 2010

    Every Friday, I post my favourite links, posts, & resources from around the Web. Expect to learn, grow, & be inspired. – – – – – – – – – 1. Secret Secret Garden Party: My friend Julie has an amazing baking blog. She shares…

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  • Stop Putting Your Foot in Your Mouth

    Dena April 19, 2010

    “The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend.” —Henry David Thoreau Sometimes a lesson presents itself to me once and it sticks with me forever. Don’t put your hand on the hot stove, you’ll get burnt. Always give yourself ten…

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  • Tired of Conflict Bringing You Down?

    Dena March 23, 2010

    Dealing With Conflict Conflict takes many forms—misunderstanding, frustration, ignorance, hatred, envy, and so on—but despite the cause, the result is largely the same: someone walks away with hurt feelings. The truth is, however, that this is not necessary. You can choose to be unaffected by…

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  • How to Forgive

    Dena September 18, 2009

    “Forgiveness is choosing to love. It is the first skill of self-giving love.” —Gandhi At some point in every person’s life, they will be betrayed. Human beings are flawed creatures. We make mistakes. It is your ability to forgive that will determine whether these betrayals…

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