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Friday, October 31, 2014

10 Reasons Why You Should Marry A Man With African Roots

In case you don't know, African men are quite a catch, and here are 10 reasons why you should consider tying the knot with them.
You might be familiar with common traits of husbands from different countries in Europe, or even different states in the United States. But do you know much about how men with African roots are raised to treat their partners?
Family and marital dynamics in African cultures are varied and interesting, and the relationship between a husband and wife is sacred.
Here are 10 reasons a man with African roots would make a great husband.
  1. He'll do anything to protect your family: In most African tribes and cultures, anything that threaten or offends a man’s family is immediately a threat or offense to him. You’ll never feel alone in your battles—your husband will fight them like they’re his own.
  2. Your relationship is a building block to him: In many African cultures, the marriage between a man and a woman is a crucial building block for a man’s life. After being married, in many African cultures, a man is then able to go after other pursuits. Your relationship won’t just be as something “fun” or seen as an accessory: it will be seen as crucial.
  3. He has a good relationship with his parents: In African cultures, men take care of not only their wives and children, but also their parents and even grandparents. If you’re tired of meeting men who don’t have good relationships with their parents, that probably won’t be an issue with an African man.
  4. You’ll get a big family: African families stay very close. An African man feels as obligated to help his third cousin as he does his immediate siblings. When you marry an African man you’ll instantly inherit a large, close-knit and supportive community.
  5. He feels responsible for the wellbeing of your family: In African cultures, the man is the provider of the family. There is no doubt in the mind of an African man that he is directly responsible for the wellbeing and happiness of his family. He’ll think about how all of his decisions affect you, not just himself.
  6. He is proud to be a husband: Whereas in many western cultures, men are taught to see marriage as some sort or prison— something that takes away their freedom — African men see it as a means to new freedom. Others see him as a man now instead of a boy. He is proud to say he has a wife and children, rather than sheepish about it. In African cultures, your success is measured more by how strong and happy your family is than anything else.
  7. He’ll be shunned if he gets out of line: In African cultures, if a man mistreats his wife, the rest of the community tends to shun him and considers him useless. Since one of his most important roles is as husband and father, if he does something bad for the family, his community truly does see him as a failure.
  8. He appreciates a home cooked meal: Western cultures have learned to appreciate endless pasta cards from chain restaurants, great deals on ready-made chicken from the deli and celebrity-run restaurants. And that has turned the homemade meal into something second rate and boring. But an African man really values a good homemade meal.
  9. He’s open to learning: If a man moved directly from Africa to the United States, he already accepts that life will be very different and there will be a lot to become accustomed to, so he will be open to learning from you!
  10. Nurturing doesn’t look needy: Many women from the western world have been taught that being nurturing to a man can look needy—like taking care of him when he’s sick or just being particularly affectionate. But African men are very comfortable with being nurtured, and in fact crave it!

5 Things Nigerian Men Find Unattractive In Women

"When in Rome, behave like a Roman..." Right?
That means there is a certain way people behave depending on their environment. According to this article written by a Nigerian man, below are 5 attributes that "Naija" men find absolutely unattractive in their women.
It's entertaining and very hilarious. Enjoy...
Let the record reflect that just because we find some of these unattractive does not mean we will not attempt to sleep with you. Sleeping with you is a different ball game when compared with attraction.
The two are not mutually exclusive!
  1. Desperados: These are the sort of girls that you find at every party, in every bar or night club. And if you're confused; here are some pointers. They are wearing heavy makeup, chewing violently on bubble gums and standing ALONE, clutching unto their little purses! So we can already tell that they either don't have cars or they didn't come with anybody they could trust enough to hold their bags. Desperados don't want to dance of course; except you bear a striking age resemblance with their dads back in the village or if you've got a belly to remind them of theirs' before they got an abortion. But not dancing doesn't mean they don't appreciate drinks! "Can I buy you a drink? Of course". And while you do; she pretends to receive a call in front of a loud speaker! Listen I'm not saying there's anything wrong in being bought a drink for; but women who act as though they are entitled to a man's wallet have got to go! It's unattractive and it's downright classless!
  2. Blackberry Beggars: How a classy lady can turn from her 'whatever' attitude before you got her PIN to posting sad and teary icons on her blackberry profile, beats me. I mean come on girls; whatever happened to your pride? I know you're broke- but must the world know? Do you have to post all your problems to the new dude? But I trust my Naija guys to say - "Eeyaa! It shall be well!" Jokes apart; one thing is certain; if he helps you with some money, he does so out of pity- which is not something you want a man dating you to feel for you. He should feel respect for you; so please respect yourselves. If a man starts giving you money immediately after meeting you, please don't go running to your gossipy friends 6 months later to tell them how wicked men are. He's just recouped his investment dividends for 6 months! And if you must tell them; please start such stories with how greedy you were.
  3. Gbabes: Granted that most of us want girls who have Indian blood running in their veins; but we're not stupid enough to know that we can't all have that. Gbabes are girls whose hairs remind me of the psychiatric hospital opposite my church! I know you can't all afford to wear the expensive lace wigs and Brazilian hair that Omotola or Patience Jonathan wears - but why not thank God for the Aba boys? They have made some extension braids and 'Brazilian hair' affordable for peanuts…
  4. Unkempt Private Areas: *Hums* "Sometimes I shave my legs sometimes I don't". That's cool and all but I'm going to need you to shave under your arms and the other place (you know where.) I am not scared of using the P word but this is a family friendly website- and I'm sure you get the gist. We may be bush men here in Nigeria, but please give yourself an edge up by keeping it like a well-manicured lawn rather than like a jungle safari in the middle of Niger Delta!
  5. Loud Mouths: Some girls know all the lyrics of all the tracks in Terry G's or Wizkid's Album. I once danced with a girl who took me through Timaya's discography while wearing a smile. She even knew what the upcoming tracks were! Now, don't get me wrong. It's all good. But what's not good is that the Naija guy, you're dancing with or rapping at, has already formed an opinion of you! You're a loudmouth in his head. And you seriously can't fault him for this assumption. What the average Nigerian who wants to have something serious with you- thinks about is; "what will my people say about this girl?" Truth is; if I can't bring you home to momma we can't roll. I can't stand a woman whose every word is a curse; mothereffer this, son of a —– that et cetera. Kindly have at least; an ounce of class and act like a lady and not an Obalende conductor!
Peace out and love to Nigerian ladies, I think you're all beautiful. These observations are not meant to offend any of you; but a little dose of "keeping it real" is always healthy.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Couple Share Marriage Tips As They Celebrate 70th Wedding Anniversary

An elderly couple from Reading, in the UK, shared a few tips on how they kept their marriage alive for 70 years.
"We wouldn't change it for the world," said a Reading couple as they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with friends and family last week.
Ruth and Harold Taylor may be 92 and 91 but they had youthful smiles on their faces as they welcomed guests to join them in marking the platinum milestone on Tuesday.
Meeting in 1940 at the old Post Office headquarters in Friar Street, where they both worked, the pair have fond memories of their shared life.
Within four years of first meeting, Ruth and Harold tied the knot in a family ceremony at Christ Church, though Ruth remembers the ongoing Second World War had its impact.
She said: "It was a big family do but everything was on rations so we didn't have a big cake or anything like that."
Shortly after getting married they both did their bit for the country with Harold serving as a flight engineer with the RAF in Malta and Ruth working with the WAF in Sutton Coldfield.
After the war they returned to Reading and Harold continued working for the Post Office until his retirement at 58.
Joined by friends and fellow residents at Pegasus Court this week, Ruth said the only secret to a long marriage is give and take.
She added: "You just have to be tolerant of one another."

Elderly Man Eats Alone With Photo Of His Late Wife Beside Him

An elderly man has captured the hearts of many after a picture of him eating alone with a photo of his late wife on the table went viral.
The man, who is a pensioner, was spotted dining at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in California. He revealed that the woman in the picture is his beloved wife, whom he was married to for 55 years and who passed away five years ago.
According to ozigizaga.blogspot.com, the man, who has been captured eating at the fast food chain alongside photos of his late wife several times, told intrigued customers that he met his soul mate when they were both 17.
They dated briefly, before losing contact when he went off to war and her family moved away from California, according to a diner who posted an image of the pensioner on Immure.
While he was serving for his country, the man constantly thought about the woman he loved and on his return to America, decided to look for her.
For the following ten years, he desperately searched for his love, refusing to date anyone else and answering claims that he was crazy with: "I am. Crazy in love."
Finally, he visited a barber shop in California, where he discovered the barber's daughter was, in fact, the woman he had spent so long searching for.
She, too, had spent the past decade searching for him, so he proposed and they wed. They then spent an amazing 55 years together. It is unknown whether they had children.
Since his wife's death in 2009, the pensioner revealed he takes at least one photo of her with him everywhere and even kisses it goodnight. He also still celebrates her birthday and their anniversary.
One diner, Madina Bashizaduah, of San Francisco Bay Area, posted a photo of the man on Twitter, alongside the caption: "Oh my god I just died! He has a picture of his wife with him as he eats!"
The image has been shared more than 7,000 times, prompting other customers to upload interesting quotes that the pensioner had said during their conversations with him.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

6 Reasons Why Couples Should Travel Together

Taking a trip together as a couple is one of the ingredients for a healthy and lasting relationship.
Travelling can show a person in his extremes – from the best character parts to the worst problems.
That's why it can be really important for every couple to travel together: both of them can learn the most important information about each other.
So look at 6 reasons to take your loved one to the road with you:
  1. You get out from your zone of comfort: If the place you travel to is unknown for the couple, things get extreme and intensive. Surely, when he shows you around his fatherland, you get to learn important information about him, but only moving into unknown conditions will open the real him to you. Whether you miss your last train, get declined in a souvenir shop or an annoying language barrier – all this are chances to challenge your love bonds and check each other out in extreme circumstances.
  2. It's a chance to learn compromising: During trip planning you may find out that your interests in visiting some significant places really differ. So you will have to decide together, how to make it to every museum he wants to see and to all your little bookstores in a few days. Compromising means to discover a way to please both – perhaps, by just changing books and history to romantic boat trip or planning a route which includes as many museums as shops.
  3. Receiving new memories instead of painful old ones:Tahiti can be a bad place to you because of quarrels you had with your ex there. Visiting the beautiful place together with your new love will replace old negative emotions with new happiness.
  4. Experience of financial cooperation: If you both take things about relationship serious, travelling together can be a fine test for your financial cooperation skills, which are truly important for couples living in one room. It can be really difficult to plan a monthly budget, so try doing it for your trip and see your future mistakes and knowledge lacks.
  5. Travel takes you out of your couple routine: At home you already managed to create some routines and couple traditions – for example, takeaways on Wednesdays or clubs every Friday night. Adding everyday working or studying it can be really complex to leave this routine behind. Travel can help you to include some freshness in your relationship, to see a new life behind everyday bars.
  6. Having fun together: The most cool thing about couple travel is the great fun you can have. Experience of discovering other cities and countries together is an astonishing experience you will always remember, and it will give you wonderful bonds which no other activity can give.

10 Bible Verses For You When Everything Is Falling Apart

When times are rough the one person that will always stand by your side is God. He will forever be the constant that you can rely on.
The journey of life is filled with happiness, joy and the inevitable feelings of disappointment and tragedy.
No matter how big or small the situation may be, at times your life will feel like it is falling apart and crumbling beneath your feet.
When times are rough the one person that will always stand by your side is God. He will forever be the constant that you can rely on. Here are ten devotionals based on scriptures that will give you comfort and hope when life seems like it is falling apart.
  1. Psalm 119:114: “You are my refuge and my shield. I have put my hope in your Word.” God is in your corner despite the world falling apart around you. He will never leave your side because he is your protector. Trust in God to keep you safe and know that he will help you pick up the pieces in your life. Be hopeful in God and he will bring you the hope and ability to get through what may seem like the end. God is and always will be your light and hope.
  2. Proverbs 3:5:"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding." God has a plan for you and for the world that surrounds you - never doubt in the Lord. Remember that your views are your reactions and are biased. God on the other hand, will never let you down because he has a plan that will guide you through this excursion. Repeat the phrase, "He knows best." Turn to God and lean on him, for his arms will embrace you and keep you safe. Do not ask the question why, instead repeat He knows best.
  3. Revelation 22:13:"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Who else can say that but God? No one, only God can say such a thing. God knows everything - the past, current and future and our knowledge and understanding doesn’t even compare to the knowledge and understanding of God –  even when it applies to our own life. When you don’t understand what God is doing in your life, consider the source. Who do you put your trust in - God or yourself?
  4. 1 Samuel 15:22:"...obedience is better than sacrifice." God places significance on obedience. He would much rather you be obedient to his instruction than for you to give him money offerings, fasting and etc. God gives you instruction and you’re in a situation where you don’t understand what’s going on in your life, you need to remember to be obedient and to trust in the one who does understand. There are blessings that follow a person who is obedient just as there are curses that follows a person who isn't.
  5. Genesis 12:1:The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.” As much as we would like God to give us everything upfront and all in one shot, God does not operate like that.  Sometimes, God will place you in a situation where you have to trust him and he will give you piece by piece as you obey and entrust in him. Misfortunes and tribulations will only increase your faith as you learn to walk by faith and not by sight. You will grow stronger from the trials that you face in life.
  6. James 1:2-3:"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow." The Bible says when trouble comes, and trouble will come in this life, that we have to do something. The word is simply saying don’t think you’ll be with out trouble but here is what you can do. Instead of getting upset, angry or even withdrawn because trouble has come, you need to do what the bible says and consider it a joy. Do not fill your life with more negativity by reacting with anger instead infect your life with positivity and allow the storm to pass. Only you can change the course of action - be strong and venture on.
  7. Nehemiah 2:5:"If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it." This suggests to us that if we are truly concerned about rebuilding parts of our life, we need to think seriously about what it will require. We must assess what we will actually need, what steps we should take and what may be involved in. We must change our habits so that we can be freed to be what God wants us to be. Nehemiah teaches us that we need to face honesty and apply it to our situation. The truth will set you free and let you continue your journey of life away from devastation.
  8. Psalm 126: 5-6:"Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him." There is nothing sad about sowing because it takes no more work than reaping. So why are they weeping? Sowing is something that must be done even when there are things in life that make us cry. Keep in mind that it is a process and you will get through this. Maintain your balance and keep on, it is okay to shed tears but keep in mind that you must move past the sorrow so that you can move on.
  9. Psalms 91:14:“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.We have a faithful God that wants you to love him and in return he will always be by your side. Friends and family, unfortunately, will come and go in your life; whether it be by choice or circumstances out of our hands. However our God will never leave you! He loves us even when we wrong him, He is still faithful and does what he promises. God is the one that loves us the best.
  10. Philippians 4:6-7:“Not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  When we give something to God, it feels wonderful because we are essentially giving the burden, worries and cares of that situation over to him. You will feel an overwhelming peace knowing that it is in his hands. The problem is when we 'take back' the issue. Whether it be taking back control of something we surrendered to him, trying to take care of ourselves in an area, try to figure out our own way, when we initially asked for his direction - no matter what way you put it all of these things will cause us to be regretful and cause us more pain and frustration. God will be there for you unlike anyone else you will have in your life and the best part is that he wants to be that statue in your life.

How To Know You're In An Emotionally Abusive Relationship

Do you suspect that your relationship is beginning to harm you emotionally or are you just blowing matters out of proportion?
Think you're in an emotionally abusive relationship?
 Here are 9 signs that it's time to walk away.
  1. You're on a daily emotional roller coaster: One minute your significant other is loving and the next, punishing you for not doing things correctly. This is a major red flag. Manipulation plays a huge role in most abusive relationships. This constant emotional roller coaster ride of arguments and apologies is definitely unhealthy and a sign it's time to walk away.
  2. They isolate you: It's one thing for your spouse to love spending quality time with you but when the person you're with starts isolating you from family and friends, there's a problem. It's healthy for you to have relationships outside of the relationship with your significant other. Don't let them tell you otherwise.
  3. Issues of jealousy: An emotionally abusive partner or spouse isn't just jealous of the people you're closest with but also your dreams and goals because they want to control all aspects of your life. A secure person doesn't need to be jealous of the relationship you have with others because they trust you and the relationship you've created together.
  4. Arguments tend to escalate, quickly: Occasional arguments are not uncommon in relationships, and are not always unhealthy but arguments in emotionally abusive relationships are. These arguments tend to escalate quickly and have no end point. Even day-to-day conversation can escalate to physical abuse, so beware.
  5. You're nervous around them: Abusive partners and spouses will use any tactic they can to keep you down, including threats of violence as a way to assert their dominance over you. If you feel any form of fear around the person you're in a relationship with, it's time to walk away.
  6. Constant put downs: No matter what you do in the relationship, it's never right and it's never enough. When you talk to them, especially about your accomplishments, they put you down and make you feel small for the decisions you made.
  7. You go out of your way to make them happy: Nothing's wrong with wanting to keep your significant other happy but when you find yourself pleading for their happiness, there's an issue. You may even find yourself staying silent even when you're angry just to keep the peace.
  8. You feel trapped: Helplessness is an ever-present emotion in emotionally abusive relationships. Often times, abusive partners will try controlling all aspects of your life, including personal items like your car and phone and what you do with your spare time. It you're feeling trapped, it's time to take the leap of faith and walk away.
  9. You start believing you're the problem: After all the arguments and put downs, you start believing that you're not worth any more than the abuse. This is simply a manipulation tactic and a way to justify the abuse. You're not crazy or the problem. You're worth so much more.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

10 Things You Should Never Say To Your Pregnant Wife

A woman's sense of humour tends to go south when she's pregnant, so you really have to watch what you say to her.
A pregnant wife could be like the Hulk!
One wrong word, one wrong question and it could turn her into a green monster...
So unless you want to get ‘smashed' by her, we suggest you read this for your own benefit.
1. "... what you're hungry again?"
Yes she is hungry again... what's that to you? She might eat like a horse, sleep like a log and snore like a truck driver - SHE IS ENTITLED, okay?
2. "... what you want to pee again?"
Let's do this. Why don't you take her uterus, put in your belly, and then let it grow till it's stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic with your bladder! Later, we'll have your kidneys - who're watching all the drama from up above and are getting a kick out of it - send more and more traffic towards your bladder just for fun! Want to try that?
3. "... are we having that for dinner again?"
Why, would you like to have something else for dinner? How about eating your delightful words ‘again and again and again and again'? Stuffed? You had rice for dinner yesterday, are having it today, and will have it for dinner tomorrow. Deal with it. And NEVER use the word again, again.
4. "Why're you being so emotional?"
‘Coz her hormones are all wired up and you just finished the last scoop of double chocolate chip cookie ice-cream in the fridge!
5. "Did you just fart?"
Did you just fall down from the 13th-floor and hit your head and die? That question is blasphemous. You never ask a woman that question, let alone a pregnant one. And FYI... Women don't fart! They do however, release tiny puffs of glitter that sound like a unicorn's laughter and smell like rainbow.
6. "Can't believe Annie Idibia can look that hot after just having a child!"
Annie Idibia's husband is a millionaire who probably hired the best dietician, the best gym trainer and the best goddamn plastic surgeon for her... Who are you and what can you afford to give your wife?
7. "God I need a foot massage; can you give me one?"
... will you like some hot-hot veg soup and nicely pounded yam too? That was sarcasm, in case you didn't realise. It's a possibility that you're really exhausted, but hello, so is she. A win-win situation would be booking a romantic spa for the two of you.
8. "I just heard a good pregnant joke... "
Tell you what... do you know what you get when you cross The Incredible Hulk and King Kong? Well, a really, really angry pregnant wife. Think twice before you crack jokes; especially poop jokes.
9. "This pregnancy is hard on me too!"
Really? Are you getting nightmares thinking about the scars and stretch marks that pregnancy will leave on your body? You're probably just mentally tired. But your wife is going through mental, emotional and physical stress! So don't compare.
10. "You need to calm down!"
*Sigh*

How To Handle Your Jealous Spouse

The one thing you cannot do is "solve" your mate's jealousy problem for him or her, but you can set boundaries to help keep them in check.
When you live with a jealous spouse, life can be frustrating and exasperating. You may feel that your partner's jealousy gets in the way time and time again. What can be done when it's your partner who seems to be frequently controlled by jealousy?
Contrary to popular belief, there's actually a lot that you can do. The one thing you cannot do is "solve" your mate's jealousy problem for him or her. As much as you'd like to force your partner to just "get over being jealous," this is nearly impossible.
However, you can set boundaries with your spouse that will support his or her efforts to overcome jealousy. These boundaries can also help you two to move closer together again.
Here are 3 useful tips for setting boundaries with your jealous spouse:
  • Set boundaries with an awareness of your own tendencies: You know best if you truly are innocent in this situation. Be very honest with yourself and own up to it if you are behaving in ways that could be triggering jealousy in your partner and undermining trust in your relationship. This isn't about you "taking the blame." Instead, this is about you recognizing any tendencies that you have that might be playing a role in the tension and conflict that's present in your marriage. Do you like to flirt with others? As harmless and innocent as your motives may be to you, it's probable that your mate does not see this as harmless or innocent. Do you appreciate looking at and maybe commenting on attractive people's bodies? You may know that you're only looking, but your partner does not know this. When you look "too long" or "too longingly" at others, it can most certainly lead to jealousy and insecurity within your mate. You may not even be aware of all of the ways that you are contributing to the jealousy. Take some time to really evaluate your habits and see if there are ways you might be fueling jealousy in your mate without meaning to.
  • Set boundaries with love and kindness: You can set boundaries with your jealous partner with love and kindness. Come to the discussion as calm as you can. Be clear about what you will do and what you won't do. Remember to speak from your own vantage point instead of assuming what your partner wants or how he or she feels.
  • Set boundaries knowing that you cannot "fix" your partner's jealousy for him or her:  As we said above, your partner's jealousy is not something you can "fix" or "solve" for him or her. You can be honest about how it feels to be wrongly accused. You can be open about how much you'd like the two of you to communicate without arguing. You can let your spouse know that you are willing to support his or her efforts to overcome jealousy in specific ways. These ways shouldn't include you taking the sole "blame" or you giving in to whatever your partner wants just to avoid a fight. Let your mate know that you are taking ownership for your role in the disconnection between you two. You can also let your spouse know that you want to work as a team as he or she faces the jealousy and begins to let it go.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

9 Ways To Know He's About To Propose

Is your guy acting a little...different? It could be a sign of bright bling to come.
His apartment is clean, he's saving money, and Thursday night poker with the guys has turned into date night with you?
Either your guy is coming down with something, or he's planning to pop the question.
Read on for more telltale signs that he's ready to say "I do."
  1. He's growing out of his bachelor ways: You can tell his bachelor days are behind him when his number-one priority is no longer himself. If he's constantly using terms like "we" and "our," and plans for a weekend with the guys are suddenly on the back burner while weekends with you are becoming more common, it's probably not that he's just sick of his buddies. He might've realized that he prefers a more settled lifestyle, and this transition puts him squarely on the path to proposing.
  2. He's redecorating: You may notice certain items have disappeared from his pad, like his favourite posters. And did he ditch that ugly brown chair for something a little nicer? It could be the start of major changes -- your boyfriend is making room in his life for you, both physically and emotionally.
  3. He's curbing big purchases: Has your boyfriend gone from big spender to big saver? The plasma-screen TV he'd been planning to buy isn't hanging over his mantel, and instead of buying rounds of drinks at happy hour after work, he's home cooking dinner. He might be eliminating frivolous spending to brace for a large down payment (on your engagement ring).
  4. He's not complaining about weddings: While at a wedding together, it's more than just the usual eagerness for an open bar. He's not cracking jokes during the vow exchange -- instead, he's commenting on the couple's first-dance song choice and the meal selection. Take it as a sign that he's paying attention to all things wedding-related because marriage is on his mind.
  5. He's taken an interest in your jewelry: Has he been complimenting your great ability to accessorize? Snooping around in your jewelry box? Holding your hand, constantly? All kidding aside, when your favorite ring goes missing, you'll know for sure that he's trying to find a covert way to figure out your size.
  6. He wants to meet the parents: Okay, so he's probably already met your parents. If he hasn't and has become insistent on meeting them, it's probably for a good reason. Or maybe he already knows them well. If he's all of a sudden the first to RSVP for your nephew's birthday party, or jumps at the chance for a weekend visit with your parents, he's ready for the next step.
  7. He's been talking to friends and family behind your back:He's not trying to sneak around but he wants to maintain some element of surprise while still giving you your dream proposal. Chances are he's talking to your closest friends to get a better idea of what you might want in a proposal or for your engagement ring. (You better drop some ring hints to your besties too.)
  8. He's involving you in big picture decisions: He may have gotten a job offer he's consulting you about or he's thought about whether the two of you should move into a more spacious apartment. He's asking you because he values your opinion and realizes if a proposal is on the horizon that life choices like these are going to start impacting both of you equally.
  9. He's acting out of character: You know his daily routine inside and out, and any variation is enough to give you pause. If he's super-insistent that you guys do something you never do (like take a walk through a park or drive to a place to watch the sunset), he may be setting you up to speak those four little words: "Will you marry me?" After all that hard work, be sure to make it easy on him and say yes!

10 Things Every Husband Wants To Hear

Words are very important, and what a woman says to her husband builds him up or breaks him down.
Wives respect your husbands... The universal love language for men is respect. Husbands yearn to feel esteemed, especially by their wives.
Here are ten things that all husbands need to hear.
  1. "I believe in you." This is an instant confidence booster and can turn any seeming defeat into a delayed victory. When your husband is facing one of life's many setbacks, this is a secret weapon to help him feel empowered to stay the course.
  2. "I value your leadership." Every husband battles insecurity in knowing whether or not they are providing and leading their family in the right direction. Celebrate and encourage him. It strengthens his ability to take on more challenges in life knowing there's someone always in his corner.
  3. "I admire you." Always try to catch the things he's doing right and make a big deal out of it! So often, the focus is on the failures and the slip-ups. This can beat a person down. Lift him up by reinforcing the positive and admiring the things he does well.
  4. "I feel safe with you." Show your husband that his presence is needed and his protection is important. Sometimes we as women take on too much and we need someone to say "Honey, that's enough." Thank him for being your buffer and standing guard when you really need it.
  5. "You were right. I was wrong." Admit when you get it wrong, but more than that tell him when he's right. Exercising humility at this level, keeps the marriage healthy and let's your husband know that he's more important than your pride.
  6. "I appreciate all you do for our family." If your husband is doing all he can to earn and provide for the home, don't fail to be thankful and show appreciation for the sacrifice. The "you're supposed to do this" mindset can cause burn-out and discouragement.
  7. "I'm glad I married you." Be sure he knows without a doubt that you're happy with the choice you made. Let him know you would do it all over again even if circumstances were different.
  8. "I missed you." Never let your husband forget that he is loved and enjoyed in your life. When you're apart, remind him that you're thinking of him. Absolutely refuse to take him for granted.
  9. "Thank you for being dependable." Express thanks and appreciation when your husband changes your tire, picks you up from the airport or runs an errand for you. Remember you're a team, lifetime partners and appreciate his moment-to-moment choice to honour that.
  10. "You're an awesome man of God." Realize that spiritual disciplines, like prayer and devotions may come easier for you. Give him the gift of spiritual encouragement, especially when he takes the lead to initiate family Bible study or suggests going on a marriage retreat. Love him well.