How to Build an Enduring Marriage Workbook

By Karen Budzinski

If asked to list the most important things in life, most people would not list their material possessions over their relationships. Although relationships are as varied as the people involved, the tools we utilize to build and strengthen them are always the same. This workbook will give you a chance to personally apply the valuable tools to enjoy marathon relationships as presented in the companion book, How to Build an Enduring Marriage:

Avoid common obstacles that hinder successful communication Identify destructive habits that are eating away at marital happiness Prepare to get through problems without danger or injury to your relationship Achieve true intimacy, love, and friendship with your husband Hold onto joy through the ups and downs of life together

Your marriage cannot work unless you do.

I want to invite you to take a journey with me while we study and apply ourselves to live out our priorities. It is a journey designed to leave excuses behind as we apply ourselves to an extreme relationship workout. We are going to lift the ideals we have settled for in our relationships to new standards, set aside pre-conceived ideas, commit to develop and apply new skills, and take a look at some of the priorities we have unintentionally allowed to slacken. As we dedicate ourselves to these tasks, results will follow.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490844190

Karen Budzinski

Karen and her husband Gary were married in 1981. In 1984, they had their first child; by 1989, they had five children. Karen began challenging and teaching women to strengthen their relationships in 1981. She did not realize at that time that her life work would be dedicated to helping others build better relationships. Karen is the author of How to Build an Enduring Marriage, published in 2014. She shares her passion to help others live victoriously by teaching in America and abroad. Karen and Gary’s sons and daughters are all married, and have made Karen and Gary grandparents to fourteen children ages 6 and under and counting. Karen and Gary reside in Michigan.

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Copyright © 2014 Karen Budzinski.

Cover Design: Terry Kole

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked GW are taken from GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked THE MESSAGE are taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

www.howtobuildanenduringmarriage.com

www.karenbudzinski.com

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-4418-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-4419-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014912398

WestBow Press rev. date: 7/22/2014\

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Preface

What to Expect From this Workbook

Chapter 1 Who Am I?

Chapter 2 A Woman of Character

Chapter 3 Control Freak

Chapter 4 Giving Up Control

Chapter 5 When Something Has to Give

Chapter 6 Reasonable and Realistic

Chapter 7 Admiration and Appreciation

Chapter 8 Choices and Changes

Chapter 9 Changing is a Work of Heart

Chapter 10 Rules for Effective Communication

Chapter 11 Identity Crisis: Roles in Marriage

Chapter 12 Set Your Pace

Chapter 13 Problems Ahead

Chapter 14 Joy in the Journey

Epilogue

Dedication

This workbook, as the book it accompanies,

is dedicated to the crème de la crème

women who for over 32 years have attended

the classes, seminars, retreats, and luncheons

I have hosted to strengthen relationships.

Women who’ve wanted to learn and grow,

to take their relationships to the next level.

Women willing to step outside their norms,

to take responsibility, to keep on trying,

and to believe that they could be a part of

positive change, healing, and renewal

in their marriage and other relationships.

Women who had the humility to admit

things they did wrong, and the courage

to not