About the Book

Isn’t it great? The thought of marrying the one you love; the ecstatic feelings of sheer happiness; the excitement of planning a wedding and counting down the days.

But wait! There’s all that other stuff—the for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or health, till death do us part—the reality of daily living together stuff. Marriage is a huge commitment and not one to be taken lightly, so you’re wise to take the time to assess and learn all you can before your big day. Countdown for Couples will help you do just that. We’ll review basics such as what love is really all about, and we’ll also go deeper and may address things you’ve never thought you needed—or wanted—to talk about. If you view premarital preparation as a countdown to an adventure, a journey deeper into the life of the one you love, it’ll be one of the most exciting and important things you’ve done together so far.

Research and common sense indicate that engaged couples will have stronger, more successful marriages if they participate in premarital counseling. Countdown for Couples addresses the issues of greatest interest and importance to engaged couples, and delivers this insight in an easy-to-use format and tackles many important questions. Before you enter the adventure of marriage, open the map and see where you’re going.

Table of Contents…
1. A Marriage of Three: What’s God’s view of love and marriage?
2. Ready or Not: Are you ready for a lifelong commitment?
3. Surviving or Thriving: How do you meet each other’s needs?
4. Great Expectations: What should you expect in your marriage?
5. Beautifully Different: Can differences be gifts from God?
6 Communication: How do you express love through words?
7. Rules of Engagement: How do you fight fair?
8. Let’s Make Cents: How do you navigate your financial life?
9. A Productive Partnership: How do you handle the nitty gritty of daily life?
10. The Intimate Mystery: What’s God design for sexual intimacy?
11. It’s a Family Affair: Why is family such a challenge?
12. The Great Adventure: What do you do with the rest of your life together?