Happy Sunday!

We are excited to announce the publishing of Chrissy's latest book, "Monty the Monarch and the Invisible Butterfly".

Here is the write up from the back of the book:

In this captivating book you'll be transported into a world of wonder and mystery as you learn about the fascinating life cycle of the delicate Monarch butterfly.

With breathtaking illustrations and exciting facts, you'll learn about their life cycle and how they travel far and wide on their incredible migrations.

But it's not just science – you'll also join Monty the Monarch butterfly on an adventure to find the invisible butterfly, Gloria. Along the way, Monty meets other butterfly friends and explores the wonders of the natural world.

This book will leave you wanting to learn even more about the enchanting world of butterflies. Get ready for a heartwarming and thrilling ride!

It is available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle. Click the image below to check it out!

We hope you have a great Sunday and enjoy today's Sunday 7!

Blessings!

1 )  Photo of the Week

2 )  Quote to Ponder

A saint is not someone who never falls, but one who falls less and less frequently and gets up more and more quickly. St. Bernard of Clairvaux

3 ) 🥾 This Week Outside

Chrissy and I drove up to Winter Park the other weekend for some Indian food and a hike. We hiked part of the Jim Creek Trail until the snow got too deep. We were not prepared for that. The return loop was very lovely with a lake and mountain views. You can check out the photos and video below.

Check Photos and Video Here

What did you do outside last week?

4 )  Dad Joke

What do you call a dead magician?

An abracadaver.

5 )  💌 Relationship Corner

Marriage Pearl # 18: Build up Your Spouse's Emotional Bank Account

Think of the emotional balance of your marriage like a bank account, your emotional bank account.

When you make daily deposits of kindness, respect, and positivity into your spouse’s account, these little things add up tip the balance in your favor, especially when a crisis occurs or when you make a mistake.

Careless words, bad days, or errors in judgment, on the other hand, will deplete the account. A depleted account makes everything else in your relationship harder.

Studies have shown that the impact of a negative interaction basically weighs five times more than that of a positive interaction. What that means is that you need 5 positive interactions for every 1 negative interaction to simply stay ahead.

Your best practice is to aim at having at least 20 positive interactions for every 1 negative interaction during everyday life.

To increase positive deposits, focus on things like the following:

• Express gratitude: Show appreciation for your partner’s contributions to your life, and acknowledge the things they do that make you happy.
• Show affection: Physical touch, hugs, kisses, and other gestures of affection can help strengthen your bond and build trust.
• Listen actively: Pay attention to what your partner is saying, and show that you care about their thoughts and feelings by asking questions and engaging in conversation.
• Offer support: Be there for your partner when they need you, and offer emotional support during difficult times.
• Show empathy: Try to see things from your partner’s perspective, and be understanding and compassionate when they are going through a tough time.

To minimize withdrawals, avoid things like the following:

• Criticism: Attacking your partner’s character or personality instead of addressing a specific behavior or issue.
• Defensiveness: Becoming defensive and refusing to take responsibility for your actions or listen to your partner’s perspective.
• Contempt: Showing disrespect, disdain, or disgust for your partner through sarcasm, insults, or other negative behaviors.
• Stonewalling: Withdrawing from the conversation or shutting down emotionally, which can make your partner feel ignored or dismissed.
• Invalidating: Dismissing your partner’s feelings or experiences, or making them feel like their emotions are not valid or important.

By building a healthy emotional bank account balance with your spouse, you are building a strong foundation of trust and goodwill in your relationship that will help you weather the inevitable conflicts and challenges that arise.

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6 )  🖊️ Adventures of Steve & Chrissy Update

This week started off with perfect weather here in Idaho Springs! We hit almost 70 degrees and the sun was shining.

After attending the Arvada Vineyard we swung by Boulder and...

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7 )  🤔 Questions for Reflection

What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?