Help I'm Married: starving the squirrels that drive you nuts! Celebrating 40 years of marriage ❖ 215

"I wasn’t exactly asking Jesus's opinion about these major life decisions at that time... But I can just really give God the glory because He knew what He was doing when He took broken me." —Kristen Wambach

Help I'm Married | 40th Anniversary Celebration

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Celebrating 40 years of marriage is a significant milestone.
• Marriage can be challenging, but love and faith can guide you through.​​

Don and Kristen San Diego Ca. standing in front of first home

• Knowing your 'why' is crucial for personal and relational growth.
• Forgiveness is a powerful tool in maintaining a healthy relationship.
• Investing time and joy in each other strengthens the bond.
• Core values should be clear and upheld in a relationship.
• It's important to communicate openly about feelings and challenges.
• Restoring joy requires intentional effort and shared experiences.
• Personal growth can positively impact a marriage.
• God's grace and love can transform relationships.

June 2, 1985 Balboa Park, San Diego, CA.

"Love bends, but it's never compromised. It's never conditional. It's always there. The key to the city is forgiveness. It literally unlocks the heavens on your behalf."
Marriage—beautiful, messy, and undeniably rewarding. As we celebrate 40 years of wedded bliss (and chaos), join me on a journey through laughter, lessons, and love that’s stood the test of time. Ready to chuckle, reflect, and be inspired? Let’s dive in! 

Resilience: "It is just a miracle of God that we were able to walk through that together. If you're walking through a similar instance, I just say keep going. You can do it." —Kristen Wambach

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SUMMARY
In this heartfelt episode, Kristen Wambach celebrates her 40th wedding anniversary with her husband, Don. She reflects on their journey together, sharing insights on marriage, personal growth, and the importance of faith. Kristen discusses the challenges they faced, the significance of knowing one's 'why', and the power of forgiveness in relationships. She emphasizes the need to invest in joy and time together, offering practical advice for couples to strengthen their bond. The episode is filled with warmth, humor, and encouragement for listeners to cherish their relationships.

Proud parents, Jace and Erika's August Wedding on the Oregon farm Kristen grew up on.

Marriage is a beautiful, complex journey filled with highs, lows, laughter, tears, and countless lessons learned along the way. As Don and I celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary on June 2nd, I find myself reflecting on the incredible adventure that has been our life together. From our humble beginnings in San Diego to raising four wonderful sons, experiencing the joys of grandparenthood, and navigating the ups and downs of business and family life, our story is one anchored in faith, love, and unwavering commitment.

every year Dad took the boys on a canoe trip

in route to find the perfect Christmas Tree

Siletz Bay on the Oregon Coast Kristen and Dash. Don taking the picture

Gift Living Spiritually BRAVE

The Beginning of Forever
We were married outdoors at the charming Cafe del Romero in Balboa Park, San Diego. It was beautiful in the way weddings are supposed to be—full of hope, love, and the promise of a future built together. At that time, I didn’t fully understand the depth of what marriage entailed. I knew Jesus from my childhood, but I hadn’t yet learned to seek His guidance in life’s major decisions. Yet, even in my brokenness, God had a plan. He knew what He was doing when He brought Don and me together.

• It is important that we as couples and we as individuals know our why—what makes us get up in the morning, what makes us show up for work, and what makes us just get on our knees and talk to God." —Kristen Wambach

Live Recording

 Love bends, but it's never compromised. It's never conditional. It's always there. The key to the city is forgiveness. It literally unlocks the heavens on your behalf." —Kristen Wambach

Binge Listen

INTERVIEWING JESUS

Essentially You: dare to be different the world is counting on you

INTERVIEWING JESUS

Finding Your Sanctuary in God's Love

INTERVIEWING JESUS

5 Aspects that help you continue to look for that predictable harvest: Daily Courage 

The Journey of Growth

Our marriage was not without its challenges. We navigated the early years of raising our sons, supporting a growing family, and facing financial hardships. We lost a business and a home, which was a deeply painful experience. But through those trials, we discovered resilience, forgiveness, and the power of God’s restoration. It took seven years before we could purchase a home again, but during that time, God grew our hearts, strengthened our faith, and taught us invaluable lessons about gratitude, perseverance, and grace.

Lessons Learned Along the Way

1. Know Your Why: Understanding your purpose and passion helps you weather any storm. Knowing why you get up each day, why you choose to love, and why you keep going when times are tough is the foundation of a strong marriage.
2. Appreciate What You Both Bring to the Table: Celebrate the unique qualities your spouse brings into your life. Don’s loyalty, faithfulness, and mechanical genius balance my spiritual passion and creativity. Together, we create a partnership rooted in mutual respect and admiration.
3. Forgiveness is Key: The most powerful lesson I’ve learned is the importance of forgiveness—both for your spouse and yourself. Holding onto pain only breeds bitterness. Letting go frees your heart to love fully and authentically.
4. Invest in Joy: Prioritize time together. Whether it’s Friday night dates, sailing adventures, or simple walks, investing in shared experiences fosters connection and joy.
5. Hold Fast to Core Values: In moments of conflict, remember your personal and shared values. They serve as anchors, keeping you grounded in love and commitment.

 God is a God of complete restoration. And He has restored so much. But I know there's more, there's more restoration that is in His hand."

How to Restore Joy in Your Marriage
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If joy feels distant, rekindle it by being intentional. Plan date nights, take walks, watch movies together, and create moments that remind you of why you fell in love. It’s in these simple, shared experiences that joy often hides, waiting to be rediscovered.

  You make the world a better place."
Your actions, like ripples on a still pond, extend far beyond what you see. You make the world a gentler, more compassionate place, and I’m thankful for the difference you make in my life.

"I turned into a full-blown Jesus freak. Now what are you gonna do with that? And this just tells you what a wonderful man he is because he just has grown along and allowed me to discover Jesus." —Kristen Wambach

MEET THE BLOGGER>>>

All dressed up and somewhere to go: Don and I graciously were given tickets to an formal evening out. Before children that is. Open air summer San Diego  symphony. We are stealing a kiss at the front door of our first home in Santee Ca.
Join me on my quest to answer the 70 most asked questions by famous podcasters and interviewers. Last Weeks Question. 
This weeks ponder and reflection: What is your favorite pastime and why? 

My favorite past time? Thinking? Now do you want me to answer it from a "Spiritual perspective" get it "Past Time" or from an every day happening perspective? Both, how did I know you were going to ask me that! 
It is just a hoot and a holler to trans-relocate and the Lord show me different places on the earth. Its quality candy at Christmas time.
Can you guess the state or country I have had the most experiences in???
Paris France. The day I actually step foot into France I think the ground will shake welcoming me.  I was schedule to go to Paris but covid put a kabash on the trip. We haven't rescheduled. 
Perspective #2: right here in the neck of my woods, my favorite past time, I do love wine tasting with my best girlfriend from 8th grade, Suzanne: a lazy day, sitting outdoors, at a quaint vineyard. Pinch me please. If you are a subscriber to my awesome email you would see pictures from the reservoir (Sailing at Fern Ridge) That is the way to pass time, amen. 

A Prayer for You
As we celebrate our milestone, I pray for you and your relationship. May you find strength in your struggles, joy in your journey, and grace in your growth. May God bless your marriage with love that bends but never breaks, and a heart full of gratitude for the person you’ve chosen to walk beside.

Call to Action:
If our story has touched your heart, we’d love to hear from you! Help us surprise Don by wishing us a happy 40th anniversary. Pop over to Instagram @kwambach59 and leave a message or a hashtag #InterviewJesusPodcast. Your words would mean the world to us! Comment Below