Table of Contents

Contents Acknowledgments 11 Introduction: Getting Big Results from This Little Book 13 Part One Ideas for Mentoring Any Couple 1. Practice the Thirty-Second Rule .. 21 2. Curb Marriage Gossip .. 22 3. Place a Photo of Your Mentoree Couple in Your Home .. 24 4. Keep Contact Information Handy .. 25 5. Send a Word of Encouragement .. 26 6. Ask the One Question That Could Change Their Marriage .. 27 7. Pass Along a Helpful Article or Email .. 29 8. Teach the Single Most Powerful Marriage Principle .. 30 9. Let Them Know about a Local Marriage Seminar .. 32 10. Be Aware of What's On" .. 34 11. Open the Church Doors .. 35 12. Practice Old-Fashioned Hospitality .. 36 13. Be One of the First to Send a Christmas Greeting .. 37 14. Double Your Serve .. 38 15. Remember Their Anniversary .. 40 Your Additional Ideas for Mentoring Any Couple . 41 Part Two Ideas for Mentoring Engaged and Newlywed Couples 16. Identify Their Top Ten Needs .. 45 17. Help Them Sink Their Roots Down Deep .. 47 18. Cautiously Connect with Your Mentorees' Parents .. 49 19. Do Some Coupon Cutting .. 51 20. Consider a Babysitting Opportunity .. 52 21. Give the In-Law Inventory .. 53 22. Make a Splash with a Low-Cost Gift .. 55 23. Chart Their Spiritual Journey .. 56 24. Make Their First Noel One to Remember .. 58 25. Explore Their Roles .. 59 26. Note the Little Things .. 60 27. Envision Their Golden Anniversary .. 62 Your Additional Ideas for Mentoring Engaged and Newlywed Couples .. 63 Part Three Ideas for Mentoring Couples Moving from Good to Great 28. Dream Big .. 67 29. Find Inspiration Around You .. 69 30. Turn the Tables .. 71 31. More Time or More Money?….. 73 32. The Most Influential Person .. 75 33. Homeward Bound .. 76 34. I Love You More Than .." .. 77 35. Decisions, Decisions!….. 78 36. Monkey See, Monkey Do .. 79 37. Start a Date Club .. 80 38. Pay Now, Play Later .. 82 39. The Big Question .. 84 Your Additional Ideas for Mentoring Couples Moving from Good to Great .. 85 Part Four Ideas for Mentoring Couples in Distress 40. Take Inventory .. 89 41. Steer Clear of the Number-One Marriage Problem .. 91 42. Turn Murphy's Law on Its Ear .. 93 43. What Would You Miss?….. 95 44. Reveal the Two Most Overlooked Romantic" Phrases .. 97 45. Give Them a Reputation to Uphold .. 98 46. The Couples- Communication Strengths Finder .. 99 47. Explore the Lesson of an Old Farm Couple 101 48. Avoid the Blame Game .. 103 49. Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda .. 105 50. What's Your Favorite?….. 107 51. What Have You Been Looking For?….. 109 Your Additional Ideas for Mentoring Couples in Distress .. 112 Conclusion: Where Do We Go from Here?….. 115 Notes .. 117

About the Author

Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott are codirectors of the Center for Relationship Development at Seattle Pacific University (SPU), a groundbreaking program dedicated to teaching the basics of good relationships. Les Parrott is a professor of clinical psychology at SPU, and Leslie is a marriage and family therapist at SPU. The Parrotts are authors of the Gold Medallion Award--winning Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts. They have also written Love Talk, I Love You More, Your Time-Starved Marriage, and the Complete Guide to Marriage Mentoring. They have been featured on Oprah, CBS This Morning, CNN, and The View, and in USA Today and the New York Times. They are also frequent guest speakers and their radio program, Love Talk, is carried by stations throughout North America. They live in Seattle, Washington, with their two sons. www.RealRelationships.com Drs. Les y Leslie Parratt son codirectores de Center for Relationship Development en Seattle Pacific University (SPU). Les Parrott es profesor en una clinica de psicologia en SPU, y Leslie es terapeuta de familia y matrimonio en SPU. Los Parrotts son escritores y ganadores del Medallon de Oro Salva Tu Matrimonio Antes que Empieze, Amor Es, Relasiones, y Cuando Malas Cosas Pasan a Un Buen Matrimonio. Ellos se an estado presentando en Oprah CBS Esta Manana, en El Paisaje, USA Hoy y en New York Tiempo. Ellos tambien son hablantes frecuentes y han escrito para una variedad de revistas ellos viven en Seattle, Washington con sus dos hijos. Dr. Leslie Parrott is a marriage and family therapist and codirector with her husband, Dr. Les Parrott, of the Center for Relationship Development at Seattle Pacific University. She is the author of God Made You Nose to Toes, and coauthor with her husband of several bestselling books, including The Complete Guide to Marriage Mentoring, Relationships, Love Talk, and the Gold Medallion Award-winner, Saving Your Marriage before It Starts. Leslie is a columnist for Today's Christian Woman and has been featured on Oprah, CBS Morning, CNN, and The View, and in USA Today and he New York Times. The Parrotts' radio program, Love Talk, is carried by stations throughout North America. Leslie lives in Seattle with her husband and their two sons. www./RealRelationships.com