Giveaway Alert:

At the end of the week, One Winner (Randomly chosen from all blogs – see schedule at http://bit.ly/Marriage101)  will receive a  $30 DATE NIGHT certificate to the restaurant of their choice (Applebees, Chili’s, Ruby Tuesday or Red Lobster) and a gift pack of books (includes Marriage 101, I Don’t Want a Divorce, and Have a New Husband by Friday.)

How you can win:

• At the end of the interview with Jewell, you will see a marriage related question posted in the comment section.
• Answer the question and be sure to leave your email address where indicated when you fill out the contact information in the comment section.

Meet Jewell Powell, author of Marriage 101
In July of 1992, Jewell met her Prince Charming at a Roy Rogers restaurant. When the couple decided to marry four years later, both were aware of the latest marriage statistics and the legacy of divorce that lay between them. Her parents divorced when she was four, after moving the family to Maryland, leaving her to be raised by a single mother. To circumvent the odds, they went through pre-marital counseling, attended church regularly and felt a strong love for one another. They believed they were ready for marriage.

While desiring to have a happily ever after, Jewell found life after marriage anything but a fairy tale. In 2001, she and her husband, Lewis, had been married for five years but were growing apart, after experiencing problems with infertility, sleeping in separate bedrooms and Lewis’s increasing disinterest in going to church. As she searched for answers to her marital troubles, Jewell found herself on a journey, seeking answers to save her marriage.

Despite a shaky beginning, the Powells now have a relationship with a strong foundation. After successfully resolving their marital problems, they started the Happily Ever After Marriage Ministry to help others do the same. Her new book, Marriage 101: Building a Life Together by Faith (Revell Books February 2009, ISBN 978-0-8007-3332-2, $13.99), offers hope and guidance to help transform broken relationships through the use of biblical wisdom in a simple workbook format.

Jewell serves as co-owner of Antiok Holdings, an emerging full-service management consulting firm, which she owns with her husband. She earned a Bachelor of Science in business from the University of Maryland and is pursuing a Master of Divinity. The Powells reside in southern Maryland with their two daughters.

Jewell, what are some things that parents can do to start teaching and modeling for their children how to have healthy relationships?

Show them the good and bad.  Show them arguing and then making up.  Show them that you love one another even when you are mad.  Spending quality time and going on dates.  Let them know that its mommy and daddy time and to respect that time.  Bottom Line.  In every situation, talk and teach your children how to have healthy relationships/friendships.

How can spouses put the spark back into their relationship?

It doesn’t take money or any grand gesture such as taking a Hawaiian vacation.  Start small, eat dinner by candlelight.  Make a picnic in the middle of the living room floor.  Email an ecard or go for a walk. Talk kindly to one another.  In the back of Marriage 101, I have a list of 30 love deposits to get you started.

With the economy as rocky as it is, how can couples guard against letting that harm their relationships?

First, it is just a season.  All marriages have financial problems.  A couple can through it if they walk in agreement as to how the finances should be handled at this time.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Your marriage can be strong, healthy, happy, and blessed. Marriage coach Jewell Powell shows you how in this 8-week plan for marital success. She reveals how God’s truths can transform two individuals into the union he desires. Laying a spiritual foundation is crucial to your marriage. In Marriage 101: Building a Life Together by Faith, you will discover God’s purpose for marriage, how to develop godly character, how to communicate effectively, and much more. With biblical examples, study questions, and Scripture meditations perfect for individuals or couples, you will be challenged to examine areas in your life that may need change so that your marriage can thrive.

Follow the blog tour at http://bit.ly/Marriage101.
For more information about, visit Jewell at http://www.marriage101.us/.