About

Welcome to Engaged Marriage!

Do you love your marriage?

Are you busy keeping up with the demands of a young family life?

Would you like to be part of a thriving community of like-minded folks who share your enthusiasm?

You are in the right place.

Engaged Marriage was created as a source of information and motivation for those that want something more from life and agree that our most important relationships shouldn’t be mired in mediocrity.

But the mission of this site goes beyond the standard marriage advice you’ll find in most books and blogs.

Practical Advice From A Guy Who is Living It

As you’ll read below, I’m living the crazy life of a husband and father with all of the demands that come with it. I understand it’s a very real struggle to find time to devote to improving your married life. I know how it feels to struggle to even keep up with the everyday requirements that we face as couples in the earlier years of our marriage.

I know it’s hard. But I also know that it’s totally worth it.

That’s why a central theme of the posts here at Engaged Marriage is candid and practical advice that you can learn and put into action without a huge time commitment. Whether it’s fighting fair or achieving financial peace in your marriage, you will find a plethora of “no B.S.” information to help you in every area of family life.

But It’s Not All How-Tos and Practicalities

I’m an engineer, and I love practical, actionable information. However, as I have learned all too well, marriage is not quite so easy. Marriage involves people in a very intimate relationship, and that can get complicated.

This is where the other, equally important side of Engaged Marriage shines. Alongside the practical information that you need, you’ll find healthy doses of motivation in the form of humor, personal stories and spiritual reflections.

Of course, when you read personal stories and insights, you’re going to be exposed to some unique perspectives and you may be challenged in your thinking. I sincerely hope you’ll challenge me right back.

If you read something personal on this site, it will be genuine and it will be based on real experiences from my marriage. And with that comes my spiritual perspective.

I am a Catholic guy. I am proud of my faith, which I adopted as a convert back in my college days. So you should expect to see some posts sprinkled with a little Christian perspective, and some that are squarely aimed at providing some inspiration or insight based solely on a Christian/Catholic belief. After all, it was marriage that helped make me a Christian, and it was our involvement in the Church that called me down a path to create Engaged Marriage.

That said, much of the information shared here is universally applicable, and I trust that you will find it helpful regardless of your particular faith. And you may just gain some insight into some of the seemingly crazy things that us Catholics believe and practice.

By the way, have you heard of Natural Family Planning and the awesome benefits it could provide your marriage? And no, that’s not just a Catholic thing. See, you learned something already.

Join in the Fun!

I firmly believe that our lives are too short and too precious to spend them living a “good enough” marriage and an “okay” family life. Do you agree?

I invite you to join our community and take a proactive approach toward your own relationships. I guarantee that you will not regret it.

The best thing you can do to stay in touch and get the inside scoop on all that we do here is sign up to receive the free “Marriage Time” newsletter. As a thank you, you’ll receive a cool little series of email lessons I put together especially for busy young couples. It’s called Marriage Mojo: 7 Steps to Romance for Insanely Busy Couples, and you can get it for free by entering your name and email below.

Also, we’ve made it easy to join the hundreds of single, engaged, newlywed and not-so-newlywed readers who get free and fresh Engaged Marriage content as soon as it’s published. You can sign up to have new posts sent right to your email or to the RSS feed reader of your choice. Just click on the link of your choice and you’ll start receiving the good stuff today!

About the Author

Thank you for checking out Engaged Marriage!

My name is Dustin, and I am basically just a normal guy with a passion for marriage and life. I am an engineer by trade, and I try to be a good husband and a mostly patient Dad to our three great kids.

My life is pretty typical for a 31-year old family man these days with a hectic schedule and the demands that come with balancing a wife, kids, a career, a mortgage, church, community service, tee ball practice, my daughter’s tea parties and the occasional beer or round of golf with my buddies.

So why would I spend any of my scarce free time writing a blog about marriage? Well, I have come to know first-hand the challenges and, more importantly, the amazing rewards that an extraordinary marriage provides.

I love my marriage, and I don’t want that part of my life to be normal. When it comes to the most important relationship in our lives, normal sucks.

A Few More Things You Should Know About

If you’d like to read more about our awesome free newsletter, please visit the Free “Marriage Time” page.

If you would like to have new posts sent to you (for free), just check out the Don’t Miss a Thing! page for some handy options.

I’d love to hear from you directly, and the easiest way to get in touch is to shoot me an email using the nifty Contact form. This is also the best way to send me an idea for a guest post or advertisement that you’d like to have featured on the site.

I highly encourage you to become an active member of our community here. Please leave comments whenever a post strikes you or brings to mind a question. You can also get connected via the Engaged Marriage Facebook page or on Twitter.

Thank you for your continued support of Engaged Marriage and the institution of marriage!

32 Responses to “About”

Comments

Read below or add a comment...

Stephanie Baffone

October 31, 2009 at 3:39 pm

Hi Dustin-
Thank you for the follow on Twitter. Amen! Amen! to your wonderful and necessary site. Wow…I am going to refer my clients to your site (I am a therapist with a specialty in couples counseling.) If I could ever be of assistance to you and you beautiful bridein your work here, say the word. I am an evangelist for happy marriages but it takes hard work and is full of challenges, something that young couples do not always anticipate and are frightened when arise.
I too am a devout Catholic as is my husband. We met in high school and have been happy for 19 years!
Bless you and again, say the word if I can ever guest post or help your efforts!
Stephanie

Reply
Dustin

October 31, 2009 at 10:31 pm

Stephanie,

Thank you so much for your kind words and support! Your offer to refer clients to Engaged Marriage is very gratifying, and I will definitely take you up on your offer of assistance.

It sounds like we share a devotion to marriage and a ministry of helping couples achieve the extraordinary in their relationships. You and your husband sound like you serve as a great example; my wife and I want to be like you in 10 years..we have also been together since high school and will celebrate our 9th anniversary next year!

Thanks again!

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Tom and Debi Walter

January 3, 2010 at 3:45 pm

I just found your site, and I want to congratulate you on taking a stand for young married couples by offering them practical help and advice. This is the reason we started our own marriage blog – we offer practical ideas on how to fan the flames of romance for God’s glory and also as a testimony to the next generation (our children). We will celebrate our 31st anniversary next month and through the years have discovered marriage is the greatest blessing. We would love for you to visit and offer your thoughts. Thanks! We look forward to browsing around your excellent blog. Happy New Year!!

Reply
- Dustin
  
  January 26, 2010 at 8:45 am
  
  Hi Tom & Debi! Welcome to Engaged Marriage, and I apologize that my reply is a little belated. For some reason, this is the first time I saw your comment.
  
  I really appreciate your support, and I’ll definitely be headed over to “The Romantic Vineyard” to learn some new things and get to know you guys better.
  
  Reply
  - Tom and Debi Walter
    
    January 26, 2010 at 12:16 pm
    
    Thanks, Dustin! We look forward to hearing from you!
    
    Reply
Esther

March 11, 2010 at 8:44 am

Hi Dustin! I read your comments on another blog and was intrigued by the title “Engaged Marriage,” so I decided to check out your blog! I am a very happily married woman of 1 1/2 year (I’m biased but my husband is the best man in the world ) and so I am loving your site and your perspectives.
I have just started a blog of my own called “Awakening Purpose, Passion and Purity.” It is in the beginning stages, with little content at this point, but I would love any suggestions you or other readers may have on how to improve it. Like you, I am passionate about helping others discover the beauty and joy of a godly marriage…it truly can be like Heaven on earth!
Thanks for your inspiration and insight!

Reply
- Dustin
  
  March 11, 2010 at 5:08 pm
  
  Thanks, Esther! What a coincidence, my wife is the best *woman* in the world.
  
  I just checked out your blog and think you have the start of something very special going there. I really like your approach and God-centered perspective on this awesome journey we call marriage. I definitely look forward to watching (and helping) your blog grow!
  
  I also just followed you on Twitter.
  
  Reply
Michael Halbrook

March 15, 2010 at 10:35 pm

Dustin,

Awesome site. It was great to dig in and read someone who shares my thoughts – and my wife’s – and then to further realize that you’re apparently right near us here in the St. Louis metro-east.

Please know of my prayers and keep it up! I look forward to staying an avid subscriber/reader and becoming a member of the community here.

-Michael

Reply
- Dustin
  
  March 15, 2010 at 10:56 pm
  
  Thanks so much, Michael! I’m very excited to “meet” someone so close by with such similar values and interests. I checked out your site and also just followed you on Twitter.
  
  I really think you’ll enjoy your time here at Engaged Marriage. We have such an enthusiastic and engaged ( ) community of folks here who believe in marriage. These good folks affirm me and my work with this site everyday.
  
  Welcome!
  
  Reply
Trish

April 18, 2010 at 9:40 am

Sweet! Just found your blog from the NFP post at Simple Organic and I’m excited to start reading. We’re 28, two kids, one job (looking for another), and Catholic. I imagine you’re right up our alley. Happy Sunday!

Reply
- Dustin
  
  April 19, 2010 at 8:26 pm
  
  Fantastic, Trish! I’m so happy that you found your way here, and I really think you’ll like what you find. Welcome to our community!
  
  Reply
Andre

April 20, 2010 at 8:28 am

Dustin – just stumbled upon your blog through the Untemplater site (where you left a comment). Was really interested in what you were writing about over here as I’m a young husband who is running around trying to impact the world. I’m thinking that I could learn alot here and definitely adding this to the Reader. Keep up the great work!

Reply
- Dustin
  
  April 20, 2010 at 9:04 am
  
  Welcome, Andre! I love your description as a young husband trying to impact the world, and I think you’ll fit in very well here at Engaged Marriage. I just checked out your blog at Pulse+Signal and just wanted to say “thank you” for the meaningful work you are doing in the area of public health. That’s certainly a great way to impact our world, and it’s an area that needs a lot of quality attention.
  
  Thanks for being part of our community!
  
  Reply
Maria McCarthy

May 8, 2010 at 12:57 am

Very interesting indeed. Perhaps I can be part of the loop too?

Reply
- Dustin
  
  May 16, 2010 at 12:42 pm
  
  Hi Maria, and Welcome to our Community!
  
  Reply
Lamont

January 5, 2011 at 10:24 pm

Dustin, what a wonderful site! I just signed up for the newsletter and look forward to immersing myself within the online community of engagedmarried.com. I also enjoyed the blog on The In Sickness Part of Marriage Really Sucks. It reminded me of a story (Titled In Sicknes and Health) from the book Marriage Views written by Teena Richardson. This book is an excellent read and has really been a blessing to my life.

Just as you have blessed us with throught provoking information, allow me to return the favor. Check out the newly released book Marriage Views @ http://www.teenarichardson.com.

Reply
- Dustin
  
  January 5, 2011 at 10:26 pm
  
  Thanks so much, Lamont! That’s very kind of you, and I’m excited to have you as part of the Engaged Marriage community. And thanks for the wonderful book recommendation.
  
  Reply
Esther @Add A Spoonful of Sugar

January 25, 2011 at 2:18 pm

Wow, Dustin, I was here a year ago, and I must say, I am very impressed with how quickly you have grown your blog. I am truly inspired! Great work, great writing, and great job being the best husband and dad that you can be. Congrats on the third kiddo too!

I took a bit of a siesta from blogging when life was getting crazy busy (though not as busy as yours!), but I’m so happy to be back at it! I forgot how fun it is to write and be connected to other writers…

Anyway! Just thought I’d stop by and say “hi!”

Reply
Kendra

March 5, 2011 at 1:14 am

Just found this blog today, and I’m very impressed! You write some great personal advice here; very heartfelt and loving.

I’m getting married in less than 4 months, and what I’ve read so far has been very good discussion. I’m looking forward to the support from the people on this page when I delve into my marriage

Reply
- Dustin
  
  March 5, 2011 at 9:03 am
  
  Hi Kendra, and welcome! Congratulations on your upcoming marriage, and I look forward to seeing you around in our community.
  
  Reply
365 Acts of Love

November 26, 2011 at 4:23 pm

Congratulations on being nominated for the top-marriage-blogs contest.

Reply