by Shannon Popkin | Sep 6, 2015 | Marriage, Uncategorized
I can’t remember whose birthday it was. For a while, I was the designated “cake decorator” of the family. I loved coming up with creative new ways to use frosting, candy, ribbon, and flowers to celebrate my loved ones with flair. I’m sure this...
by Shannon Popkin | Oct 19, 2014 | Conflict Resolution, Marriage, Submission
The day Ken and I got home from our honeymoon, we went grocery shopping together. When we got to the checkout, the bagger asked, “Paper or plastic?” (Back then, they used to ask you this.) We responded simultaneously.”Paper,” I...
by Shannon Popkin | Sep 13, 2014 | Control Girl, Dating, Leadership, Marriage, Submission
Trying to hide my surprise from the waitress, I glanced up at her and said, “Thank you.”But when she walked away, I looked across the table at my husband and let my astonishment seep into my expression.There, on the white linen table cloth, was the black...
by Shannon Popkin | May 7, 2014 | Marriage
My husband is incredibly tight. Tighter-than-my-high-school-jeans tight. (Not that I still have them. I’m not nearly as tight as he is.)One Saturday morning, he crawled into bed beside where I was propped up with pillows, checking email on my laptop. He said,...
by Shannon Popkin | Feb 27, 2014 | Communication, Gifts, Goals, Growth, Leadership, Marriage
Words of blessing, allowed to sift into a soul’s murky depths, often act like yeast. Over time, these yeast-like words have the power to activate and give rise to areas of giftedness which otherwise might have lain dormant. Words can cause people to rise and expand...
by Shannon Popkin | Jan 29, 2014 | Funny, Leadership, Marriage, Roles
I noticed something about the couple sitting down the row from us in church last week. He kept whispering little things in her ear and she kept smiling. Their interaction was subtle, not distracting, but very sweet. Though she didn’t laugh out loud, it was clear that...