Behind Our Smiles Marriage Podcast

Many times our differences in marriage is what stands out the most.   But it's also helpful to notice the values and goals that we have in common.   What are the areas that we should aim to be on the same page?   In this week's episode, we're sharing our common values and the times that we both say, "SAME!!"   To connect with us on social media: Facebook Instagram behindoursmiles.com wowgod.com Em...

Almost very couple has said at some point in their marriage, "We're just so different!!"   Our differences can be a major source of conflict, or a source of strength. In this episode, we share some our differences and how they have have learned to lean into them. To connect with us on social media: Facebook Instagram behindoursmiles.com wowgod.com Email: tara@behindoursmiles.com  

Do you ever have to fix things for your spouse? Modern life means there are lots of things that can break and lots of things that need to be fixed! In this week's episode, we talk about the things we can fix for each other- and the things we can't. To connect with us on social media: Facebook Instagram Or at behindoursmiles.com

Would you rather go out, or stay home? Many times the answer for us is "stay home" because there's something comforting about being in a place where we can let our hair down and just be. In our marriage, even though we don't always agree about whether to go out or stay in, we both agree on the value of a happy home life. In this week's episode, we talk about creating a home that we want to stay in...

What kind of school did you go to as a child? Was life pretty easy or was it more often filled with hard knocks? Many of the lessons that school teaches us stay with us for a long time. Especially if your childhood had a lot of hardship, you may end up being more street-smart than book-smart. In this week's episode, we talk about the effects of going to "The School of Hard Knocks." To connect with...

Do you like to party? This week is our 100th episode so it's time to celebrate! In honor of this milestone, we are sharing about the value of celebration (and parties) in our marriages! To connect with us on social media: Facebook Instagram Or at behindoursmiles.com

The $100,000 Question: do we get a dog? For some couples, this may be an easy answer, but for others, it can be a source of conflict. After twenty years of saying "We're never getting a dog," well, we got a dog. In this episode, we share our story from being a no-dog family to a dog family and how it affected our marriage and family. To connect with us on social media: Facebook Instagram Or at beh...

Even though we came from different socio-economic backgrounds, Joe and I had similar goals for our finances. But financial pressures and tough decisions can make that difficult to achieve. In this episode, we share the biblical principles we followed to stay out of debt, live on less, and grow our marriage in the process. To connect with us on social media: Facebook Instagram Or at behindoursmiles...

Do you and your spouse agree on how the household money should be spent? No two people agree perfectly which means money can be a huge source of conflict! In this episode, we talk about what it means to steward our money together and why we use a budget. To connect with us on social media: Facebook Instagram  Or at behindoursmiles.com

Hear the brand-new podcast called "Wow God Stories", with hosts, Lisa WIlliams and Ann Sorenson. This podcast reminds us of a God who is able, alive, and active in our lives.  https://www.wowgod.com/podcasts/wow-god-stories/ Click the link, or subscribe on Apple, Google, or Spotify today.

Our special guests today are Larry and Hope Ware, hosts of the popular YouTube Channel, Under the Median. Even though they specialize in helping families with practical frugality and getting out of debt, they also have a lot to share from their 35 years of marriage. From a rocky start to infertility to having babies "past their prime" to major financial hurdles, Larry and Hope have had to lean on...

Trauma does have far-reaching effects on how we think, feel, and  behave. But is the trauma we have experienced the only lens we look through? In this episode, Joe and I discuss the difficult task of discerning between the effects of trauma and our own sinful hearts. To connect with us on social media: Facebook Instagram Or at behindoursmiles.com

Happy Summer! Instead of bringing you a new episode of our podcast, we want to share with you some of the podcasts we're listening to! If you're looking for other podcasts to binge on, these are a great start!  The Unfolding with Meridith Foster (guest: Joe Buchanan) The Unfolding with Meridith Foster (guest: Joe and Tara Buchanan)  The Unfolding with Meridith Foster (guest: Scott Spiezio) Manly w...

In this episode, we sit down with Chad and Katie Mattson to hear the stories behind their smiles. You may be familiar with Chad Mattson as the lead singer of the band, Unspoken. Their early years of marriage were filled with the stress of life on the road,  poverty, and uncertainty, as Chad threw his all into his music. As things began to stabilize, Katie began suffering with debilitating anxiety....

In recent times, smartphones have become the one thing that  consumes most of our attention. Almost everything and every person can be brushed aside when we hear any type of "ding" coming from our phones. How do we give our spouse our  undivided attention with all the distractions that these devices bring? It can feel like an impossible task. This week we talk about how not to let our screens and...

Attention is one of the greatest gifts we can give another person due to the fact that it is such a limited resource. We all only have 24 hours in a day, and we all only have so much mental energy to share with another person. So many other people and things can demand our attention that it can leave our husband or wife feeling lonely. In this week's episode, we talk about how to steward our atten...

Did you have a "good dad"? Are you, or your husband, a good dad? Joe and I have vastly different experiences with our own fathers but we can agree on the characteristics of what makes a good dad. In this episode, we talk about the positive and negative influences our fathers have on us. To connect with us on social media: Facebook Instagram Or at behindoursmiles.com

Do you enjoy waiting? God often works the most when we are in the "waiting rooms" of life. In this episode, Joe and I share what we learned about waiting during our five-year courtship. To connect with us on social media: Facebook Instagram Or at behindoursmiles.com

Many of the patterns we have in our relationships have their start in our childhoods. In the book " How We Love ", Milan and Kay Yerkovich write about how our differing "love styles" cause conflict in our marriages. In the second part of this series, we talk about how we have used the How We Love principles to understand each other better and strengthen our marriage. How We Love book To connect wi...

How do you love? According to Milan and Kay Yerkovich, much of how we love began in our childhood. The patterns we learn from our parents affect our ability to form healthy attachments as adults. In this episode, we talk about the core principles in the Yerkoviches' book, " How We Love ", and share how they have played out in our marriage. How We Love book To connect with us on social media: Faceb...

How often do you and your spouse laugh together? In this episode, we talk about laughing AND we share stories from you about how your spouse makes you laugh! To connect with us on social media: Facebook Instagram Or at behindoursmiles.com

Ladies, do you want to receive a Mother's Day gift from your husband? Even though we are not their mothers, we do need their encouragement! In this episode, we talk about one of the best gifts you can give the mother of your children: unwavering dedication to your family. We share six principles that Joe has practiced in supporting Tara as a mother.   M - Model Respect  O - Offer Resources  T - Ta...

Mother's Day can trigger different feelings for both of us. For Joe, he doesn't like the reminder of what he lost as a child while I love to be celebrated for the role I have played in our children's lives. In this episode, we talk about how Joe's struggle with Mother's Day has impacted our marriage and how we love each other through it. To connect with us on social media: Facebook Instagram Or at...

Is Mother's Day a "loaded" holiday for you or your spouse? Does it bring up emotions and memories you'd rather not deal with? In this episode, Joe shares openly about the scars he still carries from an abusive mother and how he has found healing in Christ. To connect with us on social media: Facebook Instagram Or at behindoursmiles.com

Almost every relationship has a moment where either person asks for "space". Joe and I have been there and our marriage suffered the most when there was a lack of emotional space. That was hard to learn because it involved laying down self to serve another, and being truly willing to surrender my husband to God rather than insisting I hold the reins all the time. In this episode, we talk about the...