31 Days To Paradise: Creating The Marriage You Dreamed About

"It is often said the ‘school of hard knocks’ is the only school that really teaches. If that is the case, then Don and Laura have learned much during their almost four decades of marriage.Theirs is no fairytale relationship, instantaneous and perfect, a journey free of chaos and pain.To the contrary, it’s more like the classic Hallmark movie, lives interrupted by difficulties and challenges, hanging on by fingernails, only to find redemption and healing as the movie draws to a close, paradise found. Yeah, probably a lot like the life you are going to live over the next few decades of married life. Thankfully, just like the Hallmark classic, their journey has ended well, really well, more in love and passionate about each other than at any other time in their marriage which is saying a lot, given they are knocking on the door of 60 years on this spinning ball. Laura has somehow merged a demanding career with raising three boys and finding time to genuinely focus on the needs and wants of her husband. Likewise, Don, a pastor for almost 40 years in little churches across the country, has found some way to keep Laura the primary focus of his life. However, make no mistake, the journey has been anything but painless and carefree. As you would expect, life, plain old ordinary life, has thrown more than a few curveballs their way, some of which you will learn about in the pages to follow. Nonetheless, the illusive glue all couples yearn to find, was discovered clinging to the pages of Ephesians 5, a timeless fount of advice straight from the mind of God, designed to bring abundant life for those in it for the long haul, those who believe the fairytale can come true.One last thing, the Minters are well, how shall we say it, rather ‘out there’ in their openness about marriage, life and, dare we even say it, sex! So don’t be surprised if you blush here and there. You are married now. Time to be all grown up, for all-out ‘adulting’ to begin. Enjoy this 31-day journey. After all, it’s always about the journey..."

Don and Laura have been married for nearly 38 years. Their journey began as high school sweethearts and the love story continues on. Don often suggests, "If we had known marriage was so much fun we wouldn't have waited so long to get married!"; interesting considering they were married at 19 and 18, respectively. Don attended Drexel University in downtown Philadelphia before transferring to Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho where he earned a BA in Philosophy and Religion. Followed by seminary in Kansas City (Master of Divinity), and concluding with a Dr. of Ministry in 2006. He has pastored in a variety of settings from the heart of downtown Phoenix, the back roads of a rural farm community in Missouri, beautiful mountains of Arizona, the coastal beauty of Oregon, and southern hospitality South Carolina. Laura, an executive assistant, spent much of her career as Vice President Dan Quayle's personal assistant. She continues to work, write, sing and raise their late surprise Michael. Don loves to write, search for adventure and spend time over coffee with God's people. Both are more passionate about trekking after Jesus than at any point in their lives. Anxious for God's tomorrow in the adventure of life as the journey after Him continues...