“You guys are going to make a great team,” Mr. Paul told my soon-to-be-husband, Josh, when he shared the news of our engagement. Mr. Paul was a man we respected and someone we’d both worked for during our days in college.
His remark about our impending marriage stuck with me more than anyone else’s response to our engagement news. It was a complement for the here and now and a challenge for the future. You’re going to make a great team has stuck with me all these years as the way I envisioned my marriage and wanted it to function practically. And the mentality of teamwork has proven to be one of the most important values we’ve experienced the past ten years of marriage.
So it was with excitement that I read my long-time friend and fellow writer’s newest book, Team Us: Marriage Together. I first became acquainted with author, Ashleigh Slater, during my early blogging days way back in 2005 or 2006. Later I worked with her in a more professional capacity writing for her website, Ungrind. And we even got to meet in real life once! So it was with great joy I read her first in-print book!
Team Us is a book from a Christian perspective about building a marriage “team.” It reads very conversationally, like Ashleigh is having a chat with you over coffee. It doesn’t present itself as having all of the answers to the struggles of marriage or knowing “the right” way to do marriage. Instead, it’s more of a chronicle of the Slater’s own marriage and what they’ve learned along the way to help their marriage “team” grow together. It almost reads like a marriage memoir. It is lighthearted and humorous in tone that makes it easy to read, even while also dealing with weightier issues like job loss, depression, and grief.
I think the book’s strength is in dealing with communication within marriage. This shows up through out the book no matter what the topic, whether it’s conflict or parenting. You can tell the Slaters work hard on respectful communication and Ashleigh gives some practical techniques on how to make this happen, like the use of the “communication sandwich,” which is basically sandwiching a criticism between praise and affirmation and giving the person the benefit of the doubt instead of assuming motives and going in for an attack.
One thing that makes the book unique is there are “Ted Says” sections where Ashleigh’s husband, Ted, shares his perspective on a subject or what Ashleigh has shared. Each chapter also ends with discussion questions called “Us Time” to foster reflection for an individual reader or a couple reading it together.
Check out Ashleigh’s website for more information about the book!
I’m giving away one copy! To enter to win, please comment with why you’d like to read Team Us. I’ll choose the winner randomly and announce on Friday, July 11th.
Update: The winner is comment #13, Dani! Please email me through the contact form your full name and address and the book will be sent to you. Congratulations!
This contest is now closed.
Communication in a marriage is very important. Whose couldn’t use improvement?
A marriage where teamwork is including, and focused, on God is ultimately the goal in a Christian relationship. This is a great book idea for a couple to read together or for one to read!
I would love to win this book as I’m a newlywed and have been looking for more books about marriage for us to read, and this has been on my list!
Scott and I always refer to ourselves as “team Sloan”, so this would be a fitting read!
After 6 years of boxing gloves while fighting; (which may as well be literal, since words DO hurt and leave bruises!) we certainly need the communication improvement. We own so many books on relationships. This one sounds like one I might finish without getting frustrated! 🙂
I would love to read this book because my husband and I need, now more than ever, a refresher on why we need to be a team.
I would love to win this book to prayerfully read it with my husband. We are currently living in a battleground and we are both losing. The only way to win is to get on the same team and communicate properly. I think this would bring us some great insight.
You are either moving forward or falling backwards. I prefer the former.
Trying to start a marriage study with my small group. Would love to read this.
My husband and I have been married for almost 14 years. We still have trouble communicating and I’d love to win this book. I’m sure it would help out tremendously.
Hi Danielle, love visiting this place. This book sounds like an intriguing read and I would love to know what makes a good team in marriage. Thanks!
I am always looking for new ways to keep my marriage focused and on track. I think this would be a nice addition to the family.
My fiance and I will be married on August 23. We are both missionaries with life Teen, a catholic youth ministry organization. We love serving God abs His church and we love each other and each to be saints and love a good and holy marriage. We want to be a witness of God’s covenant. Mostly, I want so badly to be a good wife and one day mother. I want so badly to serve, honor and revere my husband and I want the tools, like this book, to help others along the way!
My first marriage ended with him as a horribly mean, atheist, adulterous mess. I dont want a repeat.
It’s always refreshing to read a new book about marriage…everyone needs a little refreshment every now and then. 😉
We have always approached our marriage as a team. Especially now that we are parents it definitely takes team work. Any help making it work better is always welcome.
This came by inspiration after reading the review and meditating on the phrase, “You guys are going to make a great team.” :T-Time
E – Enthusiasm
A- Affirmation
M-Momentum
Will definitely get the book. 🙂
[…] Team Us: Marriage Together by Ashleigh Slater*** I started following Ashleigh Slater’s blog when I first began blogging and was so excited to discover she had the opportunity to write a book. I love her books’ theme, the idea of creating a marriage team. Check out my full review. […]
[…] practical wisdom and humor in her new book, Team Us: Marriage Together. Check out my full review here. Today, she is writing about how a marriage relationship is always evolving and we can choose to […]