The Cleymans

Tag: blended family

  • Turning 34

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    Wow. Here I am. Ending my Jesus year. On to 34. “Jesus year,” you may ask? Huh? I remember the first time I heard that. Jesus himself only lived to his 33rd year, and wow, what a year it was for him. I am now OLDER than the most important person in my life ever…

  • You are in mixed-cultural marriage. You might just not realize it.

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    Wait, so what IS is culture anyway?  In some relationships it’s overly clear that there are multiple cultures at play. For instance, it’s obvious that this is so in mixed-racial love relationships, but when people look at us, the Cleymans, they wouldn’t assume that there are cultural differences at play. However, whenever two different continents…

  • Long Distance Dating For Newbies

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    Have you ever found yourself living on the other side of the planet as the love of your life?  We currently are THERE as Chey is visiting her family in Florida, and Kim is home in Belgium. We also did this during our entire dating relationship. So, as huge proponents of Long-Distance Dating/Relationships ourselves, we wanted to…

  • Traveling With Toddlers: How To Thrive at 10,000 Feet

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    Yep, we’re about to take the journey (AGAIN) that maybe some of you mom’s and dad’s have before and that is- traveling over 7,000 miles with a toddler!!! Ahhhh, did that make anyone else just cringe? Or grab for the puke bag? Wouldn’t it just be easier to travel that distance once he’s older? We…

  • This One Communication Shift Changed Our Marriage

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    “You’re just not LISTENING to me.” OUCH. If you’re married, chances are, you’ve heard this statement before. But, when you read it just now, how did you hear that in your head?Was this statement said with…Anger? Frustration? Contempt? Hopelessness? Kindness? Perhaps you heard it the way it’s been said to you before. Or maybe, you even heard it in the…

  • Ho, Ho, Hooold the Drama! 3 Tips to Get Through a Stepfamily Holiday Season

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    thecleymans
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    Being a part of a stepfamily isn’t always easy. Where we can’t change most of our circumstances, what we can do is remain flexible, lay down some boundaries and focus our mind on the similarities in our families rather than all the differences and challenges.

  • How To Get Through Hard Seasons in Marriage

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    You know those “seasons” that people talk about in marriage that are more challenging than others? Well, we are IN one. I’ve come on here not to “air” our dirty laundry, gossip or complain, but instead to share with you the reality we ALL as married couples face, or will face, and shed some light…

  • Cleyman Family Update!

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    Ah, yes, because really – IT WAS ABOUT TIME! I had to scroll back through our posts to check when our last FAMILY update was – and my jaw dropped when I saw that it was 8 months ago! December 2021! How does that happen? All moms reading this know it’s one simple answer: LIFE!…

  • Everyone marries the WRONG person.

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    Ever heard someone say this to you: “Ugh, I married the WRONG person.” Or, just maybe, you’ve also heard yourself say these words or THINK them inside your head. We’d like to radically combat that thought with the fact/thought that actually, you’re correct. EVERYONE DOES marry the wrong person. So, if everyone marries the wrong…

  • To marry or not to marry?

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    To marry or not to marry? …is that even a question? There was a time in my life, before meeting Cheyanne, that I whole heartedly would have said: “No, that’s not even a question.” Meaning the answer is obviously a NO. Marriage was not necessary to me. But now, two years later, I still whole…