Chapter One: Why Bullseye Marriage?

     The analogy between archery and shooting for a great marital relationship was solidified when Francis and Sara went on a Valentine date to an indoor archery range.  The Chapters of the book were formed at dinner after their wonderful time shooting arrows at the targets they had chosen.  They now recommend going to an archery range and dinner afterward as a great date!  Several people who have attended the conference and gone on "an archery date" have discovered for themselves great analogies between targeting an actual bulls-eye and targeting a Bullseye Marriage.

Chapter Two: What’s your Bullseye?

            Unless you have a clear vision of what you are shooting for and where the target is then you will be hard pressed to even know where to aim.  This Chapter provides you a process we call a “sensory brainstorm” as you work towards creating a clear vision of what a Bullseye marriage would like for you. If you read this as a couple this Chapter is an opportunity to decide if you are shooting at an “existing target” or is it time to freshen it up and create a new one that you both can agree on?

Chapter Three: What’s your Experience?

            The question behind this question is the important one.  What is your history with relationships?  What was your parents’ relationship like?  What is your life story? What experience, both good and bad have you had with earlier relationships?  This Chapter offers a Masterpiece Timeline Activity for you to do as a couple.

Chapter Four: Are you right handed or left handed?  How well do you know yourself?

            Before Sara could even pick up a bow and arrow she had to know whether she was right handed or left handed, right-eye dominant or left-eye dominant.  The only person one can control in any relationship is oneself.  If you are in a relationship or planning to enter one, it’s important to be in touch with yourself.  It helps to have someone assist in this matter, get advice and ideas from different books and sources.  It took two people providing different ideas to assist Sara in learning that she was right-eye dominant. This Chapter offers ways and resources to assist you in getting to know yourself better.  It’s important to realize as you read this Chapter that no person is stagnant, our life experiences and knowledge, shapes our philosophy and outlook.  To know yourself is a lifetime process.

Chapter Five: Men & Women shoot differently.

            The man who strung our bows, strung them differently.  He strung them based on our strength.  Each person in a relationship brings different strengths.  Basic archery has skills that everyone can use, but men and women will bring, even to archery, their own approach and strength. Chapter Five delves into what are the needs that men have and what are the needs that women have.  The Chapter challenges both parties in the relationship to listen and learn from one another and work towards a mutual relationship that utilizes the strengths of both.

Chapter Six: What happens when you get tired?

When we got tired our arrows were less accurate. We shot for 1-½ hours approximately 125-150 arrows.  Only 3 hit in the bullseye area.  Many hit the target and a number completely missed.  Just like marriage. Whatever the picture in our mind of the perfect relationship, it is rarely met.  That doesn’t mean we quit trying.  Marriages work when you work on the marriage. To set aside a marriage because your tired of working on the same thing, or saying the same thing over and over prevents you from ever experiencing the joy of hitting a bullseye.  We offer the suggestion of taking "tower time" when you get tired.

Chapter Seven: Tips and Tools for Target Practice

            Just as there are different tools that you can use in Archery to assist with making archery practice less painful; there are tools and tips that might assist in making the work of marriage less painful. With that in mind this Chapter gives quick tips and ideas.

Chapter Eight: Those Who Benefit from a Bullseye Marriage

            A marriage is not just between two people.  The two are connected to their family of origin, their friends, to children who come forth from them and more.  When a couple struggles, it affects the whole system.  When a couple thrives it also affects the whole system.  This Chapter recognizes that no marriage is perfect, but a marriage can work if you work at it. Sara and Francis give their children an opportunity to say how they have benefited from witnessing two people continuing to target a great realtionship.

Chapter Nine: Resources

This chapter is filled with Resources that assist you in working on your Bullseye Marriage.