19 Kids and Counting’s Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar share tips for keeping marriage hot

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here are tips for keeping a relationship hot — straight from two of America’s most prolific parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar!

“Be available. Anyone can fix him lunch, but only one person can meet that physical need of love that he has, and you always need to be available when he calls,” Michelle told Today of the best relationship advice she received.

Michelle, who appears with her husband, children and grandchildren on TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting, explained there were often times she was tired when Jim Bob got home from work. But they — clearly — made time for intimacy.

“That has been such a lifesaver for our marriage,” she said of the “be available” tip.

Husband Jim Bob chimed in to say they are “like a newlywed couple every day,” even though their 30th wedding anniversary is next summer. He added his best marriage tip is “the husband needs to cherish his wife and always treat his wife like a queen.”

In terms of what she finds most attractive about her husband, Michelle said she loves his openness.

“He shares his heart with me, his struggles, his fears and his dreams,” Michelle said. “Many men would not do that, but God’s word says that before honor comes humility. When he learns to humble himself before God and me, it builds him up so much in my eyes.”

Even though they sound like rabbits, the Duggars abstain from sex when Michelle is on her period and after she gives birth. (Eighty days after a girl is born, 40 days after a boy.) Michelle said these spurts of abstinence are actually beneficial.

“When you’ve missed it for seven days, you look forward to it even more.”

The takeaway for anyone whose number of children is a single digit: No excuses!