Wednesday, November 28, 2007

We believe that we have a wonderful

We believe that we have a wonderful marriage. You will not be around us very long before you realize that we are delighted with each other and with our marriage. In the following paragraphs, we have tried to list a few of the things that we believe are keys to our own successful marriage. Don't get us wrong. We don't have all the answers! And while we do believe we have a great marriage, it is by no means perfect. We still have lots of growing to do. But on this page we humbly offer some tips that we believe have been most significant to us. We realize that some of them may not apply to you. As our Pastor, Frank Hicks, is fond of saying, Eat the meat. Spit out the bones! But we would encourage you to please take them seriously, pray about them, and discuss them with each other.
Your marriage can be great! This does not mean that we just “go to church” together, or “say grace before meals” together (although we do those things, of course!). When we are alone together, we frequently talk about the Lord, remind each other of how good He has been to us, discuss what He is doing in our lives, etc. If you listen in on our conversations, you might hear us say, “The Lord is so good to us. ” Or “Thank you, Lord. You are so good!” Or, “Let me tell you about how the Lord worked out this situation for me today. ” We have a brief time together each morning when we read, and briefly discuss, passages from the Bible together. (Usually we read about 10 to 20 verses from the Old Testament and 10 to 20 verses from the New Testament. ) You will also hear us praying several times a day for our boys and their families, for wisdom for the day, etc. The point here is not to “brag” about our spiritual lives, but to try to illustrate what it means for Jesus to be Lord of our marriage. There is nothing we love more than being alone together.
  1. We genuinely enjoy each other’s company.
  2. One of our greatest joys in life is to go somewhere for a “24-hour retreat” together.
  3. (You can read the details about these retreats a little further in this article.
  4. ) During those 24-hour retreats, we are constantly in each other’s company and loving every minute of it.

Of course, this brings up the question, “WHY do we enjoy each other’s company so much?” You will learn the answer to that question as you read the rest of this document. We never just “order each other around,” in public or private. If we ask the other to do a favor for us, it is always accompanied by the words “Please” or “Would you please?” We try to be very “tuned in” to when the other does something for us—even if it seems like a small thing. And you will hear us frequently say, “Thank you so much!” to each other. We also try very hard to never tease each other in a hurtful way. We have seen many couples say words to each other that are uncomplimentary or that “sting” a little (or even a lot!). Then the spouse will say, “He (or she) knows I’m kidding. ” We believe that these little stinging words that make fun of one’s spouse are harmful to a close personal relationship. Each of us believes that there are many men and women in the world who would dearly love to have a spouse like our spouse. So even though we obviously have many faults and see each other’s faults, the faults seem so small in comparison to the great treasure we have in each other.
And we do this with humility. I don’t see myself as such a great treasure, but I certainly see my spouse as a great treasure! If I concentrate on meeting my spouse’s needs, I get great joy from that kind of living. If I concentrate on meeting my needs, I get ugly and selfish and miserable. Too many marriages have two people who are each trying desperately to get the other to meet his or her needs. This selfish approach to marriage never brings real joy to a marriage. It takes two people to make a great marriage. One cannot do it alone. If one is a “taker” and the other is a “giver” there cannot be real joy in a marriage. Both must be “givers” to each other. We enjoy reading and discussing books and articles that give us tips for making our marriage stronger.
(By the way, we have found Again, some married people are always making jokes to others at his or her spouse’s expense. These jokes are usually concluded with laughter and words like, “Naw, I’m just kidding!” We believe that kind of joking is very hurtful to a marriage. We want others to hear us saying nice things about each other and doing nice things for each other. We don’t mind at all if others see us giving each other approving or loving glances. We don’t mind if they see us being polite to each other. We don’t mind if they see us holding hands as we walk together or sit together. A few others may tease us about these things, but we know that these are the kind of things that makes our marriage stronger and stronger. negative about each other. If we have disagreements, we work them out privately between ourselves. (Obviously, there are times when problems in a marriage require that.

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Monday, November 26, 2007

Now you can sign up to receive these

Now you can sign up to receive these same valuable marriage tips over the next 30 days. Simply fill out the form on this page and get ready to have a fun time. Dennis Rainey reports that thirty-five percent of marriages in America end in divorce... and 1 in 5 of those adults have been divorced multiple times. At Family Builders Ministries we are keenly aware of the challenges couples face in keeping their relationship strong and healthy. Willie often tells the story of Lance Armstrong, six-time winner of the Tour de France, who wrote about his failed marriage: “We forgot to do the most important thing. We forgot to be married. ” emphasis on building a healthy marriage. It’s very simple. We want to send you 30 easy but powerful marriage-building tips. Each day you will receive by email an idea that you can put into practice that day. Don’t delay.
  1. Sign up today and be ready to see your marriage flourish with God’s help.
  2. After you sign up, tell your friends about this wonderful opportunity.
  3. Just wanted to let you know we looked forward to the marriage tips everyday.
  4. We went to your marriage retreat at Monadnock in April.
  5. Between that and these tips our marriage has really grown.

We had a rough time in the past 4 years of our marriage, trying to work through a lot of stuff. We decided to stay together, but I was having a really tough time letting things go. With the help of prayer, your seminar in April and the marriage tips I feel I have worked through many of the issues that were stopping me from wanting to fix our marriage. So praise God and thank you for your ministry. “We are just wanting to give you feedback on your marriage tips... and enlighten you of how weird - but often wonderful - occurrences happen. I will try to keep it brief. Yesterday my husband and I were the closest yet to getting a divorce, in fact we were just going about the specific things of red tape & paperwork etc. Anyway, after many hours & much rage, anger, hatred, and hurt flying around the room (including in front of our special little boys), somehow we calmed down at some stage & were starting to talk - just a little - when I looked up at my emails. (I had been at the computer all day and had been keeping up with my emails. ) There popped up all of a sudden, marriage tip #15. I thought, Here we go, yeah, yeah, whatever, we know it all! We just don’t know how to get along! I read it & thought, Oh gosh, just another one of those signs you get out of nowhere when you most need it.

Each and every sentence of the tip held an exact relevance to our situations/issues (there are maaaany). My husband was dumbfounded too!!!…We are going to fight - hmm not the best choice of vocabulary - for our marriage, & as unfair as it seems that I often have to fight the world to show them where true happiness comes from - living honest lives true to ourselves - I will push through if its only for the reason I am here to help one person in my family make a difference in the world. ” I just want to thank you for this initiative of building healthier marriages. I consider this information to be priceless in my own marriage. First, it has helped me to get in the habit of doing daily things for my wife and marriage. I heard somewhere that it takes at least 21 days to make a habit. Thanks for this new good habit that I have developed since signing up for the daily marriage tips. Thanks so much for the 30 day marriage tips. What a great idea! I looked forward to reading them every day. I found the messages meaningful and applicable in our 11-year-old marriage. Please continue the good work. Email is a awesome vehicle to reach the busy family.
I bet most of us with children could benefit from parenting tips too. Thank you so much for providing this service and information. I looked forward everyday to your marriage tips. My husband and I just celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary and we reflected on your tips. The tips gave us a chance to reexamine our relationship and to thank God each and every day for bringing us together. These tips are not just cute, though some are smoochie things to do. Most of the tips are thought-provoking. These tips help us to build some great practices. They certainly require thought and some deliberate effort. They've helped us, also, to develop a valuable perspective on what contributes to a healthy marriage. We are now, thinking more, thanks to your project, Willie. We are aware of the on purpose nature of a healthy, blessing-filled marriage. We are more deliberate in our thoughts and deeds, as we interact with each other..

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Writing your own wedding vows may suit

Writing your own wedding vows may suit your personal wedding style, but it can be a bit of a daunting task to begin with. If you are trying to write your own vows, don’t let the task overwhelm you or intimidate you. Writing your own vows should begin and end with how you feel, not what others are expecting. If you are creating your own wedding ceremony and style and you want to write your own vows, here are a few questions to consider in creating the vows you want to make. Reading the vows you have written yourself during your wedding ceremony can be one of the most romantic things you’ve ever done. It’s the kind of thing that really helps you create your own personal wedding style. Writing your own vows is a kind of personal touch that cannot be replicated by any other style of vow. YourWedding101. com Tip: There are all different kinds of supplies in a variety of colors, styles and price ranges for wedding invitations.
If you are interested in creating your own The basic elements for planning your wedding reception and reception decorations will be determined by the location you select. Some of the reception decorations will also be based on the type of food and serving you choose. Planning the reception decorations is all a part of the details of planning the wedding reception. These elements come into play based on the reception location, especially if you are planning a wedding in a place where it’s a blank slate. Some locations already have their environmental décor that will play a part in the reception decorations and you need to take that into account with your planning. There are many ways to take care of your decorations including rentals. Renting some of the accessories can save you money. The lighting choices can be as simple as twinkle lights and votive candles. Your place settings can be simple or elaborate.
The drapes can be made of tulle, gossamer or silk. Your flowers can match those at the wedding or be individual to the reception itself. Balloons offer a fanciful touch to the decorations. There are so many options that you can explore with your reception decorations that the list could be endless. Decide on a venue, decide on a theme and then let that help you choose the overall look and feel you are going for with your reception decorations. You can add shallow bowls of water with candles floating in them. You can mix and match your wine goblets. You can transform candles with wrapped ribbons.
  1. Go crazy when you plan your reception decorations and create the perfect venue to celebrate your first few hours as newlyweds.
  2. YourWedding101.
  3. com Tip: There are a multitude of duties that bridesmaids, groomsmen, maids of honor and best men are usually expected to fulfill.
  4. It's a good idea for the bride and groom to identify their needs to the Where do you get your wedding reception ideas? How do you decide between a formal dinner and a buffet? Do you really want to create a seating chart for 200 people? Do you want to embrace the pomp and the circumstance of the receiving line? Where do you look for your wedding reception ideas? The answer to that is a simple one.
  5. You look to your own life, the life of your soon to be spouse and you find the a happy middle ground that satisfies you both.

The wedding reception is the first major event hosted by you and your new spouse. It’s a function that celebrates your marriage and invites all of your family and friends to celebrate alongside you. The reception is as much for your guests as it is for you. In fact, in many cases your wedding reception will continue after you and your new spouse leave it to head out for the honeymoon. Wedding reception ideas come from mixing both the drama and the fantasy in our lives. Think of a romantic setting that you’d like to share with your wedding guests and create it. If that means creating a beautiful outdoor setting with tents and paper lanterns that mix both natural and quiet illuminations as well as dramatic shadows; then that’s what you do. Your wedding reception ideas might include a brightly lit room with colorful decorations, loud music and lots of group dances. Your wedding reception ideas have to come from who the two of you are individually and who you want to be together. It’s the first couple of paragraphs in the new chapter of your lives.
So create the setting you want to be seen in and you want to enjoy in and that’s where your wedding reception ideas come from. When you meet with your wedding photographer, you will have a lot to talk about. There will be many different moments happening before, during and after the wedding. Wedding photography is part photojournalism and part portraiture. You want your wedding photographer to be prepared for the unexpected. During your interview with them, you want to ask them about their style; their background and their experience. You want a wedding photographer who watches the people around them. You want wedding photography that comes from being unobtrusive where they c.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Now you can sign up to receive these

Now you can sign up to receive these same valuable marriage tips over the next 30 days. Simply fill out the form on this page and get ready to have a fun time. Dennis Rainey reports that thirty-five percent of marriages in America end in divorce... and 1 in 5 of those adults have been divorced multiple times. At Family Builders Ministries we are keenly aware of the challenges couples face in keeping their relationship strong and healthy. Willie often tells the story of Lance Armstrong, six-time winner of the Tour de France, who wrote about his failed marriage: “We forgot to do the most important thing. We forgot to be married. ” emphasis on building a healthy marriage. It’s very simple. We want to send you 30 easy but powerful marriage-building tips. Each day you will receive by email an idea that you can put into practice that day. Don’t delay. Sign up today and be ready to see your marriage flourish with God’s help. After you sign up, tell your friends about this wonderful opportunity. Just wanted to let you know we looked forward to the marriage tips everyday. We went to your marriage retreat at Monadnock in April. Between that and these tips our marriage has really grown.
  1. We had a rough time in the past 4 years of our marriage, trying to work through a lot of stuff.
  2. We decided to stay together, but I was having a really tough time letting things go.

With the help of prayer, your seminar in April and the marriage tips I feel I have worked through many of the issues that were stopping me from wanting to fix our marriage. So praise God and thank you for your ministry. “We are just wanting to give you feedback on your marriage tips... and enlighten you of how weird - but often wonderful - occurrences happen. I will try to keep it brief. Yesterday my husband and I were the closest yet to getting a divorce, in fact we were just going about the specific things of red tape & paperwork etc. Anyway, after many hours & much rage, anger, hatred, and hurt flying around the room (including in front of our special little boys), somehow we calmed down at some stage & were starting to talk - just a little - when I looked up at my emails. (I had been at the computer all day and had been keeping up with my emails. ) There popped up all of a sudden, marriage tip #15. I thought, Here we go, yeah, yeah, whatever, we know it all! We just don’t know how to get along! I read it & thought, Oh gosh, just another one of those signs you get out of nowhere when you most need it. Each and every sentence of the tip held an exact relevance to our situations/issues (there are maaaany). My husband was dumbfounded too!!!…We are going to fight - hmm not the best choice of vocabulary - for our marriage, & as unfair as it seems that I often have to fight the world to show them where true happiness comes from - living honest lives true to ourselves - I will push through if its only for the reason I am here to help one person in my family make a difference in the world. ” I just want to thank you for this initiative of building healthier marriages. I consider this information to be priceless in my own marriage. First, it has helped me to get in the habit of doing daily things for my wife and marriage. I heard somewhere that it takes at least 21 days to make a habit. Thanks for this new good habit that I have developed since signing up for the daily marriage tips.
Thanks so much for the 30 day marriage tips. What a great idea! I looked forward to reading them every day. I found the messages meaningful and applicable in our 11-year-old marriage. Please continue the good work. Email is a awesome vehicle to reach the busy family. I bet most of us with children could benefit from parenting tips too. Thank you so much for providing this service and information. I looked forward everyday to your marriage tips. My husband and I just celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary and we reflected on your tips. The tips gave us a chance to reexamine our relationship and to thank God each and every day for bringing us together. These tips are not just cute, though some are smoochie things to do. Most of the tips are thought-provoking. These tips help us to build some great practices. They certainly require thought and some deliberate effort. They've helped us, also, to develop a valuable perspective on what contributes to a healthy marriage. We are now, thinking more, thanks to your project, Willie. We are aware of the on purpose nature of a healthy, blessing-filled marriage. We are more deliberate in our thoughts and deeds, as we interact with each other..