Preparing Your Children for Marriage

                                                   
We spend weeks training our dogs how to sit and heel, yet, when it comes to marriage, we leave our children to fend for themselves.
 As a teenager, I can recall dreaming of going to California. It was the home of the Beach Boys, Elvis' beach party movies, and candy apple red '56 Chevy hardtops. I made it no secret to my parents I wanted to go there. In their wisdom, they didn't let me go. Oh yes, I wanted that '56 Chevy too, but my dad, being the wise sage he was, provided a drab white, 6-cylinder, 4-door 1962 Chevy sedan—ugh! I'm amazed my self image survived those humiliating years!
California was the main drag--the place to go in those days. It was where it all seemed to start. I guess it still seems that way.
But I must tell you I was astounded when I saw at a special section in the Orange County Register for "Weddings and Occasions."  The advertisements that followed fell into 58 categories, 54 of which sold goods and services related to getting married. A casual glance at these 54 categories revealed some fairly basic "necessities" for your average wedding: Wedding Cakes, Formal Wear, Flowers, Catering, Limousine Service (everything from a Rolls Royce to a White Bentley), Chapel/Minister, etc.
A more careful reading, however, revealed more of our culture and its values. Some sections advertised Bachelor/Bachelorette parties—exotic dancers and all. One even boasted of "The best hunks and gorgeous ladies for your parties! Ask for Al."
Also offered was a wedding planning seminar and a law firm selling premarital agreements. As I read that newspaper ad, I realized no one offered one single thing to help a couple in their marriage. Not one ounce of preventive education. Nothing.
"We don't need it. We're already educated enough," they say. And educated we are.
Preparing for marriage
We spend weeks and months studying the latest data on new cars before buying one. Many spend years educating themselves in how to make a living, yet how many of these courses really teach us how to live, make a good marriage or raise children?
Does it seem odd to you that, as a culture, we spend weeks training our dogs how to sit and heel, yet, when it comes to marriage, we leave our children to fend for themselves?
Interesting, isn't it, that we spend so little time and money on preparing for marriage? It is said the average wedding costs $20,000 today, takes at least five months to pull off, and lasts about 17 minutes. No wonder the marriages formed amid our twisted priorities often don't last as long as the engagement!
I want you to know I'm not against nice weddings. I just think that an engaged couple needs to spend more time preparing for their marriage—not just the marriage ceremony!
A close friend of mine confessed, "It took me several years to realize a marriage license didn't make a marriage. It only gave me the right to begin building one."
What would a godly marriage be worth to the next 10 generations? We're so busy living for today we are failing by the lasting standards of tomorrow and, most importantly, the standards of eternity.
The essentials for a lasting home
The Proverbs say three things are essential for filling a home with peace, lasting qualities, and stability: knowledge, wisdom, and understanding (Proverbs 24:3-4). Not a single one was offered in that California newspaper's advertisement, at any price.
Only Jesus Christ offers hope to a generation that has lost its moorings. His Word is the only source I really trust today when it comes to gaining knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. His price? Free!
If your children are single and 16 years or older you might wish to toss this on the supper table and chew on it for a while. And if your children aren't old enough or aren't born yet, file this away under "wedding plans." You might just help them build a real home.
Burdened by this? If you've been to a Weekend to Remember marriage getaway, why not teach your children what you learned?  Or better yet, go to your pastor and offer to start a premarriage course for couples who are getting married at your church. And remember, when it comes time for your son or daughter to marry, you can always require that they go to a Weekend to Remember before saying "I do!"

Written by Dennis Rainey
Dennis Rainey is the president and chief executive officer of FamilyLife, a subsidiary of Campus Crusade for Christ. Since the organization began in 1976, Dennis' leadership has enabled FamilyLife to grow into a dynamic and vital ministry that offers families blueprints for living godly lives.  Dennis is host of FamilyLife Today radio program and has written numerous books.  He and his wife, Barbara, live near Little Rock, Arkansas.  They have six children and many grandchildren.

Getting fit and healthy for your wedding day

                        
Every bride wants to look beautiful on her wedding day; whether it is simply a matter of committing to plucking her eyebrows once a week for the next five months, running an extra 10 minutes every day, or completely restructuring their her entire life in order to transform themselves.

Every bride will make a commitment to look beautiful. It does not have to cost you much, in fact, time and mental effort will be the two most important elements in getting fit and healthy.

There is one rule that definitely stipulates whether you will succeed, however. Regardless of how much time you have and how much you can spend, you do require commitment. The answer to success, no matter how simple your objective, will be in your commitment to an established goal. This will usually mean you have to commit to a routine, as well.

Put yourself on a healthy eating plan

There is no such thing as a diet anymore. All (sensible) health and nutrition consultants will advise that you need to eat well, not less. And its REALLY easy. You simply need to read up on what the body needs. And again, that’s not a very hard task.

We all know the body does not need fats, sugars. And we know the body needs fruit and vegies, fibre and water. The rest is up to you; simply work out what sort of foods you like and eat them!
But remember à there is no point in exercising or eating a healthy breakfast and lunch if you are going to sit down and have a chocolate bar and half a litre of coke when you get home from work.

Exercise can be done anywhere, any time. And you don’t need to do much.

You simply need to do it OFTEN. Go for a good hard walk at least four times a week, for at least half an hour. Run if you want to, but don’t burn yourself out because then you won’t want to do anything the following day! Drive to the beach and take a walk or jog on the sand. Walk around the block ten times; whatever it takes. The body burns as many calories walking as it does running; you just suffer less joint and muscle trauma! That is a hard concept to grasp, particularly when you have been brought up with the philosophy of ‘the more you sweat the more you lose’.

Borrow the neighbour’s dog. Wash the neighbour’s horse. As long as you use your muscles and work hard, you will see a change.

Some people have bad joints, so swimming works well, particularly for those who are overweight and can’t walk or run distances.

If you have children, purchase a couple of exercise videos (including yoga or pilates); exercise at home without having to put the kids in day care. In fact, if your kids are old enough, you will have nothing but fun because they join in!

The body needs water, and lots of it.

Keep a cold bottle in the fridge and get yourself a water bottle you can freeze and take with you during the day. During winter, you must make no exception to this rule. Water is vital. It not only keeps you fully hydrated, it flushes the toxins and waste from your system.

No matter how you chose to lose weight, it can be fun and it can be free. It DOES work. Commit to a plan and don’t give up, you will notice significant benefit, and you really won’t have to wait too long to see the changes.

Remember, you may not lose weight where you want to. The body will burn weight as required, where needed. One week people might say your face has lost weight, the next, your back and bum. But it will come off.

Patience and Persistence are the key!

Compiled by Steve Davenport 

www.easyweddings.com

MEN: Your wedding shoes

                         
Whether the man in question is the groom, the best man, or simply a wedding guest, men are notoriously bad at knowing which types and colours of shoes are appropriate for which suits. However perfect the suit is, the wrong type of shoe can ruin the overall look. For this reason choosing mens wedding shoes is often the job of the bride, wife, girlfriend or even mother.

Here are some pointers on choosing the right men’s shoe for a formal wedding suit:

Men’s wedding shoes should generally be as narrow as possible with a slightly pointed toe to give the impression of long slender legs. Round toed or boxy shoes won’t really work with a formal outfit. The only exception to this rule is a tuxedo, which is traditionally worn with a round toed shoe.

The most popular style of men’s wedding shoe is a slightly pointed loafer without laces, but if you do choose laced shoes, you should make sure the laces are as thin as possible, and that they are exactly the same colour as the shoes.

Leather is the usual material for formal shoes, and this can be either matt or glossy. For very formal events, particularly in the evening, a velvet slipper may be appropriate.

The colour of the shoe can provide contrast with the wedding suit, but should never be the focal point of the outfit.

Here is a guide to matching men’s wedding shoes with various coloured suits:

• If the suit is black or charcoal only black shoes should be worn. These can be matt or glossy.
• If the suit is light grey with no brown undertones, black shoes are the usual choice. White shoes can also be worn to a daytime wedding.
• If the suit is a brown grey light or dark brown shoes are a good choice, but if in doubt choose black.
• If the suit is white the best option is white shoes. If a coloured shirt is being worn with the white suit, shoes in exactly the same colour as the shirt are acceptable.
• If the suit is cream or tan, light or medium brown shoes are the best option. White shoes could be worn with a tan suit but would look wrong with a cream suit.

If the suit in question is being hired, it may be worth asking if you can hire the shoes to match. Although some men are reluctant to wear hired shoes, it does increase the chances of finding a pair of shoes that work well with the suit, and it will save him splashing out on a pair of shoes that he doesn’t have a matching suit for.

Like the bride, the groom will be wearing his shoes for a very long time on the wedding day and it’s very rare to find a pair that are immediately comfortable without being broken in. Wearing his dress shoes to work for a week, or even just walking around the house in them in the month leading up to the wedding will ensure he is comfortable enough to strut his stuff on the dance floor.

WEDDINGS:5 Makeup Mistakes to Stop Making Before Your Wedding Day

                                   
On your wedding day, you're already wearing the most gorgeous dress of your life, carrying the most beautiful flowers, and rocking the prettiest,glossiest hair your head's ever seen. The final step? Getting the perfect makeup to match. Even if you've had a routine down pat since 2001, it's time to up your game before get married. Chances are, you're making some major makeup faux pas without even realizing it. Before you walk down the aisle, take an extra minute in front of the bathroom mirror and see if you're guilty of any of these top five beauty blunders. Reversing them is the easiest way to a flawless wedding look!

You forget to prep your lips.
A great longwear lipstick can stay put for hours, but it's no match for champagne toast and wedding cake — unless you give it a little help. Before you swipe on lipcolor, create a smooth surface with lip primer (we love MAC's version); it makes for easier application and keeps lipstick on way longer.
You're using the wrong foundation shade.
If your base makeup makes you look chalky, it's time to switch out your shade for summer. Even if you're planning to go drugstore, head to a department store first to find your shade. Swipe three options on your jawline, then go to a mirror near a window to see how it looks in natural light. The shade that blends most closely to your skin tone is the winner.

Your concealer's doing double duty.
Wondering why your concealer is settling into the creases under your eyes? It could be because you're using the same all-purpose pot you use to cover up breakouts. While blemishes usually call for thick, full-coverage concealers, undereyes benefit more from smoother formulas with light-catching pigments. Try a liquid formula, like Maybelline Dream Lumi  Touch Highlighting Concealer

You're depriving your lashes of maximum lift potential.
Goopy, clumpy eyelashes aren't the best look on your wedding day. But chances are, you're weighing your lashes down with every swipe of a mascara wand. If you usually swipe from underneath your lashes upward, try reversing it: Apply mascara from the top of your lashes, sweeping down and out, which makes for the most separation.

You're not refreshing your makeup bag every few months.
Just uncovered your favorite lipstick from 2012 at the bottom of your makeup bag? Toss it before your wedding day. Left in a makeup bag at room temperature, makeup grows bacteria fast — most after six months to a year, but some after just a few months. Check the expiration date at the bottom of each tube (it looks like a jar of face cream with a number in it; that number shows how many months until it's donezo) and stick to it, and if your mascara or lipstick is drying out, switch them for newer tubes.

 Written by Amanda first

BREAKING:U.S, Russia reach Syria deal

                                  
Russia and the United States have agreed to coordinate air strikes against Islamist militants in Syria, part of a detailed agreement to reduce the violence there.
The plan will begin with a “cessation of hostilities” from sunset on Monday, It reports.
Syrian forces will end combat missions in specified opposition-held areas.
Russia and the U.S will then establish a joint centre to combat jihadist groups, including so-called Islamic State (IS).
A Syrian opposition coalition has cautiously welcomed the agreement.

“We hope this will be the beginning of the end of the civilians’ ordeal,” said Bassma Kodmani, a spokeswoman for the High Negotiations Committee.
“We welcome the deal if it is going to be enforced.”
Turkey welcomed the plan, and said aid needed to reach those in need “from the first day.”
The European Union foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, urged the United Nations to “prepare a proposal for political transition” in Syria.
British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, urged Russia to “use all its influence” to ensure the Syrian government “delivers on its obligations.”

WEDDINGS: 7 Worst Planning Tips Every Bride Should Avoid

                                
When you're engaged and jumping on the wedding planning train, advice will suddenly start to surround you. Every article you read online will be about wedding dos and don'ts and every friend and family member will try to feed you tips and tricks that they think you absolutely need to hear before it's your turn to walk down the aisle. So when all of this advice is coming into your life, sometimes unwarranted, it's important to recognize what advice is actually helpful and what advice should be, well, kicked to the curb. Want to know to spot terrible advice? Well, here are seven wedding planning tips you should 100% avoid.
1. Skimp on the Food
Past brides will try to tell you that nobody eats the food so don't go above and beyond with premium food packages that offer a selection of appetizers and main courses. But the truth is, the food is one of the main things guests remember about your wedding. So, if it's within your budget, try to make sure there are several food options, as well as something that even the pickiest eaters will want to devour.
2. Improvise Your Vows
Nope! Don't do this. Spend quality time writing your vows and even memorizing them if you can. You'll be so chocked up by nerves and emotion on the day of your wedding that you may not be able to speak from the heart off the cuff.  
3. Wait for Your Wedding Dress to Go on Sale
Think the longer you wait to buy your wedding dress the cheaper it will be? Don't wait for flash sales or a coupon to arrive in the mail. The longer you wait to buy the dress, the more expensive alterations may be if you need it in a rush. Plus you'll have the added stress of waiting until the last-minute.
4. Skip the Open Bar and Do BYOB
Depending on your crowd, expecting guests to bring their own booze can be a problem waiting to happen. If you're not able to afford an open bar, consider doing an open bar for an hour or two and then switching to a cash bar to save a bit of money.
5. Don't Compare Your Wedding
The best thing you can do is compare what you want your wedding to be and look like to other weddings. You'll get ideas of things you may never would have thought of on your own and you may change your mind about things after seeing other people do it first.
6. Randomize the Seating Assignments
It may sound like a good idea at first and it will save you a ton of time and hassle trying to figure out where everyone should sit, but on the wedding day, it might be quite awkward if your Aunt Sue is sitting next to your sorority sisters from college.  
7. DIY as Much as You Can
You may think you'll save a ton of cash DIY'ing your whole weddings, but you'll start to notice that you're spending a lot more time on arts and crafts. You also may end up spending more than you think on the bits and pieces, totally counteracting paying someone to help do your decorations for you. Remember: Time is money.

 Written by Jen Glantz
 Jen Glantz is a "Professional Bridesmaid" and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire. She's the author of All My Friends Are Engaged and frequently wears old bridesmaid dresses to the grocery store and on first dates.

Man City Upset United 2-1 To Win Derby

                                
 Kevin de Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho pounced on two defensive lapses from Daley Blind to give Manchester City and Pep Guardiola the bragging rights over Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United.
Manchester United reduced the tally just before the break as Zlatan Ibrahimovic took advantage of a blunder from city goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
Both teams had second-half chances, but City held on to take all three points.

WEDDINGS:How to Make Your Reception the Best Party of Your Life

                                   
I loved my wedding reception – outdoors, between storms, on a cool August day by Lake Champlain – not just for the beautiful dahlia and snapdragon flower arrangements, Lillet cocktails, and local Vermont cheese plates, but for the joy of having all of my favorite people in the world celebrating with me. It is, simply put, the best party of your life.

As you think about the flow of the reception, there are a few points of etiquette to observe. These are easy to incorporate with a little forethought, and will keep you focused on enjoying time with your guests.

PhotosHere is my one regret: my absence throughout most of the cocktail hour. And I don’t drink much, so it wasn’t the beverages that I regret missing. Right after saying my vows, I was ready to greet my guests. However, despite planning to take as many photos before the ceremony as possible, we still needed more time than anticipated.

I followed all of my own advice, and scheduled a First Look (which was terrific), wrote a smart photo-list order that required less wrangling of family, and assigned relatives to find any stragglers for group portraits. In the end, the photos still took a bigger portion of the timeline than expected. So, an additional bit of advice is to allot plenty of extra time for photo sessions!

Receiving Lines vs. Table VisitsThe receiving line can be held as guests depart the ceremony site, though more often it is held as they enter the reception area. While it may feel slow or old-fashioned, it serves a very important purpose: It gives you (the couple) and any other hosts the opportunity to greet and thank guests. This is the single most important duty you have at the wedding. If the official cake cutting gets cut or the bouquet toss is tossed, it’s no big deal. But saying “hello and thank you for coming” to every single person in attendance is an ironclad must. The receiving line serves as a catchall for this purpose.

Many couples have opted to skip receiving lines in recent years in favor of greeting attendees via table visits. Either way you say “hello” to all of your guests is fine; but think about the timing. Table visits take at least a few – if not five or more – minutes each. Multiply that by 20 tables, and your loved ones may be done with dinner before you’re finished approaching them all. Plus, you may miss your own meal! Generally speaking, it’s a very good idea to have a receiving line if you have from 75 to 100+ guests. Fewer than that and circumstances are in your favor to find and thank every individual present.

ToastsWhile Champagne may be replaced with any beverage, no reception is complete without at least a few words from your hosts to congratulate the newlyweds and thank guests for coming. When the couple hosts, one or both might take a moment to express appreciation to family and friends for coming and to toast his or her new spouse. Typically done early or late during the meal, the main host will (gently!) tap a glass or take the microphone to give a toast. Usually this will be the bride’s father, followed immediately or shortly thereafter by the groom’s father. The couple, best man, and maid/matron of honor might also say a few words. Mothers and stepparents can speak as well. Any combination of these may happen. It’s a good idea to have a sense of who is on deck and in what order to avoid hurt feelings should the best man take the microphone before the father of the bride has a chance to go first. If you don’t want an open mic, give the DJ or whoever is in charge of the microphone a list of those who will give toasts, and ask him or her to politely decline the request of others who may ask.

It’s okay to use notes for toasts, and to keep them short if you’re nervous. Toasts don’t need to be lengthy – have you ever sat and timed five minutes? It’s a long time. A minute or two at most is adequate, especially if several people plan to speak. (Rehearsal dinners are a great time for lots of speeches, and for long speeches.) At the end of each toast, the speaker will ask everyone to join in raising their glasses, or simply turn to you two and raise their glass. Technically, when you are being toasted, you don’t drink – just smile and enjoy. After guests have drunk you might raise your glass to them in return and have a sip.

Cutting the CakeWhile first dances, bouquet tosses, and big send-offs can be fun, there isn’t much etiquette to them; not so for the cake cutting. Cutting the cake is a sign to attendees that it’s acceptable to leave the reception without being thought rude. This is often an important cue for elderly guests, or those with small children to put to bed. If you weren’t planning to cut the cake and feed one another bites in front of loved ones, or opted for an alternative dessert such as cupcakes or cookies that don’t lend themselves to cutting, simply serving dessert will suffice as a signal. Plan to cut the cake (or have dessert served) within an hour of dinner ending. The party will still go on, and family and friends who would like to depart will end on a sweet note.

 Written by Anna Post

Anna Post is the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post, and a co-author of Emily Post’s Etiquette, 18th edition. She is also the co-author of Great Get-Togethers and the author of Do I Have To Wear White?.A modern etiquette expert and regular columnist for Inside Weddings, Anna covers a range of wedding etiquette related topics. She has previously written for CNN.com and The Huffington Post and conducts business etiquette seminars and speaks at bridal shows across the country.Anna also turns her creative eye to creating and launching new products that marry the trusted name of Emily Post with other brands. Recently she has contributed to lines of wedding, social, and business stationery for the Emily Post exclusively for M. Middleton line and to the Emily Post PhotoBooks suite of wedding albums for Photo Book Press.A graduate of Phillips Academy and the University of Vermont