married
The most important four words for a successful marriage: 'I'll do the dishes.'
How to Be Happy in a Marriage, According to Relationship Expert
Most people dream about their weddings, forgetting about their future married life. Unfortunately, marriage isn't always glamorous, and it’s not for the faint-hearted. If you've been married for years or are thinking of tying the knot to your soulmate from the best online dating sites, you should understand that happiness in a marriage is important.
By Sherry Kimball4 years ago in Families
Tips to Keep Your Marriage Alive
There are many jobs that keep families apart. Many businessmen and women travel across the country for their job. They may spend a few days or even weeks away from their spouse and family. Commercial truck drivers are also known for spending a lot of time away from their family in order to provide for them.
By Shelley Wenger4 years ago in Families
Windfall Pond
Windfall Pond During one gelidity frost night,The year is 1998. 11:39 p.m. Ray Greenfield is sitting anxiously drinking his hot coffee. Sitting along with him is his friend Eun-Woo Jeong. They reside in a nursing home in Kansas City, Mo. They have been up all evening talking as if they were high school kids. However, the reason for being up took much planning. Now, one may ask. What were they planning? Ray and Eun-Woo, just met one month prior in the nursing home. Ray is a retired marine seargent who married his sister's best friend after his tour in South Korea.He has been widowed for 5 years prior when his wife of 50 years passed from a heart attack. When they married, his son came not long afterwards. He also followed suit joining the marine Corp. He is stationed overseas in South Korea. Eun-Woo, however only had one child. A daughter all grown up and is a professional singer. She tours the world and comes home to stay with her mother when not touring. It has been over a week, Ray and Eun-Woo slyly watch the staff and has them down to a science. They know Rebecca, a vending machine on wheels nurse who does her rounds at 11:40p.m. While the security guard Gregory, relieves his coworker charles,who had second shift. Ray and Eun-Woo sneakily walk past the security guard at 12:05am, He is fast asleep. This is typical every single night for 30 minutes or so. One may ponder, is that safe? Well we are all elderly so what are we going to do? Start throwing a party as if we were teenagers with the parents gone out of town? We find a chance to dart out the side door and now we're in a Taxi. The driver was waiting after ray's call pretending he was calling his son. Where are they going? Well Ray and Eun are going to the home Ray grew up in. Chatting up the taxi driver, he leans back to take in the story. It is not that far away. Excited because she has heard many tales of my house where I'm from. Eun-Woo replies, "You see, what I want to see and get into is most important". She wants to see a special attraction that I have been promising. Now, we will finally make it here. My home is not far but steps away from the attraction. He has been yapping all about place for a whole month. Wer'e going to see Windfall pond. Now according to him and to local Legend it has special powers. I would often laugh, thinking. Oh what such rubbish. However, the stories that he has told me are very extraordinary. So much that I wanted to see for myself. We make it to the pond. I am staring at the pond in amazement. The pond is frozen I added. I jokenly ask "Where is the miracle, Ray"? Maybe the miracle is that I have never seen a frozen pond? We both Marvel and joke. Then we gave each other a kiss. We were already falling in love and wanted to spend our last days together. I have stomach cancer and he has lung cancer.We were only given maybe a month or two. Now, I listen intently as he tells me."All you have to do is hold your hand in the water". Or underwater and make a wish. Afterwards, when we see a pear tree, we have to both eat a pear from the tree. Only one, and we have to share one pear to gain the miracle. Then They will come true. The Miracles that he seen he explains, come true but not as exact but a variation. Very close. We both Place our hands on the frozen ice of water. Our hands are clasped and asked for more time together long enough for us to get married. To live out our last days together. We both looked at each other and I kissed him hurriedly. I felt so alive and want to skip down the isle, screw walking. Ray is smiling and utters "didn't I tell you it is a miracle pond"? Are you ready? We were like two little kids gushing with excitement. We're prancing to the house or at least we were trying to. We get to the house. We both gasp, as there is a pear tree that stands in front of the house. I look at him and utter "Your very smooth, how many girls have you romanced using a pear tree that probally has been here since forever"! I laugh so hard I say "It's okay, I still love you"! He retorts "I always see the pear tree, but it was usually along the way after making the wish". "Never right in front of my house'. "This must be good", I say. To our amazement his son is home. Just flew in from Korea. "Son"? When did you get in? His son said "Dad"? "What are you doing here"? "Why are you not at the nursing home"? "How did you get out, I was going to see you tomorrow in the morning"? What are you doing father? "I am getting married tommorow". "Son, say hi to your mother". They both exchange salutations while smiling. We all hug and so thrilled and happy. Then,we hear little pitter-patter. Out jumps a kid. "This is my son". Father, I wanted to surprise you. Father replies, Where did you get him from? "From his mother, dad". I am stationed with her in Korea and she is also here as well. The son turns to introduce his wife. We are engaged and I came home to see you and get married. Eun-Woo Jeong will be your daughter in law. Congratulations dear. I'm so sorry if I am loopy. I am still taking it all in. Welcome to our family, Eun-Woo. Son she is so pretty. Can I ask your last name, dear? She added yes, Jeong. When I was stationed there in korea I met a girl named Eun-Woo. But her last name was Jeong? Replied Ray. I only dated her once and then I had to leave. This was when ww2 ended. I came home and that is when I met my son's mother. She passed away 5 years ago. However, we lived a great life. How about your parents? In Korea? Or they live in the United States? She still live in Korea, she is on her way right now. She swore to make it to our wedding. I am going to be your daughter-in-law. You will meet my mother. As she uttered those words, there was a knock on the door. It was her mother. Are you Ray? She introduces herself. Hello, My name is Eun-Woo Jeong. It is nice to meet you. He smiles and exclaims, "Eun-Woo Jeong" as if they'd seen a ghost. They both begin to laugh hysterically. When we were young in Korea, I could'nt stay but I wanted to. "For you". I thought I lost you. I cannot believe it.We both couldn't believe it. Raymond looks at Eun-Woo. Didn't I tell you the pond has powers? She said I believe it now! Who would have thought we both lost eachother so long ago, to unknowingly meet again so late in life?Finally get married. This miracle of yours, does it bring back our non theoretical son and daughter who don't exist? As we left joking sounding half serious. We were very serious. Raymond says we can manage for now. why not start now? It has been too long, I don't even need boner pills. That was the day our family finally became...Official.
By Lanson Searle / Kenneth Castellano4 years ago in Families
Should you still ask parents permission before proposing?
Some traditions, like proposing with a diamond ring, have withstood the test of time and are still practised widely. Others, however, have faced more controversy in recent years, leaving couples uncertain on whether or not to ditch them. One tradition that can often leave people stumped is the practice of asking their partner’s father for permission before proposing.
By Caitlin Purvis4 years ago in Families
Dos And Don’ts of a Marriage Contract
It is not surprising that there is a negative implication associated with prenuptial agreements which stops many couples from talking about the legal advantages of premarital contracts. Many legal professionals believe that these agreements are crucial because they can address possible issues like financial planning, debts, property division and interfaith disputes in the event of divorce or death. Prenuptial agreements assist in three major areas. First, it opens up all those areas of communication before the marriage even takes place. Where the ability to communicate honestly and openly is one of the most essential requirements of having a marriage that lasts, the ability to understand how you communicate about difficult subjects can tell you a lot about your relationship. Second, if you have children from a previous relationship, it lets you keep some assets separate so that you can ensure that they are transferred to your children. Third, if you end up getting a divorce, it helps in making the process easier as it eliminates some of the disputes that can arise when negotiating property division, specifically when it comes to the property that was brought into the marriage.
By Sheri M. Spunt4 years ago in Families
Every widow or widower will not love again
Widows and widowers are all different In 1979 on the CBS soap SEARCH FOR TOMORROW a character named Liza was married to Steve who died from leukemia. She later met Travel Sentel and eventually they married. There was a point where Liza was not certain about ever loving another man and if I remember correctly Steve wrote her a song before he died titled “You can love again”.
By Cheryl E Preston4 years ago in Families
The Frozen Pond of my Heart
The frozen pond of my heart I found myself sitting in the family room alone contemplating will I always be alone or am I destined to find the one. My Mother had been insisting for a long time now that I find someone. But my heart had been like a frozen pond now for a long time, it had to be melted. Who will be the one to do this? I searched every-where and then I finally found him. He appeared like a traveller with his camel traversing across the hot terrain of the desert, tired but hopeful looking for his oasis. He seemed of some interest to me. Then I started to open up to him and the frozen pond of my heart started to melt. The late spring and early summer weeks went by. We would talk about anything and everything. The day would pass like a beautiful summer breeze since he came in my life and the frozen pond of my heart was starting to crack. As it started to crack the water would gush forth and my heart would feel alive. Until finally one day the frozen pond became a beautiful stream bringing forth life and I was happy. I decided to spend the rest of my life with him. All preparations for my wedding were being made.
By Rafia Ansar4 years ago in Families
What did I know about it?
I was raised in a blended family. I had a stepdad for the first fifteen years of my life. I never knew why my mom did not marry him, all I do know is the relationship ended. So, what would a young lady like myself know about marriage? I knew absolutely nothing about having a loving, exchanging, selfless, successful relationship. After all, how could I? I saw some adult people married and with a family, but what did it take to have that? I did not grow up seeing marriage as a partnership between two people that love and respect eachother, working on themselves to be a better person the way marriage insist that you become, a better person. One way is putting your spouse before yourself. I was told once that you get out of the marriage box what you put into the marriage box. I thought that was the truest statement I had ever heard. Whatever you put in the marriage box is what you get back means if you don't show selfless love to your spouse, you don't make his plate or wait on him, do not expect that in return, and those are small examples. If you do not encourage him when needed and respect him all the time, do not expect that in return. No relationship besides marriage demands that you look into the mirror at yourself and stop pointing and blaming your spouse for your shortcomings. You also have to stare at that mirror and look deep into yourself and see what you need to work on as a person? Are you happy with yourself? Are you angry because your spouse does not seem to understand you? Do you feel like you are always the one doing the forgiving? If you are not happy with yourself, your spouse cannot make you happy. You have to do what makes you happy, do not depend on him to make you happy, he can be a part of your happiness but he is not responsible for your happiness, you are. I have felt misunderstood quite a few times in my relationship but guess what? My spouse is not a mind reader, I had to figure out a way to communicate myself to him in a way that he would understand. I had to speak gently, and without an attitude, it had to be at the right time because I do not want to look like a complaintant in a court case. I had to find a way to stop the silence in my home. You know the silence when you are in the same house but you are not speaking? That usually happens when no one wants to apologize or accept the fact that they are all the way wrong and they need to be accountable for what they did and apologize and move forward, life is way too short nowadays and we do not want to be here one day and gone the next, and it happened to be the day that you two were mad at eachother. With silence instead of communication and understanding comes unforgivness. This can go on for days, but this type of dealing with the relationship is not dealing at all. What I have learned in my marriage is unforgiveness sometimes stems from not understanding where the other person is coming from. You see when you get married you are marrying the other person and the way they were raised, their morals, culture, perspective and opinion. Sometimes you will not agree, and that is okay because we are individuals and we think differently and sometimes to save time you have to agreee to disagree. For example, I see the half-full glass of water as half full, my spouse may see the half-full glass of water as half empty, does that make me an optimist and him a pessimist? Well, that is a common idiom used to describe people, but am I going to argue about that for two days and waste time that I could be using to enhance my family amungst other tasks that a wife has to do daily, no? I find it better to allow my spouse to calm himself before I may try to speak about some things that I think need to be dealt with. I have also found in a marriage that some things are better left unsaid, why? Because sometimes a spouse needs to work on their own understanding and try to see why the other is feeling this way, is it stemming from wanting to protect my wife from anyone trying to deceive her or take advantage of her? This could happen if you want to try something new or different, or a different financial route for example. Sometimes a disagreement that leads to an argument and then silence and unforgiveness is all because one spouse did not want the other to make a decision that endangers them, or may cause them pain or not benefit the family. Sometimes it is also fear, the fear of not knowing how to deal with the new thing. For the most part, a real man likes to work and provide for his family, he wants to be respected by his spouse, he wants affection and to be loved, and food to eat, which is pretty simple. If we can figure out when and how to communicate with our spouse, we could have a much better house.
By Sabrina McWhorter4 years ago in Families
The Truth, And Nothing but the Truth Will Get You Divorced
"Marriage requires searing honesty at all costs. I learned that from my third wife." – Alan Arkin I have been happily married for decades. In that time, my spouse and I have never separated. Oh, we have had some toe-to-toe, face-to-face, throw-down disagreements but have had many more good days than bad. We base part of our success on dishonesty. The right white lie will keep you together.
By Toni Crowe4 years ago in Families
