Perfect Dates Make Lousy Partners | Marriage Week: Florida & Indiana | Black Marriage Day Nominations| Quiz| Forever - 2/13/08

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- FLORIDA GOVERNOR MARRIAGE PROCLAMATION AND MARRIAGE PLUS
- MARRIAGE WEEK IN EVANSVILLE INDIANA
- LOS ANGELES BLACK MARRIAGE DAY CELEBRATION - CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
- WHY PERFECT DATES MAKE LOUSY PARTNERS
- SEX QUIZ: MYTHS, TABOOS, BIZARRE FACTS
- MARRIAGE SONG: FOREVER AND EVER AMEN
- WHO WAS SAINT VALENTINE?

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I'm sending these first three as examples of the excitement across the
country - Marriage Week in Florida and Indiana and Black Marriage Day plans
in Los Angeles. Can't send them all, but this gives an idea. - diane

- FLORIDA GOVERNOR MARRIAGE PROCLAMATION AND MARRIAGE PLUS

> Good afternoon Diane,
> We just celebrated our 2nd Annual Healthy Marriage Day today February 13,
> 2008, opening with a press conference with our Capitol press corp as well as
> having information booths for our families and legislatures here at the
> Capitol.  We have received our 2nd Healthy Marriage Day Proclamation from
> Governor Charlie Crist in Tallahassee, Florida designating February 14, 2008
> as Florida Healthy Marriage Day. 
> JC Gamboa
> Executive Director
> Commission On Marriage & Family Support Initiatives

For Immediate Release
Contact: Lonnie Parizek
February 13, 2008  
850-921-4494       
lparizek at ounce.org
 
Couples Observe 2nd Annual
FLORIDA HEALTHY MARRIAGE DAY
 
(Tallahassee, FL)  Florida¹s Commission on Marriage and Family Support
Initiatives held a press conference and community information fair at the
Capitol today in preparation for the second annual observation of Florida
Healthy Marriage Day.  ³As Valentine¹s Day approaches, most people are
thinking about the significant relationships in their lives.  By observing
Healthy Marriage Day, we hope to encourage people to also consider what they
can do to ensure their relationships are healthy and nurturing,² said Leo
Mesa, Chairman of Florida¹s Commission on Marriage and Family Support
Initiatives.  

Commissioner Mesa presented information on THE ONE PERCENT SOLUTION, an
effort currently underway in several states to set aside one percent of
funding received under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families for efforts
that support the development and maintenance of two-parent families.  ³There
are successful programs, backed by scientific research, that help people
build healthy marriages and families.  It is important for policy makers to
realize that Florida could immediately begin supporting these programs with
TANF dollars, just as many other states have already done,² said Mesa.

            Two couples benefiting from marriage and relationship skills
education and activities offered testimony on how their relationships were
improved after participating in the Healthy Families Plus program.

Amy Joyner and Jason Skeete met at work in 2003.  Both had children from
previous relationships, and they now have two sons together.  When their
second son was born, they were offered services through Healthy Families
Plus in Orange County. "After our son Jayden was born, a worker explained
the program to us and we figured we would give it a try. We loved it!

Our home visitor is like a mother to me," said Skeete.  "I wanted to see if
we were the only ones, or if there were other couples out their in similar
situations," said Joyner.  ³I figured why not get help if it is available,
instead of trying to do it all on my own like I tried to before."  Joyner
and Skeete are engaged to be married in April 2008.

Candace Evans and Orville Forrester met through mutual friends in 2004.

Their relationship grew over time and the couple now has two children, their
son Vykai is 18 months old and their daughter Zaria is just 12 weeks.  They
have been receiving services to strengthen their relationship with each
other as well as with their children through Healthy Families Plus in
Broward County. They voluntarily accepted these services just after the
birth of their first child.

"At first I wasn't really sure about having someone come to our home to meet
with us, but our home visitor was so nice.  Then we started going to group
sessions, and we made friends with other couples who were a lot like us,"
said Evans. "We really liked the workers and the other participants who are
involved in the program.  They helped us realize that that there are many
other people like us who are facing similar challenges,² said Forrester. ³I
am from Jamaica and Candace is American.  We have very different styles of
communicating with family and friends, but we understand each other so much
better now than at the beginning of our relationship.  In my previous
relationship, communication was an issue," Forrester added.

"We really benefited from our group meetings. When a couple has a
disagreement, family and friends tend to take sides.  At group, we learn to
work together on our problems.  We have learned to communicate our feelings
and we try to compromise when we disagree about something," said Evans.
Evans and Forrester were married on December 31, 2007.

³The emphasis here today is not on marriage for the sake of marriage, but
ensuring that couples who choose marriage have the skills and support
necessary to form and sustain a healthy marriage.  Healthy marriages are the
foundation of a successful society,² said Josephine Gamboa, executive
director of the Commission on Marriage and Family Support Initiatives.

################
- MARRIAGE WEEK IN EVANSVILLE INDIANA

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Contact:  Dr. Ann Gries, Executive Director
(812) 477-2260
ann at makeitlast.org
 
Community Marriage Builders Plans Activities for
National Marriage Week - February 10-16, 2008
 
EVANSVILLE, INDIANA (February 6, 2008) ­February 10-16 is National Marriage
Week with Sunday, February 10th reserved as Community Marriage Day, and
Thursday, February 14 is ³No Divorce Day² in Vanderburgh County.  In an
effort to raise community awareness about the importance of and benefits
surrounding healthy marriages, CMB is leading the celebration in S.W.
Indiana by encouraging the community to find special ways to celebrate
marriage.  On Community Marriage Day (February 10) churches are encouraged
to hold special vowel renewal ceremonies, offer prayers of blessings for
marriage, or host a marriage celebration reception to recognize married
couples within their churches.

National Marriage Week activities:
 
Feb. 10 ­ CMB Executive Director, Dr. Ann Gries will speak at Bluegrass
Church, 14241 Petersburg Rd., Evansville, Indiana (Service times:  8:15,
9:30, 10:45)
 
February 14 ­ ³No Divorce² Day in Vanderburgh County ­ No divorces will be
granted on this day in Vanderburgh County.
 
Sweetheart Banquet, The Centre (www.makeitlast.org
<http://www.makeitlast.org/> )
 
February 15 ­ CMB Executive Director, Dr. Ann Gries will speak at Point
Township¹s Sweetheart Banquet in Posey County.
 
February 16 ­ CMB Executive Director, Dr. Ann Gries will speak on Marriage
Matters at the MS Seminar, Evansville Airport Marriott.
 
February 18 ­ CMB Executive Director, Dr. Ann Gries will speak at the Gospel
Center Sweetheart Banquet, Petersburg, Indiana.
 
Community Marriage Builders (CMB) is hosting its 2008 Sweetheart Banquet and
10-Year Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, February 14 at the Centre.  The
cost is $75 per couple.  Table sponsorships are also available.

-MORE

The banquet program will feature musical guests Jim and Melissa Brady.
Keynote speaker will be Wellington Boone, a nationally recognized platform
speaker for Promise Keepers and the author of the best selling popular
books, Your Wife Is Not Your Momma, Breaking Through, My Journey with God
and The Low Road to New Heights.  Every couple who attends will receive a
free gift.  Hosted by the Evansville Courier¹s Editor in Chief, Mizell
Stewart and his wife, Valerie Morgan-Stewart, the event will also feature
the third annual Lifetime Marriage Award presentation.  Furthermore, the
Banquet will also feature a special prize drawing for a $1,000 shopping
spree at Tracy Zeller Jewelry.  To be eligible for the drawing, couples must
have completed a marriage class between September 28, 2007 and February 13.
2008.  

This year marks the ten-year anniversary of CMB, which was founded in 1998
with a mission to educate and equip the community for lifetime marriages.
With fifty percent of all new marriages ending in divorce, CMB works with
church and community partners to provide support and resources, including an
extensive schedule of marriage classes for couples who desire to build and
maintain a healthy lifetime marriage.  For more information about marriage
classes and other marriage support programs, visit www.makeitlast.org
<http://www.makeitlast.org/> .

Goals for the 2008 CMB Sweetheart Banquet are to celebrate marriage and
family and to raise needed funds for sustainability of programs.  The
Sweetheart Banquet is sponsored in part by the Women¹s Hospital, Old
National Bank, Bernardin-Lochmueller, the Evansville Courier and Press, and
Comaier Services.  For more information or to arrange an interview with Dr.
Ann Gries, Executive Director, please contact CMB at 812-477-2260 or send
e-mail to ann at makeitlast.org.
###################
- LOS ANGELES BLACK MARRIAGE DAY CELEBRATION - CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

>  Los Angeles African American Healthy Marriage Initiative under the leadership
> of H.A.L.O: Helping Angelinos Live Optimistic (501c-3) Inc. is excited about
> celebrating the 6th Annual Black Marriage Day event. This event in conjunction
> with the Founding organization Wedded Bliss of Washington D.C.,allows us to
> celebrate the gift of marriage and bring awareness to our community of how a
> healthy marriage can make a difference in our family structure to effectively
> affect our society as a whole. So as we've done in the previous years we honor
> husbands and wives that have endured matrimony and still love one another
> while serving family, community, congregation or occupation.
>   
>  Please save the date March 29th Kick Off Rally and Awareness Celebration
> (location to be announced). March 30th is the official Celebration Day, where
> over 200 cities will join us.
>      
> Throughout the month March we will sponsor FREE workshops and lectures on
> Marriage Education and Relationship Skills Building (see our web for more info
> www.lahalo.org <http://www.lahalo.org/> )
>   
> Nominations are being taken in the following categories. Self nominations are
> allowed. Submit no later than Feb 29th.
>   
> 1. Newly-Wed Award- couples who got married during or after March of 2007
> until now 
> 2. Military Couple Award - special recognition of couples where either or both
> have served or did combat in the Middle East.
> 3. Encouraging Couple Award- couples married ten (10) years or longer
> 4. Dexter & Joyce Strother Memorial Pioneer Award- couples married twenty-five
> (25) years or longer
> 5. Vivian & Booker Medlock Memorial Lifetime Award- couples married forty
> years (40) or longer.
>   
> Please submit your nominations by calling or emailing.
>  866-263-9954 toll free; info at lahalo.org or lablackmarriageday at yahoo.com
>   
> You will then be forwarded our official nomination form for submission for no
> later than Feb 29th. Your nominees must be residence of Southern California
> and able to attend the Award ceremony on March 29th (location to be
> announced). 
>   
> Sonja G. Mason- M.Ed
> Director of Los Angeles African American Healthy Marriage Initiative
> VP H.A.L.O Inc- Helping Angelinos Live Optimistic (501c-3)
> 866-263-9954 lablackmarriageday at yahoo.com
>   

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- WHY PERFECT DATES MAKE LOUSY PARTNERS

Why Perfect Dates Make Lousy Partners
By LiveScience Staff
12 February 2008 

The best "catches" in dating land may be the worst choices in the long-run,
new research shows.

Popular people who monitor themselves carefully in social situations and
thereby appear to be the most socially appropriate are often highly sought
after as romantic partners, a study finds, but these people show less
satisfaction and commitment in relationships than socially-awkward people.

By self-monitoring, people assess how their actions affect others and adjust
to fit the appropriateness of the situation. They screen their words and
behavior to suit the people around them.

"High self-monitors are social chameleons," said Northwestern University
professor of communication studies Michael E. Roloff."And, because they're
quick to pick up on social cues, are socially adept and unlikely to say
things upsetting to others, they are generally well-liked and sought after."

Self-monitoring is often a helpful attribute.

"Research finds [self-monitors] to be excellent negotiators and far more
likely to be promoted at work than their low self-monitoring peers,² Roloff
said.

But there¹s a downside for high self-monitors when it comes to their
romantic relationships.

"High self-monitors may appear to be the kind of people we want to have
relationships with, but they themselves are less committed to and less happy
in their relationships than low self-monitors," Roloff said.

TO READ the complete article with live links:
http://www.livescience.com/health/080212-dating-success.html

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 - SEX QUIZ: MYTHS, TABOOS, BIZARRE FACTS
While on the site, take the Sex Quiz:
http://www.livescience.com/php/trivia/index.php?quiz=sex
I got them right except the one about male genitalia.  Who knew???  I
attribute my expertise to listening to Barry McCarthy's Smart Marriages
workshop recordings "Sexual Awareness". - diane
##########################
- MARRIAGE SONG: FOREVER AND EVER AMEN

There's an absolutely amazing song by Randy Travis called "Forever and Ever,
Amen". Here's the video: "http://youtube.com/watch?v=Uzz-jG53dZc"
And Lyrics, below.  - Mariana Balfour

You may think that I'm talking foolish
You've heard that I'm wild and I'm free
You may wonder how I can promise you now
This love that I feel for you always will be.

Your not just time that I'm killing
I'm no longer one of those guys
As sure as I live this love that I give
Is gonna be yours until the day that I die, oh baby.

Chorus:
I'm gonna love you forever, forever and ever, amen
As long as old men sit and talk about the weather
As long as old women sit and talk about old men
If you wonder how long I'll be faithful
I'll be happy to tell you again.
I'm gonna love you, forever and ever,
Forever and ever, amen.

They say that time takes it's toll on the body
Makes the young girls brown hair turn gray
But honey, I dont care, I ain't in love with your hair

And if it all fell out, well, I'd love you anyway.

They say time can play tricks on a memory
Make people forget things  they knew
But it's easy to see, it's happenin' to me
I've already forgotten every woman but you, oh darlin'.

Chorus:
I'm gonna love you forever, forever and ever, amen
As long as old men sit and talk about the weather
As long as old women sit and talk about old men
If you wonder how long I'll be faithful

Just listen to how this song ends,
I'm gonna love you, forever and ever,
Forever and ever, amen.

I'm gonna love you forever and ever, forever and ever,
Forever and ever, forever and ever, amen...

######################
- WHO WAS SAINT VALENTINE?

Who was Saint Valentine?
February 5, 2008   

Several tales have taken root as the cultural heart of Valentine's Day, most
of which stem from the patron Saint Valentine. One legend describes a priest
named Valentine who lived during the third century in Rome. The Roman
Emperor Claudius II was building up a military at the time and supposedly
thought single men would make better soldiers. To build a stronger army, the
emperor outlawed marriage for young men. Feeling this sweetheart ban was
unjust, Valentine apparently performed secret marriage ceremonies. When
found out, legend has it the love priest was put to death. . .

In 1868, Richard Cadbury released the first Valentine's Day box of
chocolates, followed in 1902 with the first "conversation" hearts from the
New England Confectionary Company. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland created
the first commercial Valentine's Day cards in the United States. In 1913,
the Hallmark Company produced its first Valentine card.

Can't buy love? Tell that to the retail industry and hearty buyers. This
year, the average consumer will spend nearly $123 on Valentine's Day, with
the average guy expected to shell out about $163, nearly double the female
spending, according to the National Retail Federation. Total spending on
Valentine's Day is expected to reach $17.02 billion. . .

And if last year is an indicator, about 8 billion conversation hearts will
hit store shelves this year in the U.S., according to the National
Confectioners Association. Every year, the New England Confectionary Company
fashions new sayings all tied to a chosen theme. This year, weather and
nature-inspired sayings, such as "Melt My Heart," "Chill Out" and "Cloud
Nine," will be etched into the candies.

Greeting cards still remain the most popular gift choice, accounting for
nearly 60 percent of Valentine's Day gifts, followed by candy, flowers and
clothing.


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