Mr Anniversary Gift

1. Communicate clearly so that I can know how you feel and what you want.

2. Listen to me when I talk to you, and then I will want to keep sharing my thoughts and feelings.

3. Keep clearing your resentments with me so that we can continue to feel close.

4. Release your anger constructively and then tell me calmly what you are angry about or if you feel hurt or frightened.

5. Help me solve our problems with win-win solutions.

6. Keep your agreements and tell me the truth so that I can trust you.

7. Take responsibility for all your feelings and behavior.

Continue reading 20 Keys to Fantastic Relationships

As Donna and Mike entered their wedding reception, an unwitting announcer told the expectant crowd, "Ladies and gentleman, put your hands together for the new Mr. and Mrs. Salinger!"

Some guests clapped, some chuckled at what they presumed was a joke and most looked at one another in confusion. The couple spent the entire reception and some of their honeymoon explaining to people what they had done.

The groom, you see, had started his day as Mike Davis and ended it by doing something precious few of his brothers-in-arms do: He took his wife's last name instead of her taking his.

"Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought it would have caused as much of a stir as it did," says Mike Salinger, 27, of Seattle, who was married in November. "We knew people might be surprised, but we figured they'd say 'Huh' and get on with it.

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The world's tallest man has married a woman who is more than 2 feet shorter than him, a Chinese newspaper reported Wednesday.

Bao Xishun, a 7-foot-9 herdsman from Inner Mongolia, married 5-foot-6 saleswoman Xia Shujian several days ago, the Beijing New reported.

Bao's 28-year-old bride is half his age and hailed from his hometown of Chifeng even though marriage advertisements were sent around the world, it said.

"After a long and careful selection, the effort has been finally paid off," the newspaper said.

Bao was confirmed last year by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's tallest person.

He was in the news in December after he used his long arms to save two dolphins by pulling out plastic from their stomachs.

The dolphins got sick after nibbling on plastic from the edge of their pool at an aquarium in Liaoning province. Attempts to use surgical instruments to remove the plastic failed because the dolphins' stomachs contracted in response to the instruments, Chinese media reported.

A Washington County couple, Kathleen and Waldo Tarbell, will be celebrating their 80th wedding anniversary Saturday in Lubec. Waldo is 101 and Kathleen will turn 100 in June.

Maine's Office of Vital Records couldn't say whether the Tarbells' marriage is the longest in the state. The 2007 Guinness Book of World Records lists a Rhode Island couple wed for 83 years as having the longest marriage.

Kathleen was from Pembroke and Waldo from Meddybemps. He worked for the Maine Central Railroad and she worked in sardine plants after their two children had grown.

The Tarbells had been living in Pembroke until a few weeks ago. After Kathleen was hospitalized with back problems, Waldo moved into the nursing home and she later joined him.

Labels: 80th anniversary

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.

- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.

- Karen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.

- Camille, age 10

No age is good to get married at. You Got to be a fool to get married.

- Freddie, age 6

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

You might have to guess, based on Whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.

- Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

Both don't want any more kids.

- Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.

- Lynnette, age 8

On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.

- Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?

I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
- Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

When they're rich.

- Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.

- Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.

- Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

I don't know which is better, but I'll tell you one thing. I'm never going to have sex with my wife. I don't want to be all grossed out.

- Theodore, age 8

It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.

- Anita, age 9

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?

There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?

- Kelvin, age 8

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?

Tell your wife that she looks pretty even if she looks like a truck.
- Ricky, age 10

When their photographer's camera was stolen shortly after they exchanged vows, Karen and Tory Nordlinder figured they'd never have keepsakes of their wedding day.

This week, they got a pleasant surprise when the camera turned up in a vacant lot near a lake, a year after it disappeared.

The lot's owner, Leslie Mason, said that her son was cutting down trees and spotted the camera. Inside was contact information for the photographer, Charles Boesen, Mason said.

When he got it back, Boesen plugged the camera's memory card into his computer and the photos appeared instantly.

''My reaction, I almost cried,'' Boesen said. ''I'm thinking, this bride is going to be so overjoyed when she finds out.''

''There's no telling how long that camera was down here,'' he said. ''What's amazing is how those pictures survived the elements -- the rain, the snow, the freezing temperatures, right alongside the lake.''

Karen Nordlinder said: ''We just thought, 'Oh well, we've got our memories.' This is just something I never thought we'd see. Ever.''

What a wonderful anniversary gift! This is truly priceless.

source

Labels: anniversary, wedding pictures

Sometimes, celebs' taste for the grand gesture can actually help their love -- like the way Lisa Rinna treats husband Harry Hamlin to the moves she picked up at striptease lessons.

Most of us aren't as naturally dramatic or exhibitionist as your average Hollywood star, but we can all find creative ways to surprise and tantalize our partner.

"Just like you have to maintain your car, you have to maintain your passion," says Carle. "It's even more important the longer you're together. The deeper your friendship, the more meaningful it becomes to explore that sexually."

It's also not a bad idea to acknowledge that your partner will be attracted to other women occasionally.

You don't have to give each other cakes decorated with your crushes, as Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith reportedly do (the Rock and Oscar De La Hoya for her, J.Lo and Salma Hayek for him), but accepting each other's little fantasies doesn't have to be scary or threatening -- in fact, it might just help keep you both in a sexy frame of mind, which is nothing but good for your twosome.

Labels: passion

Although it's tempting to think that true love means never having to wonder, "Why the heck did he do that?," anyone who's ever been a part of a couple surely understands that even the best partnerships require a certain amount of work.

That's why we cheer whenever a seemingly perfect pair, like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, talk openly about how they "need to feed" their relationship to keep it going strong, day after day and year after year.

"There's no such thing as a relationship that's magically right," says Carle. "It's only right because you worked at it."

Bottom line: Unlike the rich and famous, the rest of us can't run off to a secluded Caribbean island to reconnect with our honey every time the going gets tough. So it's nice to know that the real essentials for making love last forever -- communication, respect, laughter -- are absolutely free, no red-carpet pass required.

This concludes Love Lessons Ripped from the Headlines via MSN

Labels: faith hill, love lessons, tim mcgraw

Whether we're talking about Vegas mistakes (à la Britney Spears or Nicky Hilton) or ephemeral unions we're still trying to make sense of (Renée Zellweger and Kenny Chesney, anyone?), celebrities seem more eager than the rest of us to rush down the aisle.

On the other hand, drive-through wedding chapels wouldn't exist if plenty of regular folks weren't also running to the altar on the double.

And while some insta-marriages do work out (like Téa Leoni and David Duchovny, who wed after just four months of dating -- and are still going strong nearly 10 years later), they can also fall apart as quickly -- and dramatically -- as they came together.

"In the early phase of a romance, the dopamine activity in the brain goes up, making you feel high," says REDBOOK Love Network expert Ian Kerner, Ph.D., author of She Comes First and He Comes Next. "But relationships are eventually about how you are at your calmest."

Translation: Wait until the first flush wears off a little before tying the knot. In fact, studies have shown that the closer a couple's courtship is to average length (two years, four months), the more likely they are to last.

In retrospect, perhaps Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen weren't the best double-date partners for Heather Locklear and Richie Sambora.

Although dinner and a movie with a couple experiencing marital difficulties doesn't necessarily mean you'll end up in a real-life version of Wife Swap, remember that conduct -- both good and bad -- can be contagious.

"Couples should spend quality time with people who are living healthy emotional lives so they can bounce role modeling off of each other," says Carle. That doesn't mean hanging out only with people who think and act exactly like you do -- how boring would that be? But while the Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock of your social circle might be great to party with on margarita night, you'd be wise to also find a Paul Newman/Joanne Woodward pair to model your romantic life after.

Labels: charlie sheen, denise richards, heather locklear, joanne woodward, paul newman, richie sambora

In interviews, Denise Richards used to rave about how then-husband Charlie Sheen showered her with flowers, jewelry, and even Manolo Blahniks, and how she knew on her second date that he was "the one."

Meanwhile, she dismissed his troubled past -- a drug overdose, a well-publicized association with a certain Hollywood madam -- explaining that she didn't like to have preconceived notions about people because she didn't like it when people had them about her.

Here's the thing: We're conditioned to believe that love should hit us over the head like a thunderbolt and be punctuated with a trail of red roses. But the true lifeblood of a relationship isn't the jewelry and flower arrangements, it's the day-to-day mundane activities that make up a shared life.

No one's saying that you shouldn't cherish all the presents and romantic surprises your partner gives you. But there's a difference between over-the-top romance, which can't be sustained, and the sweet gestures that truly stand the test of time -- such as the way Pierce Brosnan reportedly brings wife Keely Smith breakfast in bed with a single flower from their garden every day.

After all, anyone can pick out diamonds or a dozen roses, but a guy who holds your head when you're sick, picks up your favorite ice cream from the store "just because," and has a solid track record of good behavior to boot -- he's really the one.

Labels: celebrity couples, love lessons

Thanks to reality TV, there are countless examples of couples that have opted to share a little too much information with the public, from basic bodily functions (hello, Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson) to the pouty he-said-she-said of every little fight.

Britney Spears's Chaotic, which followed her romance with K-Fed from its lusty beginnings through their wedding day, sure lived up to its title, but it also could have been called Inappropriate. (Did we really need to hear her rave, "Our sex is soooo good" to a makeup artist?)

And we've all seen way too many celeb couples gush about each other in interviews -- only to implode months or weeks (even days) later.

Essentially, the louder a couple shouts their love from the rooftops, the more quickly it seems to disintegrate.

"Certain things should be kept private, or the relationship will be destroyed," says therapist Gilda Carle, Ph.D., author of Don't Bet on the Prince!

Celebs who overshare may believe it brings them closer to their fans, and that might be true -- after all, who doesn't love hearing a sweet proposal story, whether it's from your best friend or your favorite actress?

But when you lay your heart open to the entire world, there's nothing left that's just for the two of you alone -- something every relationship needs in order to survive.

So while strangers may not be lining up to read about every twist and turn in your romantic life, you can protect your love by keeping certain things under wraps, just like smart celebrities do. (Think of Julia Roberts or J.Lo, who've both had multiple relationships very publicly fall apart - but are now enjoying their current loves out of the spotlight.)

Your girlfriends don't need to know what your guy said in bed last night, and your mom doesn't need the play-by-play of every argument. After all, a relationship is kind of like an amusement park: It's always an adventure, but it's even more fun without the crowds.

Labels: celebrity couples, love lessons

One glance at the nearest supermarket checkout rack and it's clear that our obsession with celebrities' love lives knows no limits. From their first meetings (at fabulous Hollywood parties or on blind dates set up by their agents) to their starry-eyed proposals and six-figure weddings, followed (inevitably, it seems) by their stormy divorces, we can't get enough.

And it's not just that we love hearing the juicy details -- we really care about what happens to our favorite and not-so-favorite couples. Our hearts break a little when a good-seeming thing (like Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe) falls apart, and we shake our heads and think, "told you so," when a train wreck of a relationship (We won't name names.) meets its preordained end.

This cultural obsession with the loves of the rich and famous may seem more heated than ever in our lightning-speed Internet age, but it's nothing new, says Jake Halpern, author of Fame Junkies.

"We've always been taken with these kinds of stories -- it goes back to Greek mythology, where people would follow the sex romps of the all-powerful Zeus," he says. "Celebrities are our modern mythology -- we find what they do fascinating and we draw examples from it."

Which isn't to say they set good examples: A third marriage at 30? Participating in a reality show that will showcase every crack in your relationship to the masses? Declaring eternal love for a virtual stranger from the cover of a magazine? Celebrities have done it all, and while they don't always appear to learn from their mistakes, that doesn't mean we can't.

Here, the wisdom we can gather from the misfires -- and, yes, the occasional triumphs -- of our larger-than-life counterparts.

Labels: celebrities, love lessons, romance

It's truly a rare event that couples can celebrate their 50th anniversary together, but to extend beyond that and actually see their 70th year together? It's nothing shy of amazing.

Clifford and Betty Hare of Wentworth will observe their 70th wedding anniversary on March 20.

The couple met in 1930 while both were in the sixth grade at Wentworth. Her maiden name was Susan Elizabeth Shafer. Her father Otto was the depot agent there.

Their first date was in July 1934. They both graduated from Wentworth High School. She took a graduation trip to Idaho and he worked on the railroad for several months, but when they both returned, they decided to be married the next spring.

A year after their marriage, they moved to the family homestead four miles from Wentworth and began farming the land his father had homesteaded in 1895, overlooking Lake Madison. They raised a son and two daughters there.

Wouldn't you just love to sit with them a spell and hear the tales they have to share?

God bless them both!

Labels: 70th anniversary

We've all heard that less is more and in many cases, we've experienced situations where less would have been entirely sufficient but the person or our partner went overboard.

There can be no better truth to this old adage then when you want to express sincerity in your relationships. How many times have you been upset with somebody regardless of fault and wish you could bring healing or more depth to the relationship?

I found this list of phrases that can do just that.

Next time you take someone for granted or don’t feel appreciated… remind yourself of three powerful words.

Labels: apology, love, relationships, sincerity

The wedding in India for Liz Hurley and Arun Nayar is essentially an ethnic party for all of their friends. The pair actually got married on March 3 in a castle in England.

Labels: celebrity anniversary, celebrity wedding

Since the focus of this particular site is Anniversaries, why should brides get to have all the fun? Let's talk about choosing the right date to celebrate your anniversary for years to come!

Sunday used to be the most popular wedding day, as it was the one day most people were free from work.

In the Seventeenth Century, Puritans put a stop to this, believing it was improper to be festive on the Sabbath. Today, Saturdays are the busiest, despite the old wedding day rhyme.

Monday for health,
Tuesday for wealth,
Wednesday best of all,
Thursday for losses,
Friday for crosses,
Saturday for no luck at all

As for the time of year, the saying 'Marry in the month of May, and you'll live to rue the day' dates back to Pagan times.

May, the start of summer, was dedicated to outdoor orgies (i.e. the summer festival Beltane), hardly the best way to begin married life!

Queen Victoria is said to have banned her children from marrying in May, and Nineteenth Century Vicars were rushed off their feet on April 30th because Brides refused to marry during May.

The sun has always been associated with sexual stimulation and, therefore future fertility. In Scotland it was traditional for the Bride to 'walk with the sun', proceeding from east to west on the south side of the church and then circling the Church three times 'sunwise' for good luck.

Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind & true,
When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate.
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know.
Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden & for Man.
Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day.
Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go.
Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bred.
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see
Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.

Labels: anniversary, wedding date

Today anniversaries other than 25, 50 and five-year milestones beyond tend to be observed with cards, calls, dinners, and verbal recognition. Many couples celebrate their anniversaries each year with cards, personal gifts and going out together, often for dinner and dancing, sometimes with longtime friends.

"The important thing is that couples not forget their wedding anniversary," says Robertson. "Marking that milestone each year is one way to strengthen the relationship, as we have seen throughout history."

This article discovered at Hallmark Press Releases

Labels: anniversaries, romantic gifts, wedding anniversary

During the early periods of Christianity, every possible occasion for celebration or ceremony was seized upon. The wedding anniversary naturally presented itself as an appropriate occasion for merrymaking.

The celebrating of anniversaries has been a popular custom since mankind began and notes eventful dates in the course of life. In an earlier age, when the burdens of life were more arduous, the hours of labor longer, and the routine more tedious, people looked for occasions that could be celebrated. Early "reasons" to celebrate were linked to cycles of life: seed-time, harvest-time, the changing of seasons, and life events – the wedding, for example. The anniversary of the day became a legitimate reason to celebrate.

Labels: anniversaries, celebrating, history of anniversaries

Almost as old as weddings.

More than 27 million Hallmark wedding anniversary cards are given each year, ranging from husband to wife and wife to husband, to family members such as daughter and son, or friends. Couples often keep the anniversary cards they give to each other, and the result becomes a chronicle of their love over time, according to Sharman Robertson, Hallmark historian and archivist.

"As the years together increase, couples begin to treasure their cards, and often children inherit anniversary card collections that include priceless personal notes from the couple to each other, giving children and grandchildren insight into the love that created them, and grew over time," Robertson says.

"Many of the personal card collections that have been donated to Hallmark are in acquired antique collections that document the love between a husband and wife. Even if you don't know the individuals, you can see the kind of love they shared by reading the cards they selected – and especially the personal notes that they wrote on the cards."

Labels: anniversary, hallmark, wedding anniversary

Roger Hall stopped by an Old Cornelia Highway convenience story Saturday night for a few ice cream bars to give his children. He left the store $500,000 richer.

Hall, 44, of Lula won the Georgia Lottery instant game Jumbo Jumbo Bucks' top prize about a week after his fifth wedding anniversary. The anniversary surprise was belated, but better late than never.

"We were living paycheck to paycheck before and we really needed a new home," said Hall, who is employed as a painter in Hall County. "This is really a blessing for us from the Lord."

Hall, a father of four, and his wife, Joanne, hope to buy that new home in Lula in the near future, he said.

Labels: anniversary, georgia, lottery

Britain's Queen Elizabeth's diamond wedding anniversary will be marked with a public holiday, it has been reported.

Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to announce plans to recognize the queen's achievement in becoming the first monarch in history to achieve 60 years of marriage with a commemorative day.

The queen and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, were married at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. However, the proposed public holiday is likely to be on the Tuesday after the August Bank Holiday, so as not to disrupt the school year.

I've always been fascinated by the royals. Amazingly enough the Queen is going to set another example by overcoming obstacles and remaining married.

What a remarkable woman!

Labels: diamond anniversary, queen elizabeth, royal anniversary

A marriage is one of the most precious relationships in which two people can participate. Approached from the proper perspective, it can provide a springboard for living a life full of properity and abundance.

Statistics don't paint a pretty picture of the state of marriage. Successful marriages are becoming very rare, one in every three marriages usually ends up in divorce.

Married couples and experts do agree that the magical yet simple element in all relationships is the constant open and honest communication.

Happily married couples have reciprocal respect for each other. Respect is shown in the way they regard each other in actions and in words - the ability to communicate effectively is key.

In marriage, successful couples give their relationship paramount importance. They enjoy each other’s company and spend quality time together, like dating regularly. Establishing their relationship as the number one priority provides the foundation to handle any circumstance that might arise as the relationship matures.

Each spouse must learn not to give importance to minor faults and flaws; determine the really important issues and those that are not. They become aware that the purpose or their conflicts war not really to win, but rather to establish a deeper relationship.

Successful marriages are all not alike. But researchers have discovered that there are some traits present in happy married couples that contribute to the success of their marriage.

Traits that of happily married couples include:

1. Spouses in the relationship are giving. They prioritize the needs of their partners above their own.

2. There is commitment between each of them. They continue to work for their partner’s happiness and are driven to work hard on their marriage.

3. Being strong-minded makes their bond stronger. While they cherish their individuality in expressing their opinions, making decisions and pursuing goals, putting their marital relationship in harmony is their priorities.

4. These couples have active sexual lives. Sex plays a significant role in marriage, therefore they always find ways to make it more pleasurable.

5. There is constant communication in their marriage. They are free to share their thoughts and opinions about anything. They are not manipulative of the other but allowing each one to grow.

6. Each one is sensitive to the other’s need.

7. They establish goals together. They agree on their goals as 'partners in life'.

Marriage is a commitment for courageous individuals ready to risk their emotions, hard work, and challenges of building a life together.

It is a bond between two people that allows them to live truly prosperous lives full of abundance.

Author: Michael Saunders

Michael Saunders has been married for more than 22 years. He edits sites on Marriage and Prosperity and Developing a Prosperous Mind.

Labels: happy marriage, marriage