Forever And Ever Amen

Author: Rose DesRochers

I'm gonna love you forever & ever, forever & ever Amen. I love that song by Randy Travis. I have to ask why it is that so many people are looking for greener grass. You know there may be times, when the grass isn't really greener on the other side of that fence. Are you looking to spark a new flame instead of relighting the one already lit? Ask yourself why, yes a new relationship is new and exciting but what happen when that fire dies out of that relationship? You could spend the rest of your life always looking for that perfect relationship. Before you say the relationship is over, we have to ask ourselves the question. What is it we are running from?

The kids are fighting again, the toilet is plugged, the phone is ringing and your wife is nagging because you didn't fix that broken door. Does this scenario sound all too common in your life? Your asking yourself was this marriage a mistake? So life is not like a Cinderella fairy tale. Ask yourself why you married your spouse, because you were in love right? Kids are born, things breakdown, jobs are lost, love ones die and through all of the ups and downs comes the time you need to reflect on one another.

The reward can be found in the one you are with. Dig deep within yourself to find what first attracted you to him or her. When looking over the fence at greener pasture. We need to look at the roots and not just what sits above the surface. Fertilizer will turn most any lawn green. Remember the dress you were wearing when you first turn his head, the first song you ever dance to or the first thing you ever said to her that made her laugh that girlish laugh of hers that you so love. It is easy to loose sight of our partner in the day-to-day hyper routine of our lives .In finding a rekindled beauty, a passion; we may just find that ""There is no place like home"". That you do not want all the years you put into your marriage and all the memories to end. You may see that the grass was not greener on the other side; but green right under your own feet.

Reflect on the first time you saw your spouse, what was it that stood out about them? What about the moments when you were sad and lonely, who was it that came through for you? Remember when your children were born, the feelings you both shared at that moment. Take yourself back to the hospital room. Communication is the biggest thing in a marriage. After the kids are gone to bed sit down and reflect on the memories. It is time to bring up funny stories or memories you both shared through out the years. When fighting let the past go, only bringing up past mistakes hurt each other more and more. Don't point out each others short comings. So what if he doesn't put the seat down on the toilet, or she farts in bed. We all have short comings. Maybe you should examine just what your own short comings are instead of always focusing on your spouses.

Concentrate on intimacy between each other more by touching each other more, the lightest touch can tell your partner you're still very much in love with them. Perhaps give him a peck on the cheek, a brush of the shoulder, a smile from across the room or lay your head on his lap while watching a movie. You married for better or for worse and love and marriage it is a commitment you both made. Marriage is anything but easy, but no relationship is.

There is no reason why you can't live out your fantasy with your spouse and most of all take time for each other. Maybe that nice girl you married is that naughty girl you're fantasizing about. Why not find out.

The best gift you can give to your children is to love one another.

About the author: Rose is a published author from Canada Ontario and is also the founder of http://www.todays-woman.net a community for men and women over 18, where writers/poets/columnists meet and exchange ideas, contest, rate and review and help each other succeed in the writing industry.

The Pros & Cons of Beach Weddings

Author: Cindy English

Beach weddings are popular but they do present ""special issues"". Failing to consider these ahead of time could leave you unpleasantly surprised on your wedding day!

There is certainly nothing that should dissuade you from your vision of a beautiful seaside ceremony. As a matter of fact, there are many benefits.

Just know the issues and plan for them. Your wedding day will be a wonderful and joyous event!

The ""Pros""

* A beach wedding can be much cheaper than a traditional wedding. Who in this day and age can't afford to save money? It is said that the average budget for a wedding these days is between $20,000 to $30,000! That is an enormous and unnecessary financial burden to be faced with!

Don't start off married life enslaved by your wedding day debts. If you have that kind of money to spend, fine, but if not, don't go there! Be practical and remember, the day is what you, your loved ones and your friends make of it...not how much you spent on it!

* A beach wedding can be a casual affair. It allows everyone to relax. Your guests can dress comfortably and affordably. Often brides-to-be are unaware of the financial strain they place on their wedding attendants and guests. Not everyone can afford to buy that wedding outfit.

* The wedding ceremony and reception can all be held right there on the beach. No need to travel to different locations. This is very convenient for everyone. Hey, even the kids can have fun at a beach wedding!

* A beach wedding allows you to involve everyone in the activities. Guests are not restricted to sitting quietly in their seats. They can actually be a part of the celebration!

* Beach weddings don't always require a permit. If you are having a small ceremony and do not require a section of the beach to be blocked off...just do it! Simple yet lovely!

* A beach wedding is a modern and refreshing change from the ""stodgy"" traditional wedding. It allows your creativity and personality to shine through.

* There is no ""right"" or ""wrong way"" to plan a beach front wedding. It can be large, small, romantic, whimsical or even downright goofy! You can pay big bucks and hire everything out, or, you can be cheap and make everything yourself. The choice is completely yours!

The ""Cons""

* The most important thing to remember when planning a beach wedding is that ""Mother Nature"" rules! Depending on her mood, she can brighten your day or rain on your parade! When planning your celebration, be sure to plan an ""alternate location"" should the old girl be cranky that day!

* The beach is usually a bit breezy so take that into consideration when picking your location. Try to choose a ""cove"" on the beach that is protected from direct winds.

* Be sure to check with local authorities regarding any permits needed to use the beach. This should only be necessary if you are having a large gathering and you want to block off a portion of the beach exclusively for you and your guests. Ask to be sure though.

* Check on the ""Beach Rules"". Ask questions. Can you have candles on the beach? Can you play music into the night? How late can you stay? Is there an area nearby for open fires should you choose to barbeque?

* Speaking of food...don't forget about the seagulls! They are notorious beggars and thieves. You can expect them to attend your beach wedding, uninvited! As long as you keep food covered and don't feed them, they will stay on the sidelines.

* Remember the tides. You definitely do not want to be surprised by the quick and unanticipated arrival of high tide!

* On the beach, there will be bugs and sunshine! Make sure you consider the comfort of your guests. Bring sunscreen and insect repellant for those who did not remember to bring their own.

* Chairs may sink in the sand if you do not rent flooring to place under them. However, if you are planning a ""beach blanket"" reception, you will not need chairs. Remember your elderly guests though. Plan for their safety and comfort. You will need to provide them with chairs and beach umbrellas to protect them from the elements.

Beach weddings are absolutely beautiful but nature does provide an element of uncertainty. Careful planning on your part will eliminate most of them. Just remember...

If every hair is not in place due to the ocean breezes or a seagull drops off his ""wedding gift"" a little to close to the punch bowl...

These are not flaws or imperfections in your day. They are ""memories""! Cherish them and have fun!

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About the author: is the publisher of Beach-Wedding-Themes.com where you will find ideas for beach wedding themes full of fun, fantasy and romance. Discover new places to shop and things to make at: http://www.beach-wedding-themes.com

Asian Dating - Respect and Honour

Author: Frank Duru

Honour and respect are two of the most important elements in Asian culture, and they shouldn't be overlooked when it comes to dating. For instance, traditionally, Asian women are taught at a young age to know their place around men, treat them with respect and accommodate them, while men are taught to protect and provide for the women. Although these traditions have become a faded practice in Western culture, respect still plays an important role in the Asian dating scene.

If you are Asian and are seeking a serious relationship with a man or woman from your ethnic culture, you will need to take into consideration that every move you make could be watched carefully by your partner's family, who may very well act as the third party to your date. With this in mind, here are a few tips you will want to think about when you begin dating:

Make an Impression -Be on your best behaviour. Listen to your date, create casual conversation, and be accommodating and thoughtful.

Treat your Date with Respect - Remember the saying ""treat others as you would like to be treated"", well this is when it really counts. Be considerate and patient, even if you find the topic of conversation to be of little interest to you. You should acknowledge what is important to your date and respect it.

Give them space - You don't want to come on too strong in the relationship, as this could either scare off your date, or make him or her jump to wrong conclusions. Creating a comfortable dating experience is the best way for you to discover if what you have found is an acquaintance, friend or potential lover.

Every once in a while visit the planet Earth - Be careful not to be mislead into believing that your dating relationship is something more than it is. Remember, not everyone is seeking a long term commitment (which could include you) therefore, before you let your imagination run wild from misinterpretation, make sure you take a realistic look at the relationship that is developing.

Above All have fun - Let's face it, the whole point to dating is about having a good time, and enjoying the other person's company, so don't be afraid to loosen up. Let your personality shine and take pleasure in your dating experiences.

In the end all that should matter when it comes down to dating, is that you and your date enjoy one another's company, are comfortable together, and share similar interests and values. If you find that there is no chemistry forming, it's time to say goodbye, and move on, regardless of how much your family may like him or her. After all, it is you who has to make the choice when it comes to your love life, for only you can determine who truly makes you happy. Therefore, grant yourself the respect and honour of making and standing by your dating decisions.

About the author: Frank Duru is the author of many different articles but his works concentrate much on dating related information, such as ""Homosexual Dating - Truth and Connection"", ""Asian Dating - Respect and Honour"". Join Loveempire.net biracial dating Community and read more dating related articles which are only for members.

Tick Tock Goes the Love Clock

Author: Advice Diva

You wake up in the morning, still tired from staying up too late the night before, and hit snooze about seventeen times before stumbling into the shower. By the time you start rinsing the shampoo out of your stinging eyes you are already thinking about everything you have to do today. You put your makeup on in the car and get to work late as usual in desperate need of a caffeine fix, do errands at lunch, pick up your dry cleaning before the store closes after what is most likely another late day in the office, make time for tanning and an hour at the gym, and get home to a house you have to clean. Every day is almost the same, you are busting your hump trying to get this and that done while your list of errands keeps growing. And thanks to living in an exponentially growing population in an overpopulated city you spend an obnoxious amount of time in the car giving you more time to think about everything you still need to do. By the time you get home each day, you clean a little, shovel your special diet food that you ordered online (who has time to actually shop in a store and leisurely browse anymore?) which costs a small fortune and tastes like chicken feed and crawl into bed. Then you stay up late with your mind like a maelstrom worrying about everything you did not get accomplished. When does anyone have time for a relationship?

People who live and work in the city without a significant other or children are always on the go. You might think that a single man or woman lives the life of leisure: no obligations, no pressure, just complete freedom. And I suppose that there are plenty of single men and women who just stroll home after work, order pizza and plant their tushes on the couch to watch their usual prime time television line up. But these are the people whose tushes are the same size as the couch. Hey, no ambition, no life. However, these days our lives are getting busier and busier for most people. There is so much for us to do every day. Even the singlets of this world are screaming for more time. I seriously wonder how people are able to raise children today. I know I barely have time for nookie at the end of the day.

Perhaps it is because many people living in the city go through several stages of social behaviors and desires in their lives. At first we are the struggling young professionals straight out of college, accepting a bottom of the food chain job and struggling on a $20K salary. These were the days of buying raman noodles in bulk and picking up a bartending job in the evenings. You can't even afford to date at this age. And if you could, when would you have time? Finally you get a better paying job and you move up in the business world. But now you have entered a whole new social world. You are financially able to drop the second job, get some new digs without holes in the seams and start enjoying the night scene with everyone else. Swiftly you discover the beau monde and your life is consumed with keeping up to date with all of the latest trends, making sure you look perfect in every way and of course making sure everyone thinks you are the "it" guy or girl. How can you possibly start a relationship now? He or she might actually find out that your not fabulous. Besides, it is much more hip to have a new fling every week. This is the period of our lives where we are all poseurs. After a few years of fun and reckless behavior, you get promoted to a more prominent position in the business world. Now you realize your responsibility and you may even take it seriously. Your life might change, but your busy schedule does not. It just gets worse.

When you actually get involved in that serious relationship, you must devote time to it. To do so, you have to give up things that you don't necessarily want to give up. I always believed that we work so that we can have time. We buy time. We work so that we are able to luxuriate in vacations with our loved ones and so we can buy expensive lingerie to keep the spark alive. But instead of spending as much time as we can with our sweethearts, we end up spending our time washing the car, burning the flab in pilates class, picking up the cat food and cursing the poor slob who broke down in the middle of a one lane road during rush hour. We are so greedy and obsessed with our appearance and materialistic needs that we find it difficult to give our own time, our most precious commodity, to someone else. Then again, when we daydream about the kind of future life we want, we envision a life surrounded by family and friends, a house in the burbs, a loving spouse and children and spending the days at home being independantly wealthy. We see ourselves doing what we really want and need: spending time in the arms of our darlings.

About the author: The Advice Diva has written four self-help guides on relationships and dating which can be found at http://www.advicediva.com She also hosts an online advice column which is completely free of charge. The Diva does not claim to be an expert in any field. However, she has the ability to understand relationships through past experience and her incredible insight.

African Dating - Pride and Ambition

Author: Frank Duru

It is no secret that African culture is known for its pride. Most Africans do not have a problem standing up for their beliefs and causes, and are often ambitious when it comes to obtaining specific goals. That being the case, if you are of African descent and are seeking a relationship with someone of your ethnic background, you probably already have an idea of the type of man or woman you are looking for.

When it comes to finding the African man or woman of your dreams, there are many options awaiting you if you hook up with the right community. You can find the ideal connection you are aspiring for, by getting to know others who share your same ambitions and dreams.

Of course, like seeking any relationship, there are certain character qualities you will want to avoid such as:

Money Suckers avoid a relationship with someone who is only interested in how much money you make.

Dramatics someone who takes things to the extreme could really put your patience to the test.

Desperation If your date is clingy, this is a good sign that he or she could have self-esteem issues or are desperate for reasons you may not want to know.

Shady If for any reason you suspect that your date has something to hide, or has been caught telling you a half-truth or a lie, it's time to move on. Once a liar, always a liar.

Control Freak It's true that relationships are about giving... but if you have to give up all of your free time or interests to appease your date, it's time to take back control and walk away.

Now that you have an idea of what to avoid when dating, here are some of the things to look for:

Beauty is Only Skin Deep - Of course appearance is an important part of dating, but remember that it isn't the only aspect that should attract you. Look for someone who's intelligent; someone with personality.

Common Sense This is an attribute that goes a long way, and is a good indication that your date is knowledgeable, and can think on their own two feet.

Self-Respect Any date that has self-respect, will take pride in their own ambitions, and should also respect yours.

There is no reason why you should feel pressured into perusing a relationship with someone who does not interest you, or who is looking for different goals. You need to think about what you want, and give it all you've got. And you can be sure, if it is meant to be, love will find a way to reach your heart.

About the author: Frank Duru is the author of many different articles but his works concentrate much on dating related information, such as ""Homosexual Dating - Truth and Connection"", ""Asian Dating - Respect and Honour"". Join Loveempire.net Matchmaking Service Community and read more dating related articles which are only for members.

Only You Can Decide If Your Interracial Love Will Stand the Test of Time

Author: Frank Duru

Interracial dating has really evolved over the past two decades due to the fact that the younger generations have had the chance to grow up in multicultural communities, allowing them to interact and make friends with individuals from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Although this has provided them with a different perspective and fewer prejudices, in most cases their parents and grandparents disapprove of their children mingling with others, whom they consider to be ""not like them"".

This ever rising diversity in culture can often leave older generations feeling defensive and fearful over the loss of their own cultural traditions and values, if their children choose to seek an intimate relationship with someone of a different ethnic background. Some people also fear that if their children begin to join with those from different races, their individual ethnic community will begin to shrink, while others are simply afraid of what they do not understand.

If you are someone who is interested in seeking interracial dating, you need to understand that there are potential challenges that await you and your date. You can be sure that there will always be those who disapprove of interracial mixing, and that being the case, you should prepare yourself for shocked or negative reactions that you may experience from certain public places, and perhaps from yours or your date's family, relatives and maybe even your friends.

Since interracial dating differs for every individual, what may be an easy experience for someone else, could prove to be more of a challenge for you depending on your family situation; therefore, one of the best ways for you to meet someone is to join an online dating community like Love Empire, where you can safely meet and chat with a variety of individuals of different ethnicities such as black, white, eurasian, etc.

At Love Empire you need not concern yourself about criticisms or disapprovals. No one will judge you, and you will discover that the people you meet are exactly like you - interested in dating, being themselves and having fun.

You don't need to limit yourself to your own culture when it comes to dating, and you shouldn't let anyone but yourself decide who you should date and love. Because when it comes down to it, the only opinion that should matter to you more than your own is your date's.

About the author: Frank Duru is the author of many different articles but his works concentrate much on dating related information, such as ""Homosexual Dating - Truth and Connection"", ""Asian Dating - Respect and Honour"". Join Interracial singles and Mixed Race Community and read more dating related articles which are only for members.

Tips for a lasting marriage

Author: Janice

My parents gave me this advice about marriage. They have been married since the 1960s and are still happily married to each other.

In marriage, when an argument is about to blow up, remember that takes 2 hands to clap. When one party is angry, the other should be understanding and not argue back. The calmer party should try to listen the cry, the hurt behind the upset.

Marriage is a life long journey together. Not simply a boat you get on together and get off when it does not work out.

Look at the old couples who are still together after so many decades. Their love has matured from a passionate lust to a deep, lasting love. How did they do it?

As you go through life together, you are bound to irritate one another. Nothing is so smooth as the movies might want you to believe. Little things that never bothered you initially might start getting on your nerves. That is normal. Your spouse is not perfect. Neither are you.

Marriage is about love. Love is about acceptance. Forgiveness. A love that is deeper than a rush of passionate lust. Tolerance. Of adapting to one another.

All humans are tempted. Temptation is everywhere. Succumbing to temptation and having an affair could mean the end of a marriage, or at very least endangering it greatly. Always remember your spouse. Consciously stay faithful to protect your marriage.

While preparing for your wedding , keep in mind that this is just the first step in your future lives of love together.

About the author: The Author is the webmaster of www.wedding-ideas.net - a site that helps you prepare for your wedding.