Category Archives: Marriage

Wedding Planning Tips

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Have you just committed to spending the rest of your life with your true love? This is an exciting time and one filled with planning and organization all the events that surround a wedding and the union of two people for a lifetime. No doubt you are receiving well wishes from friends and family from afar. There is a staggering amount of time and resources dedicated to staging a wedding. Countless hours and dollars go into staging an even that typically lasts less than a weekend.  From bridal showers to bachelor parties, rehearsal dinners to honeymoons, the lists continue to grow. This can be a stressful time as the need to make a never ending stream of decisions and expenditures can take their toll on even the most grounded couple.

One component that is all too often neglected in the wedding planning process is the planning for the marriage. While the wedding festivities may last for a weekend, the marriage is intended to last for the rest of your life. At the very least, dedicate an uninterrupted weekend with your bride or groom and begin to discuss the issues that you will be confronted with in your marriage. Most marriage counselors will point to a lack of true communication and respect as the culprits for most disagreements. Most issues can be addressed up front. Follow these recommendations from the marriage professionals to get your marriage started on solid footing.

Careers, finances, extended family, children and household chores are some of the biggest issues that married couples face. Are you one to look for a sale or bargain each time you shop? Take advantage of the awesome deals offered by Groupon coupons the next time you’re in the market for new fashions and check out the deals offered by American Apparel. Has your partner already decided how many children they want and when? Are you part of this plan and in agreement? Will your career choice mean multiple moves over the next decade? Are both of you in agreement with this? Lastly, how will you argue and disagree? To suggest that you won’t argue is naïve. The question is, how will you argue? Stick to the issue at hand, no dredging up past disappointments, and certainly no name calling. Work out your differences and close the topic. Ever go to bed angry and always commit to listening before responding.

We’re In Love

He asked me once….


The One You Love – Glenn Frey Music Code

The One You Love
(Gleen Frey)
I know you need a friend, someone you can talk
Who will understand what you’re going through
When it comes to love, there’s no easy answer
Only you can say what you’re gonna do
I heard you on the phone, you took his number
Said you weren’t alone, but you’d call him
Isn’t he the guy, the guy who left you cryin’?
Isn’t he the one who made you blue?
When you remember those nights in his arms
You know you gotta make up your mind
Are you gonna stay with the one who loves you
Or are you goin’ back to the one you love?
Someone’s gonna cry when they know they’ve lost you
Someone’s gonna thank the stars above
What you gonna say when he comes over?
There’s no easy way to see this through
All the broken dreams, all the disappointment
Oh girl, what you gonna do?
Your heart keeps sayin’ it’s just not fair
But still you gotta make up your mind
Are you gonna stay with the one who loves you
Or are you goin’ back to the one you love?
Someone’s gonna cry when they know they’ve lost you
Someone’s gonna thank the stars above

My reply…still unsure of myself then….


If I Believed – Carol Banawa Music Code

If I believed
(Patti Austin)
if I believed in paradise
I’d swear I must be there
I’d swear I must be there right now with you
if I believed in miracles
I’d know that one was happening to me
but if I don’t believe in paradise
and miracles aren’t real
then someone tell me
what is this I feel
I wanna believe it’s love this time
I wanna believe my heart’s not telling me a lie
but with you I can’t deny
that ifI believed in paradise
I’d swear I’m there
if I believed in magic spells
it all would be so clear
a magic spell must have brought you here
if I could see the future
I’d see if you and I were meant to be
but I don’t know any magic
and tomorrow’s just a dream
then something in this fantasy is real
(repeat chorus)
I wanna believe it’s love this time
I wanna believe my heart’s not telling me a lie
I wanna believe it’s love
I wanna believe my heart’s not telling me a lie
but with you I can’t deny
that ifI believed in paradise
I’d swear I’m there
I’m there
I’m there
if I believed

….I just want someone who will love me for who I am…He was there in my lowest moment…he give me another reason to trust and believe in love once again ….how can I possibly live without him…..the man who marry and vow to take care of me for the rest of our lives…..


Lost in Space – Sitti Navarro Music Code

Lost In Space

(Lighthouse Family)
Sometimes I get tired of this me first attitude
You are the one thing that keeps me smiling
Thats why Im always wishing hard for you
cause your life shines so bright
I dont feel no solitude
You are my first star at night
Id be lost in space without you
And Ill never lose my faith in you
How will I ever get to heaven, if I do
Feels just so fine
When we touch the sky me and you
This is my idea of heaven
Why cant it always be so good
But its alright, I know youre out there
Doing what youve gotta do
You are my soul satellite
Id be lost in space without you
And Ill never lose my faith in you
How will I ever get to heaven, if I do
And Ill never lose my faith in you
How will I ever get to heaven, if I do
And Ill never lose my faith in you
And Ill never lose my faith in you

These are the songs that we consider part of our love story….I’m sure you’ll love the melodies, too. Have you heard the sound of Paiste? It coincides with the beating of the heart…don’t you agree?

These are the same songs that I dedicate to my husband on our 19th anniversary this month.

A love story with a fairy tale ending

I don’t get to witness one every day, but this definitely takes the cake.

The couple comes from different cultural backgrounds. He was raised and grew up abroad. She came from a poor family in the South and has a young son out of wedlock. The couple met online and nurtures a relationship even if they are thousands miles apart. They have plans of spending their lives together until a recent tragedy almost took the woman’s life. It would have been a very sad love story for the couple if she didn’t survived the disaster.

The man travelled 7,000 miles just to be with her. The two met at the hospital. She was nervous at first thinking that he might not accept her because of her disfigured face. She is no longer the pretty woman that he once adored. She was hoping that he would turn his back on her, but he never did. He stays by her side instead and does everything he can to send the woman he loves to the best hospital in the region for treatment.

While recuperating, he surprised her with the best gift she could ever imagine. He proposed to her. It’s the most romantic thing hospital staff and fellow patients have seen in years. The woman thought this day would never come. He’s busy taking care of her at the hospital but she never realized he was also looking for an engagement ring to give her. They eventually got married before she was released from the hospital. Their love story didn’t end there. By this time, the man could have taken his new bride and her son to his country to start a new life. Fin