Life-Health-Happiness

Divorce can get messy. When this happens, kids often get caught in the crossfire. If you are in this situation, here are some ways to help you keep the divorce between the parents and not let it involve the kids.

Don’t make your kids choose sides. When you ask your kids who they want to live with you are, in essence, asking them to choose the parent they like the best. This causes tension in the relationship between parent and child because the parents didn’t want to talk to each other long enough to decide what was best for the kids.

Kids are not adults and they are not equipped to handle adult situations. Don’t spill all the sordid details of the reasons behind the divorce to your kids. They don’t need to become involved in your fight. Besides, any allegations spoken would be done so to bias the child against one parent.

Kids are not bargaining chips. They loved both parents before the divorce and they should be allowed to love both parents afterwards. Any disagreements that parents have should be handled behind closed doors or with a mediator, but not with the children.

After the divorce, mom and dad must learn to respect each other’s authority. When mom is sending the kids to bed at nine o’clock, dad shouldn’t let them stay up an extra hour just to spite mom or to be thought of as the fun parent. Don’t do things that the other parent wouldn’t approve of and swear the kids to secrecy about it. This undermines the authority of the other parent and sends mixed signals to the kids.

Parents that act this way are setting themselves and their children up for trouble. Bribing your children in an effort to win custody or more of the assets in the divorce settlement is wrong. Children learn that it is okay to play one side against the other to get what they want. They also learn that the bribing parent feels that dishonesty is okay.

Avoid talking about the other spouse when you discuss divorce with your kids. Whatever he or she may have done, they are still the parent of that child. The child sees your spouse as dad or mom and not how you see them. Respect your kids by respecting their image of the other parent.

Parents also make the mistake of sending messages to their spouse through the kids. If you have something to say, say it directly to your spouse. Kids are not mediators. Passing messages gives them too much information about the divorce and causes them to receive the brunt of the anger expressed through the statements.

Don’t make the mistake of involving your kids in your divorce. They didn’t make the decision in the first place. You put them in a difficult position when they become privy to information not for their ears.

There is no one in this world who knows us better than mom. It is in her every touch, smile, hug, and word expressed from the time we are born. We look to mom for approval, guidance, and love. But it is those special times, when it’s just mom and me time, that we look forward to and treasure.

Whether or not you are a working mom, spending time with your child is important. It signals to your child they are important and fun to be with. From infancy, your child depends upon you for everything; and as time passes, the nurture, care and love you have given becomes their focal point. They turn to you in times of need; seek your advice in times of doubt; and look to you for comfort when sad. Spending one on one time with your child is by far a time your child looks forward to. Whether a baby, toddler, teen or adult — your child needs you. It doesn’t matter if you simply sit on a big comfy chair and talk; or read a book together; or watch a favorite fairy tale on DVD — being with mom has enormous positive effects on kids. It is just you and your child; no interruptions; no siblings to take your attention away; just your child and you.

Studies have shown the positive effects of merely caressing a baby; smiling; rocking and holding. The baby feels safe; begins to sense your aura; your smell; your voice. Being held in your arms is all that matters. As the child grows, he or she runs to you if frightened; or for no other reason than simply to get a hug, a loving word, a smile. Children who are not comforted from birth become detached as they become older; feel abandoned; and more often than not seek other means to find love.

Spending time with your child is important to their growth and how they relate to others.
It is very simple really. A mother’s love is infinite. As a mom you know this to be true.
Therefore, there is no need to explain the importance of being with your child. Perhaps this poem says it all:
Just Mom and Me

There was never a time you weren’t there
Expressing your love, showing you care.
You laughed with me, cried with me, and wiped away the tears
From the moment I was born, and through the winter of my years.
Your smile gave me hope, and your touch made me know
That for all of my life
I’d have somewhere to go
To talk about the fear, the pain, and the strife
It was you, who understood,
And gave meaning to my life.
You knew what to say, and when words couldn’t come
You held me in your arms -
No more needed to be done.

RSV or respiratory syncytial virus causes respiratory infections among infants and small children. Is your newborn at risk for RSV?

Most likely to occur during the winter months, RSV is characterized by cough and cold like symptoms. However, an infant who is exposed to anyone who has a cold can develop a severe infection in their lower respiratory tract. Because newborns are susceptible in the first few weeks of their being born, developing RSV can result in their having to be hospitalized.

If you notice your baby is having problems breathing; appears to be less active and listless; is not too interested in eating; take the baby to your doctor as soon as possible. Your pediatrician will prescribe medication immediately. If your doctor feels that your baby merely has a stuffy nose or cough, treatment may not be required as the RSV is not severe.

In order to ensure your baby does not become infected with RSV, keep the baby away from anyone who has a cold. Since RSV affects adults as well, it is advisable to ensure that anyone who comes in contact with your baby has clean hands and, if necessary, wears a face mask to avoid transmitting any kind of infection to your baby.

Keep in mind, too, that once RSV has cleared up, it is unlikely any damage to the lungs has occurred. During the winter months, keep your child at home. Use preventative measures to ensure anyone with a cold or virus does not come in contact with your baby. While all newborns are at risk for different types of infections, in addition to RSV, the rule of thumb is to wait until the baby is a few months old before venturing out.

As a mom, you may have other children attending school. Try not to take your baby to a school or any other public place where germs and other factors can be a contributory factor. Keep your home relatively free of germs and if any symptoms begin to appear, call your doctor.

Education is the number one priority in this country, yet we have seen more and more deterioration of schools in the last ten years, than any other time in history. This is due in part to the consistent and often times unnecessary reorganization of schools; change in curriculum; and, most importantly, oversized classrooms which thwart the educational process. In addition, discipline has become a major problem in most public schools today.
Add to this peer pressure, gang related incidents and violence; neither of which is conducive to the learning environment. Therefore, the question: “Is homeschooling right for your family?” happens to be a valid one. Let’s explore some of the issues you need to consider about homeschooling.

Is it cost effective for you to homeschool your child? Depending upon your city, you may be able to avail yourself of the many materials needed either through your local school, community or library. Studies have shown that homeschooled children show far better results that attending regular schools. If both parents currently work outside the home, it’s likely one of you will have to quit your job to home school.

Teaching your child at home, while in a comfortable and non-threatening setting, allows the child to work at his or her own pace. However, keeping up with the curriculum standards is important as well. A great deal has been mentioned lately regarding the amount of time a child spends from the moment they awake until they finish their homework at night. It is estimated they put in more than 10 hours a day. Homeschooling can alleviate the stress of traveling to and from school and lack of sleep, to a more relaxed learning environment wherein the child will be able to rest easier, and retain most of which he or she has learned.

While homeschool is a decision the entire family must make, since one parent will have to stay home every day to ensure their child’s educational progress is on track; there are other things to consider as well. If there are other children a parent has to care for, it may be difficult to conduct learning sessions, and may require bringing in someone to care for the siblings every day.

Testing is another consideration. This also depends upon state regulations and test requirements, especially if the child is going to college. Check with your state’s educational policies to determine what tests if any have to be conducted and under what conditions.

Finally, you and your family must sit down and thoroughly go over all of the necessary items you need; if homeschooling is affordable for you; if you have the time, patience and commitment to see it through; and be willing to make whatever sacrifices are necessary for the sake of your child. Once you have answered all of these questions, you can then answer the next question with certainty: Is home schooling right for your family?

A successful SEO campaign starts with choosing the right keywords. Growing your business beyond the initial campaign involves expanding your keyword list and this can be difficult at times. You’re in need of new keyword ideas and new opportunities but you don’t know where to look. There are a ton of SEO tools out there that can help you but it can be difficult to know where to start. Frustrated, you might just give up and continue plugging away at your current keyword list.

Don’t give up, this blog post is here to help. The following tools and tips will help spark new keyword ideas and untapped opportunities. Who knows, you may even find new verticals that you never thought of or you might stumble across a new idea for a linkable asset your company can build. The possibilities are endless as long as you know where to look.

Keyword Research Tools and Tips

Google Autocomplete

There are a number of ways you can use Google Autocomplete to help you find new ideas. A few of the tactics I like to use are:

1) Don’t Hit Enter

This method has been mentioned by Wil Reynolds and a few other people but I thought I would reiterate how simple and quick this trick can help you find new keyword ideas. Simply, take some of your top keywords and plug them into Google. Don’t hit enter and make sure there is a space after your keyword. You’ll see keywords that are already on your list but you’ll also get a glimpse of what else people are searching for when they type in your keyword.

2) Space Before the Keyword

Similar to the “Don’t hit enter” approach, plug some of your keywords into Google but this time put a space before your keyword. You’ll find that this tactic will give you ideas for modifiers you can use to expand your keyword list.

3) Five Ws and One H

We were taught to ask who, what, when, where, why, and how in school so why not ask these questions while we’re searching for information on Google? Instead of adding a space before your keyword, you can add these terms before your keyword to help find questions people are asking. This tactic will definitely give you new ideas that you can use to create unique content for your target page.

Google Trends

Google Trends is a great tool to keep in any SEO’s arsenal. It can give you a lot of insight into a particular keyword but the main feature I like about Google Trends is that it will show you the search interest for a keyword over time. In addition to the keyword trends, it will also give you related terms in the bottom right corner. Check out the “top” keywords as well as the “rising” keywords to spark some new ideas.

Google Webmaster Tools

Google Webmaster Tools (GWT) is an extremely powerful tool. There is a lot of information you can pull out of GWT but I find myself browsing around the “Search Queries” section when I’m looking to expand my keyword list. To get there, click “Traffic” and “Search Queries” and GWT will populate with keywords that are driving impressions & clicks for your website in the search results.

Take a look at some of the keywords, you’ll see a lot of them are already on your list but you’ll also see keywords that are not on your radar and are driving impressions and clicks. From here, I like to see where I’m ranking for those keywords and if I have the term mentioned on the target page. If not, find a place to NATURALLY squeeze the keyword in and that might give you a bump for that particular keyword.

Google Analytics

Although (not provided) has put a dent in the amount of keyword data we can see, Google Analytics is still a good tool to use when you want to expand your keyword list. There are different ways that you can slice up the data but one tactic I like to use is looking at the keywords that are driving traffic to a particular landing page.

Do this by clicking “Traffic Sources” > “Sources” > “Search” > “Organic” and make sure your primary dimension is set to “Landing Page”. Now, take some of your top landing pages and plug them into the search box. You’ll see all of the keywords that have driven traffic to that particular page. A lot of the keywords may already be on your list but there will be little nuggets of opportunity waiting to be picked.

Google Synonym & Related Searches

The ~tilde, simple yet powerful. To find new keyword ideas using the tilde, all you need to do is take your keyword and add a ~ before it. Google will spit out synonyms that it thinks are related to your search term. This is great for new keyword ideas as well as new anchor text ideas to help you diversify your link profile. While you’re in there, don’t forget to check out the related searches at the bottom of the search results page. This is also another great place to find additional keyword ideas.

As I said before, there are a ton of SEO tools that can help you with finding new keyword ideas. These are just a few of the tools and tactics I like to use to help get the ideas flowing. Other tools that I recommend checking out are Ubersuggest, Soovle, and SEMrush. Hopefully you found this post as a good refresher that there are easy to use tools and tactics that can really help spark ideas on how to grow your business.

Happy researching!

Author: Hoa Cong

Courtesy of www.seerinteractive.com

Visit site: 

Spark New Ideas with these Keyword Research Tools/Tips.

It has been a few years and mom and dad are ready to date again. When should the kids be introduced to the new man or woman in your life? Here are some tips for doing just that.

Take it slow. Kids, depending on their age, take time to adjust. They may feel that the new partner is trying to replace the missing parent. Reassure your kids that this is not the case.

Show them a picture of your new partner. Tell them interesting things about the person. Answer any questions that they may have regarding him or her.

When the kids are ready to meet this person, choose a neutral place. Children may feel that another adult in the house threatens them in some way. They are ready for you to date, but not ready to see another potential parent figure in their home.

Go to a movie that everyone can enjoy and have dinner afterwards. Each person gets to talk to each other and the kids get to know the new partner. As a parent, watch your partner with the kids. Observe how they interact and how they deal with different situations. The next day, ask your kids what they thought of the person. Take their feedback to heart when deciding on the next step in the relationship.

Prepare your partner for some hostility when they come over to the house. You don’t expect the kids to act rudely, but they need to adjust to the new person. On the other hand, inform the children that your partner is coming over and what you expect from them. If the kids have any objections, during your conversation is the time to get those feelings out in the open so they can be addressed.

To make the meeting not so formal, host a cookout at the house. Invite friends and family over so they can meet the new person in your life. Let the kids get a chance to interact with the new partner before the festivities begin. The kids get the opportunity to settle in with him or her but the cookout keeps the pressure off of them to spend the entire evening with your partner.

Don’t force a meeting for the sake of the relationship. Tell your partner up front that your kids come first. You want the relationship to work but not at the kids’ expense. When the kids are ready to meet, then the meeting will take place.

Along these same lines, if you have to break a date due to the kids needing your attention, schedule an alternate time. Don’t just let the date go by forgotten. If you value both relationships, be flexible in the scheduling. The kids will see that you do care about this person and them at the same time.

Introducing your child to your new partner is important. They will become a part of the child’s life as well as yours. Don’t be impatient about the meeting. When the time is right, it will happen.

With spring just around the corner; you may be considering a new landscape for your backyard. You can accomplish this by utilizing inexpensive landscaping ideas which you have created, or with the help of a professional.

If you know exactly how you want your backyard to look; begin by designing it on paper. Then talk to a professional landscaper or someone who is proficient in this area and check to ensure you have everything in it’s proper place. The next thing you will have to decide is what flowers to plant in your flowerbed; herbs and vegetables in your garden, and perhaps some seedlings as well. For this, it would be appropriate to visit your gardening supply store and discuss with a professional there what to plant where, i.e., sun or shade; perennials, biennials, annuals, and the like.

Once you have your budget set, you will then be able to do most of the work yourself. However, you will need a little guidance if this is your first time. You will need to decide if you are going to border your flowerbed and garden with rocks or railroad ties; and perhaps you may want to include birdfeeders and mini windmills.

While landscaping may take a lot of work, once you see the results of your labor — you will be happy you chose the appropriate path. While it is expensive to hire a landscaper, you can still ask questions and peruse through magazines, online and check out other homes to ascertain what you like and how you envision your front and backyard to look.

With the weather being as harsh as it is, now is the time to start making plans. You may not be able to plant anything for awhile, but having the basic foundation of what you want, you can utilize inexpensive landscaping ideas easily.

Unless your kids have been saving their allowance religiously, they may not be able to afford to buy an expensive gift for Mother’s Day. However, there are inexpensive ideas for Mother’s Day gifts which they can utilize.

* Set the table for dinner
* Give her a red rose and place it in her favorite vase
* Make her a special breakfast
* Take her to the park for a picnic lunch
* Bake her a cake and sing Happy Mother’s Day To You
* Take her to a movie
* Buy her favorite scented candles
* Burn her favorite CD
* Offer to do a specific chore for a week such as washing the dishes
* Make a huge Happy Mother’s Day Sign
* Give her a picture of you in a specially decorated frame
* Make a bag of potpourri using dried flowers from the garden
* Put together a scrapbook with her favorite recipes
* Make a jewelry box for her using spring ornaments
* Buy packs of herbs or flower seeds your mom could plant in the garden
* Clear out the flower bed for mom to prepare for spring planting
* Rake the leaves and make a compost pile
* Make mom a bracelet using beads from a craft store
* Make a sign for a t-shire that says “I love my mom” with an arrow pointing to the right or left
* Wash the car
* Clean your room

There are so many inexpensive ideas for Mother’s Day gifts, all of which will be appreciated no matter how small. The fact that you took the time to make a present or buy something really special says it all. So whatever you decide to do, know that it will be a keepsake mom will treasure forever.

While it is easy to shop at well known department stores, you can find inexpensive ideas for Father’s Day gifts at your local flea markets. Here you can browse each aisle, and find gifts which you may have on your list; or fine new ideas for gifts as well. Either way, by the time you are finished shopping, you will have garnered a wide variety of gifts for half the cost — and there is no tax!

Flea markets are the perfect arena for finding inexpensive and unique gifts. Strolling down the electronics aisle, you may find a myriad of items which dad may love. Perhaps he needs a new cell phone cover! As you walk along, you may find his favorite DVDs or CDs for half the price you would pay in a regular department store or music shop.

The clothing aisle can afford you inexpensive items such as socks; belts; perhaps a two piece jogging outfit; and a host of other gifts you may find attractive and within your budget. You may find sports items such as baseball caps; golf balls; and other sports items.

If dad likes to work around the house, you may find an entire tool kit or battery-powered screw driver set or brand new tool box among the many items offered. Does dad collect memorabilia? If so, you may luck out and find vintage baseball cards; albums; coins; mugs; or whatever you think he would like.

There are even novelty gifts you can choose, such as ties that light up, or specialized t-shirts. What about a wax kit for dad! There are always demonstrations going on at the flea market promoting car accessories from floor mats to wheel covers — even GPS systems which are inexpensive a great gift idea for dad.

Inexpensive ideas for Father’s Day gifts doesn’t necessarily mean cheap. The flea market offers thousands of items to choose from, as well as saving additional tax dollars.

Aside from the traditional pumpkins, you can turn your home into a wonderland of ghosts and goblins.

First, ensure you have a variety of different sized pumpkins. Go for a family outing to a pumpkin patch and everyone can select their favorites. The large ones you can carve and decorate and the smaller ones you can place in the living room, den, children’s room or wherever you deem appropriate.

Using black construction paper, you can make a stream of bats and hang them on the wall of your kitchen or living room. Or, you can simply attach them to the walls using tape. In addition, you can always purchase the black and orange streamers and decorate the rec room or den.

Want to add a few ghosts to your home? All you need is a white sheet, a wire hanger, and black magic marker. With the magic marker, make the eyes and nose on the sheet. Put the sheet over a wire hanger, ensuring the top of the hanger is pushed through the top of the sheet, then hang it where there is an open window and watch is move on a windy day.

Here is another decorating idea which will delight your kids as well. Take some empty coffee cans and cover them with white paper. Then take some gauze and wrap them up, like a mummy. Using a black magic marker, draw in the eyes and voila, you have a candy mummy holder.

Baking is a big part of Halloween. Making cupcakes or cookies with orange icing. Adding candy corns would not only make a lovely centerpiece for your table, but can be given out as treats to the kids.

Have witches been flying past your home? Using black fabric, and making one side of a black pointed hat out of cardboard, each can be tacked to your front door. Don’t forget the broom.

One last item, tradition states that a Jack-O-Lantern in your window is recommended.

While we all celebrate the 4th of July, it is especially important to remember the reason why we honor this day. To this end, here is the Independence Day History as it occurred.

The 13 colonies in America were forced to pay taxes to England’s King George III with no representation in Parliament. As dissatisfaction grew, British troops were sent in to alleviate any signs of rebellion, and repeated attempts by the colonists to resolve the crisis without war proved fruitless. On June 11, 1776, the colonies’ Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia formed a committee with the express purpose of drafting a document that would formally sever their ties with Great Britain.

The committee included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston. The document was crafted by Jefferson, who was considered the strongest and most eloquent writer. To make it official, John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence. The final version was officially adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4. The Declaration of Independence has since become our nation’s most cherished symbol of liberty.

On July 8, 1776, the first public readings of the Declaration were held in Philadelphia’s Independence Square to the ringing of bells and band music. One year later, on July 4, 1777, Philadelphia marked Independence Day by adjourning Congress and celebrating with bonfires, bells and fireworks. The custom eventually spread to other towns, both large and small, where the day was marked with processions, oratory, picnics, contests, games, military displays and fireworks. Congress established Independence Day as a holiday in 1870 and Congress reaffirmed it as a holiday in 1938.

Today, we celebrate our independence every July 4 with time-honored traditions of barbecues, firework displays, and our birth, our liberty, and our freedom.

As you begin observing Hanukkah, you may read stories about this important time to your children. You may also come upon certain terms associated with Hanukkah which you may want to explain to your children. Here are some of the more important terms used.

Chanukah or Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights. It is commemorated by lighting a Menorah or candelabra which has eight branches or candleholders. In addition, it also has a Shamash or the master light with which you light the other eight.

The Dreidel is a four-sided spinning toy which has four distinct Hebrew letters on each side symbolizing the sentence “Nes Gadol Haya Po” which translated means “A great miracle has happened here.” The Dreidel is used to play a game in which each player spins and depending upon the letter that is displayed on the Dreidel, they add to, take half, take all or take nothing from the center of the table. These may include candies and coins which each player contributes before the start of each game.

The Torah is composed of the five books of Moses. Due to the fact that Jews were prohibited from studying the Torah under the rule of Antiochus, they would use the Dreidle as a ruse whenever the Greeks happened to pass by. Thus, the Greeks would think a game was being played as the Torah was always hidden from them.

The Menorah is lit on the first night of Hanukkah in commemoration of the miracle of the oil. It symbolizes the time when the Maccabee fought Antiochus’ army and were victorious. After which, they restored the Holy Temple and though they only had enough oil to light the Menorah for one night, it remained lit for eight days.

The Mezuzah or more commonly known as door post is usually seen outside the front door of a home and attached to the right side of the doorway. It is a small case which houses the first two sections of the Shema inside of it. It is a reverent prayer which affirms one’s Jewish faith. This prayer is said every morning and evening by religious Jews.

Spring is just around the corner. You know what that means, right? The kids will be home for a week. Here are some ideas for keeping kids occupied during spring break.

There are two ways to engage your kids during spring break. You can either plan a trip to Disneyworld, or you can plan day trips to different places within your city. Let’s face it; you certainly do not want to keep them indoors. They have been working hard and need a break, as do you.

If you plan to take a vacation, you no doubt made your reservations beforehand. However, if money is tight and you can’t afford a trip at this time, you can certainly plan day trips. Here are a few day trips you can plan on:

* The zoo
* A trip to a museum of natural history
* Botanical Gardens
* A trip to the city including lunch and dinner
* A picnic at the park
* An overnight camp-out in your back yard
* A day at the circus
* A day at an amusement park
* A county fair or festival

While these ideas for keeping kids occupied during spring break may already be on your list, you may certainly have other ideas which you will incorporate into the Spring Break week.

This is a time for fun and relaxation. Exams will be coming up soon, and your kids need to blow off a bit of steam. This is a good thing. When they go back to school they will be refreshed and ready to begin the final countdown to finals and summer vacation. Whatever you choose to do on Spring Break, have a great time. After all, you have much to celebrate as well.

Family time is becoming less and less of an activity these days with both parents working, and not enough time to spend with the kids. Well, it’s time to change that. Certainly, you can take time out for one night a week to spend with your family. Do you want to start a new tradition; or perhaps you already have. If not, here are some ideas for family night activities.

Play a board game. Scrabble or Monopoly would be a fun time had by all. Kids love to beat their parents at these games! If it’s a Saturday evening, why not go to your local park and fly kites. Even adults love this activity! If it’s raining, use the old standby and build a fort in the living room. Prepare hotdogs on a stick; then toast the old marshmallows (adults only can do this); tell stories, and have a great time. If the family is into sports, get out the basketball and play a few games of HORSE. Or for exercise; why don’t you and your family go out for a bike ride in the neighborhood.

Get everyone together to bake some cookies. Take a vote on what they would like, and assign everyone one job. For example; mom could make the dough; the kids could use cookie cutters to cut them out; dad could do the baking. Another family activity could be playing charades. Everyone loves that game. Instead of dinner; how about a picnic in the back yard! Then after dinner, get out the Frisbee or play a game of touch football.

Perhaps you’ve already starting a scrapbooking project involving holiday pictures, but haven’t had time to finish. Think of the smile and giggles that will echo from the living room when everyone looks at the pictures once again. You’ll finally get to put the pictures in the book; as a family.

Whatever you come up with, ideas for family night activities can be fun and bring everyone closer together. That’s the whole point, isn’t it? With everyone going off in different directions, think of how wonderful it would be to have everyone at home for dinner at the same time; seated together around the dining room table. Afterwards, clear the decks ’cause the party is about to begin!

Faith is defined in the dictionary as the “belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion.” When couples stand before God and commit their lives to each other, they are in essence, committing their lives to God. Faith and marriage go hand in hand, and it is faith that allows marriages to weather any storm or conquer any adversity. How your faith affects your marriage is the subject of this article.

Faith affects your marriage in many ways. Believing in a higher power and by adhering to the sacred oath, you are both confirming the tenets of marriage and its vows. It affects your lives and strengthens your family. Living the gospel and applying it to your marriage not only enhances, but increases its stability. Faith affects your marriage by allowing all of the inconsequential issues to melt away, and to concentrate instead on your family as a unit. It allows you to raise your children according to the laws of your religion, and gives them the proper training to become loving, caring, and faithful adults.

Faith affects marriages in positive ways. While love continues to blossom over time, the respect and caring of each other is exceeded only by one’s ability to forego one’s own pleasure and self-gratification. As a couple, faith allows you to overcome any adversity and adds strength and purpose to your marriage. It allows you to put your faith in the one God; to pray through the rough times, and rejoice in the good times.

The old adage, “a family that prays together, stays together,” has meaning just as the marriage vows have meaning and purpose. In Ephesians 5:32-32 of the King James’ version of the Bible, a passage is cited which fully explains the role of man and wife.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.”

Having faith in God enables you to relinquish all power, and concentrate solely on marriage and family. How your faith affects your marriage is predicated on how deeply committed you are to the sanctity of marriage.