Aurora Borealis

It has been said that witnessing the aurora with your true love brings a lifetime of happiness to your bond.

"Nothing evolves us like love."
-Hafiz

Take it one day at a time, never take each other for granted, and a hug and kiss is needed at least once a day. Congratulations to you both. You make a beautiful couple, I wish great happiness!

from: Judy Gordon

Never let negative thoughts in the head, change what is true in the heart. Love deeply, understand greatly, communicate always, as humans we will always fall, but when one angels wing is broken may the angel wing of your life partner always be there to until your wing is lifted up. I am so extremely happy for the two of you, and you can just feel the love you have for one another exude when you are present among others. LIVE, LOVE AND LAUGH. CONGRATULATIONS

from: Wanda Spriggs

Develop your secret language, your code words and phrases, all of those emotions you can invoke when you most need them. Here is a message often repeated in our marriage: "My arms around you, always." When we're having a bad day and the other person can't be there to comfort, we say this to remind ourselves that our love transcends physical distance. It does help to feel that in the midst of some annoyance or trauma, I am embraced by the person I love most.

from: Kate Goff

Honor, cherish, tend to, and respect each other, and there will be nothing in life the two of you can't work through as you start this wonderful life adventure called marriage! Love you both dearly!

from: Terry Hudgens

Ultimately, man/woman should not ask what the meaning of their life is,
but rather they must recognize that it is he/she who is asked.
– Viktor E. Frankl

The things that we love tell us what we are. – Thomas Aquinas

Amor Facit Ecstasans

Amor Facit Ecstasans: Love produces ecstasy – Thomas Aquinas

– Thich Naht Hahn

I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin
air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle
which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green
leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child – our own two eyes.
All is a miracle.

A friend is someone who knows the song of your heart and sings it to you when you have forgotten it. – Anonymous

"If I know what love is, it is because of you."

  -  Hermann Hess (author of Siddhartha)

If You Forget Me by Pablo Neruda

If You Forget Me

I want you to know one thing. You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if I touch near the fire the impalpable ash or the wrinkled body of the log, everything carries me to you, as if everything that exists, aromas, light, metals, were little boats that sail toward those isles of yours that wait for me. Well, now, if little by little you stop loving me I shall stop loving you little by little. If suddenly you forget me do not look for me, for I shall already have forgotten you. If you think it long and mad, the wind of banners that passes through my life, and you decide to leave me at the shore of the heart where I have roots, remember that on that day, at that hour, I shall lift my arms and my roots will set off to seek another land. But if each day, each hour, you feel that you are destined for me with implacable sweetness, if each day a flower climbs up to your lips to seek me, ah my love, ah my own, in me all that fire is repeated, in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten, my love feeds on your love, beloved, and as long as you live it will be in your arms without leaving mine. Pablo Neruda

Marriages Made in Heaven

True Love

Contributed by Barry and Joyce Vissell

to "Chicken Soup for the Soul"

Moses Mendelsshon, the grandfather of the well-known German composer, was far from being handsome. Along with a rather short stature, he had a grotesque hunchback.

One day he visited a merchant in Hamburg who had a lovely daughter named Frumtje. Moses fell hopelessly in love with her. But Frumtje was repulsed by his misshapen appearance.

When it came time for him to leave, Moses gathered his courage and climbed the stairs to her room to take one last opportunity to speak with her. She was a vision of heavenly beauty, but caused him deep sadness by her refusal to look at him. After several attempts at conversation, Moses shyly asked, "Do you believe marriages are made in heaven?"

"Yes," she answered, still looking at the floor. "And do you?"

"Yes I do, " he replied. "You see, in heaven at the birth of each boy, the Lord announces which girl he will marry. When I was born, my future bride was pointed out to me. Then the Lord added, 'But your wife will be humpbacked.'

"Right then and there I called out, 'Oh Lord, a humpbacked woman would be a tragedy. Please, Lord, give me the hump and let her be beautiful.'"

Then Frumtje looked up into his eyes and was stirred by some deep memory. She reached out and gave Mendellshon her hand and later became his devoted wife.

How to Preserve Children

(Author unknown)

Given by Grammer Hudgens

Take:

1 large grassy field

1/2 doz. children

2 or 3 small dogs

a pinch of brook and some small pebbles

Mix the children and dogs well together and put them in the field, stirring constantly. Pour the brook over the pebbles, sprinkle the field with flowers, spread over all a deep blue sky and bake in a hot sun. When thoroughly browned, remove and set to cool in a bath tub.

Recipe For a Happy Marriage

(Author unknown)

Given by Grammer Hudgens

1 c. consideration

1 c. courtesy

1 c. praise

1 c. "milk of human kindness"

1 gal, faith in the Good Lord . . . and each other

1 reasonable budget

1 pinch in-laws

generous dash cooperation

3 tsp. pure extract of "I am sorry"

1 c. confidence and encouragement

children (natural or adopted)

1 c. hobbies

1 c. blindness to the others' faults

Flavor with frequent portions of recreation and a dash of happy memories. Stir well, and remove any speck of jealousy, temper or criticism. Sweeten with generous portions of love, and keep warm a steady flame of devotion. Never serve with a cold shoulder . . . or a hot tongue. Finally remember this prayer: "Teach me this, O Lord, to know that true love is caring and sharing." AND ADD TO THE ABOVE A GOOD BOWL OF SOUP.

Meet Maru

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XID_W4neJo

Rick, thank you for turning me into a dorky cat person.

From "Real Love" by Thich Nhat Hanh

From time to time, sit close to the one you love, hold his or her hand, and ask, "Darling, do I understand you enough? Or am I making you suffer? Please tell me so that I can learn to love you properly. I don't want to make you suffer, and if I do so because of my ignorance, please tell me so that I can love you better, so that you can be happy." If you say this in a voice that communicates your real openness to understand, the other person may cry. That is a good sign, because it means the door of understanding is opening and everything will be possible again.

From Dr. Anne-Loure Perraud, and Kathy davis

Love all of the good times that you share together. They can be the currency to help with the harder times...and there will be hard times so don't be surprised. Constantly work to find new ways to fall in love with them, you're never too old to do that. -ALP

Always accept your partner for exactly who they are, and don't try to change anything about them. Try to see them with fresh eyes, and let them be themselves. -KD

I love that you collect dirty jokes...

From my mom

Anytime you are having a discussion with your partner, bring to it fresh ears. No matter how many times you may have talked about this subject, its important to fully listen to everything as if it were for the first time...and never stop laughing with each other!!

Hugging couple buried more than 5,000 years ago remained inseparable when they were lifted from the ground on Tuesday, the day before Valentine's Day.

From Gerardo . . .

You marry someone because in some way they have saved you

Beautiful Love Wisdom from a Therapist Talking About Working with Couples

In couples work, I draw from the principles of Imago therapy, psychodynamic theory, and non-violent communication. Relationship issues are often underlain by unconscious and unresolved childhood pain. My work gets both partners in touch with this material, moving one past the defended aspects of one’s psyche and into what one truly wants and needs. This places previously unsolvable issues in a new perspective, which helps couples shift from relating to each other as adversaries trying to get each other to do what they want to relating to each other as allies in mutual healing.