Are you making time for your marriage?Written by Stephanie Foster
It's easy to lose track of important things when you are raising a family. It's hard enough to pay enough attention to your marriage when you have children; if you add working from home to mix, it can become nearly impossible. Yet a strong marriage is one of greatest gifts you can give your children.There are some simple ways to make sure your spouse knows how much he or she means to you, however. These tips won't solve all your problems, but they will help you to remember how much your spouse means to you. 1. Say "I love you" often. My husband and I say these three little words every day. We start day with them, and day ends with them. It means so much to hear words, even when you know your spouse loves you. 2. Be honest with each other about your needs. If your spouse is not doing something you wish he or she would do, say so, whether it's helping with housework or cuddling. Don't be confrontational, of course. 3. Show appreciation for things your spouse does. Not only is saying "thank you" a good example to set for your kids, it's one of those small things that makes a huge difference in how people feel about what they've done.
| | A season for givingWritten by Stephanie Foster
The holidays are upon us. It is best time to teach your family about caring for others. In midst of all holiday madness, there are so many people who need and deserve your help, and it can be so easy to do.One easy idea is to contribute to Christmas Child. This program is run by an evangelical Christian group, Samaritan's Purse. All you have to do is fill a shoe box with small gifts for either a boy or a girl. Good things to include are small toys, school supplies, soaps, toothbrushes, or just about anything small that will benefit child. They do ask for a $5 contribution to help them ship box. For more information, visit http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.asp?section=Operation+Christmas+Child. You can also consider donating to your local food bank. They need so much more than just creamed corn, of course. Talk with your children about foods that make holidays special to them, and how families with less would appreciate them. You may not be able to donate a favorite, as food banks are greatly limited in what they can distribute, so consider donating ingredients. Alternatively, call your local food bank and ask what they need. They may have enough food staples, but need things like condiments or mixes. Nonperishable donations are typically more welcome than perishable items, and may be all they can accept from individuals. For a list of items most needed by most food banks, take a look at http://www.sandiegofoodbank.org/needed.html.
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