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From the Desk of Jeff Kemp

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Redefining Manhood: Taking a Stand Against Domestic Violence 


In May, a beautiful and talented 22 year-old University of Virginia lacrosse player, Yeardley Love, was murdered just before her college graduation.  Her 22 year-old ex-boyfriend was charged with the crime.  His previous death threats revealed warped and untrained emotions.  He now faces the unraveling of his life.

How will we treat this?  Will it fade away as headline news-a sensational trial to follow?  Or will this be a wake up call?  Will we learn from this tragedy or face the risk of repeating it?

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Oxygen For Your Relationships Seminars

June 26, 2010  (Military)
Four Chaplins Memorial Chapel (4CMC)
Fort Lewis, WA
Register Online

Featured Resource of the Month

10 Great Dates

Enrich Your Marriage in 10 Great Dates!


David and Claudia Arp are the founders of Marriage Alive International and the popular 10 Great Dates series.  10 Great Dates helps couples build and sustain thier marriage throughout the years. 

This month, they're announcing the launch of the 10 Great Dates: Before You Say I Do DVD series.  Click here to view a promotional clip of the series

Learn More About Marriage Alive.com...
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Sandboxes and iPhones

by Noel Meador
busy dadWe recently purchased a sandbox for our boys. At the time we thought it was a good idea: a great place for them to play, somewhere to dig other than our yard, a "mommy and daddy need a break" activity--a good idea in theory.

 

It is amazing how much damage a little sand can create. It is miniscule in size but hard to get rid of, a constant irritant. Our hardwood floors have seen better days now. In a month's time, floors that were brand new have quickly been covered with little scratches. They may not be visible at first glance, but if you look close enough the sign of damage is there.

 

My floors and our sandbox have a lot in common with fatherhood.


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Welcome to the Second Half of Your Marriage
empty nesters
By David and Claudia Arp, co-founders and directors of Marriage Alive International

You may greet the empty nest with a sigh of relief but this transition time can be risky if you don't prepare for it!


As the nest empties couples enter uncharted waters with many risks and dangers for mid-life marriage burn-out...The current trend is alarming. Long-term marriages are breaking up in record numbers. Consider Al and Tipper Gore who after forty years of marriage are calling it quits! Supposedly they just grew apart; lived separate lives; stopped connecting. How can you make sure you don't enter the same marital drift?

The Unique Contributions of Fathers
By Krista Fogelson

I loved the Pixar movie Up. I was instantly drawn in by the touching love story and adventurous tale of world travel.  In a recent Father Factor blog, "The Boring Stuff is Best," author Natalie Bradley highlighted the movie's strong fatherhood theme between the young boy, Russell, and the older protagonist, Carl.  Russell's dad is no longer involved in his life.  In one scene, he reminisces how his favorite memories with his dad were not taking lavish vacations or receiving expensive toys, but what we may call the "boring stuff": eating ice cream and watching the cars go by.  Interestingly, Russell's mom still appeared to be very involved in his life.  But, he missed the unique contributions only his father could give. He missed having a father as a role model.

Recently...David Eggebeen, professor and researcher at Penn State, wondered if children benefit from having an involved father because he and the mother are able to take on the task of shared parenting. Are fathers just an "optional add-on?"  Or do they bring unique irreplaceable contributions through their parenting style?

Read More...

 
Taking Time to Be a Dad

Fatherhood Cheerleader










Are you looking for more ways to spend quality time with your kids? We invite you to watch this humorous and touching video clip that highlights how even the little things make a big difference to your child. 

Watch the Video Here...
Follow up on the Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage Event!

Flag PageOn May 21st, Stronger Families had the privilege of presenting comedian, pastor, and marriage therapist Mark Gungor for a Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage Weekend Seminar.  Over 1,000 people, including 75 pastors and their spouses, were in attendance.  Participants enjoyed Mark Gungor's humorous and entertaining presentation style and learned practical information to bring lasting change to their marriage.

At the seminar, Mark shared about the power of the Flag Page to understand what motivates the heart of your spouse. Through this amazing tool, husbands and wives discover the God-given heart of their spouse and learn how to bring out their mateʼs best qualities by supporting what he or she loves the most about life. This is all done by focusing on positive motivation and discovering what makes their spouse truly happy.

Take the Flag Page Today and discover what motivates you and your spouse.