Marriage article - excellent!

Here's a wonderful article on marriage I found on Ezine:

In one of Charles Shultz's "Peanuts" cartoons, Charlie Brown is sitting in a deck chair near the front of a large boat when Lucy walks up. "Some people go through life with their deck chair facing forward, gazing out where they are going," Lucy says philosophically. "Others go through life with their deck chair facing backwards, looking at where they've been." Then looking directly into Charlie Brown's sunglasses, she asks him, "Charlie Brown, which way is your deck chair facing?"
Charlie Brown shrugging his shoulders answers, "I really don't know...I've never been able to get my deck chair unfolded!" That's how married life is. We can get so caught up in the flurry of day-to-day activities that we fail to take time out to get our deck chair unfolded and take a look at where we are going. But if our deck chairs aren't unfolded and facing forward we're liable to be left standing- drifting, wondering where our lives went.
"Where there is no vision, the people perish" Proverbs 29:18
When asked if there was anything worse than being blind, Helen Keller replied, "The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight but no vision." King Solomon, the writer of Proverbs, was indeed wise when he said, "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29: 18).
This principle is foundational for any successful enterprise, including marriage. Applied to marriage, it could be paraphrased: "Where there is no vision, a marriage stops growing and deteriorates. The contrast is clear: perish or flourish; wander aimlessly or stretch forth purposely. What's needed is a vision. Today, more than ever, we as individuals and families need a sense of direction and destiny.
We've found there are great benefits and blessings that come from having a vision and setting goals:
1) Having a vision and goals provides a basis for marriage and family oneness. Amos 3:3 poses the question, "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?"
2) It offers a framework for decision making. Life consists of endless pressing decisions: where to invest your time, attention, effort, and money. By setting goals a family will have a guideline with which to make these difficult decisions.
3) It provides us with a reminder of important priorities. Having goals helps us maintain accountability to those priorities. Clearly defined goals helps us make our relationships with God and our family the priority they deserve.
4.) Goal setting provides a sense of joint accomplishment and security. As you set goals and see them accomplished, the two of you are drawn closer together. (Continued on page 2, The Power of Vision)
5.) Rather than feeling like your life is haplessly out of control, you experience the secure feeling that you're living your lives "not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of your time" (Ephesians 5: 18).
Several years ago, we started setting aside time for our own personal, private marriage retreat to get away and seek God's guidance as to what He would have us do, and to make plans for the coming year. It proved so valuable to us, that we have since made it an annual event.
How about you? Do you and your mate have a vision for your marriage and family? Is it clear and written? Are you both headed in the same direction? Have you established specific individual and joint goals that you want to achieve? What are your priorities as a couple and family?
We encourage you to spend some time together to establish your vision and goals for your marriage and family. To help you do that, visit our website, and we'll send you a free copy of our goal-setting guide for couples-Establishing A Vision in Your Marriage & Family. http://www.marriageministry.org
Roy Milam is Co-founder and Director of Cornerstone Marriage & Family Ministries, Cypress Texas. With over 25 years of combined pastoral counseling, marriage counseling, and training experience, Roy has taught seminars throughout the U.S. helping thousands of people restore and strengthen their marriages. For more information about Cornerstone's "Establishing A Vision In Your Marriage," visit their website: http://www.marriageministry.org
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_Milam

Hope it has fed your spirit. With Love,
Chrissy

Stuff that's been happening

Our cheque account went into unplanned overdraft. And one cheque I had written hadn't even been given to the people who would bank it yet. Had to borrow from my son's savings to put it back into the black. :-( Hubby NOT happy. Thankfully his pay went through yesterday, so we could catch up with necessary groceries.
I have been planning and organizing to teach an art class called "Creative Days" next term (Term 1 2008), and have finally finalized the venue. Three of the homeschooling families couldn't do it so pulled out. I will need to advertise region-wide for more participants to make sure the class can afford the venue hire plus the materials. It has been fun reading up on how to teach art - I have such a passion for the kids to really discover the joy of creating something new from simple materials. Have borrowed many books, from the local library and from a homeschooling friend whose youngest daughter (age six) is sooo amazing in what and how she draws. The Monart method looks like it could be the most beneficial so I will try to incorporate it into one or two of the ten sessions. I really like the idea of insisting on total silence so the students can concentrate well... not sure quite how well it can be implemented with the age range being from four years old to fourteen.
Also, I have been spending a couple of hours each day going through the ProfitLance internet marketing course - wow it is so in-depth. And gives such a broad overview as well. Now I just need to have a go at using one of his Website Templates to design my own - I am such a newbie at this, it's a little bit scary. As well as exciting. Will keep you posted on progress!

Hello world!

Hi to anyone and everyone who sees this - welcome to my blog! I am such a newbie, I couldn't even set this up without my husband's help! I intend to make a post here at least once a week, and here are some of my areas of interest: christian resources, scrapbooking, homeschooling, parenting, learning difficulties, books, etc.... and just recently, internet marketing. I have just started a course named ProfitLance and it is so amazing, a huge resource full of tools and updated regularly - I am hoping to have an awesome resource website up and running for pastors, homeschoolers, scrapbookers, parents and kids within the next few months. More later!