“Stay with us,” they implored Jesus on the road to Emmaus. They sensed something special about him, something they needed. Married couples too need Jesus’ presence. Have you asked him lately, “Stay with us. Come into our home”? If not, try it today.
“A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (Jn 10:11) In today’s world, time is often our most precious commodity. It reflects your priorities. When you give time and attention to your beloved, it’s like laying down your life for the other. Save time for each other today.
Philadelphia, PA — (SBWIRE) — 11/18/2013 — Leading luxury Lifestyle Management, Event production and PR agency Asoni Haus have strategically partnered with Honeymoons and Get-A-Ways; a comprehensive travel firm with over 10 years experience, focusing on the luxury travel, honeymoon and destination wedding markets. With the aim of working together to provide curated travel experiences to the elite lifestyle members managed by the Asoni Haus team. This service partnership will see a more targeted luxury focus for Asoni Haus members who are demanding more than ever, romantic getaways, bespoke honeymoon experiences and opportunities to access the inaccessible, especially when it comes to creating that special moment with, or for their loved one. Asoni Haus spend their days working with the world’s elite, providing Lifestyle support to their members, comprising of Celebrities, Sporting personalities, UHNWI, Leading Business men and women, Diplomats and Dignitaries. Asoni Haus are the curators of Luxury, utilizing their global contacts and partners to provide their members access to the inaccessible. Call them the “Fixers” as they truly understand what it is to provide Luxury, effortlessly.
Honeymoons and Get-A-Ways founder Nancy Barkley says “Our mission is to plan your most memorable travel experience ever, anywhere the client heart desires. We are able to achieve this goal by years of traveling the world and finding the perfect locations for clients. We are able to offer our customers exclusive VIP treatment due to our strategic associations worldwide”. While Asoni Haus Founder & CEO Ingrid Asoni feels that “this partnership is long overdue, bringing together two companies that truly understand the needs of the elite, are driven by service quality, have vast experience within the luxury market and have the need to exceed client expectations, especially when it comes to requests of the heart”. Bringing these two forces together, will only ensure that romantic moments become even more unimaginably unforgettable.
http://www.asonihaus.com
@asonihaus
http://www.honeymoonsandgetaways.com
luxurydestinationweddings
There is a reason Greece tops Lonely Planet 2014 Best of Europe Top 10 List. This country, which resembles a huge post card, is one of the most romantic places in the world to honeymoon.
I would like to share a glimpse of my recent trip to Athens this past May.
Athens, a contemporary city, combines the present and the past in a unique way. Modern restaurants with famous chefs, lovely nightlife and various cultural events run every day and still the Athenian past is obvious in every corner. The history of the Acropolis of Athens is long, when democracy, science, philosophy and art flourished leading to its creation. The Acropolis and the Parthenon in particular, is the most characteristic monument of the ancient Greek civilization.
Santorini is one of the most sought after destinations in the world, and I had the opportunity to experience 5 star hotel accommodations while staying at Mystique. Mystique is a stylish property built on Oia’s most famous cliffs offering amazing views of the Aegean Caldera.
The rooms, which are built in a cave offer seclusion, tranquility and spectacular bathrooms that directly look out to the sea affording jaw dropping views. If you do choose to connect to the world and not hibernate, the complimentary WI-FI works great.
The Asian Spa at the Resort offers both unique and memorable spa services that can be experienced in their spa, or in your room.
The Santorini Wine Adventure allows you to discover the most distinct wineries and traditional cellars in Santorini through a unique wine tasting journey. During the 4 hour tour of the Santorini country side you will visit the most distinct wineries on the islands where winemaking dates back more than 4, 0000 years. The volcanic land gives special features to the wines. And you will experience an adventure of flavors winding through traditional villages and dramatic landscapes with hillsides covered in vines.
I hiked the 12 km from Oia to Fira, along the brow of the Caldera and met a lot of friendly travelers from all over the world making the same hike.
There is no better way to discover the volcano, hot springs of Thirissia island then by way of catamaran. We explored the craters of one of the most important volcanoes in the whole world and Thirissia island while the chefs on the catamaran prepared us a gourmet lunch.
I spent an extremely educational afternoon at Akrotiri , one of the most important prehistoric settlements of the Aegean. The first habitation at the site dates from the Late Neolithic times (at least the 4th millennium B.C.). The large extent of the settlement (ca. 20 hectares), the elaborate drainage system, the sophisticated multi-storied buildings with the magnificent wall-paintings, furniture and vessels, show its great development and prosperity.
I then departed for Mykonos, a 3 ½ hour journey by speedboat and was transferred to The Rochari Hotel, located in a very convenient location just a few minutes’ walk to the town center and the old port of Mykonos. My terrace offered a stunning view of Mykonos and the Aegean Sea.
Mykonos is famous for its giant whitewashed windmills and chapels scattered along the countryside, divine sandy beaches, unique Cycladic architectural style, wild, cosmopolitan nightlife, endless entertainment opportunities, yummy local delicacies and countless gastronomic restaurants
Mykonos is also an island jetsetters frequent for the unbelievable upscale shopping and nonstop partying .
However, when you do wish to relax, visit Psarou beach which is guarded by locals and VIP visitors where crazy partying is frowned upon! It is actually an attractive -not too small, not too big- beach with clear waters, umbrellas and sun beds and a place for boats and private yachts to anchor. Psarou beach has a restaurant, a traditional taverns, a cafe-bar, and even a sushi bar for the most demanding! For those who are more active, Mykonos offers a variety of water sports. From snorkeling to water ski and from tubes rides to parachute each one of you can find something interesting!
Greece was truly one of my most fulfilling and memorable travel experiences ever!
luxurydestinationweddings
Georgia has many beautiful wedding locations. They are all different and iWedPlanner will help you select what suits your taste.
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You will likely need lot of wedding flowers and wondering how to find the best flower delivery service in Houston for your wedding. Here are the tips from iwedplanner to find the best flower service.
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My Jordan Journey.
For those of you who are ready to explore a destination unlike any other in the world, I welcome you to Jordan. I have been home just 2 weeks and still cannot stop telling people about this extraordinary country that exceeded every one of my expectations during my visit.
Jordan is a country located on the east bank of the River Jordan. Almost half of Jordan is covered by the Arabian Desert. It is a country covering an area of 35,637 square miles, comparable to the size of Indiana. Jordan offers a diverse terrain and landscape usually found only in larger countries.
Our host, the Jordan Tourism Board, met us at the airport. While they were processing our Visas, we easily checked in with friends and families at home thanks to the WIFI at the Amman airport. Once outside, we were escorted to our lavish tour bus, equipped comfortable seating, WIFI, and TV channels at our fingertips.
On our first full day we visited Jerash, located about 45 kilometers from Amman, and considered to be one of the largest and most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world outside Italy.
Their state of preservation is absolutely remarkable.
Wine making in Jordan? Yes indeed! And that is where we went that evening, In Amman, the place to go is The Winemaker, a boutique wine tasting venue that carries the international award-winning St. George wines. The winemaker himself is Oscar Zumot, who pioneered the modern era of winemaking in Jordan. Our wonderful evening of wine tasting was paired with a delicious Jordanian dinner.
Next day we headed south to the Eastern Banks of The River Jordan, known as Bethany-Beyond –the -Jordan. The baptism of Jesus, by John the Baptist, most likely took place on the Jordanian side of the Jordan River. Pope Francis visited Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan in May 24, 2014 . “The place where we are meeting commemorates Jesus’ baptism,” the pope told an assembly at the Church of the Baptism of Jesus (of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem). “Coming here to the Jordan to be baptized by John, Jesus showed his humility and his participation in our human condition.”
We then drove a short distance to Mt. Nebo. After 40 years leading the Israelites in the desert, Moses stood on the summit of Mount Nebo and viewed the Promised Land of Canaan — after having been told by God “you shall not cross over there”.
We were very fortunate to have a clear day, and saw the panoramic view seen by Moses : The Dead Sea, the Jordan River valley, Jericho, Bethlehem and the distant hills of Jerusalem.
We then continued south to the “Lost City” of Petra. Literally carved straight into red, white, pink, and sandstone cliff faces, the prehistoric Jordanian city of Petra was “lost” to the Western world for hundreds of years.
Located amongst rugged desert canyons and mountains in what is now the southwestern corner of Jordan , Petra was once a flourishing trading center and the capital of the Nabataean empire between 400 B.C. and A.D. 106.
The city sat empty and in near ruin for centuries. Not until the early 1800s did a European traveler disguise himself in Bedouin costume and penetrate the mysterious locale.
In 1985, the Petra Archaeological Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, and in 2007 it was named one of the new seven wonders of the world.
Words can not describe this amazing “rose red city” , so I hope my pictures help.
The following day we went to Wadi Rum, a protected area covering 720 square kilometers of dramatic desert wilderness in the south of Jordan. Our scheduled 2 hour jeep tour was cut a little short because of upcoming sand storm, but so much fun none the less as we waited for it to pass in tent. While inside we were served delicious tea and explained and demonstrated the different scarf garments by extremely hospitable Bedouins. After a traditional Jordanian lunch, camel ride time, where Lawrence of Arabia once frequented.
Wadi Rum attracts more and more adventure seekers, offering some of the finest rock climbing in the world and is a spectacular place for desert trekking and safaris (camels, horses and vehicles)
Last day, getting down and dirty in the Dead Sea.
After I floated in the Dead Sea for 15 minutes it was time to test the famous Dead Sea mud. The staff at the Mövenpick Dead Sea Resort & Resort caked on layers of the thick mud and told me to wait 20 minutes before rinsing off and the offering me plush towels.
I was sad to leave, and I would love to go back as there are many things to still explore. Who would like to join me?
Nancy Barkley Honeymoons and Get-A-Ways http://www.honeymoonsandgetaways.com 877-793-4808
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The baby’s crying, the dog is whining, and you need to leave for work in five minutes. Finding time for prayer can seem impossible. Amid the busyness of family life, how can one respond to God’s ongoing invitation to speak with and listen to Him? Here are ten pointers to help you do just that.
1. Pray as you can, not as you can’t. God calls most Christians to an active life in the world, with family, work and community responsibilities. Such a call, while holy, does not usually allow for long periods of prayer and reflection. Lay people can become discouraged when they try to pray like a cloistered contemplative. Be realistic about what’s possible.
2. Take ten — or twenty. If a half hour for prayer isn’t possible, how about ten minutes, or twenty? Choose a good time of day and stick with it. Designate a special site for prayer so that spot become holy. Spouses can help by minding children during respective quiet times.
3. Pray as a family. Build upon rituals such as grace before meals. In addition to the usual “Bless us, O Lord…,” encourage family members to offer thanks for the blessings of the day, as well as prayers for those in need. Couples can deepen their spiritual relationship by taking a few minutes, perhaps before bedtime, to commend to God the joys and sorrows of the day.
4. Decorate your domestic church. When we enter our parish church, the statues and pictures focus our minds on Jesus, Mary and the saints. We can create an atmosphere for prayer in our home- the domestic church- by displaying a crucifix, icons, the Bible and other holy objects. Take the children to a religious goods store and let them choose a picture or statue for their rooms.
5. Short prayers count, too. When you’re stopped at a long light or put on hold, consider it as God’s invitation to turn your heart and mind to him, if only for a few seconds.
6. Find God at work. Connecting with God in the workplace takes effort. Try to cultivate a few simple habits. For example, offer the day to God as you turn on your computer, or pray for the person you’re about to call or wait upon.
7. Jump start your prayer life. Sooner or later almost everyone experiences dryness in prayer. God seems far away and prayer becomes a burden. Praying with Scripture, perhaps the daily Mass readings, can help us focus. So, too, can an inspirational book, especially one of the spiritual classics. A good choice is St. Francis de Sales’ Introduction to the Devout Life, written specifically for lay people who are striving for holiness.
8. Ask your Mother for help. The Blessed Virgin Mary, our spiritual mother, understands our needs and offers profound comfort. One family, gathered around the bedside of their dying husband and father, found peace and healing through the recitation of the rosary. The rosary is ideal for the family since children can be taught the simple prayers at an early age. Check out instructions on how to pray the rosary.
9. Read a good story. Children and adults alike enjoy an inspiring story, and few stories are more compelling than those of the saints. Whether it’s the little way of Therese of Lisieux or the heroism of Maximilian Kolbe, their stories offer something for everyone. Consider the particular virtue that a saint demonstrates and pray for help to emulate it. Perhaps it’s the humility of St. Francis of Assisi, the patience of St. Monica, or the courageous witness of St. Thomas More.
10. Walk with a spiritual friend. Prayer can lead to new thoughts and questions. Who better to share them with than a spiritual friend? A friend can help us to work through the concerns that inevitably arise in prayer. Good friends will hold each other accountable for their prayer life, making sure that prayer has not been neglected in the busyness of life. For married couples a spouse is often this spiritual friend, but God will also put wise and holy people in our path when we need them. They can be the answer to prayer.
Finding the best wedding venue is the difficult task for the couples. Here are the five tips to choose the right wedding venue in Houston…
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Why Nevis?
Nevis offers near perfect weather, luxurious indoor and outdoor space and stunning ocean views. Couples can choose from picturesque churches, historic plantations, soft, sandy beaches or beautiful tropical gardens. Nevis is truly one of the world’s premier Caribbean wedding destinations.
Who Nevis?
Nevis is for the couple looking for privacy and exclusivity. Nevis is a unique, elegant, romantic location for a destination wedding, honeymoon or Anniversary trip. If it is Romance Related, that is who it is for.
When Nevis?
Perfect time Nevis , December to early April.
What Nevis?
Top Romantic Activities on Nevis
Where Nevis?
Top places to get married on Nevis
Your wedding day is one of the best days of your life, choose Nevis ……unspoiled, unpretentious, and unforgettable.
Nancy Barkley/Lifestyle Specialist Honeymoons and Destination Weddings/ Certified Nevis Romance Specialist
Honeymoons and Get-A-Ways/ http://www.honeymoonsandgetaways.com/877-793-4908
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Fighting Fair Tip: Use “I feel” statements. This is an old standby but it still works. Instead of saying, “You make me so angry when you…” say, “I feel upset when you… Would you be willing to …” It’s not a magic cure but it decreases defensiveness.
Planning to choose the romanic honeymoon location, then Hawaii is one of the best choice. Find some of the exoctic honeymoon packages in Hawaii…
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Take a trip down memory lane. Retell the story of your engagement and wedding day to each other or your kids. What was the craziest, funniest, most endearing part of these milestones for you?
Find the top 2016 wedding reception halls design with the help of iwedplanner . Our local vendors will help you in finding the best halls...
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Buying a wedding cake is one of the important part in your wedding if you want something untraditional cake the go for a lavish Italian wedding cake.
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Choosing a reliable wedding transport service in Denver is big task. Here are some tips you can follow when seeking out a limo service.
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Every wedding requires an officiant. If you live in a big city like New York, you need not worry yourself. Iwedplanner will help you find a good NY wedding officiant.
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Visualize yourself getting married in the jewel of the Caribbean, where royalty and dignitaries choose to stay, truly one of the most legendary destinations, Half Moon Bay, Jamaica. Having just returned from this magnificent resort, I can confirm that getting married at Half Moon Bay will be a dream come true.
Half Moon Bay offers brides and grooms breathtaking backdrops to choose from. Oleander Terrace offers the music of the Sea and prime beachfront location. Sunrise Beach, a spectacular half mile curve of beach sheltered
by the offshore reef offers a quintessential toes-in-the-sand ceremony experience, especially at dusk when the constantly shifting hues of the sky and sea add a memorable backdrop. Or perhaps the elegant Sugar Mill Restaurant overlooking Half Moon’s beautiful golf course.
Your guests will be treated luxuriously in 5 star accommodations on private estate of 400 acres all fronted by two miles of private beach. The hardest choice they will have to make is what fine dining restaurant to choose from and will they either enjoy the 18 hole championship golf course, Equestrian Centre, thirteen tennis courts, and a variety of water sports including a private Dolphin Lagoon or spend the day at the spa?
Words do not do justice on how beautiful Half Moon Bay is, so you will need to experience it for yourself and I promise you will have the perfect destination wedding.
Nancy Barkley/Honeymoons and Get-A-Ways/www.honeymoonsandgetaways.com
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Kindness in words creates confidence, kindness in thinking creates profoundness, and kindness in feeling creates love (Lau Tzu).
Michelle hates to make decisions. Her husband, Craig, enjoys it. Over the years of their marriage Craig has learned that Michelle doesn’t like having decision made for her either, so how he makes a decision is very important. He has learned to ask for her opinion and to offer his in return. He takes her feelings into consideration; he knows what she likes and dislikes, and respects that. Craig loves Michelle and one way he demonstrates his love by making decisions with kindness and consideration, and Michelle loves him all the more for that.
Kindness is a difficult attribute to define, but not to illustrate. Each of us, if asked, could tell personal stories about when we have been treated kindly and when we have been treated unkindly. We know it when we experience it, and we recognize when it isn’t there.
A kind person acts in benevolent, gentle, and loving ways. In marriage, kindness is demonstrated through generous acts, considerate behavior, and comforting words. A kind person usually has a mild and pleasant disposition and acts with tenderness and concern for others. A man who brings his wife flowers as a sign of his love and a woman who strokes her husband’s arm as they watch a movie are acting with kindness.
Kindness is one of the seven virtues, and is considered the opposite of envy. A kind person celebrates another’s good fortune while an envious person grows angry at another’s success.
For example, Marta and Luis both have high stress jobs, but Marta is far more successful at her job than Luis is in his. While this is, at times, a source of tension in their marriage, Marta and Luis recognize the tension and deal with it as adults. Marta tries not to brag about her success and never uses it as a weapon when they argue. She cares about Luis and doesn’t want to hurt his self-esteem. For his part, Luis tries to celebrate Marta’s successes. He struggles at times with feeling that he is not carrying his share of the family responsibility, but because Marta treats him with such kindness, Luis is a happy man.
Kindness comes from the same root as the word “kin,” someone who is a part of your family. Thus, when you show kindness to your spouse, you are treating him or her as a part of your family, as “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23). These words are used at weddings to describe the ideal relationship between husband and wife. This scripture passage makes clear that for marriages to succeed—that is, to be happy and healthy—then couples must treat each other with the same gentleness, courtesy, compassion, and respect that they want for themselves.
Kindness is a way of showing love to another. Everything that St. Paul wrote about love in 1 Corinthians 13 (Love is patient; not jealous, pompous, inflated, or rude; does not seek its own interests, is not quick-tempered, does not brood over injury or rejoice over wrongdoing) also defines how a kind person acts.
Kindness is an essential virtue in a healthy and happy marriage. A recent study conducted in various cultures around the world asked people to name the trait they desired most in a mate. For both sexes, people overwhelmingly wanted their mates to be kind.
Marriages are strengthened when both members of a couple treat each other kindly: with love and understanding and with dignity and respect. Kindness is evident when a person puts the needs of his or her spouse first, acting on what will please or help the other most, and not on self-interest. By never being rude or abusive to your spouse in any way, you build a relationship of mutual trust and respect. A marriage based upon compassionate and caring thoughts, words, and actions—a marriage based on kindness—will be a generous relationship, with both man and wife sharing freely all that they have with each other, with their children, and with the larger society. These are signs of healthy, happy, and strong marriages.
A Spanish proverb says that “He who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.” This is also true in marriage. Little acts of kindness can mean a lot. Simple acts work wonders: cooking your spouse’s favorite meal when he or she has had a hard day or bringing home a little gift “just because.” Many couples divide up chore responsibilities because of personal preferences. Sometimes doing another person’s chore, like taking the car to get tires rotated, can be a wonderful act of kindness. So can putting love notes in a briefcase or lunch bag, or allowing your spouse just to sit and watch a ballgame on TV when you’d rather do something else.
Disagreements happen in every relationship; the healthy married couple has learned to resolve these disagreements kindly. By offering a gentle word to an angry remark or by refusing to say harsh things when you feel them, you let kindness wrap you and your spouse in a loving blanket of respect that smothers the flame of anger before it can erupt into an inferno of emotions. In this way, kindness leads to happiness.
One of the most important choices a bride will make for her big day is the wedding venue.Here is a guide to choosing a wedding venue in Dallas.
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Cortona in Tuscany, Italy is perhaps best known as the setting for the book and movie “Under the Tuscan Sun” Cortona is among Tuscany’s loveliest destinations offering astonishing landscapes and romantic backdrops.
Couples seeking to get married at an intimate and elegant country house rich of flowers and perfumes, La Corte dei Papi is the perfect choice. If looking for exclusivity you may reserve the entire estate for your guests.
And because your wedding will last more than one day, the hardest choice you will have to make is choosing from all the amazing activities available to your guests. On site cooking classes? Walking or cycling the countryside? Or personalized private tours to Pienza, famous for its cheese, Montepulciano and Montalcino, known all over the world for its wines Nobile and Brunello.
You can visit Siena and San Gimignano, true historic and landscape treasures on the foot of Chianti.
Or perhaps your guests will just want to stay in their rooms? Why? This XVIII century country house was completely restored with luxury and wellness in mind. The spa suites offer a private spa for 2 people with a Turkish bath provided with 4 multi-sensory showers.
Couples choosing to marry at La Corte dei Papi will receive attention to every detail, superior professionalism and discretion from the staff. You will have a chef preparing each recipe with quality and elegant presentation for an ultimate dining experience. La Corte dei Papi is the absolute perfect location for your destination wedding which guests will be talking about for years to come.
Nancy Barkley, Honeymoons and Get-A-Ways, http://www.honeymoonsandgetaways.com
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Do one or both of you struggle with pornography use? Despite what the culture says, pornography use is never okay. It can cause severe harm to marriages and families. For help, look into the “Create in Me a Clean Heart” resources available from the USCCB: www.usccb.org/cleanheart
“Marriage…is to be a school for nurturing gratitude.” (USCCB, Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan) How do you foster gratitude in your marriage? Try coming up with three things every night to be grateful for. Add them to a “gratitude journal” and count your blessings!
Italian wedding cakes are known for their simplicity and elegance. Most of them are traditional and have been the focal point of many Italian weddings for centuries.
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Would your spouse describe you as a good listener? If you’re not sure, humbly seek out their opinion, and be willing to grow.
“Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed!” (Jn 20:29) While we don’t see the Risen Lord like Thomas did, we still encounter Him in the Eucharist. On this Divine Mercy Sunday, thank God especially for the gift of His mercy which is ever abundant and ever new.
Booking a banquet hall for a wedding reception can be practical and convenient if you are planning to have your ceremony in Chicago. It will have the facilities and services that can make arranging a wedding reception easier and less stressful.
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The volcanic island of Bora Bora is a major tourist destination and is well known for its aqua-centric luxury accommodations. It is a popular honeymoon destination as it has an air of seclusion to it.
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The other night while we were eating dinner as a family, our rambunctious 2 year old, Anthony, started throwing his food from his high chair. After disciplining him, my husband got up and began cleaning up the mess, while his dinner got cold. While he was cleaning up the mess, our 7 and 9 year old (who were done eating) along with Anthony, started climbing all over my husband as he was on his hands and knees cleaning up the food from our kitchen floor. In that moment, I remember thinking – it is the little acts, like this, done with love that make me fall deeper in love with this man I am joined to in marriage! There is something so attractive that draws me in when I see my husband in humble service to me and our family. These are the moments, the little acts that we do to serve our spouse and our family each day, that build a strong marriage and family life.
Every day we are presented with opportunities to, as Mother Theresa said, “do small things with great love.” If you look at a stained glass window, it is made up of many small pieces that form a bigger picture. The little acts of service that we do each day out of love for God and our spouse create an image similar to that of a stained glass window. It is all the acts, all the pieces, when put together that make a lovely image – an image of authentic marital love. There is a beautiful quote from Alice Von Hildebrand in her book, By Love Refined, “From the outside, the stained-glass windows in a church look dull and dark; but when you enter the church and see the same windows illumined by the rays of the sun, you discover their incredible beauty. The light of the sun transforms stained-glass windows into magnificent works of art. Likewise, your love can transform the many small, boring tasks of married life into magnificent works of love.” (pp. 7-8)
As you encounter the unglamorous, everyday problems that threaten your marriage, remember that each small act of love builds your foundation stronger. What does your spouse selflessly do for you that you really appreciate? Do they make that phone call that you would rather not make? Do they clean up the garbage at the end of the driveway that an animal got into? Do they wake up with a sick child in the middle of the night and tend to their needs? What do you do to serve your spouse selflessly? Each of you have different strengths and weaknesses; knowing these will help you to serve one another in the most beneficial way.
Another powerful quote from By Love Refined is, “If someone were to give me many short bits of wool, most likely I would throw them away. What can I do with a few ounces of wool? A carpet weaver thinks differently. He knows the marvels we can achieve by using small things artfully and lovingly. Like the oriental carpet weaver, the good wife must be an artist of love. She must remember her mission and never waste the little deeds that fill her day – the precious bits of wool she’s been given to weave the majestic tapestry of married love.” (p.66)
This, of course, applies to husband and wife – both are called to weave love every day through small acts into the tapestry of your marriage. Let your marital love be refined by your willingness to embrace the mundane every day duties in a spirit of love and sacrifice. Watch your marriage grow stronger and your love for your spouse grow deeper. It is all part of God’s great plan for marriage!
“It is at home that people truly learn to live, to value life and health, freedom and peace, justice and truth, work, harmony and respect.” (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI) What did your family teach you growing up? How do you teach truth to your family today? What do you still have to learn?
Brand your destination wedding:
Create your own logo.
Not a logo person? Personalize your wedding as you would like to reflect your personality. Starting with the save the dates, invites, table settings, welcome letters to guests, daily activity list to guests, timeline, menus… Add a personal touch that reflects your particular style.
Themed weddings have become very popular. If you decide on a themed wedding, you can move beyond popular ones such as Great Gatsby and choose one reflecting what you both like.
Favorite book? Favorite Movie? TV show? Or where he proposed. If the proposal was in Paris, and your guests can not travel that far, have a Paris theme wedding at home, using decorations, invites, food that reflect France.
I attended an event in Italy that had a different theme in the 5 different rooms that showcased the bride and grooms talents and hobbies. One room was music based, the Hors ’doeuvre were served out of guitar cases.
In another room, drinks were “magic” themed (inspired by the groom’s love of magic). Drinks were served with dry ice on the trays with the glasses to make them appear like magic. The picture taking room was set up to reflect their love of horseback riding with equestrian theme. The reception had classical piano and then jazz band, one bride liked and one groom liked.
Couples choosing an interfaith wedding can combine and personalize the ceremony by bride and groom wearing each other’s traditional clothing. You can also use heritage and your own personal traditions throughout wedding and reception.
Fun Activities:
Do an activity you would like to do during your wedding weekend with your guests depending on where your destination is—snorkeling? Zip lining? Swim with the dolphins? Group painting, pottery, etc.
These are very popular now, but put your own twist on it. If I were getting married again, I would have wine tastings stations set around everywhere!
However you personalize your destination wedding, be sure to minimize the overload by picking one main theme and seeing how you can incorporate in the other details.
By picking that first, you’ll save yourself work later.
Nancy Barkley, Founder Honeymoons and Get-A-Ways
Photos, Robert London Photography
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