The importance of smiling

Happy Fruit Grass
Originally uploaded by libraryman.

We all need to take time to smile at our sweethearts. A true, sincere smile has a very powerful affect on others. It sends a message of acceptance and warmth, of love and gratitude. Consider the following quotes:

If you're not using your smile, you're like a man with a million dollars in the bank and no checkbook.

Les Giblin

A smile is a light in the window of the soul indicating that the heart is at home.

Unknown

A smile is different than the cheesy grin most kids put on their faces in order to have their picture taken. When you smile let it be a true smile. Do you remember Peter Pan? In order for the fairy dust to make you fly, you had to think a happy thought. The same is true for Harry Potter and casting his famous Patronus. It is also true for smiles.

To really smile, remember a happy experience in your life. It doesn't need to be related to the person you are smiling at, just a time that makes you smile. A time that really made you feel good. As you remember it, your face will want to smile. Let it. That is exactly what you want to have happen. A smile is more than a grin, a smile brings light to your whole countenance.

Have you every tried smiling at complete strangers? I have. Almost without fail they smile back at you. People like to be smiled at, I can't explain it, but its true. I have smiled at people walking down the street and most will smile back. That in turn makes me feel good because someone is smiling at me. Weird but true.

Life and kids and marriage can become so routine and common that we forget to smile. As I said before, a simple smile for my sweetie when first I see her after work will often make the difference in our whole evening. It takes so little effort yet can make such a difference.

Other smile-related articles:
* Reverse Golden Rule
* Soft Answer Turneth Away Wrath
* Communication and Marriage
* No Strings Attached
* Some relationship humor
* Romantic Bible Verses: Ecclesiastes

Here's my homework

I tagged myself with this meme:

* Where did you go on your very first date? What did you do?
My very first date was a dance called the morp (prom spelled backwards). I asked her out with a bouquet of weeds.

* Where did you go on your first date with your sweetie? What did you do?
We never really dated, just hung out as friends. I guess the time I came back in town early and went and hid at her place so know one would know I was back would be our first "date".

* At what age did you start dating?
17 as a senior in high school

* How long did you and your sweetheart date before getting married?
We never really dated but we did things socially for several months.

* When did you know you were going to get married?
This is terrible, but I don't remember. It just made sense.

* What was the best date you ever went on?
For our anniversary, when we were in Austin, we had dinner on a gondola on the lake. That was loads of fun.

* What was the worst date ever?
I had asked a gal to the ballet and she didn't show up. So I left the ticket with the flowers I had bought at her place. I spent the evening being the third wheel to my friend and his date.

* What would you like to do on a date that you have never done before?
I think maybe an evening at the beach, maybe in Hawaii

Compliments are delightful

Nothing makes people so worthy of compliments as receiving them.
One is more delightful for being told one is delightful -- just as one is
angrier for being told one is angry.

Katherine F. Gerould

Mother's Day Gift Idea: Pajama Gram

Pajama Gram: Gift for you Mother or Wife

Homework assignment

?ângulos sólidos?
Originally uploaded by DhubaX | Eduardo Lacerda.

My daughter had a home work assignment. I don't recall if it was for health or English class, but that doesn't really matter. The assignment was to interview a parent (or guardian) about dating. Come to think of it, it was health.

Anyway, there were several question she was to ask and we, as parents, had to answer. Reading the questions brought back some fun memories for me, so I decided to share the questions so you can share them with your sweetie.

Either post the answers in your own blog/website, as a comment here (keeping in mind the PG nature of this blog), or write them in a journal to share with your sweetie and children, as appropriate.

* Where did you go on your very first date? What did you do?
* Where did you go on your first date with your sweetie? What did you do?
* At what age did you start dating?
* How long did you and your sweetheart date before getting married?
* When did you know you were going to get married?
* What was the best date you ever went on?
* What was the worst date ever?
* What would you like to do on a date that you have never done before?

The first 250 posts

I started this project back in September of 2004. Now, a year and a half have passed and there have been 250 entries posted. Most of the more than 250 entries were written by myself, a few were contributed by others and a couple were some things just floating about the Internet. Its been a lot of fun for my sweetie and I to try out new ideas and to find new ways to keep our marriage exciting.

In honor of the first 250 posts, here are some of my favorites.

Ambush Getaway

The very first one. A great idea for arranging a get away for your sweetie and whisking them off.


Holding Hands Improved

There is no simpler way to express love and to hold hands. Its a great way to send your sweetie a secret "I love you".

25 Days of Thanksgiving

Gratitude is most important in any relationship. That goes doubly so for a marriage. This post is an excellent great way to let your sweetheart know how much you appreciate them, at least at Thanksgiving time.

The Danger of a Grand Gesture

Often we want to show our sweetheart how much you love them. Just be careful to not go overboard. A gift of thought and time is more meaningful than just throwing a lot on money around.

Scriptures on Marriage: Ephesians 5

The Bible has a lot to say about marriage, husbands and wives. These few verses contain a lot of food for thought.

Romance and Children

Kids don't mean the end of romance. Instead, they can be helpers in your little surprises.

Date Idea: A Long Lunch

Dating is as important after marriage as it was before. The problem is finding time. One way to find time is to arrange to have lunch together.

Sweetie Appreciation Week

Declare a week to show how much you appreciate your sweetie and do something special everyday.

That will do for now. There are lots of other great ideas in the archives. Even more are still to come.

Do You Believe in Reincarnation?

The April 2, 2006 Hi and Lois is excellent. It shows the parents watching as a teenager leaves on a date. They then remember their dating for several panels. The last two panels: Wife: Seems like a different lifetime. Husband: Do you believe in reincarnation? Wife: Are you asking me out? Husband: Is that a "yes"? I guess I really relate to the feeling that our courtship was a different lifetime. Well, bring that part of your relationship back to life. Ask that wonderful sweetheart on a date. With the weather getting better, the dating opportunities are abundant. If nothing else, go for a walk in the park. The point is not to spend money, but to spend time on each other.

To Appreciate, To Communicate and To Contemplate

Part of a text of a talk I heard on marriage. I'll post a link to the entire thing, once it is available.

"Marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than does any other human relationship. Yet, some married couples fall short of their full potential. They let their romance become rusty, take each other for granted, allow other interests or clouds of neglect to obscure their vision of what their marriage really could be. Marriages would be happier if nurtured more carefully.
"Marriage is the foundry for social order, the fountain of virtue and the foundation for eternal exaltation." True marriage is a partnership with God.
Three action verbs — to appreciate, to communicate and to contemplate — are helpful in strengthening marriages.
"Begin with sincere desire. Identify those actions needed to bless your spiritual unity and purpose. Above all, do not be selfish. Generate a spirit of selflessness and generosity. Celebrate and commemorate each day together as a treasured gift from heaven."

Russell M. Nelson