When you were first dating your spouse,you probably showered them 24/7 withcompliments, gifts, and praise. You alwayshad a hug waiting for them and you con-stantly told them how fine they look orwhat a great sense of humor they had.

In short, they could do no wrong in youreyes.

Fast forward to today. You’ve officially ex-changed your vows as a married couplebefore God. Suddenly over time the com-pliments don’t flow like before as the twoof you deal with the realities of life. Maybehe forgot to take out the garbage last nightor she didn’t get home in time from workto cook dinner.

All of the sudden instead of cherishing eachother with words of praise and compli-ments, the first thing on your mind is criti-cizing your spouse for what isn’t beingdone.

Love NotesGive Your Spouse A Shout OutGive Your Spouse A Shout Out

By Kim & Tom Umstead By Kim & Tom Umstead

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep theunity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:2-3 (New International Version)

It’s very easy to fall into the trap of em-phasizing the negative, but the most im-portant thing you can do in yourmarriage is to always nurture a support-ive, loving atmosphere.

Remember, no one is perfect – includingyou. As your relationship evolves, inevi-tably little things will pop up that mayannoy you about your spouse and viceversa.

Rather than dwell on the small nega-tives, you should focus on more impor-tant, positive things about your spouse.

It could be something as simple aschanging the bulb in the bathroom,helping with the kids’ homework orcooking your favorite meal -- it doesn’ttake much effort from you to say “thankyou” and “I love you” for all the won-derful things your spouse does for youand your marriage.

A kind word, a simple touch, a lovingembrace – along with a night out on thetown on occasion -- can go a long wayin fostering a happier, more content andfulfilled spouse.

And, a more content and fulfilled spousemakes for a happier and more satisfiedyou!

Send One Your Love

As Sung by Stevie Wonder

Send her your loveWith a dozen roses

Make sure that she knows itWith a flower from your heart

Show him your loveDon't hold back your feelings

You don't need a reasonWhen it's straight from the heart

I've heard so many say that the days of ro-mance are no more

And people falling in love is so old fashionedBut waiting are they the day they once let slip

awayHiding need to fulfill their heart's desire for

love’s passion

Send her your loveWith a dozen roses

Make sure that she knows itWith a flower from your heart

Show him your loveDon't hold back your feelings

You don't need a reasonWhen it's straight from the heart.

(Continued on page 2)

“It doesn’t take much effortfrom you to say `thank you’ and`I love you’ for all the wonderfulthings your spouse does.”

ConnectionsGreater Centennial Marriage Ministry312 So. 8th Ave., Mt. Vernon, N.Y. 10550 / gcmarriageministry@gmail.com November 2013

Feb. 15Annual GC Marriage Ministry Valentine’s Event

(Details To Be Announced At A Later Date)

MarchMarriage Ministry Retreat

(Details To Be Announced At A Later Date)

May 10Annual Pre-Mother’s Day Brunch

We take time to celebrate all moms with adelicious brunch and warm fellowship at Sweet

Potatoes Restaurant in New Rochelle, N.Y.

June 14Annual Pre-Father’s Day Bowling Event

The Marriage Ministry teams with the GC AngelsBowling League to honor all dads with a night of

fun and fellowship.

GC Marriage Ministry2013-14 Event

Schedule (Tentative)

If you are celebrating an anniversary soon, please send us an e-mail at gcmarriageministry@gmail.com with your names, homeand e-mail addresses and anniversary date so that we can recog-nize and celebrate your blessed day. We also welcome submis-sions and articles for the newsletter.

!!!Blessings and best wishes to all

Marriage Ministry couples celebratingAnniversaries in November:

Warren & Trudy KentReginald & Tiffany Lawrence

Susan & Wilfred WeekesSamona & Malcom Jeffreys

Send One Your Love(Cont. From page 1 )

I know that people say two hearts beating as one is un-real

And can only happen in make believe storiesBut so blind they all must be that they cannot believe

what they seeFor around us are miracles of love’s glory

Show him your loveDon't hold back your feelings

You don't need a reasonWhen it's straight from the heart.

The marriage ministry wasblessed to have Pastor and LadyPogue as our special guestspeakers last month at our TownHall event,

The more than 25 couples at-tending heard an often humor-ous, graciously transparent andwisdom-filled Pastor and LadyPogue provide their own testimo-ny on keeping a marriage strongand faithful.

In declaring that marriage is aministry, the first couple talkedabout the challenges facing to-

day's marriages, saying that as asociety we’ve lost the true mean-ing of the marriage vows that ourparents and grandparents under-stood and honored.

Pastor and Lady Pogue laid thefoundation for a successful mar-riage, including being real toyourselves and not worryingabout others’ expectations foryour marriage.

We thank Pastor and Lady Poguefor being both inspiring and hon-est, and we look forward to see-ing them at future MarriageMinistry events.