No Spec Work - Rewarding Creativity Properly

In today’s cyberspace - there are many other articles published around online singles dating tips for men and women. Below are some measures to help you on your first date.

First Step:

You shouldn’t act simply to impress her. You need to be yourself! You’re going to lose her interest if she has to focus on your act or attitude. Try to pretend that she is just a acquaintance and you aren’t trying to win her over, and perhaps you’ll be comfortable enough to more easily be yourself.

2nd Step:

Remember! 1st impressions definitely matter. Make sure she doesn’t think you will be a boring partner. You shouldn’t talk to much - and try to balance the conversation. Don’t just say yes or no to her inquiries, but you also don’t want to tell your life story either. If you only talk about yourself, then you will sound extremely vain and boring!

Third Tip -

You need to look confident on your first singles date. You need to make her feel like you are brilliant and fascinating. When you talk, you need to sound convincing, but not conceited. Don’t make her dislike you before she comes to experience you! You don’t want to make your first date, your last date!

For my last tip - you need to have fun with dating online! If you can, just try and forget your nervousness and envision she already knows you. Pretend like your not even on a date - but rather, simply hanging out with your friend. Hopefully your first date will be a unforgettable one.

This time, these walls were hollow, echoing back any utterance that maybe made, as to somehow fill the emptiness with voices that didn’t exist. This time, this love hurt so much more, being taken so swiftly, pulled so harshly from pain to create nothingness that even the walls could not send back as real. This time, the air was so thin, breathing became a labor that you couldn’t afford. So much room yet so little space here in this place; trapped by more than hollow walls, but hollow hearts and souls not willing to let go of the emptiness they feed off of. It is so quiet here that the silence becomes a constant hum that reverberates through skulls and gives no rest to those who need it most. So completely silent, that any true sound is seen as harsh and unreal and dismissed as such. The friends are few, and the hopes fewer. But where I will go is so much worse. It is spilling over with smiles and laughter that beats at event the hardest of hearts. It is an entourage of stories and friends and lives that we can never live, because we are destined for something else completely. And we know it, but the separation exists in the fact that they don’t and will never know the burden our hearts bare. And we will never tell them, because to do so would be to strip their innocence and reveal what lies waiting in the darkness of all our minds, ready to capture the soul. They cannot see. But we can. And that is why we remained, enduring the torture of the worst kind, seeing happiness but not ever feeling it; faking love, but not ever living it. Being only a spectator of your own life and hiring the one who is to play you.

www.originalpoetry.com

If you and the love of your life choose to get married abroad, you will find that your wedding becomes much more than simply a one day event. Most couples that choose to marry abroad enjoy their wedding celebration over a number of days.

Costa Rica, with its stunning beauty, is an ideal setting for two people to exchange their vows. It is important to keep in mind many details when planning your wedding including the required paperwork if you marry abroad. Avoid headaches and begin the paperwork process ahead of time because it can be time consuming. Contact the Costa Rican Embassy and inquire about their up to date foreign wedding policies.

In general, marriages between U.S. citizens which are legally performed and valid abroad are also legally valid in the United States.
The law in Costa Rica permits US citizens to get married. A lawyer can perform the legal ceremony while two witnesses are required. Required documents include:
• A valid passport
• A certified copy of your birth certificate
• If you have been married before: A certified copy of the divorce decree or a certified copy of your previous spouse’s death certificate

• If you have been married before, you must come to the Embassy’s Consular Section and make a sworn statement to that effect before a Consular Officer. For the woman, 300 days must have transpired from the official date of divorce. Former partner’s name is required.

Other information that will be required of both groom and bride:

1. Name

2. Profession
3. Passport number
4. USA address

5. Birth date
6. Nationality
7. Father’s full name
8. Mother’s full name
9. Parents address
10. Marital status (specific, i.e. divorced one time)

The marriage cannot be recognized in the US until a marriage certificate is issued by the Costa Rican Civil Registry (Registro Civil). The issuance of the marriage certificate normally takes 4-6 weeks.

In order for the marriage to be recognized in the US you must do the following:
• The Costa Rican marriage certificate must be translated into English by any official translator of the Ministry of Foreign Relations.

• It has to be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Relations.

• The certificate must be notarized and signed by the US Embassy’s Consular Section.

If you and your loved one start the paperwork well in advance, there should be no complications that arise. The decision to get married abroad in Costa Rica invites the spirit of adventure into your wedding and marriage. It is unlikely that friends and family will fret at the thought of traveling to Costa Rica for the festivities. Love is grand and a wedding in Costa Rica reflects that grandeur.

Abigail Durden is a writer with over 20 years of experience traveling, writing and living abroad. Her newest book, Live and Retire in Costa Rica is an informative guide that explains how easy it is to make the move to live in Costa Rica. Please Visit http://costa-rica-resources.com/free-costa-rica-tips.aspx for additional details

When my husband and I got married we didn’t have much money to have any fancy decorations at our wedding. I did, however, come up with some inexpensive, creative ideas to make sure our flower girls were dressed in style.

We had an outdoor wedding in August, so it was easier to dress our young flower girls for the nice weather. We had two flower girls in our wedding, ages 7 and 9. Because we have two mothers who love to sew, the flower girls’ dresses were very inexpensive. I picked out a simple, yet elegant sundress pattern, and paid about $3 a yard for a pretty summer print. The dresses were calf length and sleeveless, with a big bow in the back.

My husband had a hand in decorating the flower girls’ baskets. He is always one to fix up something instead of throwing it away, so he came up with the idea of spray painting wicker Easter baskets. It was perfect–we already had the baskets and the white spray paint.

Next I tied some pink and white ribbons around the handles of the baskets, and then I glued on some matching silk flowers (just a few, to accent). The baskets were simple and elegant.

Finally we gathered together the rose petals we’d gathered from our garden just for the occasion, and filled the baskets with petals we’d laid out in the sun to dry.

For a finishing touch, I took some of the leftover silk flowers and ribbons and decorated hair clips for the girls.

The grand total for the two matching flower girl dresses, with matching baskets and hair clips, was under $30.

Originally published at Suite 101. Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What’s for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For recipes, tips to organize your home, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com

Loves mysteries in soules does grow. –John Donne I have
been thinking about soulmates a lot lately. Recently a fellow
relationship coach told me the story of Heather, a woman in her
early 40’s. She has never married, though she has had several
lengthy relationships over the years. Then late last year she
met Andrew. There was something different about Andrew. The
conversations were richer, the walks in the park more romantic,
the time together more comfortable and more vibrant. Heather is
pretty intuitive, and this relationship felt different than any
other she had experienced. She knew she had fallen in love and
found someone with whom she could make a life commitment.
Andrew, however, was resistant. He acknowledged that their time
together was special, that he loved Heather and that he really
felt energized being with her. But, he said to Heather, “I don’t
think you are my soulmate.” Andrew recalled a past relationship
in which he and his partner would often find themselves
simultaneously thinking the same thing. He also said that he
envisioned a “soulmate” as being very much like himself,
thinking that such similarity would help assure the success of
the relationship. Andrew also pointed to differences between
them. He was from the South, while Heather was from Boston.
Heather’s parents had graduate degrees and were upper middle
class, while Andrew’s parents were working class folks. In
addition, he noted, his company required him to relocate
periodically and to travel a lot. He feared Heather would resent
those moves, though she insisted she would not. Despite
Heather’s pleas to reconsider and her attempt to persuade Andrew
that his resistance was contradictory to his description of
their relationship, Andrew insisted that they end their
relationship, though insisting he wanted to remain “friends.”
Heather was heartbroken and puzzled. Did Andrew have it
rightwere they not really soulmates? But if that were true, why
did her time with Andrew feel so right. What does it really mean
to “find your soulmate?” Thomas Moore, author of Soulmates,
suggests that a soulmate is “someone to whom we feel profoundly
connected, as though the communicating and communing . . .
between us were not the product of intentional efforts, but
rather a divine grace.” My wife and I have often referred to
ourselves as “soulmates.” Thinking about Heather and Andrew has
caused me to reflect more on what that really means. It
certainly does not mean that we always agreewe don’t. Nor does
it mean that we are exactly alike. We’re not. What then does
this elusive term “soulmate” mean? I would like to suggest that
there are two criteria for a soulmate. First, a soulmate is one
who shares your vision and attitude about life and views the
world “through the same glasses” as you do. Second, a soulmate
is as concerned about your happiness and your pursuit of your
life’s dreams, as he/she is about his/her own. As I worked
through the pain, grief, and inevitable self-discovery following
the end of my first marriage of over 25 years, I begin to
realize that my first wifea fine person with whom I continue to
enjoy a valued relationshipand I viewed the world from a
completely different perspective. I often told the story of
being with our two children on Mt. Mansfield in Stowe, Vermont.
One can drive to the peak of the mountain, but then it must be
explored on foot. One of the natural attractions is the “Nose,”
a rock formation that requires some modest agility to climb. My
daughter10 or 12 at the time, promptly scampered up to the
crest of the nose. I followed as far as I could go before my
fear of heights stopped me. When we climbed down, her mother
asked “Why on earth would you climb up there?” My daughter Heidi
promptly answered “Because its there.” I understand exactly what
Heidi meant, though her mother did not. When I met my wife Carol
I discovered that she was always the first one up the
mountain”because its there.” I invite you to think about your
vision of life and its purposes. Where is your life leading you?
What is your purpose in life? What to you want to be, do, and
have in life? Give some time to forming your vision or world
view. Then armed with your vision be alert to a partner who
brings a similar vision to life. Then be aware of whether this
partner is as genuinely concerned about encouraging you to
follow your dreams and pursue your life vision, as he or she is
about pursuing his own. If you find all that, chances are you
have found your soulmate.

Many questions arise in connection with this subject. Should the
wife obey her husband? What should be the attitude toward an
unbelieving partner in marriage? These and many related
questions arise from time to time as people seek to find some
set of rules by which to live the Christian life.

In the first place, we do not have detailed laws today as did
the Jews. We have to find for ourselves the good works which
were before ordained that we should walk in them. The secret of
success in the Christian life is to make ourselves available to
and for Christ so that He can work thru us.

Nowhere does it say that the wife should obey the husband. She
is to voluntarily submit. God has said so. We must take it that
this is the best course to follow. Who are we to question God?
But God also has a purpose for everything He says and does. We
need to be on the watch for what may be the reason.

There is a mystery spoken of in Ephesians 5:32. Some, who are
not careful in their reading, read into this that the church
which is the body of Christ is the bride of Christ. The Word
nowhere mentions a bride of Christ. The unity expressed by the
husband and wife being one flesh manifests the unity of Christ
and His church. This is the theme in this passage.

Since the church is today manifesting the manifold wisdom of God
to principalities and powers in the heavenlies (Ephesians 3:10),
how well this perfect relationship of husband and wife sets that
wisdom forth. It is indeed a mystery that husband and wife are
one flesh, no longer two.

Not only is the wife to submit, but the husband is to love. This
gives a practical exposition of the unity of the one body of
Christ.

In this relationship where the wife is never told to obey,
children and servants are to obey. But the parents have a
responsibility toward the children, and the master should be
careful with the servant. He also has a Master! To the world,
and also to the unseen powers, the Christian home can be a
manifestation of the one body and show that it does touch the
earth in its walk.

These truths also give new motive and zest to the family
relationships. All the members of the family can feel that their
duties and relationships reach right up into heavenly places
where their citizenship is. Let the husband remember that his
love, even though it be to an unsubmissive wife, shows forth the
love of Christ for His church. And the wife, by being
submissive, even to an unloving husband, can be a model of the
church which is the body of Christ.

The obedience of the children, even as the Lord was subject to
His parents (until 30 years old!), can add to this harmony and
witness. And parents can also show forth the love of the Father
in heaven by loving and bringing up the children in the nurture
and admonition of the Lord. Servants are to do service as unto
the Lord, making for greater harmony. And the master should be
careful with the servant, not mistreating or withholding wages.

Truly the home can be a great witness to truth. Let us all
remember that we are members of one another.

Love is an irresistible feeling and an incredible experience too. A person in love is lost in his own world and his joy knows no bounds.

In such an ecstatic state of mind, it is only but natural for him to compose songs, praising love and giving vent to his jubilation.

From time immemorial, human life is associated with music and song. There is a song for every occasion, whether it is happy or otherwise.

A love song clearly reflects the author’s feelings, especially when it is accompanied by the appropriate melodious music. Factors like melody, smoothness, and pleasant composition are indispensable in a love song. A love song is sweet to hear and soothes the listener’s soul.

Love songs vary according to the culture and social environment in which they are composed. Some songs are good when accompanied by light music. Nevertheless, there are some love songs that are sung as pop or rock music.

Some love songs are melodious, while others are beautifully written in a flowery language. Listening to a love song calmly can stir anyone’s soul and rejuvenate him. Never mind the failures and unfulfilled dreams in love; there is a love song to soothe you and refresh your spirits.

A passage from Jessica Simpson’s love song, titled “Angels”:

And through it all he

offers me protection

a lot of love and affection

Whether I’m right or wrong

and down the waterfall

Wherever it may take me

I know that life won’t break me

When I come to call

he won’t forsake me

I’m loving angels instead

Andy Gibb writes in “An Everlasting love”:

Take me out of the cold, give me what I’ve hungered for

If it’s the pleasure of taking

My heart that you need, then it only makes me

love you more

I was yours before

The stars were born and you were mine

I could have saved you all the pain you knew

And I won’t make you cry

And maybe an everlasting love can try

Love provides detailed information on Love, Love Poems, Love Quotes, Love Songs and more. Love is affiliated with Magic Love Spells.

Many of us realize that marriage is not the easiest relationship in the world, but why is it so hard? Unless we adopt children, the only relatives that we get to choose are our spouses. Seems like it should work out, right? We can not change our parents or choose new siblings, but marriage– ahh that’s a whole different thing.

Marriage brings out the best and the worst in a person’s character and shows us what we are capable of doing, both positive and negative. This special relationship challenges our mental, spiritual, social, and physical selves. Unfortunately, the natural human reaction to hard or stressful situations is fight or flight.

So after a few major disagreements with a spouse, frustrated partners second guess their initial decision to wed. The wheels start turning, and the flight response to the stressful situation becomes more and more attractive.

But what can you do if the fires of passion have burned out and only angry ones remain? How can you keep your soul connection with your spouse even during times of conflict?

1. Have confidence in the decision that you have made. Then realize that just like you wouldn’t normally divorce your mom or dad when they get on your last nerve, divorcing your spouse shouldn’t be the first thing that comes to mind when he/she annoys or disappoints you you repeatedly. I know it’s hard, but it’s a key factor in the success of your marriage.

2. If God is not at the center of your relationship, consider welcoming Him into the situation. To start, only one spouse needs to make this decision, but it’s best if both of you are on the same page. Praying together, and as individuals, can provide a solid foundation for your marriage and give you greater insight into what concerns your partner the most.

You can start with your own words or with a few books on prayer. A book that has been helpful for me, and numerous people I know, has been, Stormie Omartian: Power of a Praying Wife. The book covers everything from finances and career to sexuality, affection and emotions. It shows wives how to pray for their husbands even if they feel like they don’t have the words. And it gives excellent advice for channeling frustration, hurt or anger into productive energy.

If you are a husband, try Power of a Praying Husband. Stormie enlists the help of her husband and other men for insight and wisdom in writing this book.

3. Make mutual respect a priority in your communication. If you find yourselves attacking each other personally, instead of discussing the pros and cons of a particular decision or action, then take a step back to reevaluate the situation. Choose words that reaffirm while getting your point across. For example, instead of saying: “I hate it when you don’t make time to be with me… the kids… etc.” TRY “Remember when we did XYZ? That was so much fun and the kids loved it too. Want to do it again?” SPOUSE’S REPLY HERE “Great! What date works for you?”

Additionally, don’t let other family members–kids, in-laws, steps, exes cloud your communication with each other. When they want to butt in, *respectfully* tell them to butt out. Then re-prioritize and refocus your attention on each other.

4. Listen even if you feel like you’ve heard the same statement hashed over and over again. Sometimes venting is necessary, and if your spouse can’t release his/her mental baggage with you, to whom will they voice their concerns? The lack of listening skills in marriage is one reason emotional infidelity gets started in the first place. If you take the time to listen now, you can avoid the headaches and heartaches associated with these extramarital relationships.

5. Start a ritual just for the two of you. Ideally, you’ll both take time out to do it every day or a few times a week. Engaging in ritual behavior, like sharing coffee, watching funny movies together or taking walks, gives you something to look forward to and can help you build intimacy.

6. Consider an organized marriage retreat. Retreats are great because, the facilitators give couples helpful tools for communicating, relating and often mating. You’ll see other couples who are going through the same challenges, and you’ll have time to focus solely on your relationship. No work, no kids/in-laws, no well-meaning friends, and no focusing on the ills of life.

7. Finally, make a point to get away every once in a while. This idea dovetails from the previous suggestion, but this time you and your honey will be alone. Whether you get your kids out of the house for a weekend or you book a seven day vacation to the Bahamas, it is necessary for you and your husband or wife to have extended alone time without any distractions.

These are just a few suggestions to help you renew the soul connection with your spouse. When http://married4good.com/ officially launches in November, we’ll have tons of articles and resources on the site to help you build a solid relationship. Make sure to visit us and get additional ideas for strengthening your marriage.

Keishia Lee-Louis is the Editor and Publisher of http://www.Married4Good.com (launching November 2005). Her work has appeared on iVillage.com, BibleResourceCenter.com, and in numerous other printed publications.

Currently, she lives with her husband, daughter and son and is writing a book on marriage and relationships which will be published Spring 2006.

If you’d like to see more of her work, visit http://married4good.blogspot.com