There’s a funny video of a Saturday Night Live skit with Steve Martin from a few years back. You can find the video with a YouTube search of “Don’t Buy Stuff” but you can read the script below. Even the read is funny.

But more important it makes a very good point. It’s simple advice on how to avoid debt in marriage. Money problems and the stress it creates really does create alot of problems in marriages.

Read the script below or watch the video, and then discuss how you will guard against getting yourself into a financial bind. It’s not just about money. It’s about the health of the marriage.

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The BIG question is will Jenna Bush’s wedding ceremony take place at the White House.

Another celebrity wedding, and so many questions. Tom Cruise and Kate Holmes, Eva Longoria and Tony Parker, Niki Taylor and Burney Lamar… and now Jenna Bush and Henry Hagar. We are fascinated with celebrity weddings. Where will they marry, what dress will she wear, what guests will be invited and on and on.

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The funny picture below illustrates one of the many differences between men and women - how they shop.

Rather than getting all serious about this, just enjoy the picture and find amusement in the differences between the sexes.

I’ve often wondered why God made male and female so different. The only thing I can figure is that He wanted to see if we could get along with each other despite so many differences!

How do we do that? Isn’t it really how we decide to look at those differences? Do we see our male-female differences as annoyances or something that might block us from getting what we want.

Or, can we see differences as a refreshing reminder of our uniqueness (how boring if everyone was just alike), as complimentary to each other (our strengths balance us out), and most of all today, just something to laugh at.

Let this funny picture make you smile today as a reminder that we are not all just alike.

A group of women were asked what they thought was the perfect man, and I presume who would make the perfect husband.

The answer: Mr. Potato Head!

The reasons they gave for their answer:

• He’s tan

• He’s cute

• He knows the importance of accessorizing

• And, if he looks at another woman, you can rearrange his face!

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Like a wedding keepsake sent from the White House? I saw this idea in a magazine a couple of years ago.

Here’s how you can get a hand-addressed greeting wedding keepsake from the White House mailed to you about a week before your wedding.

Requests should be sent about 4 weeks prior to your wedding date to assure getting your greeting on time.

All requests should be submitted in writing and can be mailed or faxed. Faxed requests should include the same information as a mailed request, as well as name and phone number of the sender.

Send the request to the address below with:

• the couple’s name(s),

• titles (such as Mr. & Mrs., Miss or Ms.),

• the couple’s complete address (including Zip Code), and

• full date of marriage (month, day, year).

The White House, Room 39 1600 Pennsyvania Ave NW Washington DC 20502

Fax number: 202-395-1232

For more information call the National Contact Center (800-FED-INFO) or the White House Greetings Office (202-456-5447)

What a neat wedding keepsake!

There are many special challenges with a second marriage and the formation of a step family – too many to delve into here.

Below are a few typical areas of concern you can discuss. Then, there are listed a number of Internet resources where you can dig deeper.

If you are becoming a step-family, I strongly urge you to make use of some of the available materials.

1. Do either of you have concerns about the other’s previous marriage. Examples:
Interference from the previous partner, child support or alimony.

2. Have you thoroughly discussed your new home and lifestyle? Examples: Will you
have a place new to the both of you? Whose or which furnishings will you keep? How
will your home be decorated?

3. What are the greatest challenges each of you expects in this relationship?

4. Are you in agreement regarding your children? Examples: Who will make the rules for
the children? Who will discipline the children and how will they be disciplined? Will
your children’s needs come first?

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Answer as much as you can below.

You can share your answers with each other now.

But you’ll also want to seal this page in an envelope and put it away with your other important pagers. Get it out on your anniversary and enjoy it all over again.

You will also want to look at it when your marriage hits a rough spot. When we are in conflict with our mates, we tend to magnify the negative and minimize the positive. We also forget the past and what it was really like. Your notes will remind you why you married this person.

• I am marrying you because:

• The things I admire / like about you include:

• Our relationship is good right now because:

• My favorite “memory” of us right now is:

• We share these common values, beliefs and goals in life: