I remember the sense of relief I felt. We did it! Finally it was over! Physically, mentally, and emotionally, we felt like we had completed something, and we had--a five-months engagement filled with so much activity that we hardly had time to rest.

Did we truly realize what we had just done? Did we have any idea what type of commitment we had just made, and what it would mean?

In reality, our wedding was not the completion of engagement but the beginning of a new life. Yet we scarcely knew what that life would involve. There's so much we didn't know about this thing called marriage.

No other human relationship can approach the potential for intimacy and oneness than that which can be found within the context of the marriage commitment. And yet no other relationship can bring with it as many adjustments, difficulties, and even hurts.

There's no way you can avoid these difficulties; each couple's journey is unique. But there is much you can do to prepare for that journey.

Children learn from us more than we realize. They learn how to solve problems, face adversity, and handle life's pressures. Parents teach them how to respond in relationships, show love, and set limits. They learn how to handle emotions, entertain themselves, and respond to disappointment.

The teaching you do every day has a lasting effect although you may not see it right away. Sometimes your teaching is planned, other times spontaneous. Sometimes it's easy and sometimes more difficult.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to visit the Blattner's Web site. We welcome your feedback.

May God richly bless you and your loved ones.

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