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Dear Friends:

We've been a bit out of touch, so this is an April/May newsletter. Appropriate that the theme of this letter, then, is about being in communication with one another! We got very buried in revising, expanding, and publishing our newest book, the second edition of Pure Gold (see below). We are very excited at securing a contract with Midpoint Trade Books, who will distribute it to bookstores across the US and Canada. Starting in July, we hope you'll request your local bookstore to stock it! Our e-store and other distributors will be carrying the book too!

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We recently ran across a news item that said wireless Internet access was interfering with couples' relationships, because the computer now goes everywhere, including the bedroom. If it's not the computer, it's television, video games, the newspaper, headphones, cell phones, and a dozen more devices. Sometimes relationships require stepping away from the distractions, turning off the phone and other electronic gizmos, and just spending time with one another.

When was the last time you walked hand-in-hand through a park or along a beach? Snuggled on the couch with cup of tea or coffee? Sat a long time over a meal at a restaurant? Went camping? On a picnic? Window-shopped? If you have young children, it takes work to set this up, since reliable childcare is a vital requirement. It's worth the effort, though, to have the time together. Happy marriages = happy children.

We saw another item that talked about couples getting so busy that they are regularly postponing communications and intimacy until weekends or occasional days off. You miss much of the richness of married life this way--often the sweet and funny stories that you would share daily don't seem that important when it's a few days later. There are things you forget to communicate, leaving you with the problems that result. You don't clear up issues as you go, and then you are upset or resentful for days instead of minutes or hours. If you are this busy, you probably aren't praying together either, something that helps keep your married bond in good working order.

Discernment is another theme of this month's newsletter. What rearranging do you need to do in your life to make your marriage a high priority? The unity of the whole world depends upon unity in marriages and families.

Loving greetings,
Craig and Susanne

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New Book and Product Coming Soon!

  Helping you create a happy, lasting marriage is very important   to us. We are excited to share our newest book, Pure Gold:   Encouraging Character Qualities in Marriage (Second Edition),   with you! This revised and expanded book empowers you to   have a loving, supportive relationship that includes character   qualities such as trustworthiness, truthfulness, patience, love,   courage, generosity, and much, much more. Through engaging   activities, examples, and quotations from experts and spiritual   sources, you'll discover how more than 50 qualities support and   assist you in creating an extraordinary marriage. Start enriching your marriage now and pre-order your copy for only $14.00 (that's over 10% off the regular price). Order now through June 17 for this special promotional deal! (Books will available for shipping on June 28, or earlier.)

What's New in the 2nd Edition? Part 1 has expanded from 32 pages to 124 pages to include extensive material about communication with a focus on character. This includes using Character Quality Language, how to engage in consultative decision-making, making effective requests, monitoring tone of voice, and much more. We added John S. Miller, a character coach from Lincoln, Nebraska, to the author team, and he contributed his depth of experience with assisting couples to reduce conflict by stopping misusing character qualities (www.solvingconflicts.com). With John's assistance, Part 2, the in-depth character quality section, has been completely revised to clarify the meaning of each quality. The couple discussion questions are also more specific and accessible. Four new qualities (Discernment, Loyalty, Strength, and Unity) bring the total in the book to 56. An excerpt follows:

Discernment is clearly seeing the facts of a situation or seeing right from wrong. It assists us to set aside any prejudices or biases we might have. We can then observe and listen intently and with sensitivity to determine what is real and true about someone or a situation. As needed, we seek other perspectives and information. We do not take what we learn and use it inappropriately. We consult about issues that are troubling or unclear to discern their true nature, potential solutions, and actions to take. Discernment assists us to recognize when an issue from our past is affecting us negatively in the present. This gives us the opportunity to put it back in the past. Discernment also gives us keen perception of the blessings in our life and world. Even when others see only the negative, we can discern what is wonderful or find a hidden wisdom in it. We see things for what they are and understand them in their wider and deeper context. We can look at what is mysterious, discover its heart, and gain new knowledge from it.

To see more from Pure Gold, view the Sample Pages or the Table of Contents.

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  As you may know, our marriage preparation book Marriage Can Be   Forever--Preparation Counts! is now out-of-print. However, because   of your requests for this helpful and informative book, we are now   publishing this book exclusively on compact disc (CD). Included on   the CD is the complete book (one printing only permitted   per CD) and worksheets to work through individually, as a couple, or in a group. Plus, you'll receive these added bonuses: posters and a facilitator's guide book for providing group leaders with activity ideas and materials for small and large study sessions. To pre-order your CD for only $19.95 today, click here (approximate ship date is June 15, 2005). Hurry...buy your copies today!

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Marriage and Monogamy Study: Last Chance to Participate

From Katherine Frank of the Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison:

If you are over 18 and currently married, you are eligible to participate in our confidential study on monogamy and marriage. We are specifically interested in couples for the survey portion of the study, but can make arrangements for individuals as well. The researchers are experienced social scientists in the areas of sëx, love, and relationships and are affiliated with the Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. If you are interested in discussing your opinions on love, sëx, and commitment, please contact Katherine Frank at katefrank@comcast.net to request more information or visit the survey website:  http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/monogamysurvey/.

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