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Army Wives: Roxy's Sex Life

Roxy starts a conversation about sex and marriage on "Army Wives." Sunday nights at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime.

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'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' Exclusive Clip: "Escape at Azkaban"

In this fifth installment of the "Harry Potter" series, Harry returns to Hogwarts for his fifth year, only to find the magical community in a curious state of denial about his recent encounter with evil Lord Voldemort.

Virginia Satir, a family therapist, has said that "Teasing is often unacknowledged hostility. It is an attempt to avoid responsibility for being honest. Teasing is often an effort to disclaim the presence of hostility and in effect, everyone loses."

Teasing Guidelines

* Don't attack or be malicious especially when it comes to your spouse's capabilities, appearance, weight, or what you perceive to be a physical flaw. It isn't funny to those who hear what you've said, and it isn't funny to your spouse.

* Don't overdo the humor bit. Yes, every relationship needs some fun and laughter. However, you can give too many gag gifts, make too many so called witty remarks, tell a few too many funny stories, and engage in too much horseplay. Keep it balanced with some down to earth, real, serious conversation with your spouse.

* Make sure that your teasing isn't a sly way to throw insults and put-downs at your spouse.

* Recognize that teasing can snowball in a relationship with one spouse wanting to top the other's last remark.

* All of us have sensitive areas or weak spots in our self esteem. It's not something that is readily shared. So, if your spouse objects to your teasing, accept that the teasing is not liked or appreciated and knock it off! Don't try to throw if off by saying that you were only joking or that your spouse is a poor sport.

What to Do When the Teasing Doesn't Stop

* If you are being teased by your spouse and don't like it, say so. Assert yourself. Ask your mate, "Why would you say that?" or "Why do you want to hurt my feelings?"

* If teasing is a problem primarily when you are among friends, decide in advance how you want to handle the situation. Sometimes, a long stare, then walking away will get the message across. Other folks have actually left the restaurant or party and drove home figuring their spouse can figure out a way to get home on their own.

* When confronted later as to why you responded the way you did, state again that the teasing wasn't funny and that you aren't going to take it anymore.

The key is being able to recognize good-natured, healthy teasing from teasing that attacks. If your spouse doesn't stop teasing when you ask, or if the teasing becomes even more vindictive and hurtful after you've discussed it, then there could be some serious problems in your marriage, including emotional abuse, that require professional help.

http://marriage.about.com/cs/humor/a/teasingstop.htm

My Valentine story for you.

She stood alone in a crowded room. In her hands she clasped tightly her heart. It was bloody and wounded, bandages covering bandages, dirty now. Still clasped in her hands this pitiful thing wounded by this thing we call life. She held it tightly, not allowing anyone to see... protecting it with all her might. It had been neglected, broken, stabbed, and carelessly tossed about. No, she would never let anyone see her most prized posession. Not ever again.
He walks up to her...very kind he seems. He sees the dirty bandages dripping with blood. "What have you there," He asks. "None of your business" she says He smiles and walks away.
Now at home she stands in the kithcen staring out the window tears streaming down her face, "All I wanted was someone to love me...to care...to always be there." She steels herself. Dries her tears,unable to live she still clasps on to her bandaged heart. The most prized of all her posessions. A knock comes from the kitchen door and she quickly makes herself presentable. Opening the door she recognizes the man from the night before.
What are you doing here?
I noticed your yard...seems that everything is dying.
She peers around Him seeing the death that has has become her garden.
So why are you here? She demands.
I am a gardner you see, and I thought you may need some help. I can bring it back to life.
Yes, she responds. I've been too busy guarding my heart to accomplish the gardening that needs to done.
Would you be willing to pay me to bring back the beauty I can see was once here?
She thinks about it for a moment, and finally says yes. They settle on a price, and he begins his work.
Each day she stands at the window watching The work as it is done. Watching as fruit bearing trees, many types of flower, and lush looking bushes replace the death that was once there.
He knocks on the door she answers it still clasping her ragged heart.
Looks like your finished, and makes a feeble attempt at a smile.
Not quite He says. He looks at her and smiles with eyes that seem to pierce her soul.
What more is there to do? She asks.
He smiles and walks away never asking for his payment.
The next morning as she stands vigil at the window, clasping her broken heart. She opens her hands slightly to just take a peek. Suddenly there is a knock at the door. She once again tightens her grip on what should be her heart, and answers the door.
The yard is beautiful there is nothing left for you to do.
Oh but there is he says as reaches out to wipe her tear stained face with its hard lines and fear. I'm a handy-man as well. I will do repairs on your house.
Unsure of what to say...She agrees, and He smiles and leaves.
The next day instead of standing vigil at her window...she wanders through the house as he makes one repair after another. Leaving in his wake perfection to replace the desolation of neglect. This goes on for a few months and finally the house is complete.
As he is readying himself to leave, She says you know I never payed you for the yard, and you never asked for payment for the reapairs you've accomplished in my house.
Putting His tools away...He says "My dear, the price has already been paid."
She doesn't quite know what to think of that, surely there must be something she can do for this kind man. So she asks.
What can I give you in return for all you have done for me? He looks at her clasped hands, and asks, "May I please have a look?" She is frightened, No terrified, but this man has been so kind. She holds her ragged heart close and then reaches out opening her hands to give him full view. He didn't run, Only cried and as he lifted her heart from its protected place he begins to remove the old dirty bandages. The tears like medicine wash it clean. This tattered broken heart no longer neglected becomes a jewel of perfection.
He holds out his hands with this precios jewel cupped inside. He reaches out to give it back...
Her face now radiant all the harsh lines removed. She says no you keep it. You take much better care of it than I ever could. He goes to his truck, and she wonders is this it? Will he return. Suddenly he appears again through the door carrying an ornately beautiful hand carved box. He places it on the mantle for all to view and in it He gently places her heart, a most exquisite jewel. He turns to her, and she asks, "why have you done all this for me?"
2000 years ago I gave up my life and made a payment for you so that I could show you true love, you would learn to love me and you would be able to give me your heart.
He smiled, and this time he stayed.

I Corintians 13...Love never fails.

Sasa Smith

copyright 2007 Allrights reserved

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MS presents challenge for moms

Mom Pam Lahoda, 47, enjoyed being single too much to settle down in her 20s and 30s — career, travel, a busy social life. Her decision to wait means she's chasing two preschoolers around her Holland home as pals send kids off to college.

Tough? Oh, a little, but the true test of her free spirit has been juggling not just motherhood but multiple sclerosis. The autoimmune disease presented itself when she finished nursing her younger child, now 3. A numbness settled into her back. There was trouble walking, a worrisome weakness.

MS sometimes is invisible, often unpredictable. Neurological symptoms vary widely — fatigue, odd sensations, pain, blurred vision. It's different for everyone and hard to diagnose. A battery of tests finally confirmed the scary news for Pam.

As we spoke in her sunny kitchen, she touched a rose quartz bracelet on her slim wrist. A gift from a friend, rose quartz is said to aid emotional well-being.

Pam credits terrific support from her husband (he administers her weekly injections of MS-fighting drugs) and the care of friends, family and a tag team of helpers from St. Bede's Catholic parish for seeing her through.

Still, only another mom with MS can understand what it feels like to be unable to brush a daughter's hair into a ponytail, to play trucks on the floor, to some days lack the strength to dress and lift the little ones who count on you.

It's true, said Ruth Farber, associate professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Temple University's College of Health Professions. She's studying mothers with MS to learn more about how they cope.

Her research examines the interrelationship of social support, well-being, health and mothers' participation in their roles when dealing with MS.

Recently my thoughts have been drawn to a time in my past . When I was a teen into young adult yrs. I lived in Miami and spent an enormous time in the ocean. The water was always my favorite place to be. Still is. My first encounter with the manatees happened when I was about 15. One came up behind me and playfully bumbed me in the water. Scared the daylights out of me! I thought I was under attack. LOL I started to swim away as fast as I could and she followed me. I turned she turned, I stopped she stopped. Soon we were playing a game of tag. This went on for hours. She came up to me and bumped me and I hugged her. We went for a swim together me holding on. I can not describe to you the feeling of content in the connection I made with this sweet animal. I left the area I was swimming as the sun was setting and returned with a friend the next day. She brought a friend also. The four of us played for hours again. She and her friend seem to know that we would always be back to play. Once they showed up tangled in fishing line. We untangled them. Another time they arrived and one of them had been cut. We found a vet to come Dr.

This went on for years. They, the manatees, were my friends. One day they didn't show up I waited. Continued to return waiting on them, but they never did. I have always since deeply missed these gentle creatures. I have no idea what happened to them. I just hope they were safe, and not killed by a boat. What I would give to swim with the manatees again.

Howling at the Moon

My thoughts

they call to you

Oer the waves of time

on oceans tide

your cries wash over me

Rip Tide pulls me under

my mind now in review

all that I was

now all that I am

the hope of you rings true

lived on the waves

this heart a maze

through disaster

confusion

and pain

You gave me the right

to rule the dark nights

the north star with its light to guide

on yonder shore

I see you now

my heart and mind renewed

the grasp of your hand

now unravels the plans

chaos ends in a flash

thus before you I stand

the fullfillment of plan

I howl at the moon no more

written by Lisa Smith

©2007

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