Latest news with #NationalMarriageWeek
Fox News
09-02-2025
- General
- Fox News
4 simple goals to make your marriage easier and help you love your spouse for life
National Marriage Week started Friday and runs through Valentine's Day. In a society that often makes fun of the institution of marriage, this week is designed to shift the negative narrative and instead celebrate marriage. While most people want to get married, research indicates they worry that their relationship won't last. They think marriage is hard. And why wouldn't they? That's the message society sends them. This belief is leading to a growing hesitation toward marriage. In 1980, 90% of 35-year-old men were married. Today, according to the Institute for Family Studies, this number has dropped to just 60%. Yet most of us deeply desire to love and be loved – to know that love will last. Most of us want a family and a safe, healthy home. So how do we get there? At a time when stress, anxiety and division seem to dominate American culture, people need something positive and hopeful to aspire toward. Our home life affects everything we do and everywhere we go – from our jobs to our emotional well-being. A strong, loving marriage creates stability, not just for the couple but for children, work environments and entire communities. When marriages are loving and steady, families become a source of joy and strength – creating a society that is not only healthier, but also more compassionate and better equipped to handle life's challenges. marri National Marriage Week's spokesperson, Arlene Pellicane, just released a book that speaks directly to this issue. Her book, "Making Marriage Easier; How To Love (and like) Your Spouse For Life" launched on Feb. 4. Pellicane says that if couples prioritize four intentional goals, they can build a happier, stronger marriage. By focusing on positive, practical steps, marriage can be the fulfilling and fun relationship so many desire. So what are those four simple goals? What's your goal as a couple? Is it prioritizing church together on Sundays? Avoiding close friendships with the opposite sex? Sitting down for dinner as a family each night? Establish and agree on clear priorities and boundaries together. Be grateful for each other and express it! Find things to appreciate about your spouse and say them out loud. Every spouse wants to feel appreciated and valued. Shift your mindset from What can they do for me? to What can I do for them? Thoughtful gestures – big or small – strengthen the bond. And when both partners serve each other, both feel more connected, respected and treasured. Fun is what brought you together in the first place! Laughter and shared experiences are vital to a growing and healthy marriage. Don't let the years dull your sense of playfulness. It can be as simple as making a heart-shaped pancake or trying a new hobby like painting together. Struggling couples often aren't having fun together. Like with anything worthwhile, marriage takes effort. Every couple faces ups and downs. But imagine a nation filled with stronger and happier marriages – homes where children feel safe and secure, knowing their parents aren't going anywhere. According to a study by economists David G. Blanchflower and Andrew J. Oswald (Journal of Public Economics), having a job increases happiness by 50%, and an above average income boosts it by 88%. But marriage? It increases happiness by 151% compared to never being married. Stronger and happier marriages don't just benefit couples – they strengthen cities and communities. Research consistently shows that stable homes lead to lower crime rates, fewer troubled teens and less incarceration. Who wouldn't want that?
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Florida Fire Service officials educate public ahead of wildfire season
SOUTHPORT, Fla. (WMBB) — Spring is approaching, and so is the wildfire season. Wildfire threat is worse in the spring because of the warmer and drier weather conditions. Florida Fire Service officials are encouraging the public to be wildfire-ready. 'The National Weather Service forecast for this weather season is for us to be very dry throughout the Panhandle. We're just cautioning the public to be very cautious during the upcoming months,' Florida Fire Service Public Information Officer Aleese Maples said. Circuit Judge Patterson reelected for Chief Judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit Wildfires can be caused by human activity or other weather events such as lightning. Officials said the best defense is to remove items that can act as fuel for the flames. 'If you live in the wildland-urban interface, make sure you don't have any debris or anything right up on the side of your house,' Maples said. Also, be careful when burning trash. Two of the last major wildfires in the Panhandle started as trash burns. The Mussett Bayou fire in South Walton County started on May 6, 2020, burning 343 acres and dozens of homes. The Chipola complex wildfires were a series of fires that burned more than 34,000 acres in the Bay, Calhoun, and Gulf counties. It started in March of 2022, using dead trees left by Hurricane Michael as fuel. 'Yard waste is one of the number one reasons for a while in fires. We just want to let the public be aware of when they choose to burn what the weather conditions are because they're not only endangering their own property, but they're endangering property around them,' Maples said. 17 Bay County churches come together to celebrate National Marriage Week Officials said they're wildfire-ready as well. 'Our firefighters have their equipment ready for when they are dispatched to a fire. Staying fire-ready is being close to where they're stationed and ready to receive that phone call,' Maples said. For more information on severe weather awareness week and wildfires, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Circuit Judge Patterson reelected for Chief Judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson will remain the Chief Judge of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. His fellow judges have reelected him for another term. Judge Patterson began practicing law in 1985, first as an attorney in the U.S. Army, then as a U.S. attorney in Virginia. He then started his private practice in 1991. 17 Bay County churches come together to celebrate National Marriage Week Patterson was elected to the bench in 2010. Patterson has served as a Circuit's Chief Judge since 2019. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Central Panhandle Association of Realtors provides real estate market projections
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Friday morning, the Central Panhandle Association of Realtors (CPAR) presented its real estate market findings from 2024 and its outlook for 2025. CPAR covers six counties in the Panhandle and is celebrating its 100th year in business. Officials say Bay County is in a buyers' market, meaning buyers have more say in pricing and demand. They say it's because the election had many buyers on standby, mortgage rates and insurance premiums remained high, and inflation affected many households. 17 Bay County churches come together to celebrate National Marriage Week In addition, the condo market is struggling. The 2021 collapse of the Surfside condos has lasting repercussions today. 'Condos have really been affected by the legislation for Florida put in place. It's definitely good that it was put into place for the safety of our residents. But there are side effects that have come. The assessments and the fees for condos are increasing, and buyers just aren't necessarily willing to take on that additional cost right now,' CPAR 2025 President Ariane Johnson said. Bay County's continuing development is creating conflicting outcomes for sellers. CPAR officials say resale homes are struggling to compete. 'We've seen a big influx of new development, a lot of new builds, which is great for buyers because new builders can offer concessions and discounted points that the regular seller may not be able to offer,' Johnson said. But with the growth of Tyndall Air Force Base and Naval Support Activity Panama City, officials are confident the market can remain steady. Bring the family to enjoy a unique water circus 'The panhandle is absolutely the hottest market in terms of growth in the state real estate attracting businesses. So, we have to manage that. And to have great partners like CPAR around the table is really important,' Bay County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Patrick Chapin said. CPAR officials say interest rates are expected to decrease slightly. But prices are expected to slightly increase nationally. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
