A dream wedding almost always is synonymous to destination wedding. It is indeed a dream come true if you plan to go for that kind of wedding. And while you’re at it, why don’t you make sure that your dream wedding memories are perfectly captured on photos for posterity? Sitting on the sofa, it doesn’t hurt a married relationship later to reminisce together all those lovely photos in your wedding. And yes, it was a damn dream wedding!

A destination wedding can be the ultimate in a custom wedding ceremony which is as unique as the couple to be wed. A destination wedding is something truly special - an occasion which will never be forgotten by your guests and will create a joyous experience for all present, especially the bride and groom. A destination wedding brings that once-daydream of a fairytale wedding to life.

So what exactly is a destination wedding? Simply put, it’s the ultimate way to make that special event even more special. You and your would-be spouse and your family and guests travel to that perfect location where you’ve always dreamed of getting married. Anywhere you really want to do and have that wedding — it’s only limited by your imagination. But who will you trust to take the special photos in your dream wedding? Enter the scene now is the destination wedding photographer. But how will you find the right one? You will need to take some time to do your research when you are going to choose your destination wedding photographer. You have been spending months on your wedding planning, and you would like to make your wedding the most memorable and unique one in the world. To this end it is really important for you to capture all the happy moments in your wedding so you really have to be sure that you have good hands in the photographer. It is in the photographer’s hands which will determine all the lovely wedding moments are captured rightly and well. This is why the job of the photographer is of utmost important at this stage. It can’t be stressed enough that this is a dream wedding of you and your partner.

When you are still looking for your wedding photographer, you should try to choose a really experienced one. The photographer should have experiences in taking wedding photos and specifically big events like destination wedding. You should check the portfolio of the photographer in order to get more information of his previous projects. You have to bear in mind that no matter how attractive the offer by the photographer is, you should not hire him for the sake of just getting discount and bonus offers. The quality of your photos should be what’s on the priority list. Now, that’s not saying that you should try to look for bargains and discounts after you found the perfect photographer.

The photographer’s style is also an essential thing you need to consider. You should try to learn the style of the photographer. Again you will need to take a look at his portfolio. You should make sure that you love the style of the photographer. The choice here is very personal and you can make your own decision merely by your taste and preference.

Always remember that you may be wed only once so take the extra steps and go for your dream wedding and hire a skilled photographer to capture your amazing moments there.

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DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Dion Robert is a professional wedding photographer serving the Upper Midwest states of the United States. “Trend-setting”, “artistic”, “fashion-inspired” are synonymous with his brand of photography. Getting married? Pay Dion a visit at http://www.dionrobert.com/

No doubt about it, drawing close to your grandparents can enrich your life—as well as theirs! Maybe you have not been close to them up till now. Perhaps you want to change that but are not sure where to start. It may be that your grandparents live far away or that your parents are no longer together and this has distanced you from your grandparents.

“THROUGHOUT history, grandparents have been the key to family harmony and continuity.” So writes Dr. Arthur Kornhaber in his book Grandparent Power! He adds: “As teachers, supporters of parents, historians, nurturers, consultants, and even entertainers, their psychological, social, and spiritual functions were of paramount importance. I wondered how our society had possibly come to dismiss this powerful, multifaceted grandparent role.”

Sad to say, times have changed. Long distances often separate families, and many youths have little contact with their grandparents. Attitudes have also changed. In many parts of the world, older ones—including relatives—are no longer treated with due respect.

True, your grandparents may have grown up in a world quite different from the one in which you now live. But you can be sure that at one time or another, they have felt the very same feelings that you are struggling with now. While you may still be relatively inexperienced in handling such feelings, your grandparents have had a lifetime in which to come to terms with them.

In her book Grandparenting in a Changing World, Eda LeShan relates her own experience as a grandparent. She writes: “My granddaughter called me one day and said, ‘Grandma, I need help with peer pressure.’ Some of her classmates were trying to get her to date boys, some of whom were calling her on the phone.” As a result of her granddaughter’s request for help, the grandmother was able to offer advice that provided needed assistance. You may similarly find that a brief conversation with a loving grandparent can be a source of real moral support.

Grandparents are often particularly helpful during times of family crisis, such as illness or death. After young Lacey lost her father to a serious illness, her grandmother helped her cope. “We have bonded even more than before,” says Lacey.

While grandparents can offer you their wisdom and love, they can also benefit from your youthful energy and companionship. How so? Well, there are likely a number of ways in which you can be of help and support to your grandparents. Oftentimes, their physical strength is fading. Or they may be battling ill health. No doubt they would be encouraged if you helped them with shopping and household chores.

The Changing World of
ELECTRONIC GAMES

“Last year’s best-selling videogame,” according to Newsweek magazine, “was Grand Theft Auto 3.” The object of the game is to advance in a criminal organization by taking part in various crimes, such as prostitution and murder. “Each of your actions has consequences,” notes Newsweek. If you kill pedestrians in your stolen car, police officers chase you. If you shoot one of them, the FBI gets involved. Kill an FBI agent, and the military seek to destroy you. Although the game is intended for those 17 and older, stores have been known to sell the game to younger children. Reportedly, even 12-year-olds are expressing interest in playing.

THE first modern computer game, Spacewar, was created in 1962. The game’s objective: fight off asteroids and enemy spaceships. Countless similar games eventually followed. When more powerful personal computers became widespread in the 1970’s and 1980’s, computer games became increasingly common. There were adventure games, quiz games, strategy games, and action games. One type of strategy game, for example, requires the player to plan and manage the growth of cities or civilizations. Many games simulate sports, such as ice hockey and golf. (more…)

ELECTRONIC GAMES—A Summary of the Risks

• Playing violent computer and video games may encourage aggressive behavior.
• Electronic games can make you more than a spectator of violence; they are designed to make you feel like a participant.
• For the impressionable, games may blur the distinction between reality and fantasy.
• Like an addiction, game playing can lead to neglect of important obligations and relationships.
• Games can consume time that children should spend on other important activities, such as studying, interacting with others, and playing creatively.
• Prolonged staring at the screen can cause eyestrain.
• Lack of exercise, a possible result of game playing, can lead to obesity.
• Games can rob you of money and time.

THIS example of a certain computer game situation, quoted from the article “Computer Violence: Are Your Kids at Risk?” by Stephen Barr, raises the question in our title. There are over 5,000 different computer and video games on the market. A segment of them are considered to be both educational and harmlessly entertaining.

One such game teaches geography; and another, how to fly an airplane. Others train the player in logical thinking and problem solving. There are even games that are intended to have a therapeutic effect on the player. For example, one is designed to help those with a reading disorder. Some games may also help young people to become more computer literate, which is increasingly important in this technology-driven era. (more…)

“Daddy, When Will You Come Again?”

That was the question five-year-old Nao, a Japanese girl, asked her father as he was leaving for work one day. Although he lived at home, she rarely saw him. He routinely arrived from work after Nao was in bed and left for work before she awoke.

FATHERS are abandoning their families in increasing numbers. In the late 1990’s, the newspaper USA Today called the United States “the world leader in families without fathers.” However, the absence of fathers is a worldwide problem.

In Brazil a 2000 census report revealed that the number of families headed by women was 11.2 million out of a total of 44.7 million. In Nicaragua, 25 percent of children lived with their mothers only. In Costa Rica the number of children not recognized by their own fathers rose during the 1990’s from 21.1 percent to 30.4 percent.

The statistics from these three countries are just a sampling of the worldwide trend. Consider another aspect of the problem of absent fathers.

Family relationships such as that of Nao with her father are what moved the Polish writer Piotr Szczukiewicz to say: “The father seems to be an important missing factor in the family.” True, many fathers live with their families and provide them economic support. Yet, as the French magazine Capital put it, “too many fathers content themselves with being food suppliers, without being educators.”

Often, the situation is that the father is in the family but is not involved in the lives of his children. His attention is focused elsewhere. “Even if [the father] is physically present,” notes the French magazine Famille chrétienne, “he can be absent psychologically.” Why are so many fathers today mentally and emotionally absent from their families?

As the above journal explains, a basic reason is that “he fails to understand the role of a father or husband.” According to the view of many fathers, the role of a good father is simply to bring home a decent wage. As Polish writer Józef Augustyn stated, “many fathers think they are good parents because they provide money for the family.” But doing that is only part of a father’s responsibility.

The fact is, children don’t judge their father’s worth by the amount of money he makes or the monetary value of gifts he may give them. Rather, what children really want—far more than material gifts—is their father’s love, time, and attention. These are what truly matter to them.