"Praise the Lord…who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
Psalm 103:2, 5

Shirley and I celebrated our wedding anniversary a few years ago by exploring what we called our "old haunts." We took an entire day together, beginning with a visit to the Farmer's Market, where we had strolled as young lovers. Then we had a leisurely lunch at a favorite restaurant and talked of things long ago. Afterwards we saw a theater performance at the Pasadena Playhouse, where we had gone on our second date, and later we had cherry pie and coffee at Gwinn's Restaurant, a favorite hangout for dating couples. We talked about our warm memories and relived the excitement of earlier days. It was a wonderful reprise.

If your marriage feels stagnant, maybe it's time to experience again the wonderful places and events from your courtship or newlywed days. Re‐create your first date. Walk the same stretch of beach or mountain trail you used to enjoy. Return to the place you got engaged. Visit the church or chapel where you were married. Drive by the house or apartment where you first lived. Sing the old songs. Tell the old stories.

I think you'll find that the old thrill is still there waiting for you.

Just between us…

What were our favorite places to go, or things to do, during our courtship?
Which of our dates or outings would you most like to re‐create?
How can we make sure we have experiences now that we'll look back on with fondness?

Lord, thank You so much for the good old days of courtship. Help us to make many new ones in the days ahead. Amen.

By Leslie Vernick

One of my clients once told me a horrible story. She said, "When I was a child, my father would tell us a story about a gentleman who saw someone on a park bench grabbing pigeons and breaking their wings. When the gentleman asked the other man why he would do such a cruel thing, he said he was trying to teach the pigeons that life is not a bed of roses."

She likened this story to God breaking our wings when we do something wrong. But that is not what God does. He doesn't break our wings, he gives His wings to support us when we're down (Isaiah 40:31).

However, have you ever felt like your wings were cruelly broken by someone else? Perhaps they were angry, jealous, or sadistic. When that happened, was there anyone out there who cared? Anyone who was willing to bandage your wings and provide a safe sanctuary until you healed?

Were you able to find God and experience his sheltering wings? Many abused and battered individuals have experienced such brokenness and need our tangible help.

The Bible tells us it's not enough to pray for someone in need, if we're able we must do something (1 John 3:17-19). Several years ago I was introduced to Megan, a woman who was broken and found healing. Now she wants to help other moms who have been in destructive and abusive marriages find their wings again.

6 Signs Your Retirement Plan is in Trouble

Estate Planner Shares Tips for Avoiding a 2008-style Disaster during the 'Distribution' Years

After the 2008 economic meltdown, when the stock market fell 37 percent, veteran financial advisor Curt Whipple says he met with clients from outside financial institutions who'd lost 50 to 60 percent of their portfolio in a single year.

"Almost no one foresaw what happened that year, and I doubt very much that many will foresee a collapse if it happens again," says Whipple, a Certified Wealth Strategist, Certified Estate Planner and CEO of C. Curtis Financial Group.

"Regardless, there are eight indicators that you can focus on that will help you identify whether or not you're taking too much risk in your portfolio and if your retirement plan is in danger."

Whipple, who recently published "Retiree Lifeline! How to Get Government Out of Your Pocket," (www.ccurtisfinancial.com), a retirement planning guide, reviews the six danger signs from 2008 to watch out for in 2014.

• You either looked at your accounts every day OR you wouldn't look at them at all. In 2008, people couldn't believe what was happening to their portfolios. They looked at their account every day – an exercise in masochism – as their advisors told them either, "just hang in there," or reminded them that the market is a long-term investment that cyclically rises and falls. That advice led them to stop looking at their accounts, which was as bad as looking at them every day, as their advisor told them to just hold on.

• You lost more than 15 to 20 percent of your investments' value in 2008. That indicates you had too many risky investments. It's important to know what level of risk you're comfortable with – generally speaking, the younger you are, the riskier you can be. However, risk is also a personal decision. Make sure you and your advisor are on the same page regarding risk tolerance. That will require your advisor taking the time to explain your investments and how they're diversified.

• Your broker or financial advisor fails to call you regularly. You should get a call every quarter from your advisor to review and discuss your account. The only time this should not be the case is if you specifically request to be contacted less frequently.

• Your portfolio is tied mostly to Wall Street or stocks, bonds and mutual funds. If each investment you have is one or all of the above, then your investments are not truly diversified. In addition to those investments, you should consider alternative investments like Real Estate Trusts (REITS), and your accounts should feature some kind of guarantee.

• You depend on your bond portfolio to protect you in hard times. We are living in a new financial era; bonds now have an inverse relationship to interest rates, which are so low now that they will invariably increase in the future. As interest rates rise, bonds will decline in value. That's why using bonds as your only alternative to a falling market is a dangerous idea.

• You excessively worry about money. Your fear may be based in reality if you have a number of risky investments; if you really don't understand what you are invested in; or if you don't have a clear plan to achieve your financial objectives.

About Curt Whipple, CWS, CEP