1. Independent Living Day #22 :)

2. Journal entry 1. When you think of engagements and proposals, what’s your “ideal proposal” look like? 1. When you think of engagements and proposals, what’s your “ideal proposal” look like? 2. What are 3 characteristics you believe that lead to the engagement period? 2. What are 3 characteristics you believe that lead to the engagement period?

3. Discussion Purposes of engagement 29.1 Purposes of engagement 29.1 Learn about each other Learn about each other Identify differences Identify differences Develop Teamwork Develop Teamwork Trust, Communication, Compromise Trust, Communication, Compromise Establish new relationships Establish new relationships When children are involved When children are involved Seek advice Seek advice Premarital counseling Premarital counseling What are your initial thoughts when you hear counseling? What are your initial thoughts when you hear counseling?

4. Discussion Broken engagements Broken engagements How do they happen? How do they happen? Why do they happen? Why do they happen?

5. Discussion Make Wedding Plans 29.2 Make Wedding Plans 29.2 Contracts and customs Contracts and customs Marriage laws Marriage laws Prenuptial agreements Prenuptial agreements Protecting property Protecting property Establishing ownership Establishing ownership Defining roles Defining roles Would you want this? Would you want this? What kind of customs would you like in your wedding? What kind of customs would you like in your wedding?

6. Discussion Honeymoons Honeymoons Importance Importance Managing expenses Managing expenses Thinking of others Thinking of others

7. Marriage Qualities Everyone will take two sticky notes and write down a quality or a characteristic that makes a marriage or long term commitment strong? Everyone will take two sticky notes and write down a quality or a characteristic that makes a marriage or long term commitment strong? Why do you believe this qualities/characteristics are important? Why do you believe this qualities/characteristics are important?

8. Discussion Qualities of a strong marriage 30.1 What makes a marriage strong? What makes a marriage strong? 1. Commitment (thinking back to triangular love theory) 1. Commitment (thinking back to triangular love theory) Desire to make a marriage work Desire to make a marriage work 2. Realistic Expectations 2. Realistic Expectations 3. Acceptance 3. Acceptance Respect differences Respect differences 4. Flexibility 4. Flexibility 5. Thoughtfulness 5. Thoughtfulness

9. Discussion U-Shaped Satisfaction Curve U-Shaped Satisfaction Curve Starts at a high level, drops as time goes on, then rises again. Starts at a high level, drops as time goes on, then rises again.

10. Discussion Skills and Resources for Marriage 30.2 Skills and Resources for Marriage 30.2 1. Resolve conflicts 1. Resolve conflicts 2. Communicate 2. Communicate 3. Share Intimacy 3. Share Intimacy Need for intimacy Need for intimacy Spend time together Spend time together 4. Make decisions together 4. Make decisions together Common values Common values 5. Manage family finances 5. Manage family finances

11. Discussion Other resources Other resources Family and friends Family and friends Marriage enrichment Marriage enrichment Marriage counseling Marriage counseling