Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. While the holidays are intended to be a time for food, family, and wonderful bonding experiences, we know that holiday celebrations rarely go down like a picture-perfect Norman Rockwell painting. For many of us, our holiday family gatherings could be the inspiration for National Lampoon’s "Holiday Vacation" or be the focus for a week of Jerry Springer shows.

You’ve heard the saying “distance makes the heart grow fonder”, but when it comes to holiday family gatherings, “distance makes the family conversations grow more and more awkward.”

“Are you dating anyone right now?”  “When are you getting married?” When are you going to start having kids?” Naturally, your family members are curious about you and what is going on in your life, but some of their questions can be intrusive or even offensive. How can you handle these questions delicately, without having them invade your sense of privacy?

Se ha dicho que, “la gratitud en silencio no le sirve de mucho a nadie.” Con esto en mente, y con el inicio de los días festivos sobre nosotros, asegúrese de ser fuerte y orgulloso con su gratitud a su familia, amigos, colegas y conocidos. Día de Acción de Gracias es el momento del año para dar agradecimientos, recibir gratitud y ser agradecido. Pero mostrar un poco de aprecio tiene un impacto mucho más grande de lo que usted pueda creer.

Lucinda Loveland, a blogger for Healthy Relationship California, has been recognized for her talent and the relationships-supporting messages conveyed throughout her writing.

Now both a staff writer and translator for HRC, Lucinda began writing about Relationship and Marriage Education programs and ideas as a student in a Marriage Education class.

Along with her husband, Alfred Loveland, the duo embraced the common challenge many couples face, the end of the honeymoon and the beginning of disillusionment.  They sought out help and resources to repair their marriage. Five years later, Lucinda shares what she has learned through her blogs, and the quality of the material she writes and its value for Orange County readers has been recognized through the 2012 O.C. Press Club Award for “Best Family and Lifestyle Blog”.

What partner doesn’t want to hear something loving, positive or romantic from their mate on a regular basis?  We all do! In fact, there is a Japanese proverb that says a sweet word will warm three winters. If that’s the case, imagine what a 140-character tweet or short text message could do for you and your mate!

During our first year under the California Community-Centered Healthy Marriages and Relationships project, HRC served 4,353 youth and 10,248 adults--14,601 people in total! We reached 122% of our first year target.

When was the last time you attended a relationships class? Visit our Class Finder and sign-up for a class near you!

HRC regularly trains new facilitators interested in teaching Relationship and Marriage Education curricula. Our next training (for the World Class Marriage curriculum) will be Dec. 8 and 15 in San Diego. More trainings are scheduled after the first of the year in Mastering the Mysteries of Love and PREP Within Your Reach 8 Hours.

For information on these trainings, check out our website.

Are you looking to make an end-of-the-year contribution that really makes a difference? Consider making a gift to Healthy Relationships California. While HRC has Federal funding for certain, restricted activities, the relationship needs of marriages and families in our state is great!

Your contribution can go a long way to help HRC make more Relationship and Marriage Education classes available to more people in more communities. Please add HRC to your end-of the-year charitable contributions list!  You'll make a big difference to the quality of people's lives.

Make an online donation today  >>>