Couples' Newsletter | June 2018
LoveNote2
The Newmans share: thoughts about the importance of “cherishing” your spouse; homemade ice cream recipes; marriage retreat information, July 4 th celebrations, date night ideas, and more!
Cherish
When we get married, we promise to love, honor, and “cherish” one another. We say the word “cherish” on that day and may never say the word again. Some of us didn’t even give it a thought when we said it. I did. My best friend and mentor had given me a lesson on making sure the man I committed to, cherished me. It’s one of the best lessons she’s ever taught me. The dictionary says the word “cherish” means, 1) to protect and care for someone lovingly, 2) hold dear, 3) keep in your mind, 4) treat someone as if they are valuable, and 5) wanting to hold on to something or someone, affectionately. I’ve bolded the definition that I prefer. I started thinking about the word cherish when I was watching a Hallmark movie and a man held his girlfriend’s face in his hands and kissed her on the forehead. If you are not into romance movies, where else might you see this displayed? Most of us would have to answer, “no where”. So, I began exploring how you learn and/or teach the concept, and I ran across a wonderful book entitled, Cherish, by Gary Thomas. Gary believes like I believe, that learning how to cherish will strengthen your marriage and make it more enjoyable. I know you love your spouse, but do you cherish them? Love and cherish are so very different. Love is (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7)) patient, kind, and doesn’t boast. Cherish is (Song of Solomon 5:10-16) boasting boldly, loudly, passionately; it goes out of it’s way to brag, indulge, and nurture and doesn’t care who sees it. Cherishing your spouse is when you go out of your way to cheer for and encourage them; you purposely think about them in a loving way; you make them a priority by considering their thoughts and needs before anyone else’s; you commit to being a good friend to them by playing, laughing, having fun, and doing adventurous things with them; you are trustworthy and loyal and they never have to worry about where you are or what you are doing; you accept their flaws and limitations and focus on the things you love about them and praise their talents and strengths; you listen to them without judgement; you watch your words and are respectful and don’t say everything you think and feel; you don’t compare them to others. Some of us have learned from our family and friends over the years, to do the opposite. We must commit to changing because we are children of God. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world; but, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”.  It is God’s will that we cherish one another; it’s what we are called to do in marriage and what we’ve promised God and our spouses we will do. Cherishing is something we can and must learn to do to have a marriage that feels more precious, connected, and more satisfying. Remember that all things are possible with God. In the words of Sade, “Cherish the day, don’t go astray, don’t be afraid, don’t run away. And, learn how deep love can be…..this is our prayer”….

In Love,

Sherman and Paula Newman


Fun Summer Recipe
Homemade Ice Cream

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 2 cups half and half cream
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • lots of ice and rock salt for ice cream maker

Fill cylinder of ice cream maker no more than 2/3 full; freeze according to manufacturer’s directions. Serve immediately or store in containers in the freezer. Makes 1 ¼ quarts.

OR
Homemade Ice Cream
(A Creamier Version)

  • 4 egg yolks
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • lots of ice and rock salt for the ice cream maker

Add egg yolks and sugar to a medium saucepan and whisk until a light -yellow color and well combined. In another small sauce pan, heat milk over medium-low heat until it just begins to simmer. Do not stir. Gradually add milk to egg and sugar mixture, stirring constantly. Return to heat until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheidt, but do not allow it to come to a boil. As soon as it reaches the correct temperature, remove it from the heat. Pour the custard base into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator until it chills to 65 degrees Fahrenheidt. The longer the custard base chills, the creamier the ice cream will be.

Once the custard base is ready, stir in the heavy cream and vanilla extract and pour into the ice cream maker and process according to your ice cream maker’s instructions. The recipe can be doubled for a 2 -quart ice cream maker or multiplied for a gallon container.

Possible mix-ins: strawberries, bananas, Oreos, chocolate chunks/chips
choc_vanilla_ice_cream.jpg
Marriage Retreats/Workshops

Married Couples Retreat Biltmore Estates: Annual Covenant Keepers Marriage Retreat, August 23-25, 2018 at the Hilton Doubletree- Asheville, NC – Biltmore, with Drs. Will and Grace Nichols with My Marriage University, https://mymarriageuniversity.com/product/married-couples-retreat-biltmore-estates/

FamilyLife Weekend to Remember, November 30- December 2, 2018 at the Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601; host hotel, Raleigh Marriott City Center, 500 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC 27601- $149/night until November 12, 2018, https://www.familylife.com/weekend-to-remember/

Getaways

Smokey Mountain Weekend Getaway with Kid Capri, February 22-25, 2019, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, https://blackcouplegetaways.com/smokey/

Black Couples Dominican Republic Takeover- August 16-20, 2018 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, https://blackcouplegetaways.com/dominicanrepublic/ 
Books to Read This Summer
  • Cherish by Gary Thomas
  • The Uncommon Marriage by Tony and Lauren Dungy
  • The Conversation by Hill Harper
  • Loving Your Spouse When You Feel Like Walking Away by Gary Chapman
  • An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
  • Our Best Life Together: A Daily Devotional for Couples by Joel Osteen


Fourth of July Celebrations
Celebration and Fireworks in Chapel Hill: food trucks, watermelon eating contest, stilt walkers, live music, fireworks, etc. Held in Kenan Stadium on UNC-Chapel Hill campus; see www.visitchapelhill.org/events/annual-events

The Works! July 4 th on Fayetteville Street in Raleigh- live music, hotdog eating contest, BMX stunt shows, fireworks, etc. at Fayetteville Street and Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC. Visit https://tinyurl.com/ybcd89ex

Independence Day Celebration: Durham- Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Purchase a ticket to the game to ensure a spot inside to watch the fireworks. See https://tinyurl.com/y9ts3ed3

39th Festival of the Eno- Music, food, crafts, etc. at WestPoint on the Eno in Durham, NC. See www.enofest.org
Let's Go Dancing or Let's Take A Class
Let’s Go Dancing!

Dance Blues Friday, 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Lesson; 9:00 p.m.- 12:00 midnight- Social Dancing. Fee: $7.00 or $5.00 for students/military/seniors. Triangle Dance Studio, 2603 S. Miami Blvd., Durham, NC, www.rdublues.com/dances/blues

Capital City Steppers, http://www.capitalcitysteppers.com/
 
 
 
Let's Take A Class Together!

Dance, Ceramics, Painting, Photography, http://www.durhamarts.org/classes.html

Go swimming, go fishing, go for a picnic, or take a Tai Chi class at one of the Durham Parks and Recreation Centers: https://durhamnc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/20990/Play-More-June-Aug-2018 



Date Ideas



'Something Good to Eat?

Saltbox Seafood Joint, 608 N Mangum St, Durham, NC 27701 (moving to Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, Durham, NC), https://www.saltboxseafoodjoint.com/

True Flavors Diner, 5410 N Carolina 55, Durham, NC 27713, http://www.trueflavorsnc.com/

Vegan Flava Café, 1720 Guess Rd #18, Durham, NC 27701, http://www.veganflavacafe.com/

Nzinga’s Breakfast Café, 826 Fayetteville St #110, Durham, NC 27701, http://www.nzingasbreakfastcafe.com/

Golden Krust Carribean Bakery and Grill, 3600 N Duke St, Durham, NC 27703, https://www.goldenkrust.com/

Larry’s Southern Kitchen, 4205 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC 27603, http://larryssouthernkitchen.weebly.com/

Jack’s Seafood & Soul Food, 1516 New Bern Ave, Raleigh, NC 27610 

Articles on "Black Marriage"
Black older couple
Volunteer Together!
Work together in the community!

Go to VolunteerMatch , https://www.volunteermatch.org/# to access information about volunteer opportunities in your community that meet both your interests.


Sherman and Paula Newman| 919-730-1107 | lovenote2@hotmail.com | NIFS website, www.newmanskillbuilding.com