Mini-Retreat (9:30 – 5:30):  “A Bag of Tricks”   (Roys)  Designed for those who are not familiar with the basic ACME principles.  It will provide you with tools that will enable you to start using some of the precepts of Marriage Enrichment.

A.  Communication - “Sharing Magic!”   (Allyns)  Good communication in a marriage is an essential tool for resolving issues and sharing joy.  Here we will practice and reflect together on ways to open a tough subject and talk it through to a mutually satisfying resolution.  It really isn’t magic, but when you find out how easy it is, it might seem like it.

B.  Blended Families - “Two Rabbits in One Hat”  (Congdons)  What happens when you re-marry?  Now you have “two rabbits” (or blending two families) in one hat.  This workshop will look at the unique factors associated with re-marriage and blended family conditions such as:  unresolved conflicts,  Have we talked turkey about money?  How do we “Do” a stepfamily?

C.  Turning Life Transitions into Growth Experiences - “Abracadabra - Surprise!”  (Deans)  During our marital journey, we encounter challenging transitions (birth of a child, empty nest, retirement, serious illnesses, etc) which threaten the stability and happiness of our relationship. Without a Magic Wand, how  can we transform these scary transitions into surprising new possibilities for couple growth? 

D.  Commitment - “You don’t have to get cut in half to show it!”  (Cooleys)  Commitment in marriage is no sleight of hand.  It may look easy from the outside, but it takes as much work and practice as any magician preparing for a performance.  We will learn some of the day-to-day tricks and skills that, if practiced, will ensure a life-long commitment to the greatest act of all: marriage.

E.  Creating the Magic of Sex - “Is levitating your partner easier than talking about sexual matters?”    (Richters)  Prepare to be surprised as we develop a rolling agenda to discover mutual problems, issues, and successes to be dialogued in the group.  There is magic in sharing!

F.  Keeping the Magic - “Rekindling the Flame and Restoring Romance”   (Arnolds)  You have the fireworks, you have the matches, but where are the sparks? This workshop will help you discover common roadblocks to fun and will explore creative ways to make having fun together a more important aspect of your relationship as a couple.

G.  Conflict Resolution - “Tricks of the Tirade” (Pugsleys)   Most people wish they could make anger simply disappear!  Turn this mystery into mastery.  Learning to resolve conflict is the key to intimacy - it can work magic in your marriage.