When is the last time you really checked to see how much your partner does for you!

As in most relationships, we tend to expect the normal routine from our partner. If they do the laundry we expect that they will do it all the time, if they make dinner we are at the table with silverware in hand ready to eat. The only time we acknowledge our partner in this regard is when they don't help out in the normal way. Then our reaction is usually one of anger accompanied by yelling or unkind words. Are you one of those people that expect your partner to do things, how often do you thank them for the things they do to help out your relationship or family. I am sure that most of us can do a better job in the appreciation category. There are many ways to thank your mate for the things they do and they can be very simple. Things like do you wait on them to sit down before you start eating dinner, or saying, "Wow, the house looks great you must have spend hours cleaning it", or you can even just kiss them and say that is for the clean socks honey. Mix it up a little and go over the top from time to time to show them that you really do appreciate it. Do things like while eating a wonderful dinner they made slip them a note that says "This dinner is so good, I think I will make hot passionate love to you later tonight as a tip" or maybe after doing gardening or yard work you can get them in a shower and wash their hair for them. Showing appreciation is a lot form of art in relationships today and it is up to us to help bring it back to the forefront. Next time your partner takes care of the kids so you can nap, offer to give them a massage later in return, or if they have to miss work to take care of your sick child tell them to call up some friends and have a lunch date this weekend. Relationships are about helping each other out, not helping ourselves. Love is a powerful tool if used correctly, and appreciation in part of that power.

Update you pictures.

You know some people out there are very good at taking pictures all the time. Most all of us have a newer digital camera, that lets us delete any unwanted photo right away. We have no excuse for not getting new pictures all the time. When is the last time you took a picture of your sweet heart just to put in your billfold or to replace the one on your desk? Look around your house are the pictures hanging on the wall out dated? If you have a hair style you are embarrassed about then you need to take some new pictures to put up. It is so easy now a days you can print them out yourself by picking up some photo quality paper or you can upload them to a company like Kodak and have nice quality prints sent right to your door. Set up a theme for you pictures maybe take some on vacation every time to put up each year. We take pictures of our family eating and put them up around the very top of our kitchen. You could do any number of themes depending on your family and what room you are putting them up in. Don't let anyone be camera shy and make sure you get equal numbers of pictures of everyone. It isn't very fair if you can go into someones house and tell by the pictures who always is behind the camera. Don't just put up perfect pictures either. Use some of the silly and wacky ones you take it adds a lot more character and conversation to your house. Now if you don't have one go out and pick up a new digital camera and start taking pictures of everything you can think of.

Featured in the picture is the Nikon D40 SLR Camera, which I feel is a great camera.

Help Someone Out!

One thing that will show your partner what a great person you are is to help someone else out. Next time you see someone loading up their groceries lend a helping hand. Make sure to ask if it's okay first, you don't want to be a creepy person. Then help load up their groceries. You could also stop and help someone out with car problems or with a flat tire. It can be as simple as helping a child put their chain back on their bike or helping out a friend with a cook out. Just look for anything that would help someone out. Don't expect anything in return, the simple feeling you get should be enough. I use to drive around in my father's truck that had a snow plow on the front and help scoop out peoples drive ways. They always offered me money but I never accepted any the feeling was enough. Once your partner sees that you are truly doing this to simply help other out they will see you in a different light.