A strong, supportive Chaldean relationship is built from a couple's words and actions. With work, children, and other responsibilities, sometimes it is easy to take your spouse for granted or forget to do the things that strengthen the marriage. Here are some ten little things every Chaldean couple can do that will have a big payoff for your marriage says Jennifer Kinaya, marriage counselor and researcher on the psychology of better relationships.

Chaldeans who are bilingual or Multilingual have an advantage over the rest of us, and not just in terms of communication skills. The multilingual brain develops more densely, giving it an advantage in various abilities and skills, according to new research.

According to the 2002 U.S. Census, more than 7.5 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 (about 14 %) speak a language other than English at home and the number of bilingual speakers is expected to increase in the coming years.

Most children have the capacity and facility to learn two or more languages. Research suggests there are advantages to being bilingual, such as, linguistic and metalinguistic abilities and cognitive flexibility, such as, concept formation, divergent thinking and general reasoning and verbal abilities.

Researchers from the Department of Imaging Neuroscience and experts from the Fondazione Santa Lucia in Rome researched brain densities of bilingual people. They recruited 25 people who speak one language, 25 who learned a second European language before age 5, and 33 who became bilingual between ages 10 and 15. 

All the participants spoke English as their primary language. Those who had learned a second language later in life had practiced it regularly for at least five years.

Michigan, USA - It is no coincidence that nearly 1,000 fathers had to lose their life 100 years ago for the right message to be heard. That message is that we love our fathers, but how and why did they lose their lives.  Most of those that died were Italian immigrants, writes Fr. Eugene Francis Briggs (1908-2006), a Catholic priest and a Fitchburg native who dedicated much of his life to the study of the Monongah disaster.  A tragedy by any standards, whereby on December 6, 1907, there was a mining disaster at the Consolidated Coal Company in Monongah, West Virgina that claimed their lives.  It is still considered the worst mining disaster ever.

In the spirit of those fathers that the First Father’s Day was born of the father’s role of provider and the risk he takes as a laborer throughout the country, being a primary wage earner.  “The same holds true to for our Chaldean fathers,” says Tom Issa, a father of three.  “Our Chaldean fathers literally climbed mountains and crossed oceans to provide and protect their family.”

Issa adds that Chaldean fathers continue to take incredible risks providing for their families.  “They work very long hours in some of the most horrible conditions, trapped in bullet proof and risking their lives.  It is good that we acknowledge, celebrate, and honor their sacrifice to our family and community.”  Issa speaks of the inaugural “Honor Thy Father” dinner hosted by Mother of God Church in Southfield, Michigan.  The dinner brought over 400 Chaldeans out for a night of dinner, entertainment, and applause for Chaldean fathers. 

{Must be a registered member of www.chaldean.org to view the photos of the 2008 Father / Son Celebration Dinner}

California, USA  – “I am very excited and my entire family is ready,” says Nick Siman, San Diego County Fair’s self proclaimed biggest fan.   Over a million residents will be joining Siman as “the greatest indoor-outdoor show on Earth” opens their doors.

The San Diego County Fair opens Saturday, a 21-day extravaganza that costs nearly $140 million to put together. The 360-acre fairground was a disaster-relief center for horses and people evacuated during the October 2007 wildfires.

In a few short days, Chaldeans by the thousands will join the millions of other guest and flock to the sports themed fair.  Pop stars, celebrities, and professional athletes will be freely mingling with the crowd, signing autographs, and performing.  An estimated 1,600 entertainment acts will let the good times roll on nine stages.

A Chaldean home filled with reading material is a good way to help our kids become enthusiastic (and proficient) readers. English is not the primary language spoken in most Chaldean households.  This challenge makes it a bit more difficult for Chaldean children to do well in reading and language arts.  To give your Chaldean child an additional boost you might consider these wonderful suggestions. 

First ask your kids about their interests. If they're too young to have a preference, visit your local library and ask a librarian to offer suggestions about age-appropriate books.

Here are some other wonderful tips shared by Chaldean parents Basima Kizzy, Joan Bazzi, Freddy Razooky, and Sabri Zora:

California, USA - The El Cajon Community Development Corporation (then known as Downtown El Cajon, Inc.) has been looking for a novel way to build their downtown community.  Hoping to tap into the business creativity, entrepreneurship, and community family spirit of the Chaldean community, the organizers invite Chaldeans to join their concert series along with other residents of El Cajon.

The 13th Annual Concerts on the Green is a free weekly summer concert series featuring live music for all ages that beings Friday, May 23, 2008 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on the Prescott Promenade in Downtown El Cajon. Opening night of the 2008 Concerts on the Green will feature the Rockabilly sounds of The Stilettos. The concerts are free to the public.  Concerts on the Green 2008 is offered every Friday evening through September 5.

Chaldean lifestyle and eating habits have changed.  Living in the American culture and adopting American eating habits have led to an increase risk of obesity and chronic illness in the Chaldean community.  Chaldeans have lived through many health crises in the past but the latest threat, though largely preventable, has silently grown to potentially deadly proportions. Chaldeans as well as Americans are in the grips of an “obesity epidemic,” whereby 65 percent of the American population is overweight and a growing number of Chaldean toddlers and children are obese. 

Even those who may not consider themselves overweight may be carrying a large amount of deadly belly fat, known to increase the risk of heart disease in relatively slim people.   Most Chaldeans have a basic sense that being overweight is bad for their health, but few appreciate just how dangerous it is.

Controlling fat excess is really fairly simple: Eat for health, not for pleasure. This is not to say that a healthy diet has to taste bad. But it is critical to keep in mind that the goal is a diet that provides health. The loss of excess fat will always come when you follow a healthy diet.

Below are four steps for losing weight permanently.

Johnny Bitti hopes to sell his home before July.  Raymond Kalu, Century 21 Hometown agent from Sterling Heights, Michigan says, “Bitti needs to start thinking about how to make his home stand out from the rest.  The trick is to spend time and money on fix-ups, getting the house to look neat and open instead of spending money on remodeling projects.” 

Kalu seems to have his hand on the pulse of the market.  Remodeling magazine completed a study of homeowners across America and the result is that the owners aren't recouping as many improvement costs as they could in recent years.   In fact, real-estate agents advise clients not to overdo it, regardless of what the local market conditions are like.

The investment for any remodeling projects is added to the selling price of the home.  Chaldean real-estate agents say that the buyers market is fiercely competitive and sellers will have trouble selling a home with value added costs added to the bottom line.   The reason is that asking prices are based largely on comparisons with similar homes in the area, Kalu says. “And in the many markets that aren't exactly booming right now, buyers have more negotiating power over the price of a home,” he adds.

www.CHALDEAN.org contacted a number of Chaldean real-estate agents and asked them for their best tips for Chaldean homeowners looking to sell.  Here is what they had to say…

Michigan, USA - Many Chaldeans are often forced to work in dangerous neighborhoods and high crime areas.  Some feel the local city police apathetic concern for Chaldean businesses bolsters the criminal to act.    Although Chaldeans have taken wise precautions to reduce the threat of attack and robbery, Chaldeans remain victims.  With bullet proof glass, immediate armed robbery alarm systems, video surveillance systems, and armed security guards or employees Chaldeans remain at risk. 

Working to address these challenges the Chaldean Education and Career Center is working with other Chaldean organizations to help address these growing concerns.  Groups like the Chaldean Justice League, Chaldean American Bar Association, Chaldean Caucus, and the Chaldean Federation of America are consistently looking for ways to help reduce attacks against Chaldeans and their property. 

In that spirit, the Chaldean Education and Career Center is organizing a series of Advanced Small Arms Self-Defense Training near Camp Chaldean.  The CE&CC along with the Livingston Gun Club and Live Safe Academy will be holding a three Self-Defense training session. 

Chaldean parents are curious on how to capture their little one's creative energy when the weather gets cold.  Being cooped up in the house all day can make a toddler honery and troublesome.  Chaldean parents can help channel that energy by trying at least one of our nine fun, brain-boosting projects.

California, USA - Chaldeans are busily preparing for the holidays.  The community is getting ready for big family dinners, the traditional extended family tours, and the hectic gift giving calculations.  It arrives at the same time every year, and yet Chaldeans continue to get confused, stressed, and frustrated over the potential holiday madness. Chaldean holiday preparations can be less taxing for Chaldeans if these 7 simple steps are followed. 

Step 1 - BE PREPARED
Create a budget for your gift purchases, a list of who has been nice, and stick to it. Chaldeans have huge families and trying to buy a gift for every cousin, friend, neighbor, or employee will have you filing for bankruptcy.  Chaldeans are generous and charitable, but a line has to be drawn.  Create a gift list to fight the urge of seeing an item on clearance that you think would be perfect for someone not on your list.  Write down a few ideas for presents, based on the preferences of those on the list and hints they have given you throughout the year.

Michigan, USA – The Camp Chaldean open house brought thousands of community members out into the fresh October air.  Some Chaldeans traveled for three hours to join the tour and share in the celebration of new of the community campground. 

“We worked very hard to get the property ready for the camp open house,” says Adil Kallabat, Camp Chaldean president. “We had crews working around the clock for nearly a month making repairs, cleaning, landscaping, and decorating the buildings.”

Chaldean diocese volunteers came together to offer community tours of the camp property and answer any of their questions.  Nearly ten bus loads of people left from church parking lots to the campground. 

(Must be a registered member of www.CHALDEAN.org to view the photo albums.  Registration is free and begins by selecting the register link in the upper right-hand corner.)

Which is harder, making time for yourself or making time for Christ? As a mom of three boys under 5, the challenge to bring Christ into our souls and family is an interesting one.  While we make it church weekly as a family, more than only one hour a week is needed to build the necessary spiritual strength and prepare the family for what lies ahead. 

So what do you do?  Well, I have started collecting great tips on how the Chaldean family can bring Christ into their lives during their daily routine.  Here are some of the tips I have collected thus far. 

California, USA - Wise and thoughtful Chaldean parents continue to harp on their children to honor other people's kindness and generosity.  Most children despise having to write thank you notes.  Sadly, parents who fail to teach their children how to recognize and acknowledge the good they see in others will eventually have to contend with the consequences of a self-centered, ungrateful, and spoiled child. 

Michigan, USA - Tickets sold out in less than a few days to the highly anticipated event.  Over 300 Chaldean women gathered at Mother of God Chaldean Church Hall in Southfield, Michigan for the 2nd Annual Mother’s Day Fashion Show Dinner.  The event was held on Friday, May 4, 2007 and began at 6 p.m. in the evening.  The event organized by the Our Chaldean Ladies Social group of the Chaldean church holds a number of special activities targeting Chaldean women. 

The annual fashion show event helps to raise funds to help Chaldean causes around the world and all proceeds of the event go directly to the Chaldean community.  The highlights of the evening were two incredible fashion shows and the ability to receive or win gifts totaling close to $10,000.   However, winning rave review was the “Pure of Heart - ‘To be Admired not Desired’ Fashion Show,” hosted by fashion stylist Patrice Konja and produced by Remon Jiddou.  The performance sponsored Nahla's Place, This is Me, and Platinum Salon, of Birmingham, Michigan. 

(Access to all photos of the event are included for registered members of the community website)