BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — They got hitched while still in their teens, divorced 20 years and four children later, and are getting remarried after nearly a half-century apart.

For Lena Henderson and Roland Davis, both 85 years old, the second time around is finally here. The couple plans to get married again on Saturday, with four generations on hand to see it happen.

“It’s every child’s dream, every child who has ever been in a family where divorce has occurred, that your parents would come back together,” their youngest daughter, Renita Chadwick, said Tuesday as wedding preparations were in full swing.

“We are all so ridiculously excited. We’re like little children again,” said Chadwick, herself a grandmother.

Henderson and Davis met as teenagers in Chattanooga, Tenn., and were married by a justice of the peace. There was no reception or honeymoon.

“Oh no,” Henderson recalled with a laugh. “He went to work and I went home.” Davis was a hotel bellhop at the time, about to begin a career in the military.

This time around, a church wedding is planned, at Elim Christian Fellowship Church in Buffalo, followed by a reception at an Amherst restaurant.

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By Dr. Patty Ann Tublin

There are few things as wonderful as young love, especially when it happens in Spring! Remember when you first met the partner of your dreams? Everything felt so alive, right? You probably felt a general blissful wonder while your endorphins ran on high. Every time you saw or thought of your sweetie, the butterflies churned, and your heart thump, thump, thumped at the mere thought of your new love! Then as time went on, those butterflies took flight and found other couples ready to relish in young love, while you and your partner resigned to be grouchy and cranky in “old” love.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. If you grew up with old fashioned stories about relationships based on minimum effort, on necessity or convenience, these three truths will help you understand that there are some key things you have to do to truly live happily ever after.

1.  When you marry your mate, you marry their family! When two people come together, how can they not be impacted by each other’s families unless they run as far as they can in the opposite direction and have no contact with them at all?! Remember the character Michael in the movie “The Godfather”? He mentions to his girlfriend Kate that he is not his Mafia family, but he ends up being exactly like his father anyway. Families come along with the person you marry. There is no way around this, even if you try to extricate yourself.

2. Love isn’t enough. If that were the case, the divorce rate wouldn’t be as high as it is. Instead, practically every relationship would be destined for sublime happiness! Realty check: You have to work at relationships in order for them to work. Firstly, communication is by far the most important foundation you need. If you don’t talk and listen effectively, you won’t get far. Sweeping unspoken expectations and various other issues under the rug will only serve to fester until the straw breaks the camel’s back. Don’t skimp on this vital key to a healthy relationship!

There is also no way around the crises that will happen in life, so if you aren’t communicating in the first place as these occurrences come your way, it will be harder to weather them. You have to be consciously aware of how you express yourself: say what you need to say while being sensitive to your partner. And listen, listen, listen! Active listening with an open mind and heart shows a level of respect and caring that is necessary to making your partner feel safe and supported, e.g. no hidden agenda allowed!

3. Money does NOT solve problems. In fact, it can actually add to them. Research shows that couples whose income increases to a higher level than what they had in the beginning have more money problems. Certainly money can help with some things we all need in life, and having a little extra is great. But money can’t buy good health, personal happiness or a great marriage! If you believe that if you had more money, things would be better, what you’re really wanting is something other than money to change or be resolved. Yep, money can be a mask for underlying issues!

As our world changes and progresses, our expectations also change; this includes the expectations we have of our relationships.  In today’s modern relationships, we really need to be as conscious about what we’re doing as we can. Then we’ll have the very best chance of our relationship having a fairy tale ending. So Spring into YOUR happily ever after. You deserve it!

About The Author: During the past 25 years, renowned relationship expert Dr. Patty Ann Tublin has helped hundreds of people rekindle romance and reignite passion in their relationships. The solutions in her Relationship Toolbox™ help couples re-build romance so intimacy inside and outside the bedroom can flourish. Through her successful 25-year marriage and her experience of raising 4 children, Dr. Patty Ann has earned an international reputation for saving relationships. To reignite your flames of passion, visit her site at www.drpattyann.com.

By Charles Orlando

Turn on the television or read the news, and all you hear are the negatives about relationships. This celebrity is leaving that one; this person cheated with that person. If the recent studies and articles are to be believed, more and more couples are delayingdivorce because of the economy,prompting hundreds of tips from reporters and bloggers on how to live with your estranged spouse.

Is anyone happy in their relationship? In a word, yes. There are many couples that are happy being together. But the headline, “thousands of couples achieve happiness,” doesn’t have the same ring as “divorce rates are climbing.”

So, how are these couples staying happy through all the normal peaks and valleys of marriage, coupled with today’s economic challenges? Are they just lucky? Is their mantra the proverbial “yes, dear” with an eye roll? Well, sfter surveying 500 men and women on my Facebook page, the answers and secrets are crystal clear.

1. Don’t communicate. Every therapist, counselor and relationship self-help book says the same thing, “you have to communicate.” Merriam Webster defines “communication” as “the successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings.” Sorry, but this definition of communication is largely misunderstood because, to many people, it means talking to your spouse so that he/she knows you are right.

In successful, happy relationships, people listen and empathize. They don’t necessarily agree, but they do make the effort to really hear the information, and then see it from their significant other’s point of view.

2. Go to bed angry sometimes. The golden rule is to never go to bed angry. But, sometimes things cannot be worked out without a brief break. You both might need time to consider things, evaluate, and think. So long as the discussion hasn’t caused someone to scream and storm out the door, going to bed without completely working out a situation might allow for perspective overnight and a more connected, intelligent conversation in the morning.

3. Watch what you say. In today’s social media driven world, words and statements fly without a care. Couples driven to stay happy and connected are careful with what they say, not only to each other, but also about each other. Often, relationships can be defined by what you say about your partner to others when they are not in the room.

4. Forget date nights. It’s all about hotel sex. Date nights are a great attempt to rekindle romance. But, after working all week, diapers and homework assistance, it might not be feasible to downshift over a of couple of hours at dinner.

A better solution is hotel sex. No more, “Shhhhh! The kids!” “Are they asleep yet?” Or the inevitable knock at the door. Want happiness? Get a trusted overnight sitter and head out for an adult night. Get a meal and then head back to the hotel for dessert.

Low on funds due to the economic climate? Nothing wrong with a motel among consenting adults. Use your imagination and unplug from parenting for a bit.

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