a sense of urgency. Who can find a family today without the scars of divorce? What God intended from the beginning, the family has become completely distorted in today's society.

This book is about real answers and solutions to the family crisis today. The biblical keys presented here may not be new but have rarely been followed or adhered to.

The premarriage classes Dottie and her husband Dan formed over thirty years ago were birthed from A Biblical Portrait of Marriage by Bruce Wilkinson through the Bible ministries. Bruce proposed together with local clergy and court authorities to come into a covenant agreement to not join a couple in marriage before completing a structured premarriage course or counseling. The result of this agreement adhered to over ten years produced a drop in the divorce rate by 40 percent. This was significant!

Because of this testimony, Dottie and Dan formulated premarriage classes in every church they attended from that point on. Their results have been equally rewarding, having very few divorces because of these marriage preparation classes.

These classes birthed the need for the inclusion of "blended family" classes also, and because Dottie and Dan had firsthand knowledge of blending their own family, it was only natural to include their personal experiences.

The finished book in your hands now is their journey toward a successful long-term marriage and workable family unit. Hopefully, the keys given here will prevent future family separation through divorce and become a building block for future generations.

Successful marriages begin with God and His foundational principles. Until we are secure in Him, our journey will always be unsure. Trust, faith, perseverance, and love are the only foundational principles that last. Learning how to incorporate these principles is just the beginning of a secure foundation.