[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 984-985]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. AND MRS. JEFFREY HUNT ON JANUARY 20, 2008 
                                WEDDING

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 28, 2008

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, on Sunday, January 20, 2008, my legislative 
assistant, Nicole Schouten, married Jeffrey Hunt in San Diego, 
California. Nicole met Jeff at Westmont College in the bookstore on 
campus. She was a store clerk and he was looking for an excuse to get 
to know Nicole so he frequently stopped in for a soda. Although they 
were both intrigued with each other the timing for their relationship 
wasn't right and they parted ways. Six years later, Jeff and Nicole 
reconnected in Washington, DC, while working on Capitol Hill.
  Nicole and Jeff perfectly compliment each other not only in their 
political views, but in their desire to make their community and world 
a better place. Jeff devotes his time and talents to serving the people 
of Vienna Presbyterian Church and the youth of Arlington, Virginia as a 
Young Life leader. In addition to her busy job and law school 
obligations, Nicole volunteers with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the 
Big Sister/Little Sister program.
  In August 2007 Jeff surprised Nicole with a week long trip to 
Holland. They spent 4 days exploring Amsterdam and the surrounding 
countryside, giving Nicole an opportunity to connect to her Dutch 
heritage. On August 11, 2007, in the Oude Kerk, Amsterdam's first 
parish, Jeff asked for Nicole's hand in marriage. Nicole, of course, 
accepted with enthusiasm.

[[Page 985]]

  I send Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Hunt best wishes for a lifetime of 
happiness and offer them the inspiring words of Wilfred Arlan 
Peterson's poem, The Art of a Good Marriage, as a guide in their new 
life together.

     Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
     A good marriage must be created.
     In marriage the little things are the big things.
     It is never being too old to hold hands.
     It is remembering to say ``I love you'' at least once a day.
     It is never going to sleep angry.
     It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship 
           should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue 
           through the years.
     It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
     It is standing together facing the world.
     It is forming a circle of love that gathers the whole family.
     It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of 
           duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.
     It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating 
           gratitude in thoughtful ways.
     It is not looking for perfection in each other.
     It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a 
           sense of humor.
     It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
     It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow 
           old.
     It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
     It is establishing a relationship in which the independence 
           is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is 
           reciprocal.
     It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the 
           right partner.

  Congratulations Nicole and Jeff.
  And that's just the way it is.

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