By Mandy McFarland Wa-Nee Editor
NAPPANEE ? Romance was the theme, marriage and family the focus at the first Aim Straight Marriage and Family Sweetheart Banquet, held Friday, Feb. 16 in the Restaurant Barn at Amish Acres.
Approximately 275 guests from all over Michiana sat down to a special prime rib dinner at the event, sponsored by the Family Christian Development Center (FCDC) in Nappanee. The banquet was held to honor the Aim Straight Marriage and Family initiative, designed to provide advice and counseling to couples who are just starting out, who may be experiencing tough times in their marriage or who may simply wish to enrich an already strong marriage.
Two local couples received special recognition for demonstrating stability, love and faithfulness within their marriages. They included Scott and Joyce Graybill of Bremen and Jack and Nadine Lengacher of Wakarusa.
FCDC director Joan Andrews listed some of the attributes that the couples of the year had to demonstrate in their respective marriages.

?The number of years they?ve been married, the fruit that comes forth in their children,? she said. ?They have been good examples for the children and grandchildren that have come from that marriage. It?s pretty tough criteria.?
Each couple received a commemorative plaque and a dozen roses, along with an Amish Acres package including an overnight stay at the Inn at Amish Acres, tickets to a show at the Round Barn Theatre and dinner at the Restaurant Barn.
The Graybills have two children and are active members of the Bremen Church of the Brethren. Scott is the CEO at Community Hospital of Bremen and Joyce works for Indiana University at their South Bend and Plymouth campuses.
Scott shared a few secrets to their successful, 30-year marriage.
?A large part of a successful marriage is a commitment to making it work,? he said. ?Our Christian faith has been sustaining and we find that trying to live by Christian principles makes for a happy marriage. Joyce and I have had a lot of fun together through the years. We don?t know what the future holds however we are looking forward to it together.?
The Graybills said they are fortunate to have had good role models in their own parents and their marriages. They are passing the tradition along to their daughter, Lauren, and her husband, Tim Phipps. The young couple just completed the Aim Straight marriage preparation program with a mentor couple.
?They found it very beneficial,? Scott said.
The program trains married couples to mentor other couples in a number of areas, including pre-marital counseling, enriching good relationships and helping couples make wise choices in the face of possible divorce.
?It?s to help those who are in good marriages to move up a step,? said FCDC director Joan Andrews. ?And it gives tools to people who are looking at divorce so they can make a better decision.?
Aim Straight has a solid foundation in both Elkhart and Marshall counties, with plans to expand into Kosciusko and St. Joseph counties soon.
?In five years, we hope to be in most of the northern Indiana area,? Andrews said.
For more information on the Aim Straight Marriage and Family mentor programs call FCDC at 800-437-2149 during business hours ? 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday ? or visit www.fcdcin.org.
Enquirer Editor Holly Heller contributed to this article.