function validate(theForm) {

	/*  regular expressions  */
	var validemail = /^([A-Za-z0-9_\-\.])+\@([A-Za-z0-9_\-\.])+\.([A-Za-z]{2,4})$/;
	
	var input = theForm.first_name.value;
	if( input.length < 2 ) {
		alert("Please enter your First Name to continue.");
		theForm.first_name.focus();
		return (false);
	}
	
	var input = theForm.last_name.value;
	if( input.length < 2 ) {
		alert("Please enter your Last Name to continue.");
		theForm.last_name.focus();
		return (false);
	}

	var input = theForm.elements[2].value;
	if( input.length < 5 ) {
		alert("Please enter a valid Address to continue.");
		theForm.elements[1].focus();
		return (false);
		}
	
	var input = theForm.elements[3].value;
	if( input.length < 2 ) {
		alert("Please enter a valid City to continue.");
		theForm.elements[2].focus();
		return (false);
	}
	
	var input = theForm.elements[4].value;
	if( input.length < 2 ) {
		alert("Please enter a valid State to continue.");
		theForm.elements[4].focus();
		return (false);
	}
	
	var input = theForm.elements[5].value;
	if( input.length < 5 ) {
		alert("Please enter a valid Zip code to continue.");
		theForm.elements[5].focus();
		return (false);
	}
	
	var input = theForm.elements[6].value;
	if( input.length < 2 ) {
		alert("Please enter a valid Country to continue.");
		theForm.elements[6].focus();
		return (false);
	}
	
	var input = theForm.email.value;
	if(validemail.test(input) == false) {
		alert("Please enter a valid Email address to continue.");
		theForm.email.focus();
		return (false);
	}
	
	var input = theForm.elements[8].value;
	if( input.length < 10 ) {
		alert("Please enter a valid Phone number to continue.");
		theForm.elements[8].focus();
		return (false);
	}

	return (true);
	
}