Marriage thoughts

Yesterday one of my cousins was married. He and his wife were both a little older, early thirties. They had a beautiful dinner and reception, wasn't only the venue beautiful (the UofU MOA) but most importantly they took the time to mingle and visit with everyone one on one. You felt important and stories were told about them and their courtship, they both seemed so at peace and you could feel a beautiful spirit in the room, so happy they found eachother. He has a crazy job where he has been off in Siberia and a few weeks from now they'll be going to Indonesia for an adventure with his job. While he was in Siberia and Tulsa (for training) Sarah(his wife) has been coming to all the family activities and already feels part of the family, so down to earth, sweet, sensitive, loyal. I am so happy for them.

I thought of my marriage, I was so young, but I've grown and developed so much, our love has developed so much, we just had to do our growing up together, I wonder would it would be like to already be grown up when you get married like this couple? Yet at the same time I think I needed Gordon's strength and love and the trials we've been through to get where I am. And I still feel I'm just a child still always learning, so unaware, still trying to get a handle on things.

I also loved going to their reception because of the long drive, I know that sounds silly, but that is when Gordon and I talk the best is in the car, no kids to distract, just time to talk, we make resolutions, talk about things we need to in our life, and get on the same page. Our wonderful friends the Tenney's watched our kids, I feel I am always in their debt and though they are younger then us, they've already gone far and beyond and we can look to them as examples in so many ways.

I thought of all the girl friends I have and how Gordon's always been supportive of those relationships, smart really. He realizes I always am a happier person and less needy when I make the time for friends. I am so grateful for my marriage, for my husband, the examples of couples around us, and the support I feel and how we are constantly learning and growning through our whole lives.

Family in Town

I have gained so much admiration on top of what I already felt for my sister-in-law. We've had my husbands brother's family here with nine of their ten kids, their oldest is on a mission and their youngest is not yet three. So we have six growing big boys and 2 young girls along with my three growing kids that went through 3 bags of cereal in one morning. Every meal, every outing, every day is an adventure, fun and exciting though too. It has been a fun challenge planning meals and putting them together and working out the legistics of space and all. Yet, somehow we've been fine and things have worked out, I have not yet lost my mind and I'm learning skills and tricks to feeding large groups several times a day. I've watched my K & M hand out chores to their kids and how they communicate and work with all these children. How M gets the kids to do things without even raising her voice. It seems like a big key is consistency and commitment, and lots of love.

When we were walking around the local campus as a big group, I thought it was really neat for these kids, they will always know they belong with their family and they have a group that they will always belong to. One brother had cruches and couldn't make the long walk, his older brother stayed and sat with him and later even gave him a piggy-back ride to meet up with the big 15 passenger van. Of course they have fights and sibling squabbles but their mom would just stop the car or withhold doing things until they could get along again. These parents love each one of their ten children and the children each know they are loved. They read scriptures together they pray together they work together. There are so many things I have learned to do with my children. Of course I'm writing my blog instead of implimenting all of this with my kids because I'm so tired.

It has been exhausting but fun and so much easier on us as the host instead of being the guest. I am so grateful we've had family come visit us this summer. It is so much easier on our pocket-book, on our children's sleep, on our sleep to be able to stay in our own home and have people visit, esspecially since we have still young children which are so hard to travel with. I think a key with family visiting is just loving and helping eachother, respecting one another and communicating. Wow, I'm so tired to think in and out of everyday is like this and even more crazy when not on vacation for K & M is amazing. I am so grateful for parents like them who bring these beautiful children into the world and raise them to be wonderful citizens, wonderful people and wonderful parents themselves one day.