Marriage as a priority

Last Sunday in Relief Society we had quite an intresting lesson. Well, actually Emerald always decides to cry at the beginning until the end so I miss most of relief society, but last week I heard about 5 minuets worth of lesson. So...it was an interesting 5 minutes worth. The lesson was about strengthening families. They were discussing how one could not have a strong family without having a strong marriage. And one cannot have a strong marriage without a strong relationship with God. So our priorities should first be God, then our marriage, and then our family. It seems often in our society, or atleast I do, focus so much on the needs of our children we forget the needs of our husbands (or wives). Since having a strong marriage is so important I thought I'd make a list of ways to strengthen a marriage. Good concrete ways you can check off.

1. Weekly dates- Some say Mc Dondalds doesn't count but to me it does (mainly because our dates are to the grocery store...) You don't have to spend any money at all. A walk could count. Just spend time together with your significant other. The same way you did before you were married.

2.Gratitude Journal- Write a journal everyday about 1 good quality of your "other". That way you are constantly looking for their good, and when they do something wrong you have a long list of things they do right.

3.Never talk bad about the other in front of ANYONE! Not friends, parents, neighbors, ect.

4. Companionship Inventory- Every week discuss what is going right, wrong, feelings, concerns, ect.

Improvements to mommy's speghetti

Spaghetti has always been important to my family. My brothers gave up dates to eat it (I would have to if I ever had any dates:), we'd travel for miles just to taste it. But last Sunday my son made some improvements to mommy's speghetti. He took each strand of Speghetti and dipped it in chocolate pudding. Mmmm yummy.

what's going on....as if I knew

So here's our story...Sandi, my husband, was going to join the army. He quit his other job and we went on a wonderful vacation to Utah and then he was suppose to go to training a week after we came home. However, when we got home we were informed he could not go until January, when his permanent residency would be renewed. So we were living with my parents, jobless, and then my insurance canceled. Luckily we cleared up the misunderstanding and have insurance again (hopefully), we found a beautiful 2 bedroom for reletively cheap. The job situation still hasn't cleared up but luckily we have savings to last awhile if we are careful with our spending. We discovered the importance of having that savings because lets face it life does not go how one plans!

Grandparents

Today is grandparents day and in celebration I wanted to dedicate this blog to all the grandparents out there. My grandparents have left a legacy of hard work and devotion to the truth. It is thanks to my grandparents that I have amazing parents who are now grandparents to my children. My children are lucky enough to live close (very,very close) to their grandparents, at least half of them. Topaz's first word was grandpa. Grandpa is his best buddy, grandma is who he runs for if he is hurt or sad. My parents have taught my children in a way only grandparents can. I don't always agree with how my parents do things but one thing is unmistakable...they love my children as much as anyone can besides mom and dad. I know that's how my grandparents thought, and think of me. So on this special day I say thank you to all grandparents who take the time to get to know their grandchildren and happy grandparents day!