Happy Birthday to me, but something more important…

Today is my 39th birthday.  I’m not telling you this to get attention.  I am telling you this because it marks an even more important occasion.  I was married on June 19, 1992, which just happened to be my half birthday. I was 19 1/2. Today I have been married for exactly as long as I was single. 

It seems so surreal.  The first 19 1/2 years went by so slow.  The last 19 1/2 years have gone by in a flash.  And the fact that I have 4 children, including an 18 year old son, just blows my mind. 

My husband is my best friend.  We were friends first and love grew from that.  It grew quickly (we dated for 3 1/2 weeks before we were engaged), but we were friends before we started to date.  And that friendship has only deepened over the years. 

I’m not saying we haven’t had our differences.  We usually have one pretty big argument every year, and many small ones.  But we stick it out and don’t give up.  When he was out of work and depressed, there were days that I really thought we weren’t going to make it because I couldn’t stand to be around him. 

But because we have been sealed in the temple, we have added incentive to stay together.  We are together for all of eternity.  Not just ‘til death do you part, but for time and for all eternity.  It’s a wonderful thing.  We have each other forever. 

So tomorrow starts a new phase in my life.  I will have been in my husband’s house longer than I was in my parents’ house.  Weird. 

Prince Charming

Ring, ring

Do you ever take your wedding ring off?  The only time I take mine off is when I am making bread or cinnamon rolls (or anything doughy where I would have to dig the dough out of the ring).  I don’t take it off to shower, and I don’t take it off to wash my hands. 

I remember shortly after I got engaged, I overheard my roommate comment to another person about how weird it was that I never took my ring off.  I thought, “Well, I’m not concerned that it’s going to turn my finger green, so what’s the problem?”  My mom never took hers off and I had never heard of someone taking it off to do simple things around the house.  There was one girl in our apartment complex that was engaged for only a couple of days, took her ring off to shower, and lost it.  I was appalled that she would treat it so casually, knowing that it cost hundreds of dollars.

I did take it off when I was pregnant because I swelled up so bad that it didn’t fit.  But I tried every day after each birth until I was able to squeeze it on.  I like showing to everyone that I am taken! 

19

I was 18 when I got engaged, and I was 19 when I got married.  19 1/2 exactly.  I was born on December 19th, and I got married on June 19th.

Again, my poor parents.  I cannot even imagine what I would do if my daughter wants to get married when she is still a teenager!

18

Oh, my poor parents.  I don’t know what was going through their heads, but I know I would kill my daughter, or at least hide her for a couple years.

What, you don’t know what I am talking about?  Sorry.

I got engaged when I was only 18 years old.

18.

To their credit, they never said a word to me about being too young. 

Or maybe they did, and I just didn’t listen!

18

I have been married for 18 years.  It sounds like a really, really long time, but it feels like yesterday.  We have had our ups and our downs.  But we are happy, and we are together forever.  And that’s what matters.

Love

I was watching a documentary the other day and the parents were seperating. They had a lot of struggles with their daughter's health, and mom said she realized that she just wasn't in love with her husband anymore.

Now, I obviously don't know the whole story, but it hit me hard. There have been several times in my marriage when I have felt the same way. And it is usually when we are going through trials.

When The Doctor was out of work and then working but incredibly unhappy, he was really depressed. He was moody and snappy and not very much fun to be around. There were times that I really wondered if I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this man. I knew that deep down I really did love him, but I didn't like him very much.

I can hear everyone gasping and choking. But I'm sorry. It's true.

However...

Because we were sealed in the temple, I knew I had more to work towards. So I muddled through. And yes, at times, it felt like I was wading through a pool of muck and mud. But I did it because I knew that things had to get better.

And you know what? They did. It didn't happen overnight. But things eventually got better. We are still together and we are still in love.

I think that a lot of people want the same love that they felt when they were first married. You know, that gagging, sugar sweet lovey dovey stuff. Well, that doesn't last. Ever. You grow and mature and the love I feel for The Doctor today is deeper and more intense than I felt 17 years ago.

And that's a good thing.

19

I was 19 when I got married. For some people, that is too young. But I was ready. I was so in love with The Doctor and he was in love with me.
The day of our wedding, I prayed to Heavenly Father that he would confirm to me that I was doing the right thing.
As we kneeled across the alter in the temple, I felt the most overwhelming confirmation that I was marrying the right person at the right time, in the right place.
There have been times throughout my marriage that I have wondered what in the world I had done, but I am always able to go back to that moment and know that I am where I am supposed to be.
I love you babe!

Blast from the Past

June 19, 1992 - Idaho Falls Temple

My wedding day. Oh my gosh, I was so young! I was 19, The Doctor was 23. My parents are next to me (Mom in purple, Dad next to her) and The Doctor's parents are next to him. The cute little girl in pink in front? Is now 27 and has 3 kids of her own. The cute girl hiding behind me in the black dress with white polka dots? Just turned 30 Saturday and is the best aunt ever to my kids!
I am amazed at how fast life goes by.

I am against gay marriage

I am not a political person. I don't get involved in politics, other than to vote. I don't enjoy talking about politics, and I definitely don't enjoy debating about them either.

So I am taking a bold step in the unknown for me.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have been all my life. I have a firm testimony of the gospel and all that it stands for.

Recently, the church came out and asked people in California to use their time and means to fight allowing gay marriage. I support my church in this request. While I don't live in California, I am opposed to gay marriages. I believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

The church has published an interview with two of it's General Authorities on same-gender attraction. I believe it explains a lot on our views.

I encourage all of us with blogs to put this out there and show our support to our prophet, our church, and our Heavenly Father.

16 years and counting...

Happy Anniversary, my love!