Highlights of the Christmas Season

(...and one picture to show for it, because we've been too busy having fun to remember to document it, whoops...)

>> The Glenn's darling Christmas party that included homemade Café Rio, Chili's chips and salsa, the cutest drink station you've ever seen, and lots of fun games. They call Grace the Country Club Woman for a reason.

>> All these people sending out Christmas cards out the goodness of their hearts and not even getting any graduation money back or anything ;) --I loved seeing all of them! One year we will do one...one year.

>> 2 Sub-for-Santa opportunities for a family friend in need.

>> My grandma's prime rib and minute-to-win-it games at the Anderson Christmas party.

>> A nail appointment on Christmas Eve-Eve with my Ar.

>> Seeing our niece and nephews get so excited when Santa showed up at the Gregory's on Christmas Eve. I wish we could all believe in Santa forever. Also, that app that puts Santa in front of your tree and looks so real!? Genius!

>> Waking up to a WHITE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE! And the fact that I was actually excited about snow for once--that's another miracle.

>> Such thoughtful gifts from the best families that we really don't deserve.

>> Talking to our ELDER GREGORY!!! He is too adorable for words and doing so so well.

>> Seeing UNBROKEN. Louis Zamperini (= my new hero) taught me that I can do HARD THINGS and with a GOOD ATTITUDE! That movie also taught me there actually are worse things in life than being eaten by a shark.

>> Having our own little present exchange Christmas NIGHT this year, which was really fun because it made Christmas last all day! AND...

>> Being able to still surprise Bren with a few gifts he wasn't expecting. I have always loved giving gifts. I saw this quote floating around social media this year that explained why I love it so much: "Presents are the best way to show someone how much you care. It's like this tangible thing that you can point to and say, 'Hey man, I love you this many dollars worth'." AMEN Steve Carell!

>> My Made by Mary necklaces that are so sweet and personal they melted my heart into a big puddle on the floor.

>> Remembering the CHRIST in Christmas. Ever since I was a little girl I would never spell Christmas with an X because I thought it was a big fat sin-- still do. This video was the perfect reminder of the first and most important gift, ever. It is because of Him that we can be married & merry forever :)

xoxo

An Extra Good Week

Reasons this week has been an eeeeextra good one:

>> I cooked dinner 3 times IN A ROW!!! Monday Tuesday Wednesday! My dad would call that a PR (personal record).

>> AND the kitchen was stocked with good food and snacks all week. Switchin things up at the grocery store.

>> I went to an INTENSE workout class with my friends one night. I may or may not have almost thrown up mid class. Lesson learned: do not eat at least 4 hours before.

>> The laundry is not only ALL caught up but all folded too! Now if only I could find the time to iron all Bren's shirts...

>> One of Bren's Christmas presents came in the mail and not one but TWO of the item came and they only charged my card once! Even though we have no use for the second one that's still kind of cool I guess?

>> The package we're sending to Elder Gregory is 95% complete and will be ready to be mailed tomorrow! Those missionary packages are quite the project. Can't wait to talk to him in SIX days!!!

>> I am taking control of my shopping problem that is not helping while we are trying to save for a vacation in June. Step one of the recovery process was unfollowing all the shops on my Instagram. It was sad and hard, like a breakup guys! *It's not you, it's me* But at the same time worth it when I told Bren and his jaw dropped, followed by a high five, and lots of "I'm so proud of you!" 's.

>> Brennan didn't force me to go to the new Hobbit movie with him (I told him I'd rather poke both of my eyes out than see it) and went with his friends last night,

>>so...I had a sister date with my Ar! I picked her up and asked what we were doing and she told me she wanted to go to Color Me Mine! Aka the most fun yet stressful place on the planet. Then Starbucks. Then watched Lauren Conrad's new documentary. I rrrrrrrrrrreally love her. She's living my dream.

From Ar's snapchat while I was trying to be artsy with the lace. Ended up being a total fail.

Reason number one this place is so stressful is that the colors you paint with are not how they look once they are cooked! Trying to imagine my cobalt blue butter dish was not easy. But how cute is Ari's Owl dish!?

HOW BEAUTIFUL IS SHE!? She got all the good genes even though no matter how many times I tell her she doesn't believe me. It means the world to me that she makes time for her boring old sis.

And that is what #WINNING looks like to me these past four days.

 

xoxo

27 Reasons I Love the Birthday Boy// BirthWEEK!

1. As his alarm went off the day after his birthday, he leaned over and turned it off, and then said in the saddest, half asleep voice, "It's not my birthday anymore :(" HAHA!

2. He is my life coach,

3. personal comedian,

4. and permanent morning cuddler.

5. He NEVER lets me speak poorly of myself. That conversation lasts about 5 seconds before coming to a screeching hault and then turns into him making me feel better.

6. He is the HARDEST worker, and it just keeps building and building every month. He makes personal goals that I sometimes even wonder if he will reach, and he does every single time! Amazes me.

7. He is the definition of selfless.

8. I love how seriously he takes the gym. It's so cute to me.

9. When he makes crepes for us on Sundays he talks like he's on his own Food Network show in an Australian accent the whole time.

10. I love his few gray hairs.

11. One night we were sitting at home and I was thinking about overcoming obstacles for some reason. For the life of me all I could think of was the time when I was a freshman and ran the mile and a half in the time we had to to pass health class HAHAHA and I was not feeling too cool about myself. I asked Bren if he could think of any obstacles I've overcome and without skipping a beat he named off about 8 things.

12. ^^ Sometimes I think he knows me better than I know myself.

13. ^^ He has taught me to love myself.

14. He is the most understanding person I've ever known.

15. He has this adorable genuine laugh,

16. and he laughs with me even when I'm not funny to make me feel good.

17. He is not only handsome but SO GOOD LOOKING. hubba hubba

18. I love his sweet testimony.

19. I love that he's artistic- his handwriting, his photography, his drawings- I love it all.

20. I love that it takes him so much time to make a purchase, no matter how big or small it is. He's so careful and logical it's almost comical.

21. I love that he's emotional. He'll watch these videos he sees on Facebook and Twitter that just touch his big heart.

22. I love that he'll sit in the car with me after we've gotten home and belt One Direction with me until the song is over.

23. I love that he loves trying new things.

24. I love that he's listening to The Plan of Salvation audiobook in his car right now. And how excited he gets when he tells me something new he learned from it.

25. He has no enemies.

26. I love how much I look up to him.

27. He makes life so fun every single day.

^^That was totally supposed to be posted on his actual birthday but to say that last week was the busiest week of our lives would not be an exaggerated statement. Here's the run down of Bren's birthWEEK:

 

Months leading up to his birthday I started asking Bren what he wanted to do for his birthday. I came up with every idea from a weekend in Park City to a pizza and game night with his friends to a painting class. And everytime he would tell me he wanted nothing for his birthday and that he just wanted to go to dinner with me... #funsucker. I am so glad it didn't turn out that way because he deserves the whole world and then some.

 

His actual birthday began with a birthday breakfast tradition that I started last year before he headed off to work (workaholic, remember).

 

 

That night it continued with Cheesecake Factory, present opening, and renting X-Men off Redbox because I said he could watch whatever movie his little heart desired.

 

 

The next night was his family party at Redrock pizza where he was gifted Jazz tickets for the next night (to keep the birthweek rollin)--thanks Morgan & Ted!

 

 

They brought their little Luke and he was AMAZING the whole time! Just sat on our laps and was in a daze about everything happening around him.

 

 

Bren's HEAVEN with a capital H!

 

The next morning we went to a painting class that my sweet mom put together for Bren's birthday at Painting with a Twist!

 

Please notice my T-Swift tee, my favorite $11 purchase EVER

 The BEST gift idea, thanks mom!

 

 

It was actually even more fun than I thought it would be, and I'm not the artistic one! There's just something so liberating about swiping some paint onto a canvas. Bren and I already want to go back!

 

 

After that we changed and hurried up to Park City for my company party! Our CEO told me he had a condo at Canyon's resort that he wanted people to hang out and eat in between their choice of skiing, a massage, or shopping at the outlets before having dinner at a restaurant at Canyon's. He also said he wanted to have a drawing for 4 employees and their spouses to stay the weekend there. I went up there Friday to cook and prepare for everybody to come up the next day and as I pulled up I realized it was NOT a condo.

 

 

More like a 10,000 square foot Parade of Homes home.

 

 

With an elevator.

 

Here's a very low quailty picture of us in the elevator hehe.

But that's just the humble kind of guy my boss is. So the invitations went out with an address to "Curt's Condo" LOL.

 

We shopped at the outlets and Bren even found something he loved for Christmas that he actually let me buy for him (Christmas miracle)! Then we got a free steak dinner. Talk about a Happy Birthweek.

 

To say Brennan was spoiled this year isn't even scratching the surface. He is SO LOVED. By everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And who can resist a man in Topman? Not me!

 

Back to back days of celebrating for such a special human being. He's everything, guys.

 

xoxo

These are a few of our favorite things...

I was lucky enough to be invited to a "favorite things" party this last weekend. Here's how it worked: Bring 5 of one of your favorite things around $12-$15 each and go home with 5 different favorite things! I was so excited and thought this was the cutest idea. The dinner and exchange was hosted by Whitney & Nakita at Whit's darling downtown loft.

The gifts were (not all shown): Madewell socks, a J.Crew jewelry dish, an ornament from Bloomingsales, a planted succulent, Frye leather protectant for our boots, a Chick-Fil-A gift card, Mario Badescu drying lotion, and I brought NYX matte lip creams in my 3 favorite shades and NYX white eyeliner, my favorite makeup trick as of late!

And there you have it! Because who says only Oprah can have favorite things?

xoxo



PRESENTly...

Making these lettuce wraps that we had for dinner last night. If I would have been blind folded I would've thought I was at P.F. Chang's. SO GOOD, SO EASY, SO CHEAP, and SO (I think?) HEALTHY. If they aren't healthy, please don't tell me. Ignorance is bliss.

Starting serialpodcast.org

Eating those little individual packages of the dark chocolate pomegranates from Costco- brilliant, just brilliant. Also, CUTIES! Sprouts has some great ones right now.

Drinking almond milk egg nog, WHERE MY EGG NOG LOVERS AT?! Because my husband is not one of them, and I need to know I'm not alone.

Craving BONSAI. And Chipotle, but that's 24/7.

Listening to "Jealous" by Nick Jonas #guiltypleasure aaaand ARIANA GRANDE. Girl's got pipes. Also that "Take Me to Church" song.

Planning Bren's birthday celebrations

Awaiting a (faraway) vacation     

 

Convincing Brennan to like certain future baby names

 

Hoping the company Christmas party in Park City next weekend that I planned goes off without a hitch.

Hearing Brennan laugh in the shower right now while I'm laying in bed.......................odd.

Liking all of kristen_ess's photos on Instagram. I LOVE following her, and it's not just because she's Lauren Conrad's hairdresser k?

Learning the right lyrics to Tay Swift's hit song of the moment. Please tell me I'm not the only one who thought she was saying "Starbucks lovers"...

Wishing I was a better present wrapper

Wanting over the knee boots

Needing (1) a pedicure and (2) a new series to watch on Netflix (any recommendations?)

Laughing about 2 nights ago when Brennan woke up in the middle of the night, PUT HIS SOCKS ON, and started walking towards the front door. His parents have warned me that he's made it all the way to his car before and this really disturbs me. Sleep walkers are scary. But we're both still laughing about it.

 

xoxo

Thanksgiving Weekend Summed Up

This weekend consisted of mainly 3 things:

one- eating,

two- shopping,

& three- decorating,

with a few little surprises thrown in :)

 

The eating...

 

Sweater: Called to Surf

started at my grandma's on Thanksgiving day, then continued at Bren's parents. I came ready to eat in my mashed potatoes and gravy sweater (get it?) and we were FILLED TO THE BRIM.

And then the next morning before we hit the Black Friday madness, we tried The Original Pancake House for the first time and it is our new favorite breakfast place! Please go there and then call me so we can discuss their bacon.

 

The next night we went The Cheesecake Factory and of course we can never leave without taking a slice home to share. Also, have you ever tried the Louisiana Chicken there?! You really, really, really need to.

The shopping...

 

We managed to get to the outlets, the mall, Target, and Scheels ALL IN ONE DAY. And no, we couldn't feel our feet, thanks for asking. But it really wasn't too bad when your shopping partner is as goofy as that guy.

 

Also, I feel it is my duty to share that this candle at Target smells EXACTLY the same as Anthro's Capri Blue and is $10. Now Anthro, please don't sue.

 

The decorating...

 

 

 

Bren took some darling pics after we got our Christmas decorations up Saturday, I'll have to share them all sometime. It's amazing what a tree with some lights can do for someone's little spirit. Also, while we were at Target smelling all the candles, Bren really wanted a pine-scented one because he wanted our condo to smell like Christmas- HA! So I think next year we may just need to get a real tree, they just seem so festive- does anyone have any insight or opinions on this?

 

 

A few little suprises...

 

 

Surprise tickets to a Utah basketball game. As you can tell from the seats behind us, it was PACKED! Haha. My $4 box of sour patch kids kept me entertained. Brennan tells me I feel like his little girl sometimes...I wonder why...hehe.

 

 

Watching Bren teach the whole primary lesson on Daniel & the Lions Den to our rowdy 11 year olds. For some reason, watching him teach MELTS ME. The stories he tells from his mission, the way he draws on the white board, seriously- his top 5 cutest moments. He always naps longer than me on Sundays, and I'm always dying for him to wake up because I rrrrreally miss him. Is that weird? It's totally weird, but I just want to hang out with him because he's so fun.

 

 

Walking in on Sunday cuddles with Ezzie.. Usually cuddling at age 3 is NOT cool...but who can resist uncle Bubby?

 

 

Coming home last night and finding these in the mail was a pleasant surprise since they told us it would be around two months until we'd get them! Feelin' official over in condo 834. I would show you the passport pictures but you'd die laughing- I was not blessed with the photogenic gene, and Amanda Bynes tweeted it best: "I want all the ugly shots of me deleted from the internet- that's what makes me feel ugly."

 

LOL 

 

WAIT- One last thing. I have lived my entire blog life never understanding WHY I could not reply to comments! I just thought I wasn't seeing a button everyone else was seeing? So I finally googled it and fixed it so this is no longer an awkward one sided conversation and I can thank you because every single comment makes me smile real big when I read it. Glad I could explain myself, I'll let you go now.

 

xoxo

 

 

Grateful List 2014

>> I am grateful for a husband that reminds us to pray every night.

>> I am grateful for a hairdresser that makes me feel so happy and loved after leaving her chair.

>> I am grateful for the commercial policy Brennan wrote this month, his very first one after a lot of hard work.

>> I am grateful for a healthy body.

>> I am grateful for cameras. I have always been amazed that we can save a moment with the click of a button.

>> I am grateful for MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC.

>> I am grateful for the cheap movie night every Tuesday at Jordan Commons.

>> I am grateful for HEAT. 

>> I am grateful to be married to such an understanding person. 

>> I am grateful for Ben and for Jerry. 

>> I am grateful for my younger sister who teaches me more than I teach her. She's so calm, cool and collective.

>> I am grateful for free shipping. 

>>  I am grateful for a grandma that slaves away in the kitchen weeks before Thanksgiving to make sure it is the tastiest day of the year. 

>> AND I am so grateful to live so close to both of our families and that we are able to see them as much as we do. 

>> I am grateful I still get to sing primary songs every single Sunday.

>> I am grateful for Gracie.

>> I am grateful for a job that lets me come when I want and leave when I want. (I would probably be fired if I worked anywhere else.)

>> I am grateful for experiences that change and refine me.

>> I am grateful that Brennan is good with money & a good saver.

>> I am grateful to be an aunt to some pretty dang cute kids.

>> I am grateful for the restaurants that give you good lemon wedges instead of those sissy ones you can't even squeeze into your water.

>> I am grateful for supportive parents who listen to all my crazy ideas and make me even more excited about them. My happiness is just as important to them as it is to me.

>> I am grateful to have the cutest brother-in-law serving a mission who writes the most hilarious letters.

>> I am grateful to be so loved by the coolest human being on the planet. There is nothing in this world like it, and for that I am so so grateful. 

NOT YOUR AVERAGE WEEKEND // LIFE LESSONS

The only picture that was taken this weekend...ha ha ha 

THINGS THAT WENT WRONG/SADS:
>>Not being able to nanny Jayda & Cruz anymore because my work needs me to start working Fridays.
>>Feelings being hurt by a friend.
>>Craving sour patch kids BAD so I grabbed some at the store and the entire bag is not even sour :(
>>Getting a flat and taking it in to get fixed. "Surprise! You need all new tires. Today. For $800. Debit or credit?" I started crying at the Burt Brothers counter, feel free to call me dramatic. Goodbye money for Christmas and Bren's birthday.
>>Not being able to make it to the Jazz game that sweet Mo & Ted invited us to because we were stuck waiting for my car to get finished until 6.

THINGS THAT WENT RIGHT/HAPPYS:
>>Triple date with the Glenn's & Nicol's to Porcupine and then back to our place for pizookies and lots of rounds of Heads Up. Many needed laughs that night.
>>Finding out that Derek Jeter & Mark Cuban were having a breakfast with fans in NYC the DAY AFTER Bren's birthday (his two IDOLS) and being ONE click away from booking cheap flights I found and deciding not to. This is a "thing that went right" because I got the new-tire-news the next day. Someone's watching over me.
>>My dad coming to the rescue right after calling him saying I got a flat, and then helping me put the spare on in a rain/wind storm. Ya, we've had more fun times.
>>Brennan rushing to Burt Brothers after the Utah game (that I refused to go to with him in this weather) and sat with me for an hour while they finished my car even though he was soaked and freezing cold from being at the game and giving me the "everything is fine, we save for this kind of stuff Ash!" talk.
>>Walking out of Burt Brothers, getting into my car with new tires, and 30 seconds later it starts snowing, HARD. Blessing in disguise?
>>When I was grumpy from my long hard day and didn't want to go out again, especially in the snow, Bren went and picked up Mexican food, sour patch kids that were actually sour (hooray!), and my favorite Ben & Jerry's flavor.
>>Bren doing impersonations from Breaking Bad because he knows it makes me laugh every time without fail and would get me in a good mood again.

I feel like I needed to write this post to remind myself that the good ALWAYS outweighs the bad, and that even when we hit little bumps in the road, it all works out. Oh, and that everything happens for a reason, no doubt about it. And being married to Brennan? That is the biggest cherry/blessing on top. He makes life so good and so happy even on bad days that they actually turn into good days every single time.

xoxo

Things I've Learned Lately

Pants: old, like ancient Shoes: Nike

1. Crunching leaves is still fun at 21.

2. Keep my opinions to myself- with the exception of my mom and husband.

3. You have to set up an appointment to get a passport. What happened to the days of being able to walk into any post office?

4. I am a bad driver (news to me). Last night Brennan told me he would be safer driving with Helen Keller.

5. The louder you listen to Taylor Swift's new album, the better it is (probably because you can't hear me trying to sing along). My favorite: I Know Places.

6. Those boutiques that post their clothes on Instagram are way more dangerous than the mall.

7. You have to check the expiration date on milk at the grocery store (yes you can laugh, I literally have never thought to worry about it before). I guess I've been under the impression that grocery stores have our best interest my whole life? Why would they sell you milk that goes bad tomorrow? Well, they do, but I'm not falling for it again.

xoxo

This n That

This post has no specific point or reason so brace yourself for randomness...

 

My cute nephew turned 1 and we were so lucky to be invited to his very first birthday party.

 

Shirt: Soel Boutique, Jeans: Gap (old), Hat: Bohme

 

#brennanandbaby

We visited my sister in Provo and tried the Provo-famous 180 Tacos.

 

We then headed to the mall where Ari and I waited for Brennan outside of every store.

Jumpsuit: H&M
 

I've been on a Pioneer Woman kick lately, and one day while Brennan was golfing in the rain,

 

I watched every single episode from her Food Network show that was on Netflix. I am convinced she loves butter more than her husband. Bren happened to come home during an episode when she was making homemade sloppy joes and said "WE SHOULD MAKE THOSE!" (of all things)

 

 

Your wish is my command babe. They were as easy as 1-2-3.

 

Sometimes I show up at Bren's work and bug him to death until he tells me in the most loving way possible that I'm driving him crazy,

top: Anthro

so then I go hang out with people who can't tell me that even if I am driving them crazy (AKA little York).

 

And also, THIS is the best thing you will ever order at Blue Lemon.

 

We had a date night to the Jazz game all thanks to Brennan, who did that special of buying Jazz license plates and getting 2 lower bowl tickets for fa-REE! Always looking out for us, that handsome kid.

 

Have I ever written on here about how our first date was to a Jazz game and we were on the kiss cam? I don't think I have, but it happened, and it was probably the 2nd or 3rd time we'd ever kissed-for all Jazz fans to see. I even kind of waved my hands at first in a "no" manner for a second (I was a shy little thing) and that is probably why we haven't been on it again since.

Top: Old Navy

After that we headed to Maxwell's because Bren had never been there! I had only been to the Park City one so we were both surprised when we walked in and discovered the downtown one is a CLUB. As we were eating a worker came up to us and asked us if we'd like to rent our table for the night for $25. I felt like I was on an episode of The Hills, HA.

 

When we heard that Art City Donuts would be at the Nordstrom's at Fashion Place it was music to my ears. Talk about a perfect combo! It had my name written all over it.

 

How am I not 400 pounds yet?

And can I just give the front camera a shout out? Thank you for savin' mems even when no one is around to take our picture. I am so grateful for you (even when it isn't the month of November).

 

That night while Bren went to the Utah/Oregon football game with his friend I third-wheeled with the parents. Well actually, my dad third-wheeled (sorry dad) while my mom and I oooo'd and ahhhh'd over all the darling Christmas decorations at Target. They were all 25% off so OF COURSE we had to take advantage.

Sweatshirt: F21 Vest: Called to Surf Jeans: Nordstrom

Then we went to Bonsai, best place ever! THANK YOU FOR THE FREE MEAL MOM & DAD! Love, your poor newlywed daughter.

 

We also made our weekly trip to Cubby's and Brennan ordered the KALE SALAD. Shock of the century to say the least...

 

...which inspired me to whip myself into shape too so off to Whole Foods I went.

 

I've been falling asleep before 10 pm lately (I know, my poor husband) so either

1- I have mono

or

2- I have lost muscle mass and need to eat better.

 

I think it's the second, so I'm going to get myself back to the gym and eat well 80% of the time. Because a life without pizza on the weekends is not a life worth living. Can I get an amen?

 

xoxo

 

P.S. Hopefully the people who emailed me like that I'm posting where to get things...if you think I'm an idiot and should stop, you can also email me that too. :) 



My FAVORITE Marriage Talk

 

I wanted to share my favorite marriage talk that I try my very best to read once a week. I love every single word of it, especially the last half- and if the last paragraph doesn't bring a tear to your eye you're lying. I LOVE how personal Richard G. Scott gets. I LOVE how much he loves his wife. I LOVE how it reminds me of the power of my own marriage and the blessings that come from it. I LOVE my church. Where would I be without these comforting words and a marriage that lasts beyond this life?

 

This is the entire talk, but I am going to share my favorite part here:

 

Do you tell your wife often how very much you love her? It will bring her great happiness. I’ve heard men tell me when I say that, “Oh, she knows.” You need to tell her. A woman grows and is greatly blessed by that reassurance. Express gratitude for what your spouse does for you. Express that love and gratitude often. That will make life far richer and more pleasant and purposeful. Don’t withhold those natural expressions of love. And it works a lot better if you are holding her close while you tell her.

 

I learned from my wife the importance of expressions of love. Early in our marriage, often I would open my scriptures to give a message in a meeting, and I would find an affectionate, supportive note Jeanene had slipped into the pages. Sometimes they were so tender that I could hardly talk. Those precious notes from a loving wife were and continue to be a priceless treasure of comfort and inspiration.

 

I began to do the same thing with her, not realizing how much it truly meant to her. I remember one year we didn’t have the resources for me to give her a valentine, so I decided to paint a watercolor on the front of the refrigerator. I did the best I could; only I made one mistake. It was enamel paint, not watercolor. She never let me try to remove that permanent paint from the refrigerator.

 

I remember one day I took some of those little round paper circles that form when you punch holes in paper, and I wrote on them the numbers 1 to 100. I turned each over and wrote her a message, one word on each circle. Then I scooped them up and put them in an envelope. I thought she would get a good laugh.

 

When she passed away, I found in her private things how much she appreciated the simple messages that we shared with each other. I noted that she had carefully pasted every one of those circles on a piece of paper. She not only kept my notes to her, but she protected them with plastic coverings as if they were a valuable treasure. There is only one that she didn’t put with the others. It is still behind the glass in our kitchen clock. It reads, “Jeanene, it is time to tell you I love you.” It remains there and reminds me of that exceptional daughter of Father in Heaven.

 

As I have thought back over our life together, I realize how blessed we’ve been. We have not had arguments in our home or unkind words between us. Now I realize that blessing came because of her. It resulted from her willingness to give, to share, and to never think of herself. In our later life together, I tried to emulate her example. I suggest that as husband and wife you do the same in your home.

 

Pure love is an incomparable, potent power for good. Righteous love is the foundation of a successful marriage. It is the primary cause of contented, well-developed children. Who can justly measure the righteous influence of a mother’s love? What enduring fruits result from the seeds of truth that a mother carefully plants and lovingly cultivates in the fertile soil of a child’s trusting mind and heart? As a mother you have been given divine instincts to help you sense your child’s special talents and unique capacities. With your husband you can nurture, strengthen, and cause those traits to flower.

 

It is so rewarding to be married. Marriage is wonderful. In time you begin to think alike and have the same ideas and impressions. You have times when you are extremely happy, times of testing, and times of trial, but the Lord guides you through all of those growth experiences together.

 

One night our little son Richard, who had a heart problem, awoke crying. The two of us heard it. Normally my wife always got up to take care of a crying baby, but this time I said, “I’ll take care of him.”

 

Because of his problem, when he began to cry, his little heart would pound very rapidly. He would throw up and soil the bed clothing. That night I held him very close to try to calm his racing heart and stop his crying as I changed his clothes and put on new bedsheets. I held him until he went to sleep. I didn’t know then that just a few months later he would pass away. I will always remember holding him in my arms in the middle of that night.

 

I remember well the day he passed away. As Jeanene and I drove from the hospital, we pulled over to the side of the road. I held her in my arms. Each of us cried some, but we realized that we would have him beyond the veil because of the covenants we had made in the temple. That made his loss somewhat easier to accept.

 

Jeanene’s kindness taught me so many valuable things. I was so immature, and she was so disciplined and so spiritual. Marriage provides an ideal setting for overcoming any tendency to be selfish or self-centered. I think one of the reasons that we are counseled to get married early in life is to avoid developing inappropriate character traits that are hard to change.

 

I feel sorry for any man who hasn’t yet made the choice to seek an eternal companion, and my heart weeps for the sisters who haven’t had the opportunity to marry. Some of you may feel lonely and unappreciated and cannot see how it will be possible for you to have the blessings of marriage and children or your own family. All things are possible to the Lord, and He keeps the promises He inspires His prophets to declare. Eternity is a long time. Have faith in those promises and live to be worthy of them so that in His time the Lord can make them come true in your life. With certainty, you will receive every promised blessing for which you are worthy.

 

Please pardon me for speaking of my precious wife, Jeanene, but we are an eternal family. She was always joyously happy, and much of it came from service to others. Even while very ill, in her morning prayer she would ask her Father in Heaven to lead her to someone she could help. That sincere supplication was answered time and again. The burdens of many were eased; their lives were brightened. She was blessed continually for being an instrument directed by the Lord.

 

I know what it is to love a daughter of Father in Heaven who with grace and devotion lived the full feminine splendor of her righteous womanhood. I am confident that when, in our future, I see her again beyond the veil, we will recognize that we have become even more deeply in love. We will appreciate each other even more, having spent this time separated by the veil. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.