Fifty-One

years ago yesterday, my parents married! Happy Anniversary to my wonderful mother and father. (I was too busy being annoyed with my own darling husband yesterday to post about the joy of marriage, so I'm a day late!)

Aren't my parents so cute?

They were so young, but they stuck!

In honor of my parents and their long marriage, I thought I would share some marriage quotes with you!

"The heart of marriage is memories."

~Bill Cosby

"Marriage should be a duet - when one sings, the other claps."

~Joe Murray

"Sexiness wears thin after a while and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah, now that's a real treat."

~Joanne Woodward

"A successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt every day."

~Andre Maurois

"How sweet is the assurance, how comforting is the peace that come from the knowledge that if we marry right and live right, our relationship will continue, notwithstanding the certainty of death and the passage of time. Men may write love songs and sing them. They may yearn and hope and dream. But all of this will be only a romantic longing unless there is an exercise of authority that transcends the powers of time and death."

~Gordon B. Hinckley

Happy Anniversary Dad and Mom! May you have many more years of happiness together and with all of us! Love you lots!

loving my life

You know how sometimes you can be so busy that you forget to stop to "smell the roses"? Each day comes and goes and I sometimes get lazy in taking time to be grateful for all the wonderful blessing I have in my life. This past week, despite the "busy"ness of the week, I found myself reflecting on all the wonderfulness of my life. Each day, I looked at my children, really looked at them, and took time to notice the things that make them laugh, and the sounds of their chuckles. I watched as they attempted something hard, and kicked back with one another on the tramp and the couch. I watched as they played together, and read a book alone. I spent more time noticing my husband, the efforts he made to help the boys, to love me, to serve his family, and I realized that I have the best life. I have relationships that are loving, giving, and tender.

Thank you Heavenly Father for my life...

The bestest gift he could give...

Last night, as I was laying in the guest room bed with my 4 year old, we were snuggling under the covers and he was telling me about some little antics with his friends at preschool earlier in the day. We were in the guest room due to the fact that his sheets were still in the dryer from a little mishap the previous night, just in case you were wondering.

Within a few minutes, I could tell my little Setheroo was slowly drifting toward the edge of the abyss of unconsciousness. With his eyelids closed, he reached out his warm, moist hand and patted my cheek and whispered in his little boy voice, "I love you so much, Mommy!" And my heart swelled with immeasurable joy at the bestest gift that my little boy could give me.

I hope and pray that when other memories flee with age, that this one that evokes so much joy and love will stay forever and ever. I want to recall the feeling of his hand on my cheek when he is slamming out the door on the way to see his friends, and the whisper of his words as he shouts and hollers about not finding something important in the moment. I want to hold onto the feeling when tears and time obscure the way.

I always want to remember and feel the way I did last night when I received the bestest gift he could give. I love you so much too, Setheroo!