SIX MONTHS INTO FOREVER

Today marks Devan and I being married for six months. As I was thinking about how fast it has flown by I started thinking about our wedding and everything leading up to it.

 When Devan and I started dating seriously and then got engaged it was so great and I couldn't have been any more happy. So it really surprised me the response a lot of people had once we were engaged. 

Immediately everybody decided they needed to tell me just their opinion on marriage and what I was getting myself into. I don't think anyone meant it personally, but apparently a lot of people think they have so much knowledge to impart on this subject that they need to tell everybody and their dog. 

I remember a couple of people telling me that marriage was "the hardest thing you'll ever do" and not just the fact that they said this, but they said it in a way that made it sound like I was signing up to go to prison. Most of these people giving me their opinion are not even that close to me or even know me that well. I was told that I better "get ready" and "marriage isn't a fairytale". The more I heard these things from people the more upset I got. I mean really? What gives you a person the right to speak this way to me. And I know it's just not me that this has happened to. 

I think of marriage as one of the most sacred institutions in this world. It is a blessing if you are able to experience it in this life. I am so happy that I am able to experience it with my best friend by my side. In this day and age so many people look at marriage as something to be avoided and looked down upon and it makes me sad. I know I have only been married six months but let me tell you- these six months have been some of the best times in my life. I wish when I had been engaged more people would have come to me saying just that. That marriage is going to be the greatest thing that has ever happened to you. You just have to put the time and energy into it that you put into anything else important in your life. The divorce rate in this country is growing continually and I think a lot of it is because so many people don't respect marriage anymore. It is something that should be revered as one of the greatest blessings God has given to us in this life. I mean, we get to spend eternity with them! How lucky are we?!

So next time you find out a family member, friend, or even a random person you don't know very well is engaged I ask you to please remember this. They don't need your negative opinion on marriage and what they are doing. It really is unnecessary. Let's be optimistic here people! 

Have I mentioned I love this guy? 

BE GOOD

The other day I saw a quote by Gordon B. Hinckley and I immediately had to copy it down because it is perfect for me right now in my life.

"You are good.
But it is not enough just to be good.
You must be good for something.
You must contribute good to the world.
The world must be a better place for your presence.
And the good that is in you must spread to others…"

I am so blessed in my life. Devan and I both have great jobs, a beautiful place to live, wonderful family and friends, the gospel and SO much more. I would like to say that we are good people. I really try hard to be kind to those around me and try my hardest in all that I am doing. So as I read this quote it started me thinking. These past few weeks I have felt uneasy a lot. I have felt overwhelmed and too busy. I have so much going on in my life that it almost feels like I am not living my life. I go to work and then come home and do other work, or if I am lucky and do have a night off it seems like Devan is always working.

While they are good things taking up my time I have felt too busy to have fun- too busy to see friends and parts of our family hardly ever, to have dates with my husband and spend quality time with him, too busy to better myself and those around me.

I don't think that is a good place to be. So I have decided I need to start doing, contributing, and trying to be better. It's not good enough for me to be filling my time with just good things- I need to decide what is "good, better, and best"-Dallin H. Oaks. I need to start balancing my time.

Devan and I were driving home from seeing my family this evening- the first time in a couple months- and we were talking about how we are so happy to have these problems instead of other ones that could be so much worse, but that we are so excited for the time to come in our lives when we will be able to be more balanced.

I hope you all feel balanced in your lives and at peace- and if not hopefully you feel inspired to make some changes. I know that just making the decision to change up my thinking and start doing has already made me feel better!

ALONG FOR THE RIDE

It's been a busy couple of weeks! Devan's brothers and their families came into town last friday and have been here until today so we have been spending a lot of time with them having fun… Which is why I haven't posted in SO long. So what have we been up to? Let's see…

First we went Tandem biking up the canyon with our friends! I have never tandem biked before and it was definitely an adventure! It was so hard to balance and pedal together not gonna lie. But it was definitely still very fun and pretty up the canyon.

 Once our family was in town I have to admit I was not the best at taking pictures… I was too busy having fun with them all! We carved pumpkins, had Cameran's mission farewell, visited the temple, played MANY games, went trick-or-treating, and just had some all around fun catching up:) Wish they all lived closer, but still happy they get to come to town and visit!