Notes from Kent's EQ Lesson on Sunday

List: Challenges to Marriage Today

“What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” – Mark 10:9

Marriage = Miracle.

Birth & early childhood – dependence

Teenage years and young adulthood – independence

Marriage/Parenthood – interdependence

It takes an independent person or persons to be in an interdepedent relationship.

5 Big Needs of Women:

1. Affection

2. Conversation

3. Honesty & Openness

4. Financial Support

5. Family Commitment

Movie: “Fireproof” – 1^st presidency endorsed. For the Lord’s sake, if we’re truly contrite and humble and broken hearted, we’ll do whatever the Lord would have us do. In this state, we’re able to love our wife with a pure heart as the Lord would have us love her.

Y.E.A.R.S.

You’re responsible for your own happiness – you can’t ‘get’ your happiness ‘from’ your wife – you can only share your happiness, peace, joy, and love with your wife.

Express your love often – demonstrate love through service, spending quality time together, physical affection, or telling your spouse of your love for her.

Appreciation – similar to expressing it (outward), appreciation goes deeper to what’s going on inside your own heart and head – really, truly treasure your wife as your most precious of all assets.

Rituals and family traditions strengthen marriage and family – FHE, date night, family dinners, church worship, family scripture study and family prayer, etc.

Self-LESS-ness – The marriage comes first, the family second. Church callings, career, finances, etc. come later, but the SELF comes last. We must put wife, and children ahead of self. We’re holders of the priesthood after all, - we’re on the Lord’s errand and are representative of Him as if He were here. Love as He loved, serve as He served.

“Love is an adventure, not an investment” – Gordon B. Hinkley

Phoenix Art Museum

This weekend we went on a family date to the Phoenix Art Museum and Tempe Town Lake.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Art Museum...I wasn't expecting much, but got a lot out of it. Each exhibit had explanations about art in the given time period and geographic location. We soon found ourselves looking a little more deeply into the art as opposed to the usual "scan and don't stop moving" style.

It had fun fountain at the entrance:

Not to get political...but here comes China!

Did this one scare anyone else? It talked and everything. Its voice reminded me of Hannibal Lecter.

Some of my favorites:

I love how the photographer combined old photos and new photos together. What a novel idea!

This one made me laugh!

Speaking of laughing, I was hysterical walking through this one the 1st time. It was a dark room, with multi-colored lights and mirrors. I recorded it the 2nd time. I don't know why I thought it was so funny. Maybe it was because the 1st time, it was just me and this old lady.

After the museum we went to the Splashpark at Tempe Town Lake to play. Braelynn had a lot of fun. It was so hot though, so we didn't stay long.

We are so excited that Brooke is starting to roll over. She liked to practice in her crib at night, but finally got the hang of it at a more feasible hour ;)

Kent and I also got callings in our new ward. He is a teacher in the Elder's Quorum, which he is pretty excited about. He taught today about marriage and successfully started a brawl in the meeting...The EQP called tonight to see if he was still interested in teaching. His lesson next week is on the Law of Chastity. I'm not sure if he's still excited about this calling!

Get ready for this...I was called to be Cubmaster. Never in my life did I ever expect to do this one! My Patriarchal Blessing says that I will do a lot of work with the RS and YW. I must not be right with the Lord ;) So far it has been an adventure. I get to go get my uniform next week. As soon as they told me it involved buying new clothes I got a little excited!

Our house is pretty much all set-up. I'll have to get photos of it all up soon. We still want wood floors and new carpet...but that's well down the road! The backyard is starting to get the grass back in, and I've been pulling 4 foot weeds like crazy! It will be nice to have it when it cools off.

Well, I think that's about it. Have a great week!

It Was an AJ Sorta Day

Do people ever do things that make you look at them and think, "what planet do you come from where that's oKaY?" Then do you ask yourself, "what's wrong with me if I'm in the same place as them?"

I had that moment today.

If you can get over 100 barefoot, germy kids running around together, the play areas at malls can be a lot of fun. Today, not so much.

As we walked in, a 10 year old (?) girl grabbed Braelynn and tried to run off with her. Braelynn looked back with those "save me" eyes, and we explained to the little girl that we needed to get a place and take Braelynn's shoes off. We "conveniently" found a place to sit right next to this girl's mom...I am no longer surprised it was the only open spot.

Kent, Braelynn, and our new little friend ran off to go play. I was bouncing Brooke on my lap, watching Braelynn, and I feel Brooke being pulled from my lap. The 8 year old (?) personal space intruder told me she wanted to hold the baby. I told her the baby was spitting up, so I was going to hold her. She turns to her mom and says "I wanna hold the baby." The mom (without looking up from her intense text-conversation) tells her to ask me again. The little girl tells her mom that I said no, and the mother's reply was for her to ask me "why". Seriously??? As the little girl continued to poke and prod at Brooke we inched our way to the left.

When she finally got up to go play, her older (12?) sister swoops in to continue to pester me. "Can I hold the baby?" Before I even tell her "NO WAY!!!" her mom informs me that this daughter is really good with babies. I then tell the girl "I don't think so."

Apparently this annoyed the text messaging-Apache Junction-slit wristed (I tried to not judge, everyone has problems, but it needed to be noted)-mother to the point that she decided it was time to go. Her 10 year old was not listening, and she sent her 12 year old to go get her. Upon their return, she SMACKED THE GIRL ACROSS THE FACE, and said it was time to go.

Yes, yes it was.

#1- You tell your children it is not polite to touch other people's babies.

#2- If it's not polite to touch other people's babies, it might be a little more wrong to hold them.

#3- Don't encourage your child to ask "WHY?" when an adult says "NO."

#4- Spanking is one thing...smacking your child on the face is just wrong, end of story.

We're sticking to San Tan or Chandler mall from now on.

Here Comes Trouble!

I am so super excited to the point that I am about to bust!

There is a special lady in my life...we'll call her "Jeanette." She is my sunshine! Not only does she make me happy when skies are gray, so lets me whine and complain about 'em too! She is perfect in every way, except for the fact that she's been living on the other side of the country for far too long.

Well, guess who's baaack?!

For those of you who know us, you know how wonderfully bad this is! Never in my life have I known someone who can get me in as much innocent trouble as this girl.

You may not see me for awhile.

Kent and Bryan should probably find some hobbies. We've got alotta catching up to do ;) CODE- shopping, hair, nails, laughing, shopping, a smidge of gossip (just to keep it interesting), putting things into our language so they make sense, eating in our favorite "I'm so hungry, this is going to be disgusting to watch, but I know you won't say anything" form, and maybe some more shopping...we gotta find some new outfits that are "a good kinda tight!"

But don't worry, guess who's joining us in September?

Then we'll really be painting the town red!