Honeymoon: before & after

Since I wrote about marriage yesterday, it reminded me of our honeymoon. I've had a request to see the before and after of our backpacking. Just to catch everyone up for our honeymoon we went and spent 4 weeks backpacking in Guatemala. In that time we didn't shave and never took a warm shower.

Before:
After:

Wordfull Wednesday - 3 Important things in Marriage

I was introduced to wordfull Wednesdays by a wonderful woman in my ward. Meg has been involved in this for a while and I found it when I was reading her blog. I followed the link to find more about it and was introduced to this lovely blog. I've been faithfully reading both blogs and have especially enjoyed the wordfull Wednesday activities. So here is my contribution to wordfull Wednesday.
Assignment: What are the three most important things in marriage?



1- Growth
This is my number 1 important thing. If you grow together, you won't grow apart. This is why Bryan and I are religious about our New Year's resolutions. Every year we sit down and talk over our goals for the year and how we are going to achieve them. This isn't a list that gets shoved into a corner somewhere and forgotten. We take all the steps necessary to try and fulfill that. Everything from posting our goals on our blog, to putting them on the calendar, a list goes in our scriptures and another on the wall in our entryway. They are around as a constant reminder and at the end of the year it isn't how many things we've checked off, it's the journey of getting there. In fact; I'll admit that a lot of that list is left undone and many things are moved over to be the next year. But it has been a year where I have known what Bryan wants to achieve and more importantly I've known how to support him and he supports me. We have things to talk about, we show our love through encouragement, and we celebrate together when a goal is reached.
2- Unity
There are many more ways to word this and many ways to break into smaller categories. Among them are fidelity, trust, and communication. I always want to stand as a united front. When raising our children I want to make sure we are on the same page about policies, education, and scripture study. If we don't agree on something then taking the time work it out and find out how we can come to a resolution is worth a lot to a marriage. We are raising a family together and I know that I couldn't do it on my own so it's nice to know that someone has my back and I want to keep him there.

3- Tithing
Nothing has blessed our lives more than paying our tithing. There is seriously a tangible difference in our lives when we pay a full tithe. All of our finances fall into place and things just seem to work out a lot better. If we don't have financial problems than we don't argue or get angry with each other and I'm willing to do anything to keep it that way.

If I could add a fourth it would be humor, but that isn't the assignment so forget I said anything about it.

Bryan and I have only been married for 2 1/2 years but it's been a doozy. Through that short time we have been through a lot. Already, Bryan has graduated from college, we had a beautiful baby, we moved across the country from our parents, started a new job, and bought a house. Just to name a few of the big ones. Among our smaller achievements have been to make new friends, go to Germany, get a YMCA membership, and host our first Thanksgiving where I cooked my own turkey. But what I'm trying to say is that I'm no expert in marriage and my most important things are still in the honeymoon stages of our wonderful life together but I still feel they are important because, well, doesn't everyone want those honeymoon years back.

Week 4: Jan 17-23

Oliver received an entire box of dress up clothes from his Grandma and Grandpa Blacker. He has loved having them. We have played dress up multiple times and in many different outfits. Everything from a dr. to a monkey. But his favorite is the firefighter. I think he likes it for the hat. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa, your costumes are getting plenty of use!

Christmas 2009

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Disneyworld 2009

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Halloween 2009

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Oh Christmas Tree

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree, why are you still in my living room? That's right folks it is now the 20th of January, about 27 days postchristmas and 30 days since that tree was watered. But there it is, still popping up in my photos, still dropping needles on my floor, rug, couch, Oliver. This is a public pleading for Bryan to please remove it from my house with haste. Thank you.

week 3: Jan 10-16

My boys playing guitar hero.

Week 2: Jan 3-9

Bryan and Oliver waiting for the plane to go home.

Week 1: Jan 1-2

Oliver and his cousin riding with Grandpa around the farm.

52 Weeks

I've tried and failed at the 365 project but I found an easier more approachable idea and hopefully it will keep me posting regularly. It's the 52 project. A photo a week. Don't get me wrong, I take a photo almost everyday. The problem is those shameful days that I miss. So here goes the 52 project. My weeks will be Sunday to Sunday.