Gratitude

I wanted to post a quick blog about the gratitude that I have today. I was in my argument-based research class today and we had a discussion on an essay that we had to read. The essay was about how marriage has been getting pushed back to older and older age groups and has become unnecessary to so many people. It went on to talk about how marriage and having a family is important and shouldn't be put off until older ages to keep up independence, because true independence and happiness can only be achieved through marriage and learning to live with each other and having children together.

While reading the essay, I felt the spirit letting me know that much of what I was reading was true. You can only imagine how upset I was when every single person in my class attacked the author and what she spoke about. I would have spoken up, but I knew that if I did, it would not have been a time that anyone in my class would have listened. In fact, most of them would have probably thought I was an idiot and never listen to my comments in class again.

I'm a believer in marriage, having children, and making both of those things (along with the gospel) the most important things in my life. I know that society's way of looking at women and their role in the home has changed, and it makes me sad to think about it. I wonder what horrible things the women who taught their daughters this went through. Maybe if they had a wonderful marriage and knew of the gospel and what it teaches about marriage things would be different today. It only makes me want to show people by example more each day what the gospel is about. What true joy is.

I did have the opportunity today to share a little bit about myself after reading an essay on the dhali lama and discussing where happiness comes from. I was able to tell my class that I had a time in my life, not too long ago where I had to make a decision about what was most important, what would make me the happiest. I could either choose to leave a life in which I had a good job, and pretty nice material posessions and be with my family, have my life, and be safe and happy, or I could chose to keep my life the same, and possibly lose my life. It may sound harsh, but I know for a fact that my life could have easily ended, and that I am so blessed to have been protected the way that I was.
Many of you know that I chose to leave that life that I had. I chose to go back to the basics. I lived out of one suitcase for about 2 months. I didn't have money to spend. I didn't have a job. I wasn't in school. Most people would have looked at me and felt incredibly sorry for me. Instead, I have so much gratitude for going through that time in my life. I learned through that experience that my family, my faith, and my knowledge were the most important things. Those are things that no one can ever take away from me no matter how hard they try. I gained a strength that I never knew I could have. I was the happiest that I have ever been once I realized all of that. It took a while, but I was able to see that I have an AMAZING life. I have been more blessed than I could have ever imagined before that. I have everything I need, and today in class... I was reminded once again of that. Just a reminder of what's most important in life... we all need that sometimes, huh?

All in all, I am so grateful to have the amazing parents that I have. They have such amazing testimonies of the gospel, marriage, and eternal families, and they share them with their children often. They have taught me and my siblings through example that the most important things are the simplest things. My parents don't struggle for money, so they have some things in their home that are not necessities, but they don't base their happiness on having those things. The only reason that they finally bought a flat screen was so that we could watch general conference at home this past year. They had resisted it for years when they could have bought one. It just simply wasn't a necessity. They share their wisdom with us and I know that what they say is true. They are amazing examples to me.

Ross and I have both been blessed with amazing families. I don't know Ross's as well as I know mine, but I do know that he wouldn't have turned out as the man he is without the wonderful examples that he has in his family.

I just want to thank all of the people in both of our lives who have shown us the importance of the gospel, marriage, and families. That it can be beautiful and not only happy, but joyful.

Thank you.