Appreciated.

This week was really insightful in class. We learned a lot about starting a family and the importance of leaning on one another for support in a marriage. Today in class we talked about what happens when children start coming into the family. Something that was really insightful was when we were talking about how to include the husband with the pregnancy. We discussed the importance of how it strengthens the husband and wife. The wife should include the husband when she attends the ultrasounds, and when the baby moves, allow the husband to feel the baby kick. Also, to talk about the baby, the feelings that each of you is experiencing, share the experiences that are new and exciting. After the baby is born, do things together- changing diapers, feedings, etc. One thing that was mentioned, was that we have so many ways of communication. If our child is starting to walk, share it via phone/video to your spouse. Making sure that he can see what is going on. I think it also is important to go on dates, by either creating or looking for opportunities to be alone. It's important to make the husband included and appreciated. It's important that each of you is leaning on one another, strengthening and building one another up. I can't express how important it is, to bond with one another, to share experiences.

What is Love?

Many of us can't even express in words of what love is. 

Dictionary.com defines love as...

love [luhv]

–noun

1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.

3. sexual passion or desire.

4. a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.

In class, we defined love as great care and respect for another person, growing together in a spiritual sense, forgetting oneself for another, and a rush of endorphins. Did you know there is actually four kinds of love? I didn't. In class we went over each one of them and was asked a question: Which one of the four is the most important? How would you rate each one out of 100%? I had written down:  Storge- 40%, Eros- 30%, Philia- 20%, and Agape 10%. My thought process was that Storge was the most important in any relationship. It is the love between a parent and child, and between you and your spouse. This love is unconditional. Eros was next because romantic love is romantic and important in a marriage. But after we had talked more about it, it is important to have it equal across all four of them. Each type of love is important is any relationship. Then the question was posed about passionate verses companionate  love. Which one is more important in marriage? I say companionate love. The three reasons why, is because this love is stable, can last a lifetime, and has strong emotional bonds- your best friends. This love is more realistic only for others to see, but to you and your spouse. 

So my question to you: What is love? 

Roles & Gender

It's important to understand the importance of roles in the family. Each member of the family holds at least one. We usually assign the provider as the father. The resource manager as the mother and also the peace keeper. A child holds roles also. I was pondering about the different types of roles each of the family members contribute. I think that each one of us could hold all the same roles, but each of us was blessed with the role that would work the best in the family. 

"Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose... Marriage between man and wife is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity." The Family: A Proclamation to the World

The world is changing rapidly. Media has put a heavy focus on homosexuality. The world views it as normal, acceptable and I would say glamorous. We have been counseled from the Brethren that this act of living is a grievous sin. President Hinckley says, "We want to help these people, to strengthen them, to assist them with their problems and to help them with their difficulties. But we cannot stand idle if they indulge in immoral activity, if they try to uphold and defend and live in a so-called same sex situation. To permit such would make light of a very serious and sacred foundation of God-sanctioned marriage and its very purpose, rearing of families." 

Satan is working so hard at tearing families. We know that. We've seen it happen. Let him not come inside our homes, families, hearts, minds, and thoughts. He will do whatever it takes. "Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God." (D&C 121:45) Gender is essential to the Plan. Marriage is essential. Bringing children into this life within the bonds of matrimony is essential. Homosexuality disrupts the Plan; Satan disrupts. 

Head the counsel from the Brethren.

"Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God." (D&C 121:45)

Diversity.

This week we talked a lot about class, diversity and culture. When we think about what kind of social class a person is in, we usually think of the following: money, income, education, home, neighborhood, toys (cars, ATVs, snowmobiles, etc), name, appearance, friends and associates, occupation, etc. We could keep going on. Isn't it true though? Then our teacher had a split into pairs and asked us, what is your socioeconomic class? Thinking about where I grew up and the income that my parents had, I put down low middle class. I'm from a small town in Wisconsin. There are lots of farmers and small business owners. Usually if you make a decent pay, you travel outside the town for work. I placed my family at the lower end of the middle class spectrum. My family doesn't have "toys" or a big house. We get what we need, with some to spare. My parents are frugal. I think that's where I get it from. 

I think sometimes we judge others for what they have or don't have. I think the lesson that is pulled out of this, is not to judge others. So many times I have caught myself thinking poorly about someone who has all the luxuries or who doesn't have any. I have thought about myself as being a higher than others. My dad serves as the Stake President back home. Knowing that, I would use it to do things. I thought that since I was his daughter, it gave me special privileges. But in all reality it doesn't. I think it also is important to understand that everyone comes from a different background. We each have our own experiences that has shaped our own "culture" and class. Whether or not we have the name or  have the money, we all are loved by our Heavenly Father. We are part of His class and that's all that matters.