#loveyourspousechallenge: Some Reality

I read an article this week about how the love your spouse challenge needs to get some reality, that people only share the best 5% of their life, with overused cliches, leaving everyone else comparing their 100% to it.

First of all, if your marriage is good only 5% of the time then you are doing something wrong!

Is marriage laughter and making fun memories all the time? No. But I will say that getting married at the right time and in the right place is the best decision I have EVER made and will promote happy marriages all day long!  They are possible.

My marriage really is that good.  Even after we disagree, and he bugs me and we tease each other.  I can truly say that whenever I have free time I prefer spending it with my husband.

Maybe it's just me, but I believe that is what marriage should be like.  Literally being married to your best friend.

"The grass isn't greener on the other side.  It's green where you water it."

Second of all, if you are comparing your whole life to the best 5% of what other people post on social media then you are the person that needs a reality check.  Be realistic and stop comparing yourself.  Of course nobody has a perfect life.  Look for the good in your marriage instead of using everyone else's best 5% to point out everything not perfect in yours.  Maybe your marriage would be better if you focused on the good things you like about your spouse... AND told them! Everyone that is married or has kids is already aware that it tries our patience at times.  We don't need to be constantly reminded of all the ways that your husband bothers you, simply because that's "real life."  Be positive about your spouse, especially to the public.

Personally, I don't think marriage is that hard.  And I'll tell you why I think that is.  Kyle and I go to the temple together at least once a month.  This helps keep our perspective in check and reminds us what is really important.  Yes, I know couples that don't go to the temple and have good marriages too, but the temple is what strengthens our marriage.  All marriage takes is a little compromise, WHILE putting the other person's happiness first.  Loving your spouse is most important.

We almost never take selfies, but when we do they are in front of the temple because you better believe that I will show them to our children and teach them the importance of going to the temple often.

Marriage between a man and a woman is sacred.  It has been ordained by God and meant to be eternal.  Having families is the most important work we could ever do and that is why marriage should be protected, defended and taken seriously.  The covenant of marriage is the highest covenant we make and reaches into generations for all eternity.  Being sealed to my family forever is definitely something I want to be worthy of.

So when someone celebrates their marriage and celebrates loving their spouse I will celebrate right along with them because unfortunately that is something too rare a find these days!

 

 Day 1. 

I was nominated to post pictures of me and my husband for 7 days to celebrate love and promote marriage! #loveyourspousechallenge

I'll start with the first pictures of me and Kyle together. It was New Years Eve 2007 at Raintree Apartments. He had braces and wore Nascar shirts, we were just friends then. It was a fun night though! Ashley and I slept at his house in Elk Ridge that night and the next morning was the first time I met his mom when she invited us to go sledding!

  

 Day 2.

I love Kyle for his decision to serve a mission after he thought that he didn't want to. We got our mission calls on the same day and never missed a single week of writing a letter to each other for the whole 2 years. It definitely brought us closer together. When he got home he proposed that same day that I first saw him!

 

 Day 3.

Even though it's getting harder and harder to get Kyle to do things like this anymore, I love Kyle for all the spontaneous fun he indulges me in! Like dressing up for Halloween :) Also, he will watch chick flicks and musicals with me which is also a plus!

 Day 4.

I love Kyle for the kind of husband and father he is. He has a hard job, but is still one of the happiest people I know. He always kisses me goodbye and tells me daily that he loves his Kasen. Nobody can get Kasen to squeal and laugh like he does! He's my hero.

Day 5.

I love when Kyle takes us camping. Hiking to Silver Lake was probably one of my favorite camping trips of ours, except when Kyle hit the pot gut with a rock and made it cry, but the tin foil dinners were amazing! 

Day 6.

Kyle HATES the feeling of his stomach dropping, but he will still come with me to do the things I think are so much fun! Mostly.  And I love him for it.  That's why I go fishing with him and sit in snow storms at Utah games when he wants to.

Day 7.

I love Kyle for taking me to the temple to be sealed for eternity and for going back together every month since.

I love my husband.  He makes me happy and that is as real as it gets.