...:::as i grow older:::...

It seems that time keeps slipping by much too quickly, and only goes by faster with each passing year.  And somehow, I manage to keep on learning things, changing, growing, renewing, creating, letting go and moving on. 

One thing that I continuously learn is about the real difficulties of marriage.  Yes, I may be minoring in Marriage and Family Studies, but I feel as if just growing up, year by year, I come to learn more about life, and that in turns teaches me more about family life, especially that of marriage.

When I was younger I truly thought my parents did everything right and were perfect, to a degree (that's completely contradictory, but whatever).  But little by little over the past several years, that way of seeing things has been corrected.  I know that they are human and therefore imperfect.  But I still love them, just the same.  Perhaps, even more.  More because I know that much more about them, and that means I know that they were trying that much more to be better for me, for our family.

It really humbles me to think about myself being a parent one day.  {thank goodness gracious I'm not one yet, I don't think I'm ready for that...but then again, can you really ever be?  I'm quite certain you can't.  Blast!}

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that with all these realizations over the past few years, along with making my own mistakes [never fun], having to pick myself back up again, living with others and seeing little quirks they have, growing older and therefore more firm in my ways and thinkings, creating my own traditions and forming new habits...I realize through all of this how difficult marriage really will be.  That does not mean that it won't or can't be great.  But what it does mean is that it truly will be hard, persistant work.  Consciously.  Every effort, and then some.  I'm quite certain that marriage will be quite a few things I thought it would be, but everything else I didn't. 

With all this thinking, I try to make it my goal to live a better life, day by day, one bit at a time.  Try to be more loving (even if it's just to myself), try to be more patient (...even if it's just with myself...), try to do more service for others, try to be more diligent in being obedient in all things and in all ways, trying to be more aware of those around me, trying to be more diligent in being constantly kind, considerate and faithful.  I know that this will all help me when I am married one day.  It will only help to fortify mine and my husband's relationship and how we will be with our children when they come.  This world is seemingly on a downward spiral, with no stops along the way, and I've got to be prepared as much as I can to be amidst that awful ride, so much so that I can't even feel the twists and turns sprung about every moment.

Here's to preparing...!

research and re-thinking

Last week my professor had us research information of our own choice regarding the family.  He also had us look for BAD research.  How fun is that?!  Google was my best friend.

But that's besides the point.

The point is really about how skewed things are these days.  That's what I kept thinking about as I was looking up scholarly journals amid crummy, bad personal 'knowledge' that was presented as fact.

There were a couple websites I found that had "Doctors" writing the posts and whatnot, but yet there was no place to view their CV.  Nothing.  No accreditation to anybody or anything.  Screamed phony to me.  If you have a personal view, put it out there as such.  It made me sad to see one website hosting a link to Your Own Divorce Papers - Easy!  Fast!  Quick!  Finish in 1 Hour!  Why does everything have to be so accessible these days?  So easy to accomplish...when to me a divorce (for the most part) shouldn't be counted as an accomplishment.  [I definitely know that there are very serious reasons for someone to get a divorce, but I believe that most divorces are not for those reasons]  I just didn't like finding things on websites that constantly made it seem like a family is a problem.  Or that it creates problems (well, duh!  we're human.  and trying to live with other humans...NOT easy).  And when those problems come up, it was quick to note that they were not your problem, but caused by someone else.

What about needing people, and loving people?  I know it probably sounds cliche and naive, but still: why can't we all be a bit more loving, patient and understanding?  Even if that understanding means that we just accept to understand that we don't understand why another person does something, or doesn't, and still love them and try to work things out?

All I can say after that is that I am so very grateful for the Gospel and the knowledge that I have and the beliefs that I have, as well.  I'm so grateful and feel very blessed to know that we can be sealed to our families for all time and eternity.  It definitely gives me more reason to try a little bit harder to be a little bit more humble and willing to be patient and understanding of my family.  We all have weaknesses, but let's try not to make one of them being able to love our family unconditionally.

ma famille

ma famille

French for "my family".

Hmm...let's see, where to start..

Father:  BYU football fan(atic).  Born and raised in Las Vegas.  High School Government teacher.  Retired.  I'm quite sure it would be right to say he loves ice cream.  Favorite colors: blue, white and tan....'cougar' colors...

Mother: Could care less for BYU football...!  Born and raised in Aneheim, California and went to Disneyland and the beach quite often while growing up.  Sang in choirs and even toured with her high school choir to England!  Homemaker.  Baker of cinnamon rolls and caramel popcorn that are just a step below Heaven.  Sews.  Plays piano.  Loves being a grandma.

Brother No. 1 (Devin): Born in Utah, raised in Utah for a few years, then Las Vegas.  Insurance Broker.  Super smart, extremely dedicated.  Always finishes what he starts.  Lover of BYU Football, duh.  Father to one adorable little girl, and therefore husband to one awesome, spunky lady.

Sister-in-Law No. 1 (Amber):  Born in Arizona, raised in Arizona for most of her life, then Las Vegas.  Dancer.  Mother to one sweetie pie of a girlie.  Spunky.  Sassy.  Talented.  Speaks her mind and makes us laugh.  Wife to my brother - perfect for him.

Brother No. 2 (Michael):  Born in Utah, then later raised in Las Vegas.  High School Math teacher.  Loves fireworks.  Loves working out and staying fit.  Loves to tease his sister.  Owner of fish.  Planted a garden.  Husband to a sweet, fun-loving girl.  Father to a cutie little baby boy.  Yet another, lover of BYU football...duh.

Sister-in-Law No. 2 (Monta):  Born in Texas, raised in Texas, then Hawai'i.  Currently learning medical transcription.  Lover of Krispy Kreme doughnuts.  Mother to a handsome little baby boy.  Owner of fish.  Loves to work out, stay fit.  Super kind and sweet.

Me (Jenny):  Born and raised in Las Vegas.  Current resident of Utah.  College student in Idaho.  Lover of baked goods.  Lover of baking goods.  Lover of photography, reading, writing, talking, piano playing, and card-making.  Sister and daughter to a great family.  Aunt to 2 fun little kiddos.  Lover of learning.  Lover of snow, rain and listening to music; preferably at the same time.

This is only a brief overview of my family.  There are obviously numerous other things that could be mentioned, told or shared here, but for now, I will leave that all for another time when it feels more fitting.

an explanation/a summary/an overview - call it whatever you may

Hello dear readers.

May I introduce myself?  The name is C.J.  Not really, but I never had a nick name growing up; nick names never 'stuck' with me, or seemed to work.  Until last year, when I lived in Utah with an awesome roommate who decided to call me by my last name first, comma, my first name {Cooper, comma [she would say the comma] Jenny}.  It was a joke, of sorts...but it stuck.  Nobody else calls me it, and I actually am not sure how I'd feel if they even dared.  So, just for reference on this here blog, you can refer to me as C.J.  Or my real name if you'd like to be fancy schmancy.

Well, so down to the explanation part: This here blog is for a university class, Family Relations.  My professor asked that we start a blog and keep it updated by posting weekly.  I am planning on doing so and hope that even though my mindless thoughts, writings and ramblings will be sometimes quirky, and sometimes serious, that you find at least something entertaining or of value.  Please feel free to share comments, thoughts, ideas, etc.

To learn an overview of what I believe about the family, read on. . .