Hey!!!! Sorry completely forgot to post last week so I'll make sure to add another one for this week!

Anyways, we've continued to talk about courting and dating in this class. Who knew it could be so informative? There's so much more to it that I would have never thought to look at. We also talked about the different aspects of the married life and how they can affect not only those that are married but also those around them like their children. It was interesting to see just how many different factors of marriage can affect children. It was interesting to see that while children are growing up, the way they see their parents behaving influences them quite a bit which actually makes a lot of sense. Children should be influenced by their parents because it is the parents that they should be learning from. Their parents should be the one to teach them what they need to know. It is really sad when parents develop bad habits that ultimately lead to their kids having the same habits because that is what they were raised with and really that is all they know...

Love is in the air....

In Marriage and Family this week, we have been talking about relationships and falling. It seems rather fitting to be discussing this topic considering tomorrow is Valentine's Day. So first of all...Happy Valentine's Day (well early Valentine's Day anyways). As I was doing the reading this week, I found the chapter of falling in love interesting. I think one of the things I read about that I thought was most interesting that men have a higher tendency to have the whole "love-at-first-sight" experience than women. I have always found the idea of falling in love with someone the moment you first see them, to be a female concept.

I also found it intriguing that there were so many different types of love. I always knew that there was the kind of love that a couple felt for one another, and I knew there was the kind of love that friends feel for each other or just people in general. However,  I didn't ever realize that there could be "sub-divisions" within the general categories of love. I had never looked at it that way before. There are some of the sub-sets of love that did make sense, but I found that others didn't as much. For example, it was said that one type of love is "playful love." This kind of love is referring to when it is treated lightly. People who are this way tend to have more sexual partners than people of other grouping. I personally never would have classified this kind of behavior as "love," because of my beliefs and what  I was taught love was.

It has definitely been interesting studying this side of dating and courtship. It has brought a lot of new ideas and perspectives to mind. If anything I think this particular topic has been one the most interesting subjects we've talked about in class. I have actually enjoyed studying the different levels of dating and love in depth.

Wow! We just dropped off my sister at the MTC (missionary training center). She is going to be gone 18 months!!! So proud of her for her decision to serve a mission. Best of luck to you Sister Stanfield!!!!!!! <3

What A Week!!!!

Well, its official! My brother is married!! Originally the date was planned for March 2, 2013; however, Kenny and his fiancé were gracious enough to move the wedding date up so my sister would be able to attend. Mitsue leaves on her mission this Wednesday. Kenny and Heidi were married Friday, February 1, 2013 in the Idaho Falls Temple. It was definitely an emotional experience for me, but I am so happy for my brother! I am so thrilled for him to start his own family and have those experiences.

Mitsue (my sister) has been continuing to prepare for Wednesday. Today was our last day to attend church as a family for a long time. Because it was my sister's last Sunday at home for a year and a half,  I decided to bear my testimony, so she would know that I do have one.  I am so grateful that I did so. It had been quite a while since I had done it. Being up at the pulpit was such a blessing for me. I think more than just bearing my testimony for Mitsue, I think I also needed to hear it. Although I do have one, I think at this point in my life, I needed to hear myself say what I know to be true. What a blessing!!!

I'm so proud of my brother and sister for the decisions they have made. I know I have said this before, but I truly look up to the both of them. They are such examples to me!!!! <3

A New Chapter...

So this post doesn't necessarily have to do with anything I learned in Family Relations. It is just mainly to express my appreciation towards my own family. I absolutely love my family. They have always supported me in everything that I do and encourage me to reach my full potential. My parents have always pushed me to do my best and supported me in all I do. I couldn't ask for more from them. I know that I can turn to them for anything. I love having a close relationship with them, as well as my siblings. My sister is definitely my best friend and I am so proud of her!!! She will soon be leaving to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She has been called to serve in the California Roseville Mission. I couldn't be more proud of her!!! She is such an example to me, and I know that she is going to be an amazing missionary!! As for my brother, he, too, is an example to me. He returned from his mission not too long ago and is now preparing to get married. I'm so grateful to have such a close relationship with him. It's weird to think that him serving a mission in Raleigh, North Carolina is what brought us closer but I am so grateful he did. Kenny is my hero! I love my brother and sister with all my heart! I am so excited for this new stage in all of our lives!

Fertility Decisions

This week in class, we discussed the importance of fertility decisions and who it affects. I was so shocked to hear how the rate of children being born has gone down so drastically. So, let me just share what I think about it. There are countless numbers of spirits still waiting to be given the opportunity to come to this earth, still waiting to experience all the wonderful things this world has to offer. If people choose not to have children because they simply don't want them or it just isn't in their plans because they want to focus on their careers or doing whatever they want, they are taking the opportunity away from those that are waiting. I think sometimes we forget that although, yes, the decision to bear children does affect us and our spouse or future spouse, the decision to not have children affects even more people. Think about the generations that are lost when someone decides not to have children. Who's to say that those that weren't born weren't going to want to have their own families?

Introduction to the blog

Hey ya'll :) So I'm looking forward to the experience of blogging. Its definitely something that is new to me and didn't think I would ever do but I'm grateful to be given this opportunity! Just real quick on the whole "Marriage and Family" thing. I can't wait to learn what my class can teach me about preparing for marriage as well as my future family. I love my family and my parents and hope to be able to raise my children in the same manner if not better than I was raised. But don't get me wrong, I have no complaints to how my parents raised me. I'm grateful for the values they raised me with and what they have taught me over these last 18 years.