*These are my thoughts on marriage, I understand that you and I may have different views so I do not mean to offend you in any way!*
I've had this dream for a while, to grow this little baby blog into something big. I want to touch the lives of a few, and get my message "out there." Let me explain....
When I got engaged to my wonderful husband, I got a lot of surprised looks from people. People who felt I was making a mistake. Certain people felt that I was throwing my life away, that there was still so much I could do for myself, so why would I end my opportunities now with marriage???
I pushed the negativity aside, knowing with everything in me that marrying Jimmy was what I truly wanted. Lucky for me, I had an amazing family and close friends who supported my life changing decision.
After I got married I met a lot of people in various situations and was deeply surprised with a large amount of negativity towards me because of my choice to get married young. People I'm surrounded with everyday still ask me why I got married! At first, I didn't know how to react. I thought that everybody would be able to know and feel the way I do. That they would all be able to see how perfect Jimmy and I are for each other, that everything would be clear. And that every person who saw the ring on my left hand would jump up and down and burst with happiness for me, because I am married to my best friend!
What an eye opener I had coming for me. I was so confused. How could spending forever with your best friend be a mistake? How could people feel this way? While I still have my amazing family and friends who are genuinely happy and support me to this day, there are others out there who still feel I have thrown my life away. That I am just setting myself up for a life of heartache and misery.
This my friends, makes me sad. It makes me sad because they will never experience the joy I get to feel everyday when my husband walks through that door after a long day of school and work, with hours of homework ahead of him for the night, and yet he manages to drop his books and smother me in kisses and I love you's, asking me how I'm doing and thanking me for prepared meal on the table. They will never experience what kind of support you get from a spouse, or that he will know what is upsetting you long before you spill it out yourself. They will never know that after you have fallen asleep, he will lock his hands with yours, because even he likes the comfort.
To my peers- Marriage is GOOD. Family is GOOD. The best thing I could have done for myself was to marry my best friend, my biggest supporter, my happiness. I am beyond blessed. No amount of thank you's cover my gratitude for this opportunity I've been given. I plan on raising a family with my husband by my side, because in his words, "We make a great team."
So this is the message I hope to one day deliver through my blog. That even when so much of the world looks down on marriage and family, We see it as a blessing! Marriage my friends, is good! And if you work hard to care for each other, you will experience a lifetime of joy with your best friend by your side.
"It is so rewarding to be married. Marriage is wonderful. In time you begin to think alike and have the same ideas and impressions. You have times when you are extremely happy, times of testing, and times of trial, but the Lord guides you through all of those growth experiences together."
- Elder Richard G. Scott, The Eternal Blessings of Marriage
*This post was featured on The Young, Married Life. Check 'em out! :)
Spending eternity being married to your best friend is and always be the best choice you make, after following the Lord. There is no mistake in being sealed in the temple to your Jimmy if he is a worthy Priesthood holder. You guys both struck gold with each other!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry people reacted that way! (If anyone felt that way when I got married, they kept it to themselves...) :) you phrased it well though, the best thing you can do for yourself is marry your best friend. life's so much fun with that person.
ReplyDeleteLoved this, love you.
ReplyDeleteI loved this! :)
ReplyDeleteI got married young too, but it really is the best thing ever!!!
Kathryn says: Well said! Living in CA I get a lot of comments and looks because I have 4 children six and under and I am in my 20s. Here 3 children is the new 6. Most people think I am crazy. But I have very strong feelings about our family and the choices we have made with regards to having children. I wouldn't change a thing, regardless of what people think or say.
ReplyDeleteLove ya!!!
yeah the other day my humanities teacher asked me why I would get married at 20, and I was like, why not? I know I want to spend forever with him, so that's why. I loved this! Thanks for spreading it out there!
ReplyDeleteSome people are dumb, ignore them! So long as you know you made the right decision, and that it was what Heavenly Father wanted for you, nothing else matters!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog :)
Amen to that! Family is everything...and someday everybody will realize that. There should be more marriages like yours though, I have to say. I support blogs like yours, keep it up, my friend! XOXO
ReplyDeleteI just left a comment on your post over at The Young, Married Life, but I wanted to comment you over here, too. I really enjoyed reading your post and checking out your site, and I would love to continue to talk. Perhaps you can help give me some advice for when my own young married life begins in September! :]
ReplyDeleteI totally understand where you are coming from. Old family friends even at my reception were asking me how old I was, "19" I would reply. And they would have this look of shock and horror. But for the most part, I've always been seen as responsible and everyone always thought I was older so it hasn't been too much of a problem. I can understand why people especially outside of LDS culture would be scared out of their mind with getting married so young, with the 50% divorce rate and all. Good post though :)
ReplyDeletehttp://breezydaysblog.blogspot.com/
Hey Kailie! I was browsing some of the "Mormon Fashion Blogger" blogs and I happen to see a post from yourrrrr blog! I thought, "what are the chances!" its such a small world in the church though ;) Glad to see you guys are doing so well! Hope you remember me...I served with Jimmy! Anyway...cute blog. You're awesome. Hope to find myself an eternal companion soon!
ReplyDeleteI am not against marrying young, however I am against certain people-- or rather certain *types* of people getting married young. I am 20 years old and I'm not married, and it's not because no one's been interested. ;) I AM LDS, but I am also from California, so I sort of have a more liberal view of marriage than your average BYU student. I imagine myself at 18 and 19 and there is NO WAY I was mature enough to make an eternal commitment to someone. Now, starting my twenties, I see myself becoming mature enough to be that kind of person for somebody else. No where near ready, but maybe in a year or so? It might be because I've found someone I could see myself being with for forever, but who knows. ;)
ReplyDeleteAlso the other problem I have with people marrying young is that usually they don't date for very long before they get hitched, or date very many other people. I read your about me and it looks like you guys met in HS? And you dated for 10 months, which is a long time in Mormon standards. To me, it just looks like you found your eternal companion at 14 years old, and I met someone who could be mine at 19 (okay, it was the day before my 20th birthday. Ha!)
Anyway, sorry for the novel! I love your ideas about marriage! Very thoughtful. I love that you are so in love! :)