On a side note, while we were at dinner we ran into a couple from our ward in North Spokane. Brother and Sister Brooks were in Sacramento visiting family. I can't remember their first names, I remembered their last because I am loyal to Brooks running shoes, and The Brooks are runners as well. Funny the connections our minds remember. Anyway, I saw the wife and thought to myself, she looks like Sister Brooks. Joe saw the husband and thought the same thing. As we were leaving I was in view of Brother Brooks and thought how crazy they both look like the Brooks'! It was then that we realized it probably was in fact actually them. We went up to them and said, "Are you the Brooks'?..... We used to be in your ward in Spokane." They were thinking the same thing about us...that we looked liked someone they knew...but we were only in that ward for a year, so they couldn't quite place who we were. It was funny and just another reminder of what a small world we live in.....especially as members of the Church (of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).
All day Saturday, I had been thinking about our time we would spend at the temple with the kids. The September Ensign had just arrived and there were some amazing articles about marriage, family unity, family laughter, family finances, and many other topics. I had gone on a long run that morning, so as I ran I thought about all of the great principles in the Ensign articles I had just read and I planned in my mind this idyllic scene at the temple with all of us sitting in a circle talking about the importance of temple marriage, family unity and our goals as a family. I was so excited! Sounded like an ideal day!
Brynn was our budding photographer that evening. She was so cute and professional, yet embarrassed about the affection of her parents. After each picture, she would hold the camera out to us, put her hand over her eyes, turn her head and say with a smile "I can't believe I'm doing this!" I remember those days when I was young and my dad would come and dip my mom for a big smooch as she was cooking breakfast! I was mortified! Especially when I had friends over! How could they?! Now looking back, I am so glad they did!
While we were having fun taking photographs Abby and Aaron were busy with their own fun! They played in the fountain, splashed through puddles, chased wild turkeys (they are all around the temple grounds!) and explored paths I'm sure were forbidden! We were constantly chasing them and diving after them, especially when they both nearly dove into the waters of the fountain!
So after we had taken pictures, we gathered everyone together to have our little discussion. I was so excited to talk to them about how the temple was the place the Lee family started, and about all of the wonderful things that had taken place through the years. Remember I had spent nearly 2 hours dreaming it up in my mind the previous morning. However, Aaron was more concerned with the wild turkeys, Abby was concerned with the puddle nearby and Brynn was tired of being with "the adults" and wanted to be a kid again too! Needless to say, it was the condensed version of my idea, but hopefully they felt something even amidst the turkeys, puddles and fountains!
Luckily I had also paid special attention to the article about family laughter...it stated something like "A little craziness once in a while perpetuates sanity." Whew! I could use some sanity! I am so thankful for these 3 symbols of the friendship and love Joseph and I share! I am so happy my days are spent in the service of the 4 most important people in my life. I feel so blessed!
So as it happens, these three symbols of our love, precluded me from having the idyllic family anniversary night I had imagined.....yet as we walked away from the temple grounds we couldn't help but smile at the joy they bring into our lives, and hope that even though they didn't "hear" much of what I had planned, that their hearts felt a great deal of the love we have for them and each other.
Life hasn't been exactly how I had planned it to be, but that fact has made it all the better. My life has been richly blessed by the growing experiences we have had. As Joe always reminds me...life finds meaning in the struggle.
I am so happy to be married to Joseph. We always laugh that marriage is like good cheese...it gets better with age. Each year gets better and better. While we've been married 8 years, my admiration started for him 18 years ago as I saw the unassuming 6th grader strut, with a bounce in his step, down the hallway of our middle school with his face full of freckles and glasses that looked more like protective raquetball lenses. I was drawn to him because of the happy countenance he had about him. He never noticed me, and I don't know that I even knew his name, but I would wait by my locker everyday after lunch just so I could see his mile wide grin. He was my daily dose of happiness (and still is). Somehow it made the day more bearable! I am so glad that our paths eventually crossed later that year so that he could learn that I even existed! He has made my life more wonderful than I could ever imagine!
7 comments:
What a great entry, Amy. Mothers always have the best intentions of teaching our children. The scenario is always different in our minds, but the important thing is that we do it. They do feel something, and those times are precious. I loved the 6th grade story....I had no idea it started that early. Chris and I agree that every year of marriage just gets better and better. Happy 8th Anniversary.
Bill and Lorraine Brooks :) Loved your post!
What an awesome post. I admit I even teared up a little bit! I feel the same way when it comes to having the priviledge of serving the 4 most important people each day and how hard yet wonderful it can be at the same time. Thank you for giving me a little upliftment on a day when I needed it!
Sweet, sweet blog entry. I had no idea you and Joe went back that far! I too have had many perfect plans for my kids thwarted by their own ideas of the way things should go. Being a mother has taught me to be able to "go with the flow" which has really helped to cure a lot of the perfectionist in me.
What a beautiful tribute to your family. Life is just so precious and what joys our spouses and children can bring.
I loved reading about the early beginnings of Joe and Amy. I could see you in the hallways of the dark intermediate school waiting for Joseph to walk by. What a fun story to share with your kids.
Happy Anniversary!
I am with staci, I was in tears too...First off- 8 years is wonderful, congratulations! It looks from the pictures that even though things didn't go the way that you planned, they still went beautifully...some of my favorite memories with my family are simple times when we went to various temples and walked around, simply being together on temple grounds cements your relationships even more. (but your a great mom and I am sure you already knew that!)
I'm so glad you had such a great anniversary! And I love the way you brought all the kiddles into it. We've had a few family anniversaries here and there, sprinkled into the Mom-and-Dad-only anniversaries. I like both kinds. :)
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