Anniversay Gift

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Aaron Jr has taken over Aaron's hats. He found them in our room one day and gets them all out pretty often. This was is one of Aaron's prized Chris LeDoux hats. He loved this one. I love when Aaron Jr finds things of his Dad's and feels that they are something special.


Aaron's Mom, Sue, planted these the weekend of Memorial Day. They were tiny little things with no flowers on them yet... and to be honest, I assumed the gardeners would mow them over within a week. Well, they didn't. They have mowed around them and they have become big and beautiful. I love it. Thanks Sue.


This is when I went to visit the grave for our anniversary. Aaron Jr fell asleep in the car, so it was just me sitting there. It was very peaceful and very quiet. Aaron Jr likes to run around while we are there, so it was so neat to be there and be able to talk to Aaron without any distractions. The reason I took a photo of my feet in flip flops is because on our honeymoon, Aaron bought me flip flops JUST LIKE THESE. I wore them so much for nearly 5 years, then on our vacation back east the summer before he passed away, I lost my beloved flip flops. SO, these were all I asked for when it came to a gift for our anniversary. So Aaron ordered these online for me and they are identical to my other ones. So, besides the trip we took to Brian Head for our anniversary, this was my last anniversary gift from Aaron. I love them.


Anyone who has been married in an LDS temple since 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World' was given, knows that they give out a copy of it to the newlywed couple. It is always rolled up with a ribbon or tie around it and they say to display it in your home.
Well, we got 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World' and something called 'The Marriage Creed', which also might be given to every couple, I just don't know.
Sue (Aaron's mom) said that she was cleaning out her office at her store and found these two documents where she had put them for safe keeping 7 years ago. She remembered specifically that after our honeymoon, Aaron took them to her and asked her to take them to a framing place that is above her store and asked her to get them framed for us. She agreed and then forgot about them.
Well, for this anniversary this year, after just finding them, she had them framed and gave them to me as our gift. She also wrote out the story of Aaron bringing them to her and specifically asking her to make sure THESE were the ones that were framed. Not copies. THE ones that they gave to us in the temple. She said that she remembers how light and happy Aaron looked as he entered her office that day. She said he was SO happy.
It brings tears to my eyes as I think about how great it was that Aaron was so quick to take those to get framed... so that we could hang them in our home. I do wish they had been hanging there all that time that Aaron was here... but it is definitely better late than never... and I am SO grateful to Sue for finding those and following through on a promise she had made to Aaron 7 years ago. I am so grateful.


For anyone interested, I have put the content of each of these documents below. They are well worth reading. They can improve marriages and families.

The Marriage Creed

COMFORT EACH OTHER

Provide a refuge and sanctuary for each other from the chill winds of the world. Your marriage is a hearth, from whence comes the peace, harmony, and warmth of soul and spirit.

CARESS AS YOU WOULD BE CARESSED

Warm your loved one's body with your healing touch. Remember that as babies can die with lack of touching, so can marriage wither from lack of closeness.

BE A FRIEND AND PARTNER

Friendship can be a peaceful island, separate and apart, in a world of turmoil and strife. Reflect upon the tranquility of the many future years you can share with a true friend, and beware of becoming battling enemies under the same roof.

BE OPEN WITH EACH OTHER

Bind not yourselves in the secretness that causes suspicion and doubt.Trust and reveal yourselves to each other, even as the budding rose opens to reveal its fragrance and beauty.

LISTEN TO EACH OTHER

And hear not only words, but also the non-language of tone, mood, and expression. Learn to listen to understand rather than listening to argue.

RESPECT EACH OTHER'S RIGHTS

Remember that each is a person of flesh and blood, entitled to his or her own choices and mistakes.Each owns himself, and has the right to equality.

ALLOW THE OTHER TO BE AN INDIVIDUAL

Seek not to create for each other a new mold that can only fit with much discomfort and pain. Accept the other as they are, as you would have yourself accepted.

GIVE EACH OTHER APPROVAL

Remember criticism divides, while compliments encourage confidence in the other. Hasten not to point out the other's mistakes, for each will soon discover his own.

CHERISH YOUR UNION

Let no one come between your togetherness; not child, not friend, nor worldly goods. Yet maintain enough separateness to allow each other his or her own unique oneness.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Love is your river of life -- your eternal source of recreating yourselves. Above all else, love one another.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

“We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

“All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

“In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

“The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

“We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

“Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. ‘Children are an heritage of the Lord’ (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

“The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

“We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

“We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society” (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).

Missing you Aaron... as always... I love you.

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