On The Inside

The Warm, Happy Marriage: Cold, Hard Facts to Consider  Chapter 7 After reading this chapter, I was very intrigued by the different facts to consider in marriage. Now, if you are currently newly married, I want you to remember what I am going to write about today. I hope that it can make a positive influence on your life today and forever.  Many researchers throughout the times have studied married couples and opinions of being married. They have come to see conclusions that are negative and positive things about the concept of marriage. One being "but passé, unrealistic, and downright stifling." (p. 70). Others defending marriage as being one of the greatest things in this life. I find this so interesting how many different opinions can occur. It means that people often find marriage as a difficult thing and a waste of their time. Then, they end up practicing cohabitation, which studies have shown doesn't mean the couple will always stay together.  However, there are MAN...

  Marital Sexuality and Fertility  Chapter 5 How are you this week? I hope all is well. I know that there are some uncertain things happening in the world and I can see why you would feel such worry. But, do not fear, our Heavenly Father has a plan!  So, for this week's blog post I have been reading about Marital Sexuality and Fertility. But, before I continue with my thoughts I have a BIG announcement. I AM PREGNANT! This is my first baby and I am so full of gratitude! My husband and I are so excited, nervous, anxious, and feeling all the emotions! I think this announcement goes well with the material I have been studying all week!  Now, let's jump into the good stuff!!  When I got married I didn't have any experience with sexual relations before. So, I have learned so much since being married and how important it truly is. It is such a blessing that we have from our Heavenly Father to be able to use it in a healthy and godly way. In the text this week, I wante...

Foundational Processes for an Enduring, Healthy Marriage  Chapter 3 I loved reading this week's chapter about the foundational processes for an ongoing, growing marriage. It is truly a blessing we have on this Earth to be here and learn how to manage a good marriage. It gives me clarity that I know our Heavenly Father wants us to know how to do this before we leave this Earth and become like Him with our significant other.  Now I wanted to give you a basic summary of what this chapter has to offer for you in your marriage or even your future marriage. If all you remember after reading this blog post is how to keep that foundation strong then that's perfect!! I know you will be able to! Nurturing love and friendship is such a basic thing in a marriage that needs all the attention that it can have! It is very important to take the time to make sure your spouse is your best friend. Help that relationship by doing things to grow and nurture it. Relationships don't just have the...

Equal Partnership Between Men and Women in Families Chapter 4 I really enjoyed reading this chapter and felt the need to discuss a few main points that can be applied to those of you who are recently married and who are wanting to learn more about marriage.  When you think about the word equality, what do you think it means? Too many people might think that equality is the same as identity or in other words that two things which are equal to each other must be identical. However, this is not the case.  I really like to think of the song Glorious by David Archuleta and tie this into the point I am trying to make about equality. In his song he says,  "It's like a symphony,  just keep listening,  pretty soon you'll start,  to figure out your part,"  I really like this form of words because it helps me to understand that nobody is going to be exactly alike, but we are all equal. We all are here for the same opportunities. We all have the ability to choose....

The ABC's in Marriage and Dating Chapter 2 In this chapter of the book titled Successful Marriages and Families, it was eye-opening to read about the ABC's that help with your marriage and dating life. I found it very intriguing and loved reading this chapter. I am going to tell YOU about the ABC's and then you will be able to apply what you've learned to your life as will I. It started with a man named George Levinger in 1983 who proposed the "five-phase development of heterosexual romantic relationships" (p. 16). He called them this:  A. Awareness or Acquaintance with another person B. Build-up of the relationship C. Continuation following Commitment to a longterm relationship (which may result to marriage) D.  Deterioration or Decline in the interdependence of the couple; E. Ending of the relationship I have been in several relationships and reading about the steps of each relationship here has really helped me to understand why each relationship h...

  What Does Marriage Look Like For You? It has been quite a while since I have posted anything that I am learning in my classes at BYUI. I want to share with you some important takeaways that I have gained since studying the book titled Successful Marriages and Families.  As I continue with this course, each week you will see a blog post from me about this book and the things I feel can apply to us all in relation to marriage. I am speaking to anybody who is looking for the right one and who might be married for more than 50 years!! We can all learn something new right? I can promise you, this information is a valuable and good use of your time to read about. In the first chapter of this book that I mentioned above, it introduces that many young adults see marriage as being a pathway to becoming an adult. I can say that I agree with this statement and in a way, I might have a different view about marriage. I think what many young adults struggle with about marriage is two thin...