Crazy busy life

Holy moly! Life is crazy right now!! Adam and I both graduate in a week so we are right in the middle of finals and then we are moving out of our apartment in a week and a half. While we are doing all of that both of our families are coming in to town. Cra-Z! On top of all of that, there are a million and a half weddings that I am trying to attend (I wish I could go to them all) and bridal showers and baby showes... 'tis the season!

I did mention that we are moving out of our apartment right? Not only are we moving out, but we are moving clear across the country to Charlotte, North Carolina. That's right, the east coast.

I am scared out of my mind because I have never lived anywhere that I didn't have some family around. I will have Adam's family and of course my sweet husband will be there with me. But I am trying to look at the good side of things. Adam got a job over there which is why we are going out there. This will be a big adventure for both of us! Something brand new to me. I will have the beach within a couple hours though!! Over there, it is actually warm water instead of the Pacific Ocean where you have to turn numb before you can be ok. I am really excited to begin this new chapter of our lives. No college, no kids, just two very happily married people looking for a good time!

My family is coming tomorrow actually! Well, half of them. I get to spend as much time as I can with them before they go back home and I leave for my new home. But They are coming for graduation and thhen we will spend tons of time on the lake, fishing, riding the four wheelers, packing and cleaning my apartment! I am so excited to see them!

Parental Advice...

So for homework this week I had to call my parents and ask them what advice they would give me to help strengthen our marriage when I got pregnant and when we had kids. This is the advice they gave me and I thought it was great!

I talked to both of my parents actually. I really respect their marriage and the happiness they share with one another. I talked to them one right after the other and they both kind of had similar things to say.  My husband and I just got married 3 months ago ( today!) and we are hoping to wait a little while before we have kids but it was really good to talk about some things that we should always remember when we do get pregnant and have kids. Here is the advice they gave me.

Put your husband first. It’s him who you start with and him who you end with.

I really like this because a lot of times people think that they need to put their kids first. Of course they need to take care of their kids and meet their needs, but their spouse is the person they chose to be with for eternity.  I know that I chose my husband to be with for eternity and I am so grateful that I get to do so.

Make sure to keep the friendship between you and spouse.

My mom really emphasized this. She told me that we need to build upon the friendship that we already have and that we started before we got married. That friendship will help us through the rough times and through all of our children. By the time all of our kids are out of the house we will be left with the love we have for each other and the friendship we have built upon. She told me to really focus on that before we have kids so that when we do have kids it will be easier to know how and remember to build that friendship.

Make sure there is always time for the two of you                             

This one, to me, is so important. My husband and I got married right before both of our last semesters in college. We are both so busy this semester with all of our school work, future plans, and trying to spend time with the friends we have here before we leave. We do most of this together, but sometimes it is hard finding time to just sit down and have “us” time. I think life if busy now, just wait until I have kids. Not only kids, but when they are all involved in things and we are running every which way. We need to work on always making sure there is time for us.

Vertical alignment: Heavenly Father first, then your spouse, then your children

This was one thing that my dad told me. When he first said “vertical alignment”, I laughed because I thought it was just another sarcastic answer that my dad had for me. But then he explained that if you always keep them in this order it will strengthen your relationship with each one of the three. For example, never put your children before your husband and never put your husband before the Lord. That was big for me. When I am set on making someone happy or growing with someone, that’s all I can think about for the most part. It was a good reminder to always keep Heavenly Father first, no matter what. Then when we have children, they are so precious and very important, but I still need to put my husband before them. I need to make sure that as a mother and a wife that I fulfill both responsibilities. I need to spend time with my husband just as much as I need to feed and take care of the baby.