Today marks the day that I gave my Mr James a "yes-yes." He was a patient and determined young man when I returned from my mission and he was ready to marry me. James had asked me to marry him a little over a month earlier to marry him and I gave him the reply of, "YES...but not yes-yes!" I explained to him that I really did want to marry him and so he had a yes, but there were still a few things I had to make sure I was alright with and that we needed to talk about more until he got a yes yes. And so we took the time to talk about these things and to help me feel confident and prepared to spend eternity with this great man.
I think oftentimes in life we need a little period to solidify our yes's into yes-yes's. Oftentimes in this hustlebustle world we have to make decisions on the fly, but VERY important decisions should have careful thought. I want my children to think for themselves, to learn reasoning skills, to feel confident in the planning and preparations they make, to know it's ok to wait, to be good decision makers and first and foremost to know that their happiness is key in this life. There is a beautiful scripture that says, "For behold this is my work and my glory- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." God want's us to have eternal happiness, it His greatest work and glory. He is the ultimate example of a loving and righteous parent.
How grateful I am that James had the patience to allow me to work out my happiness and to know that my yes-yes really meant YES for eternity! We have been so blessed to be uplifted through storms that rage at us in our marriage. Our home has a great peace, that is what I prayed for. I knew that life would not be a bed of roses for us, but I knew that our home could be a blossoming rose of strength if we were a team. This is a major reason for our Family Motto. As a family, as a couple, as individuals strengthening our relationship with our Heavenly Father we must be tight. That is where peace and strength come from in a family. Being close. Trusting one another. Lifting one another.
And so on this beautiful October day I am reminded of how grateful I am for saying Yes-Yes two years ago to my own James Franklyn Spencer! Here's to keeping that Yes-Yes alive and well!!!
