Recipe for a Happy Marriage

📷 August 2024 in Calgary: We had the honor of hosting a beautiful wedding. We may not have been the bride and groom, but we definitely had a blast celebrating with the happy couple 🥂

A friend recently asked me, "I really admire your marriage relationship and family. What is your secret recipe?" Her question took me back to my high school days, flipping through my journal, filled with dreams of a life like the one I have now. I realized that everything I have today is the answer to prayers and desires I held long ago.
 
Anatolin first saw me at 12, but our friendship blossomed at 15 when we were both actively involved in church activities and seminary. Those years were filled with a passion for learning and a deep commitment to missionary work. As we matured, we continued to explore new communities and organizations, both inside and outside the church, gaining valuable experiences along the way. But at the end of the day, it's the gospel of Jesus Christ that truly teaches us how to live meaningful and happy lives. It gives us the assurance of eternal joy beyond this life.

 
So, what is the secret recipe? It's a simple one: a lifetime of learning and growth. As Elder Boyd K. Packer said, "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior." Understanding the doctrine of eternal marriage and eternal families helps us stay true to our covenants.
 
The gospel of Jesus Christ is built upon the Father's plan of salvation for the eternal progress of His children. Our mortal lives are not meant to be easy or consistently pleasant. Our Heavenly Father knows that we learn and grow through challenges, sorrows, and difficult choices.
 
This plan helps us understand the difficult circumstances we face in mortality, which ultimately contribute to our growth. Through all the opposition we encounter, we have God's assurance that He will "consecrate our afflictions for our gain." Our trials and challenges allow us to grow towards what our Heavenly Father desires for us.

 
This, my friends, is our secret recipe: a commitment to learning, growth, and the eternal plan of our Heavenly Father. It's not a quick fix, but a lifelong journey of faith, love, and perseverance.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Higher Joy

Image
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk "A Higher Joy" resonated deeply with me during our recent Relief Society lesson at Riverbend Ward, Bow River Stake. The talk's message about actively seeking joy, even amidst challenges, was already powerful. But our teacher, Pam Merrell, took the lesson to a whole new level with a simple but profound activity.   She asked us to write down the name of the first person who came to mind. Then, she asked us to write down the words we wanted to tell that person, reminding us to listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost as we wrote. As I sat there, the thought of reaching out to someone, expressing my feelings, filled me with excitement. As I began to write, a sense of peace settled over me. The words flowed effortlessly, guided by a gentle, inner voice.   It was a simple exercise, but it carried a weight that I'm still processing. That activity, combined with Elder Uchtdorf's message, was a powerful reminder for me. Her
Read more

Responding to the Savior's Invitation: Arise and Come Forth

Image
This morning, during my scripture study, I had a profound experience where I felt the Savior Himself reaching out to me, inviting me to " arise and come forth unto" Him. It was as if a veil was lifted, and I could sense His presence more clearly than ever before. This invitation prompted me to delve deeper into understanding how He invites us to come closer to Him. As I continue to ponder and study, here are some ways the Savior invites us to "arise and come forth unto" Him: Through Repentance and a Change of Heart   The Savior's visit to the Nephites was preceded by a period of great darkness and destruction. He taught them that their suffering was a consequence of their wickedness and invited them to repent and turn to Him. This principle holds true for us today. Repentance is not simply about acknowledging our mistakes but about actively seeking change and aligning our lives with God's will. By turning away from sin and living righ
Read more

100 Sabbath Day Activity Ideas

Image
Due to the developing concerns over the spread of the coronavirus, gatherings of church members were temporarily suspended worldwide and leaders asked members to hold Sunday meetings in their homes. We know that the Sabbath is a special day and we want it to be a spiritual day amidst these trying times. We know we will reap blessings of stronger family relationships, kinder communication, spiritual depth, and more family fun. Our family has carefully gathered the following activity ideas after the Sunday service at home: 1. Make a family storybook: Everyone picks a memory, draws their version of it, and writes a short summary about it. Share your memories with each other. 2. Create a family mailbox to keep inside your home that you fill with sweet letters to each other. 3. Make a wall of favorite quotes from the general conference and leave it up for 6 months until the next conference. 4. Book of Mormon Puzzle: Draw your favorite scene or character from th
Read more

Reflections on Love, Faith, and Marriage

Image
Reflecting on my marriage with Anatolin on the morning of September 26th, 2024, I felt prompted to share the thoughts and feelings I had written in my personal journal, feeling the crisp autumn air, drifted through the open window, a comforting reminder of the season's change. In the suburbs of La Union, surrounded by the whispers of faith, my beloved Anatolin and I began a timeless journey together. Our love story, rooted in the tender soil of teenage friendship, blossomed into a marriage sanctified by our shared faith as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Standing by Anatolin's side on our wedding day in 2005 at the Manila Philippines Temple , with our families surrounding us, I felt profound gratitude for the love that had brought us together. We solemnly entered into sacred covenants with Heavenly Father and each other, committing to uphold fidelity, live in a Christlike manner, honor all gospel commitments, and fulfill th
Read more

A Beacon of Hope for Child-Survivors

Image
  In the heart of the Philippines, amidst the challenges and shadows of abuse and exploitation, stands Parola Santuwaryo (Lighthouse Sanctuary) - a sanctuary of light and healing for children who have survived the horrors of sexual abuse and sex trafficking. This blog post sheds light on the noble mission of Parola Santuwaryo, an organization dedicated to providing a safe haven and professional rehabilitation services to these vulnerable children, empowering them to reintegrate successfully into family life and society.   The Urgent Need for Residential Shelters   In a country where the dark realities of abuse and trafficking cast a long shadow over the lives of children, the need for residential shelters is more pressing than ever. Parola Santuwaryo has emerged as a beacon of hope, filling a crucial gap as the only shelter of its kind in all of Region 1, offering refuge to up to 20 children in need. Another shelter will open up in Tarlac City very soon.    The
Read more

Welcome to the Money Matters Community!

Image
  Congratulations! You've just finished reading   Money Matters: A Comprehensive Guide to Financial Planning for Couples , and we're thrilled you're here! This means you're ready to take control of your financial future as a couple, and we're excited to be a part of your journey. Why Join Our Community? Connect with like-minded couples:  Share your experiences, challenges, and triumphs in managing your finances as a team. Get expert advice:  Ask questions and receive personalized guidance from financial experts and fellow community members. Access exclusive resources:  Find valuable tools, templates, and additional resources to help you implement the strategies outlined in the book. Stay informed:  Get updates on the latest financial trends and tips relevant to married couples. Build a supportive network:  Find encouragement and motivation from others who are also navigating the world of financial planning. We're glad you're here!  Let's start building
Read more

Our Love Story

Image
Let me share how our paths crossed, how our relationship blossomed over the years, and how our commitment to each other and our shared faith in   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints   have been foundational in our journey together. Anatolin and I were both raised by our goodly parents. I was born in San Jose Del Monte Bulacan on February 21, 1982. When I was two years old, our family moved to Bauang, La Union, where we met Sister Lumacad and Sister Mcnutt, missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our family accepted the gospel on June 10, 1984 and was sealed at the Manila Philippines Temple on February 1, 1986, two years after it's dedication.  Anatolin was born in San Jose Agoo, La Union on June 25, 1982. Their whole family was baptized in the church in May 1988.  Anatolin said he first saw me when we were twelve years old at a Regional Conference where an apostle of the Lord, Elder Quentin L. Cook, presided over the San Fernando La Un
Read more

Why Sudoku is More Than Just a Game

Image
We live in a world awash with distractions. Our attention is constantly being pulled in a million different directions, making it harder than ever to find moments of quiet focus. But amidst the chaos, there's a simple, yet powerful tool that can help us sharpen our minds and find a sense of calm: Sudoku.  Often dismissed as a mere brain teaser, Sudoku offers a surprising array of benefits that extend far beyond entertainment.  Here's why you should consider incorporating this puzzle into your daily routine:   1.   A Brain Boost :   Sudoku is a mental workout, a gym for your cognitive abilities.  It challenges your problem-solving skills, logic, and spatial reasoning.  By working through the grid, you're essentially training your brain to think critically and make connections.  Studies have shown that regular Sudoku play can improve memory, concentration, and overall cognitive function, even delaying age-related cognitive decline.   2.  Stress Relief :   In a wor
Read more

Drawing Closer to the House of the Lord

Image
  In the ever-expanding landscape of temples around the world, the message is clear: temple blessings are not just reserved for a select few, but are meant to be accessible to all who seek them. As the Lord, through His living prophet, continues to bring more houses of the Lord closer in more places, the opportunity to partake of temple blessings becomes increasingly available to everyone. 
Read more

BYU-I Fall 2021

Image
We are looking forward to starting and completing our chosen course this fall semester. Child Development course is a theoretical, academically oriented course focusing on the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development of the child from conception through adolescence. As parents ourselves and assisting and giving support to other children, we are excited to learn and  explore the influences of family, peers, and social institutions on the child's development.  We know that connecting the dots between what we learn and what we do takes creativity and even stepping outside our comfort zone.Our most favorite part is searching for daily opportunities at home and at work to apply what we learn.
Read more