Unspoken Rules

This week in class we discussed different system theories and how different families function. Every family has rules that are never established but for some reason they are a rule.

Here are some of my families unspoken rules:
1. We have family dinner every night together
2. We all have designated spots around the dinner table
3. If you are out later than planned call mom to let her know where you are at and when you will be home
4. Do your homework before play
5. Be respectful to siblings
6. Mom does laundry
7. I wash the dog
8. When you have a computer issue talk to dad
9. Winners pick up the game
10. When our parents go to the temple, us kids clean the house to surprise them
11. Before traveling we all say a prayer together

These are only a few of the unspoken rules that our family have, and I am sure there are many more. It's interesting how every family functions differently and the way you are raised plays a role in these rules because they come second nature to you. It will be interesting what my future family's unspoken rules will be someday and if any of my immediate families rules will carry over or if I will have completely different ones.

Changing Patterns of Relationships

For homework this week we had to read out of our text book "Marriage and Family: a Quest of Intimacy" by Robert H. Lauer and Jeanette C. Lauer. They brought up several statistics on the changing patterns of intimate relationships. They gave stats such as: on average in 1970 females were marrying at age 20 and males at 22, now the average age to marry is 26 for females and 27 for males. Not only has marriage been delayed but cohabitation, premarital sex, employed mothers, and divorce is increasing while birth rates and household size is decreasing. As I was reading about all the changes that is occurring in this world I couldn't help but think how Satan is working his hardest right now to destroy families. Being sealed to your family for time and all eternity in the God's temple and creating that family unit is the most important ordinance on this earth, and Satan knows that. It is important to be aware of this.

At the end of this chapter Lauer  points out the strengths and benefits of marriage and family. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we know the importance of family and the blessing it can be in our lives. One of the strengths/benefits Laur mentions is: "a satisfying marriage provides you with a built-in support system to help you deal with the varied challenges and struggles of your life." Family is there to support and strength you, they are always there and will always be there for you. I'm grateful for the blessings of having a family here on this earth and for the opportunity for me to create my own family unit someday.

For my Family Relations class at BYU-Idaho my teacher is having us update our own customized blogs every week with thoughts and impression gained through homework/class assignments pertaining to the family. I was so excited to start this blog because family is one of the most important things in my life and now I get to share that with everyone else. I hope that through this blog you will understand the importance of the family unit as it is the most central and important unit that God has created and is one of the sole purposes of this life here and hereafter.

As I was thinking of a name for my blog I decided on "Family: A Little Heaven on Earth" because 1. I truly believe that family can really be a little heaven on earth and 2. I read Elder Hales talk titled "A Little Heaven on Earth" and it talks all about the family. This talk has inspired me to create a family that will be that sanctuary and heaven here on earth. So that my kids will feel safe, secure, and loved, and that my sealing to my future spouse will help create that haven for my family with those promised blessings for eternity. At the end of Elder Hales' talk he says "I ask you not to lean on your spouse as a crutch but to stand strong, strengthen each other, and ask for help as you pray together each night...That you might have true happiness and find the joy of a celestial marriage with a little heaven on earth is my prayer."

This has always been my prayer too, that my future family will be my little heaven on earth! That my future spouse and I will work together and strengthen each other and our kids so that we can create a celestial family that will feel a part of heaven on earth.