Six years and counting

Yesterday was our sixth year anniversary. I just can't believe that it's been that long. We woke up and the first thing Cam did was go into the other room and come in with a card and a gift for me. He gave me a beautiful sapphire necklace on a chain of white gold and I absolutely love it!

Last night I pulled out the talk that the bishop gave at our wedding. I do this at least once every year and always on our anniversary. For the first few years I didn't and then I found it and read it and it spoke so true to me. More so than it did on the day that we were getting married. I think I was just a bundle of nerves and I was just so excited that I didn't really hear what he had to say. I cried the first time I read it after we were married and I still cry almost every time that I read. What a beautiful day it was. November 15 and it was seventy degrees outside. We were so lucky. I want to share with you a good portion of what was said that day, not only because it's my anniversary but also because they're such good words for everyone to hear. I'll skip through the introductions as well as the regular stuff that is said at all weddings. Here goes:

I have been asked by this fine couple to perform their marriage, I am honored and deeply touched that they have entrusted this responsibility to me. Brandy, you are a beautiful young bride and Camron, you're a handsome groom. I must say - you complement one another. Before we begin the actual ceremony, I would like to take a few moments and offer some words of counsel.
Brandy - I have come to understand that you are an emotional young lady, you want love and understanding. Camron, I encourage you to daily express your love to her, feel of her joys and sorrows and accompany her through these emotions. Cry with her, laugh with her and love with her.
Camron - I have come to understand that you are bold, you feel that you must be strong and lead the way, you have great desires to take care of your family. Brandy, I ask you to stand beside him, always giving encouragement, and be content and grateful with the life Camron provides for you.
President Hinckley taught - "the sweetest feelings of life, the most generous and satisfying impulses of the human heart, find expression in a marriage that stands pure, such a marriage, I believe, is the desire of men and women everywhere."
This day will be filled with excitement, stress, love and commitment, but a happy marriage requires work. Camron, you must give 150% and Brandy - you the same. If either of you feel that one is slacking in their effort, it should not be an excuse for the other to start slacking as well. It really means that you give even more.
President Hinckley has written a book "Way to Be". There are 9 B's that can strengthen your marriage.
1. Be Grateful - You can never thank one another too much or show your gratitude enough. Gratitude creates the most wonderful feeling. It can resolve disputes. It can strengthen friendships, and it makes us better men and women.
2. Be Smart - By suggesting that you be smart, I mean be wise, be intelligent. Be smart about training yourself for the future. Be wise about what lies ahead. We can't change the past, but what we do today will definitely influence what the future holds. You have probably heard about how lucky some people are - they have a good marriage, they have a good job, or they are lucky because they have good kids. Well, I don't believe in luck, I find that these people are just being rewarded according to the effort put forth. Remember the harder and smarter you work the luckier you will be.
3. Be Involved
4. Be Clean - It is perceived by some that the woman should do the house work. Camron, don't get caught up with this mind set, you are equally responsible to pick up after yourself and others. If you want a clean house you and your wife should work side by side, and as you have children, they will work by your side as well, but remember - it is the woman's touch that can make a house a home. The spirit of the Lord dwells in clean and orderly homes.
5. Be True
6. Be Positive
7. Be Humble
8. Be Still - You will find at times, that you will be irritated by what the other does, and you will want to lash out or get revenge, this is the time to remember the words of Christ. "Peace - Be Still". In other words, if you want peace and happiness in your marriage - then sometimes you must be still.
9. Be Prayerful - Camron, as the one presiding in the home, make sure that prayer is an everyday occurrence, morning and night, together and individually. Express your gratitude every day to your Heavenly Father for your wonderful companion; and Brandy, you do the same, as you kneel side by side each day and thank your Heavenly Father for Camron and all he does.

These nine B's are meant to make someone a better person and as each of you become better, your marriage will become stronger. When the time comes that you come before God, hopefully He can look at you and say "Way to Be".

Now I have gone on probably more than you would have wanted, but let me say two more things. When Adam and eve were put in the Garden of Eden the Lord told them to cultivate it and take good care of it. The two of you are now being put into your own "Garden of Eden". It is your home and that little piece of earth that you will have control over. Compared to the vast expanse of this earth it is small, but you will be just as responsible to cultivate and beautify it as Adam and Eve were.
Cultivate your home to be a haven of peace and love, a place where in times of stress you and your children can come and find peace and beauty, and feel the Spirit of the Lord. They were also commanded to multiply and replenish the earth, Brandy and Camron enjoy your children and have joy in your posterity.
Now Brandy and Camron let's see if we can't tie a knot that cannot be loosed. Let's send you off on a trip that will provide you with a life of wonderful experiences and memories.



And what memories and experiences we've had! I have such a deep love for my husband and couldn't imagine my life without him. I am so thankful to have him in my life. I was a rough teenager and did a lot of stupid things. I got involved in a lot of stupid crowds and situations. Somehow, no matter how many hard things I went through, and even though they were my mistakes and I was putting myself into those situations, I always told myself that I would marry the right one and from that point on, things would be okay. The past six years of my life have more than made up for any of the rough times that I've had to go through. And going through the rough times now are so much easier with him by my side. I love that I can always count on my husband. I love that he has made me into such a better person. I love that he loves me. I love that he is such a caring, loving and generous person, not just to me, but to all that he meets. I love that he has the attitude that we can handle any situation and the positive attitude that he has about life. I love that if I ask him to, he'll read aloud to me at night, because I love to fall asleep to the sound of his voice. I love the love that he has for our dogs and that he cares about them as much as I do. I love that he loves my family. I love the way that he is with our nieces and I absolutely love thinking about the future that we'll share and the amazing father that he will be. Thank you Brooks and Kathy for raising such an amazing man for me to share my life with. I'm forever in your debt. And thank you Camron for letting me be the one that gets to share my life with you.