Week Eight: Stress

My blog blitz rolls on! For week eight in Family Relations, we learned about stress on the individual and the family and the benefits that can come from it. Wait....there's benefits to stress???? Hold on, there must be a mistake somewhere....nope, it's true. In class, there was an example given about astronauts and the effect of weightlessness on their bodies when they are in space. Sure it sounds like fun to float around and not have any pressure on the body, but there are residual effects on them when they return to Earth. With no stress on the body, their bone structure grows weaker because no stress has been applied to the skeletal structure. Their backs get compacted, their muscles atrophy, and so on. The same is with our lives. Without stress, then our lives would be carefree and easy and we wouldn't grow at all. Joseph Smith needed Liberty Jail to teach him some very important eternal doctrines, Nephi needed to cut off someone's head in order to preserve his family lineage and records, and so on. We don't need to experience those types of things, but our own trials and stress shape us to be more in the image of Christ. We need stress....managing it in a useful way is the best way to handle stress.

Week Seven: The "S" word

Holy schmo....i havent made any kind of entry in almost two months. Yikes....well, here is me making up for some lost time. (hooray for class repentance, right?)

Well from this lesson back in week 7, we talked about sexual intimacy between a husband and wife and the sacred powers that are contained in them. For me, i feel that the topic gets a "too taboo" label on it by a lot of LDS members, so they avoid the issue and never discuss it in a mature, sacred manner. With that, people then get the shock of a lifetime when it's the wedding night and they have no idea what to do or how to be delicate to their spouse. I feel that proper discussion on sexual intimacy should be taught more frequent than it is to young LDS adults. With that, they have a better understanding of what to expect and the physiology that goes on. Being in Family Relations and Marriage Prep from last spring has given me a ton of useful information and understanding so when i am married, i know of how God-like these feelings are; and they should be treated and talked about as such.

Family Relations: Week Tres!

Ok so i totally forgot about posting something last week, sooooo....(not that anyone would've read it if i did...) But from this week i got:

I took away different things about social class and the kind of demographic things that separate us in the United States. From those videos we watched on Monday, it was interesting that there are such divides among those that are labeled as "Haves" and "Have Nots". And then with Friday and me playing the Mexican dad who leaves his family to go to the United States to find work and opportunity, but instead finds more problems than before....yikes, im not sure i could do that to my family, but some people do do that and i can't imagine what it's like for them. Just role playing was hard enough!

So this is how it feels

Alright, a post that isn't for my FAM 160 class! I pretty much just thought about it as i was getting ready for bed, 'cause i wouldn't be able to fall asleep until i typed this up, so here i am barely awake and making a new blog entry! That usually goes well...

So for those who didn't know already (which is very few i imagine), but i got engaged just a week and a half ago! woohoo!!!! It was certainly a very good day indeed and can't wait to see what unfolds in the future for me and my soon-to-be wife, Natalie. So as i was brushing my teeth, i was thinking about it and the "so this is what it feels like" feeling hit me. You know, the feeling you get when something good seems to FINALLY happen to you and then you get to see why everyone really enjoys it. I remember feeling it when i graduated high school 7 years ago (yikes!). I'd see the seniors and all the cool stuff they get to experience and i was like, "man that'll be awesome when i get to be a senior and walk across the stage to get my diploma". And then it happened and it was great. Then when it was leaving to serve a mission. After three weeks that felt more like three years were over, i finally got to go into the field and experience first hand all that the mission offers and then again when i came home after the two years. Sad to say, i felt that "so this is what it feels like" when i got my first girlfriend ever after almost a year from coming home. Those who know me (or have at least read my blogs) know that marriage has been one of the biggest things i have prayed for and longed for a while, but had to go through A LOT of heartache and headaches to get to this point. One time i got super close to just being engaged last year but then it fell apart and was one of the worst few months i can remember. Now that i've reached this point, i look back and see where i've been and where it has taken me to get to this point right now. The road to get here being engaged sucked, but i love it now knowing that the Lord prepared me for it and to be with someone that is truly wonderful. This "so this is what it feels like" will only continue throughout life, with the next big one coming in August when it all becomes official, followed by children in the future and graduating from college and so on.

So this is what it feels like....i like it

Family Relations 160: Week Uno!

Hmmm...i go back and forth as far as writing in my blog goes, but since i need to write stuff every week for class...here i am!

So this week, i learned more about the social trends that are going in the world today. Marriage ages are raising, less children are being born, more are entering into cohabitation, and the big one of same-sex marriage. Holy crap, that's scary! Values and the structure of the family are going further down and it's up to us to stick our beliefs and stand up for what is right. For me, i can't wait to have my own family and be able to have the Gospel prevalent in my home. When people come into my home, i want them to leave with the impression of, "Oh man they are striving to do what's right there!" And it all starts now way before that time; not when i have to at that moment. By preparing now to stand up for strong families, then that attitude will become a behavior that we can teach to others and develop in the home.

So...not too bad as a first post, eh?

Crazy how things change

So apparently i caused a mini stir the other day on Facebook. I posted a status about my excitement to get married and how awesome it will be, and a ton of people confused it to be a engagement announcement. First off, IM NOT ENGAGED....as of now. I gotta wait a little bit (as in, she has to be back in Rexburg first, and that ain't happening until April) and secondly, if i was engaged, then EVERYBODY would know very matter-of-factly. Just as a little heads up for everyone :).

In any case, as i was thinking of posting this, it occurred to me just how crazy things change from a year ago until now. Last year, i was a week or so away from getting dumped by my then girlfriend after dating for about a couple months. I had wanted to marry her, but obviously that wasnt going to happen. Today, im dating Ms. Natalie Elias and going on 8 1/2 months strong (despite the cross-country distance at the moment) Of course her and i have talked marriage many times. I guess thats the reason for this little thing here.

Most people who have known me are aware that i talk about marriage in general A LOT. Part of it is because i want to go into possible marriage counseling, the other part is that i've always thought and been taught that it's a pretty awesome thing. It may annoy some, but im pretty unapologetic when it comes to this topic.

It's taken a good while, but i feel that i have been molded in a way that helps me ready for marriage. Some friends i have talked to have mentioned their hesitancy with wanting to get married. I'm curious and ask "why?" The general theme is a sort of unsure feeling about themselves (insecurities), or worried about finding the right one, or even thinking that single life is more fun. Whatever the reason is, those friends i know are not as enthused about it as i am. I can understand why they may think that. But for me, all i know is that the biggest and best goal a person can make is getting married and sealed to a spouse for time and all eternity in the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage (which is the highest covenant you can make in life, which sounds pretty awesome to me)


For me, i am WAY excited to get married. Besides the big obvious thing you get to do when you're married, i know of a few more, deeper things im excited for when im married. (specifically to Natalie)

-First off, i cant wait to wake up that first morning and the first thing i see is my brand new wife. No make up, hair not done, in pajamas, and just as beautiful as anything. We get to wake up and make breakfast for each other and just chillax the day together. To me, i feel that when you get married, its like you start a new life. For how many years, you grow and mature and do things to prepare you for this moment. When you get there, some things you get rid of and assume this new role as a spouse. You get to cook together, budget together, serve together, laugh together, cry together, and so on. Your total independence is altered in a way where "I" becomes "WE".

-Another one is that you get to have your own little family together; the way you feel is best for everyone. Some things that i didnt necessarily grow up with much; i'll now get to do it with my own children. You can start new traditions and new ideas to bless your family. I imagine myself quite often playing with my future children: feeding them, walking with them, babble-talking with them and so on. I guess i kinda geek out with that.

-And another example would be is that you have someone to do something with all the time. Whether they're your date or a "partner in crime" sorta speak (legally). Sure i can have fun going out to eat or watching a movie or cooking or what have you. But for me, it's even better when you have "someone by your side to sing along" (got that Muppets reference?) In the future, i'd love to take vacations to places i love already and also places i've never been to; but it would make the trip so much more worthwhile to share that experience right beside my wife. I tend to have more fun alongside someone else.

Being at BYU-I, it's almost a joke that someone is excited to get married and should just settle down and have fun going on a ton of dates and crazy outings. Meh...doesnt thrill me as much and seems like just a big waste of time. I want my new chapter in the "Book of Peter" to begin. It'll be hard, yes. Difficult, i know. Stressful, no doubt. But living that chapter and all the happiness that comes with it far outweighs how hard of a read it'll be.

I seem to be forever the optimist when it comes to wanting to get married? Sure, i may get some grief about it but i dont really give a crap. I know what is important in my life and i want to chase it as much as possible. As Bart Scott once said, i "CANT WAIT!" :)


That chapter is almost ready to get started writing. Where's my pen?

Oh 2012

So sitting here December 31, obviously something is typically written about what to look forward to in the upcoming year and reflections about the past year. Now, im really bad about predicting what comes next or things that could happen, so i'll go the easy route and look back at 2012 and where i've been and came out from. Kinda makes you appreciate the lessons you've learned and how the Lord helped you get through it.

So the year started out good enough, i was dating a nice girl, plus her and i had started talking about our future. I had a couple new roommates that were great, so i was thinking that staying in Rexburg while not in school and just working was going to be pretty awesome. I mean, the weather sucked a bit, but it didn't bother me a whole lot. Things were going great up until about the 20th or something: thats when this girl was having second thoughts about wanting to be with me. I was about as shocked as me finding that Hostess donettes were all gone: completely! The following Sunday she broke up with me. Not the start i wanted at all! 2012 looked like it was going to be pretty looooooong...

Yeah i was a mess for a while. Probably some of my roommates were thinking what the heck they got themselves into by rooming with me. Besides my birthday that month, February sucked a little bit. So did about half of March. But there was one little spark in February, though, that has had a massive influence on my life...

It was on or near Valentine's Day when i decided to send a quick Facebook comment to a girl i barely knew named Natalie Elias. I hadn't really talked to her before, but I asked, "Got any plans for Valentine's Day?". She said no and it led to a little conversation but not much after. Soon afterwards though, we started to talk a little bit more and play Words with Friends. I liked it because it kept my mind off of the break-up and Natalie seemed really nice. I later asked if she was coming back to live at Sunrise Village Apartments again (she was there in the Fall previous, and thats where we had briefly been introduced. That night was also the night i took interest in the girl that ended up breaking up with me). We got off on a nice conversation about Georgia (she's from there, i served a mission there), i later then gave her my number so we could talk more. When it came time for the Spring semester to start, i offered to help her with her luggage to her apartment. She appreciated it and we became fast friends. I thought she was cute, but she wanted to serve a mission, so i backed off a wee bit. So i was just sitting in my apartment on a Sunday evening (April 22) when a couple of friends from the ward came by and asked if i wanted to go to Stadium Singing. I said sure and went with them. Meanwhile, Natalie was at her apartment, not wanting to go. While i was at Stadium Singing, Natalie's friends saw me and texted Natalie to come; and she got there fast! I saw her a couple times, but didnt go up to her after it was done. While home, i texted to her, "Hey! i was gonna say hi, but you were surrounded by a bunch of guys, haha". She texted back, "Well then you better make your move ;)" After a confused look, i texted her to explain herself, which resulted in me going to her apartment to ask what she meant. After bumbling a little bit (it was cute) she admitted that she liked me. I was floored!...in a good way! I kinda mumbled out that i had liked her too. It took me a couple of days to suck it up to hold her hand, but i did. She was the first to kiss me, so that was nice!  After her and i started dating, however, i wanted to make sure that this was going to be something serious and last. She was torn between dating me and serving a mission, so it was a bit uncertain for a couple of weeks. She got her answer first and it was to stay with me. But i hadn't got mine yet! What the crap! Why?! Ugh...a couple days later, i didn't get this blinding light of "YO PETER, DATE HER! SHE'S GOING TO BE GREAT!", but it was more of a "Hey...it doesn't feel wrong, so go for it!". I did, and havent looked back since. :)

For the rest of Spring semester, thats how it was. She decided to also stay for the 7 week break of summer which helped too! During then, we got to go on a lot of nice walks around Rexburg and talk and be by ourselves. We also brought up that we want to marry each other. SCORE! Fall came and things just got that much better as we solidified our feelings for one another. The sucky part would be that she'll be gone to Georgia for the winter (mid-December to mid-April) but thats ok...im a pretty stubborn guy (this instance its a good thing), which eventually leads me to me sitting right now typing this thing. 

As you read this, im sure you noticed that most of it was about Natalie. Well yeah, when you're dating someone for 8 out of the 12 months, it takes a bit of room. Sorry for the bag of popcorn you popped expecting to read something epic. Whoooops...

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So what this year taught me?
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That when there are times that are hard, challenging, and just plain suck; it can be reeeeeeeeally hard to have faith and hope for the future. But sucking it up, sticking to praying when its hard to see the answers come right away, and seeing the eternal perspective of things, then amazing blessings can walk into your life when you least expect it and have a great impact on your life now and in the future. What does 2013 bring? Hopefully a beautiful girl wearing a shiny ring, a long white dress, and a temple :).