Beautiful Chaos!

Lesson 7 - Make the Sauce I recently traveled to Puyallup to spend two days with my 13-year-old niece. She is struggling a bit, needed a friend, and wanted me to teach her how to crochet. It was a wonderful time with family. While I was there, I observed components of my sister’s strong marriage. My brother-in-law is Italian, and they like to make pasta sauce from scratch. For years I have heard rave reviews about the sauce, but I hadn’t been to a meal where it had been served. Since I was there, my sister thought it would be nice for me to try Vince’s sauce. She says she knows how to make it, but everyone thinks Vince’s is more authentic. About 3:30 on the day of my arrival, we were headed out to get yarn for my niece. Before we left, my sister set out all the ingredients and equipment needed to make the sauce so that it would be easier for Vince to make when he got home from work. I could tell this was a normal routine for her; she wasn’t bothered by it at all. Microcultur...

Lesson 5 - "You're Number One!" Marry your best friend is a common bit of advice that people are given. In fact, when my husband and I were married, we received this advice. In his book, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, Gottman says that “happy marriages are based on a deep friendship” (pg. 21). He defines this as mutual respect for and enjoyment of each other’s company. This friendship is something that my husband and I have developed over the years. Number One Fan When we had been married for about three years, I sat in a Relief Society lesson which was taught by a woman I greatly admired. I had babysat for her family over the years and knew the comfortable, safe home she provided for her children. As she taught about marital relationships, I listened intently because I knew I would gain from her wisdom. She taught that we should be president of our husband’s fan club. From there, she explained how a president would act including that a presiden...