Our One Year Anniversary

Today is our one year anniversary! I can’t believe how fast this year has gone.

Before we got married, we had several people tell us that if we got through the first year, we would be set for life. They gave us the impression that our first year would be fighting and conflict nearly every day. I’m very happy to say this was NOT the case for us. Granted, neither Michael nor I are confrontational people, so I’m sure that helped us a lot through this first year of our marriage.

Honestly, I have never had a better year in my life. Being married has really helped build my testimony of the Plan of Happiness. Though a year really isn’t that long, I understand now why marriage is such a crucial step in our progression towards the celestial kingdom. Not only is the sealing covenant the pinnacle of the covenants we make here on earth, but being married in general compels couples to develop Christ-like qualities. Let me explain….

Selflessness -I think being selfless is one of the major qualities that is developed due to marriage. I am constantly thinking of Michael’s well-being. It is no longer just about me.

Service- Being married gives me the opportunity to give service every day of my life. Even if they’re simple things like making dinner or doing dishes so he doesn’t have to.

Patience- Ah, patience. Marriage is all about learning to be a unit, rather than two individuals. This can only be obtained through patience. Some of my weaknesses are his strengths, and vice versa. It takes patience to help each other develop stronger attributes in those areas.

Love- Of course, this is the obvious one. In my marriage class, we have discussed what true love actually means. We decided that it means we love every side of the person, not just loving them for what you want them to be, or only focusing on the aspects you like the most. My love for Michael increases each and every day. It causes me to think about Christ, and the perfect love He feels for each and every one of us. It truly is unfathomable.

Conklin Cookin'

A few months after I got married, I discovered I have this passion for cooking. My experiments in the kitchen don't always turn out, but when they do, I have the greatest sense of accomplishment! I was raised with home cooked meals every night, so I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. In fact, the first time I ever prepared/ate a hamburger helper meal was when I was engaged. 

Ever since I have decided to make cooking part of my life, I have been more than pleased. It's so worth the effort! Here are some of the benefits I've seen since I've been cooking. 

1. It can be much cheaper. I honestly don't think people realize how much money a home cooked meal can save you. Michael and I always have a few basic ingredients on hand that can be used in countless meals. It's fun being creative with ingredients so you don't have to buy expensive items. 

2. It's considerably healthier! Since you are the one making your own meal, you can control how much salt/sugar/oil goes into the meal. Not to mention, you know where all the ingredients came from. Looking on the label of frozen or boxed meals is a pretty scary wake-up call. Home cooking isn't only good for avoiding bad foods, but it's also easier to implement healthy foods into your diet. 

3. It's a good way to spend your time. Yes, I'll admit it, cooking a nice meal is sometimes very time consuming. But when I think about it, instead of spending an hour or so watching TV or getting on Facebook, I was spending it cooking. I think that has much more value. In fact, sometimes Michael and I cook things together and it's a fun way to spend time with each other!

4. Correct Portion Sizes. Portion sizes have been getting out of control over the last few decades. This is weird, but I end up eating less when I make my own food. Not considerably less, but a more correct portion size. I did a little Google research to find out why this always happens to me. Turns out, sense of smell is a huge part of the whole eating experience. By the time the food is actually done, I've become so exposed to the smell of the food, part of my appetite is already satisfied. 

 

The Wedding

Of course I didn't sleep a wink before our wedding. I started doing my hair and make-up much too early but I had nothing else to do with all those extra hours before anyone was awake. The ceremony started at 10:00 AM. The day was filled with lots of hugs and "congratulations" and small talk. After the ceremony, the families took pictures outside the temple. Of course, in the middle of our photo session, something got caught UNDER Michael's contact, and taking pictures literally became a pain.

We had a luncheon at my parents house after the ceremony. Our reception didn't start till 6:00, so we had hours and hours and HOURS to kill. Although it was nice to be able to talk to my relatives and friends, I was anxious for the reception to be over with! I don't really love being the center of attention in large group settings, so it was a pretty overwhelming day. All I know is that I had just been sealed to the love of my life, and that's all that was important to me.

 Anyway, after all the formalities, I could finally relax. Once we got all the wedding decor off our car, Michael and I drove off as Mr. and Mrs. Conklin.

How the Love Birds Met

It must've been fate. My brother, Tyler, served in the Hungary, Budapest mission. Michael just so happened to serve there, too. After two long years, it was finally time for Tyler to come home! He informed us that he would be traveling home with Elder Conklin. Both families eagerly awaited the Elders in the Boise Airport. Upon their arrival, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Elder Conklin was quite attractive. Lucky for me, Elder Conklin (Michael) would be rooming with Tyler at BYU-Idaho that next Fall. I met Michael "officially" on January 4, 2013 when I got to Rexburg for the Winter semester. Sure enough, about just one week after we met, we went on our first date. (January 11, 2013) 

We saw each other every single day after that first date. 

I was never one to believe that two people could fall in love so fast after just meeting, but I proved myself wrong after we fell in love with each other impossibly fast. After spending our first date together, I saw countless qualities that I wanted in a husband. Qualities I had honestly never seen in a guy before. I knew early on that I would be a fool to let him go. 

On March 13, 2013 Michael asked me to marry him. I knew I would receive a lot of criticism for getting engaged so fast. But the Spirit confirmed so strongly that the decision I was making was the right one. After talking to my mom and dad about it, they said the Spirit had also confirmed to them that Michael is the guy I need to marry. A lot of people may have thought I was crazy to get married so soon, but I see it as an incredible blessing that Michael and I were both able to make an eternal decision with such clarity. 

 We originally planned the wedding for August 10th, right after we would be done with school, but waiting five months to be married to the love of your life seemed much too far. We quickly changed the date to June 8. Much better. June 8 is also the day my Grandma and Grandpa Christensen got married, so it seemed promising. Our wedding ended up being in the middle of the semester, but everything worked out, it wasn't as stressful as I thought it would be.

And now, just 7 months after meeting Michael, I can call him my husband. I have been a Conklin for two and a half months now and life couldn't be better.