Remember

During my first three years of college I lived in on-campus housing typically inhabited by freshman. My freshman year it was a perfect fit. My sophmore and junior year I worked as a resident assistant and absolutely loved being surrounded by freshman year after year. My junior year I lived on the 1100 floor of Chipman Hall. We had an awesome floor community and I developed life long friendships on that floor. Some of those friendships were so enduring that we dared live off-campus as roommates my senior year. There were 8 of us who were so tightly bonded that we referred to ourselves as "The US". We felt that everything we did together was so original and ingenious as to indicate our true bosom friendship. One of our clever marks in friend-lore was a quote board. I know, I know...as it turns out every college apartment has a quote board; but ours was like, way cooler, and way funnier, and we all contributed daily. Sometimes even bi-daily. One of our more staple quotes was, "Remember that one time..." We could usually just repeat that phrase, and then we would know instantly to which 'one time' we were referencing in that moment (because obviously as best friends we had inside jokes and endless memories galore). We used the phrase so much that I learned to say it in Norwegian. I have no idea of the correct spelling, but when pronounced it goes like this: Hoosker doodeh Enagagen? I went to Epcot Center at Walt Disney World years later, and in the Norway land they employ Norwegian cast members. I told one young woman, "Hoosker doodeh Enagagen?" she understood me perfectly and she even complimented me on my pronunciation. It was a win for #TheUS.
So now I ask of your marriage, "Hoosker doodeh Enagagen?" Spencer W. Kimball has said, "When you look in the dictionary for the most important word, do you know what it is? It could be 'remember' (Circles of Exaltation, 1968).  What glorious things do you remember about your wedding day? I am hoping that it was every bit as blissful and picture perfect as mine was. Ever so often Eric and I love to look back on our wedding day (and wedding night too-duh!) and relive every moment of it in our minds. We talk about the people who supported us and the message delivered at our sealing and the food we didn't get to eat and the decorations at the reception and the gifts we received and our honeymoon and the way we felt and the fun we had and the love we shared. It is so fun to REMEMBER. Invigorating really. Because when I remember how it all began, I am so excited for it all to continue. If you're ever feeling a little plateau in your relationship, take a little trip down memory lane. Even if your wedding day wasn't as dreamy as you planned...pick a day in your relationship that was and remember every detail. And do it together! For us, it is so fun to tag team memories. I'll start, an then Eric will continue the story line, until I take over again and vice versa! You'll feel the excitement increase as you both share your thoughts and memories on whatever your most perfect day may have been together. As you remember, let those emotions rise to the surface in the present. See each other through the lens of perfection from your perfect day. Let that remember-ing renew and refresh the love you share for each other. We love to remember our wedding day. I also love to remember the everyday. I love to remember the way Eric kissed me goodbye this morning before work. I love to remember how sincerely he thanked me for dinner last night. I love to remember when Eric put his laundry away without me even asking on Tuesday. To remember is to overlook small imperfections and focus on strengths. Remember that one time when #TheUS really did have the greatest quote board of all time? Who knew it would lend such wisdom to #TheRealUS #EricandCJ.