Shane and Janene Erickson

Both Shane and Janene have hearts made to love. They love the people around them, they love their family and they love each other! One thing I admire about Shane and Janene is the unity they have in their marriage. They trust each other and share everything with one another. They know they can always rely on each other. I look to them as an example on how to improve unity!

The dates and details!

What are your names? 

Shane and Janene Erickson

When did you meet?

1987?

In 8 words or less, describe where or how you met. 

Our moms were friends and school

What was your first date? 

We went to a movie

When were you married? 

3/05/1991

Where were you married? 

Manti Temple

How many children do you share? 

6

Getting to Know You!

When and/or how did you know you wanted to marry each other?

Janene : I always kinda liked Shane. When we would go to his moms house I would always look for him though he and his brothers would all hide. They were all really shy but i think i always knew he was the one for me. We dated in high school 1 time! after that 1 date my mom made my life miserable. My mom would tell me I should marry Shane all the time. i once told her that i would never, ever marry him. I was proved wrong!! We got together again when i cut his hair. I didn't know it for the longest time but he saw me shaking in the mirror the whole time. I really am not so sure i would have let me cut my hair but he did. I loved him before i came to earth, I love him now and will forever love him. I know he was meant to be mine forever.
Shane: It was just the way it was. I don't think there was a single moment i thought I am gonna marry her. I just knew i was. I just kinda thought she would have a weak moment and say yes.

What is something that your spouse does (something they may not even realize!) that makes your heart skip a beat and brings you joy.

Janene: When he comes up behind me no matter what I am doing and just gives me a hug and kiss me on the neck. or when he looks me in the eye across the room and just smiles. It just makes me realize how lucky i am to have married the man of my dreams. Shane: When we're eating dinner or out just somewhere and we are with other people and we make eye contact and she smiles at me.

What did you love about your spouse in the beginning that you still love about them now?

Janene: it isn't just one thing. It is the whole person i fell in love with. I knew he would be a fantastic father to our kids, would provide for us, would love me even with my crazy ways and would be able to band-aid me back together when i fell apart. I just saw a man who would put us before everything else and i could trust with literally the rest of my life. I just saw growing old with him and still do!
Shane: her hair!

Other than your children, what is an accomplishment you are your spouse are proud of?

Still happily married! it takes a lot to keep your marriage together and still loving each other.

What is one of your favorite dates you've been on as a couple?

Going camping and staying in our 2 man tent. Being in the mountains, looking at the stars , fishing and just being together. The only problem was the skunk in the tent in the night but we all came out unscathed.

What's the best gift you've received from your spouse?

our kids

Why Marriage Rocks

What's one thing you love to talk about when you have nothing pressing to talk about?

There really isn't one thing we just talk about. we just kinda talk. Mostly about the kids, our day, our plans, our future.

Tell us about a trial you have faced together and how you feel you were successful in overcoming it, or what you have learned during it.

Losing our twin boys. That was one of the hardest things we have ever had to do. We learned that depending on each other we can get through anything. That just because you lose someone your life doesn't end it just changes.

What makes your marriage unique?

We don't often fight. Most the time we are on the same page.

What are advantages of marriage?

You have someone you can lean on and trust to help you through the bad times. Someone to laugh with, talk with and just enjoy being with all the time. Somebody there to come home to and love.

What blessings have come into your life because of marriage?

Our children, our life together, Our extended family. the ability to have a home

What miracles have you experienced together?

Having 6 children when we weren't even sure we could have one.

Advice

What's a practice or routine you've established that keeps your marriage healthy?

Kiss goodbye every time we leave, Fun Family time, Being together just the two of us even if its just a ride into town.

What's one principle you think is important in a healthy marriage?

Trust and communication.. You need to be able to communicate no matter what that communication is and trust your spouse.

What is a positive influence on your marriage when things get hard?

no matter how hard or difficult it gets we know we are in it together and we aren't alone in what needs to be done.

If you had time to talk to newlyweds, what would your greatest piece of advice be?

Your in this together. the good , the bad and the ugly!! you are in it as two people. You cant be just single anymore, you cant be selfish all the time, it takes both of you to make your marriage work. It takes 100 percent from both of you and compromise. Just find a balance.

If you need a little marriage recharge, what's your trick?

go anywhere just the two of us together for a couple hours and just enjoy being together.

As you look into the future, what do you see that will help keep your marriage strong?

Just looking at each other and know that we want to be together forever. Everyday even more.

What's the secret of a happy marriage?

That there are moments, a single space in time, that makes every little thing you have to go through worth it. The birth of a child, that first smile across a crowded room, your 1st thru 100th kiss, your hand in his as you walk together through life. It wont always be happiness and rainbows but those moments are worth anything.

What is a simple marital practice you would share with a friend who may say they are facing challenges in their marriage?

A kiss goodbye and always say i love you everyday!!

"...An eternal marriage is eternal. Eternal implies continuing growth and improvement. It means that man and wife will honestly try to perfect themselves. It means that the marriage relationship is not to be frivolously discarded at the first sign of disagreement or when times get hard. It signifies that love will grow stronger with time and that it extends beyond the grave. It means that each partner will be blessed with the company of the other partner forever and that problems and differences might as well be resolved because they are not going to go away. Eternal signifies repentance, forgiveness, long-suffering, patience, hope, charity, love, and humility" (F. Burton Howard, Eternal Marriage, 2003).