I <3 cookie dough
There’s nothing like the wonderful sensation of the dough squishing in your teeth. The sugar and stick of butter flowing through your system.
Oh, and if you are lucky, the egg in the dough doesn’t kill you.
I digress.
It looks like the “Independent Online Forum” was mentioned for a second time on Single Thought. Of course, I won’t mention who writes the article. Needless to say, I found the replies humorous, and I have to throw in my two cents.
(Just for the record, I like cookies cooked or uncooked )
I don’t want to sound mean, but it was interesting to me that the most (if not all) the negative comments about young marriages and receptions were from single people! Why are they criticizing those who are married — I mean, getting married is a good thing, right? Such cynical attitudes don’t help someone who is single anyway!
All I have to say is DUURRRR.
This is something that I have to deal with! This is something that is in the forefront of my thinking all the time. You know what? It’s hard not to become obsessed about it! I believe it’s just human nature to concentrate on what you are striving to achieve. When I get married, it’s going to be how I can be a better Husband, when I have kids, it will be on raising them. I’m sure I’ll think some other parents are doing a bad job. I’ll judge (which one shouldn’t do, but it’s hard), but that’s human nature.
This is where “Smug Marrieds” make me roll my eyes so violently into the back of my head that they flip. At the end of the day, if getting married young is good for you, it’s good for you. I’ve said it before though, I think not enough courtship goes on before the marriage, because our society is one of insta-gratification.
Courtship is vital. I’ll always believe that.
As for the receptions:
One wrathful reader went so far as to suggest that getting married later is all part of an evil plan to destroy the family.
Commence eye rolling *NOW*. Alas, not all of us get married right away. For those who are striving for the goal at the end of the tunnel, it doesn’t matter how long it takes.
It doesn’t make you any less of a person.
Now I give you the background because while I feel that the ‘present grab’ that exists in the Mormon culture (at receptions) is repulsive .
….
Just because we were relatively young (20 and 22), why wait if you know it is right?
First part: I don’t find it repulsive, I just find it *Tacky*
Second part: You know what, it goes back to what I said before. COURTSHIP. If you feel that you know someone after six months, then that’s fine. Everyone has different experiences. I just don’t see this as a big race. Does one get more blessings if you make it to the finish line faster? If it’s right for you, then go for it, if not, well, you aren’t breaking any commandments.
People invited to wedding receptions need to stop thinking of what they are going to get out of it and more about what they can contribute to it.
Oh, I understand, and I give gifts and I for the most part, enjoy the receptions I attend, because I know the Bride and Groom.
The underlining gripe for me (back in the original rant) is that my time is precious. I have a job, I have an extremely busy church calling, I have a girl, I have chores, I have shopping. My time is spread thin. My time is a valuable commodity. I have to choose what I will devote my time to. If the reception is just attempt to get material goods (aka, I hardly know the person I’m getting the invite from, and 15 registry cards fall out), then I may send something, but I’m going to prioritize my time elsewhere.
Then Erin & Juli said:
We have been to some amazing sit-down dinner receptions that cost a great deal, and were very classy. They truly made each guest feel part of a wonderful celebration of the couple’s love and new eternal union. We have also been to receptions in the cultural hall that made us feel the same.
In the end, that’s all I’m asking for. I don’t really care about the reception itself, it’s the atmosphere. One of my favorite receptions was very informal (right Brendo?) it was very close, very relaxed, and very fun.
In the end, I have my opinions, and I guess everyone has there opinion.
That’s what makes this life so fun.
Oh, and the nice gooey cookie dough doesn’t hurt either.
Or carmel popcorn.
Or peanut brittle.
I agree with the content of this post much more than the one a couple of three weeks ago. It will be interesting to hear what the rest of you all say.
YOU HAVE A GIRl!!! I wish you’d share all the mushy details!!
Heather, you noticed.
I thought I had squirreled that away.
She can always tell you. She reads the blog 😉
Hardy, just so you know, I prefer my dough uncooked. Baking ruins the flavor! If I die from salmonella from the uncooked egg, well, I will die happy.
And what a lucky girl! She found a man who has great taste in favorite writers. :o) Among other things, of course…
lucky girl, you bet, ladies. this one’s a keeper:)
I can relate. I was called the NIGHT OF my cousin’s reception. Although I was only 20 miles away, I did not go. I had plans on watching a hockey game and didn’t feel like that late of a notice necessitated me cancelling my plans.
I’ve gone to receptions with no present, too. I figure if I don’t regularly talk to them, they aren’t direct family, or such, then I will show up to wish them luck, but a gift seems out of the question for me. Unless I know there’s going to be a steak dinner there, mmmmmm……steak.
As for the young marriage thing, I hold to the line of thinking that I cannot tell others how to act. There’s nothing “wrong” with getting married at 18 or at 70– as long as God has told you it’s right. The spirit cannot lie.
I knew I would be married within a year and I was. Some may say I was looking for it and thus self-fulfilled my own prophecy. But the spirit revealed that to me…and it scared me to death. When I did find my eternal companion, I drove her crazy when I kept telling her we needed to spend time apart. I was scared that I may have just been looking for it. Again, I was forcefully told.
Now given, I think many young couples do not get this confirmation. They think, “Well, we get along so I guess the next step is marriage.” Wrong. Until you get that confirmation you keep dating.
Whether you have troubles during dating or not, troubles are coming. Many think when they get married, bliss awaits them every day. This is where the inexperence can come in. Marriage doesn’t solve anything, it only continues it. You will have bad days, good days and everything inbetween. If you have gotten that confirmation, you know you the Lord wants you to work through it. If you haven’t, it’s easy to then start second-guessing yourself if this was the correct companion for you.
I’m also of the line of thinking of that any marriage can be worked out (minus cases where it’s obvious that they shouldn’t stay together- infedelity, etc.). If you loved each other and got along in the beginning, you can continue to get along. Something has changed and it’s usually the loss of spirituality of one of the partners (men!).
Anywho, I should have a blog myself after all this. I’ve linked this blog to my favorites (Chris and I spent many moons together).
Oh, and for the record, my marriage and reception was me and few of my closest friends. We had the ceremony, a nice lunch, and then that was it. I didn’t want, nor care, to have it an all-day event. I know it was long enough for those invited with the pictures and such.
Some brought presents, others didn’t. To me it didn’t matter. That’s not why I invited them. And to invite just for the presents seems very low class.
Chris’s girl tell us all the mush!!! Oh I love romantic love stories. Depresseing that I am not the leading role of my own story at the current time. Sighhhhhh!
Cameron: I agree pretty much, and you better not let any nfo about me get circulated. Without me know what you are posting first 😉
Heather: I don’t know that she wants to 🙂