just read this in a CJane post and couldn't help but cry. there is so much truth and beauty in what she has written. (you can read the full post here.)

That was the year I learned how to move through valley of the shadow of death.

This was also the year I came to know Heavenly Father honestly, truly exists. When in the face of absolute devastation I learned to put my trust in God. I began to listen to the thoughts in my mind that said,

"Hold on. Don't give up."

I allowed him nights of crying. I listened as he told me he felt hopeless. I stopped controlling everything and just let it be. I started to train my mind to believe that true romanticism was a man and a woman dedicated to work. The battle of it all was one of self-worth, we had to fight to know who we were, and what we were capable of.

I came to realize this: we think we go from partner to partner because there will be someone "better" for us. In reality, no one is better for us, we just get better for ourselves.

And this: relationships work when we sacrifice negative beliefs about ourselves, and in that process we become the best thing that's ever happened to anyone.

And this: a successful marriage is about two people engaged and dedicated to overcoming selfishness--for the rest of their lives.

lessons

today i learned that a genuine smile can be better medicine than laughter, that late nights equal later mornings, that being almost-fluent in spanish three years ago is nearly the same as never ever having known spanish (vosotros? really?), and that service is the easiest way to lose your sorrow and the best way to find yourself.

sometimes the words just won't come.

they're there, no doubt. they exist underneath, inside. stretching, reaching, thriving.

pushing, prodding, at every surface

so much that your entire frame shakes.

but the words won't come.

you stare at a blank page. and you go to bed with a mind full of spinning words.

and you wake up with more.

there is no relief on these mornings. only blank pages.

hayley & sean

the two best friends who fell in love

married for time and all eternity

in the mt. timpanogos utah temple

on february 17, 2012

for you, baby.

i will stay with you through the ups and the downs.

i will stay with you when no one else is around.

and when the dark clouds arrive, i will stay by your side.

i know we'll be alright.

i will stay with you.

though relationship can get old

and have the tendency to grow cold,

we have something like a miracle

and i'll stay with you.

and there will be heartaches and pains,

but through it all, we will remain.

and in the end i know that we'll find love so beautiful and divine.

we'll be lovers for a lifetime, and i'll stay with you.

everything will be fine, and i will stay with you.

through the end of time, i will stay with you.