Happy 31st Anniversary!

Marc and I have been married for 31 years today. I have been a Larsen longer than I was a Phillips. I am grateful for my sweet husband. Here is a list of some of the blessings of the past 31 years:

1. Temple Marriage.

    a. We were married in the Los Angeles Temple on September 7, 1979.

2. Five Great Children who have testimonies and are active in the gospel.

A. Margot…Married in the San Diego Temple to Bryan (A very patient and kind man)…BA in Theater Education with a minor in English…Mother of the amazing Peter (4 ¾ years), entertaining Cooper (2 ½ years), and much awaited Phoebe Janine (Born today!)…Serving as the Stake Young Women Secretary.

   

B. Ian…Served a Spanish-speaking mission to the Georgia, Atlanta Mission…Married in the Salt Lake Temple to Amanda Brinkofski (A very intelligent, spunky, and fun person) …AA degree and currently working on BA degree…Father of adorable Clara (19 months) and cute Henry (nearly 6 months)…Currently serving in the Air Force stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii and deployed to Afghanistan…Often speaks in Sacrament Meeting.

   

C. Jordan…Served a mission to the Ohio, Cleveland Mission… Married in the San Diego Temple to Allison Gornall (A very pretty girl)…AA degree and currently working on BA in Professional Writing with an aim to be a technical writer…Full-time student at Oklahoma State University and lead server at I-Hop…Serving as a Sunday School Teacher for the 12 and 13-year-olds.

   

D. Paige…Served a mission to the Washington DC-South Mission…A fun Aunt who has been a nanny to Peter, Clara, and Henry (She plans to help Margot when baby sister arrives)…Serving as a weekly temple worker in the San Diego Temple, and as a ward missionary in the single’s ward…Has many plans for the future.

   

E. Isaac…Served a mission to the North Carolina, Charlotte Mission…Serving as a ward missionary in the single’s ward…Signed up to take the ACT in October 2010 with the aim of attending college in January 2011.

3. Higher Education
    A. Marc earned his Master’s Degree in Organization Communications.

    B. I have earned a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, a CLAD Credential, and a Special Education Credential for mild/moderate and moderate/severe. This took me about ten years. I already had a BA in Liberal Studies when I began.

4. Jobs

    A. Marc worked for over 21 years as a technical writer. He is currently working as a bilingual speech aide in the Vista Unified School District. He assesses Spanish-speaking children for language services. He works at elementary and middle schools in the district. His students range from kindergarten to 8th grade.

    B. I also work in the Vista Unified School District. I am a Special Education Teacher for 6th graders. For the past 7 years I have taught 7th graders, but this year I moved to 6th grade. This is a nice change.

5. Home
    A. When were first married we moved every time we had a new baby. We went from a one-bedroom apartment, to a two-bedroom apartment, to a three-bedroom apartment, and finally to a four-bedroom home. We have now been living in Oceanside, Ca for nearly 25 years. During that time we have been in three different wards because the boundaries changed around us.

6. Church Callings
    A. Marc has served in four Bishoprics. He was the Executive Secretary the first time, and then served as the 1st counselor the other three times. He has been the Ward Mission Leader twice, taught the Gospel Doctrine class and Seminary. He has served on the Stake High Council and as the Stake Sunday School President. Currently he is the ward Gospel Doctrine Teacher.

    B. I have served as a Relief Society Teacher, YW Teacher and counselor, ward newsletter editor, Sunday Program specialist, Primary teacher, Primary counselor, and currently I am the Primary President. (I love Primary!)

7. Things we love: A to Z

A. Anagrams (We play anagrams together on Marc’s I-Pod).

B. Beach (Living near enough to feel a cool ocean breeze).

C. Chinese Food

    ~Cool summer evenings.

D. Discussing books we’ve enjoyed.

E. Entertaining Stories (We like to share stories about our children and grandchildren with others.)

F. Family (Children, grandchildren, and parents)

G. Gospel of Jesus Christ

    ~General Conference

H. Homemade bread

    ~Home Teaching Marc’s families together.

I. Ice water on a hot day

J. Jose’s Tacos

K. Kind words

L. Listening to audio books.

M. Movies (We don’t do this very often, so it is a treat.)

N. News from our Children

O. Old movies (From the 1930s through the 1950s).

P. Phone calls with our children, grandchildren, and mothers

    ~Punch (A combination of diet 7-Up and grape juice. This is Marc’s invention.)

Q. Quirky TV Shows (Warehouse 13, Eureka, Psych, and Monk).

R. Relaxing side-by-side in our recliners, while working on our individual computers together.

S. Scriptures

    ~We read the Book of Mormon together this year.

    ~We have read all of the Conference Talks from April 2010.

    ~We are currently reading the New Testament together.

T. Temple work together

   ~Translating… Marc translating IEP meetings for me (These are meetings at school with Spanish speaking parents).

U. Unscheduled time together (Just relaxing).

V. Visiting or Skyping with our children and grandchildren, or having them visit us.

W. Walking on the beach.

    ~Watermelon    
    ~Ward Council…Sitting together (We did this when Marc was the Ward Mission President, and I was   first called to be the Primary President.)

X. XXXI…31 years of marriage

Y. Years of learning, laughter, tears, aspirations, cheering and children together.

Z. Zealous…We are devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, to each other, and to our children.

Marc,

Thank you for being a stalwart priesthood holder, kind father, and loving husband. You are the ONE!