2 Quotes

Two quotes for today:

"GETTING married isn't the big part -- BEING married is the big part." With 12+ years with Tom under my belt, this is definitely true. We didn't have a big ceremony -- in face, we had a 'planned elopement' where only 6 people total were there -- the two of us, my sister, Tom's youngest sister, Tom's brother's wife (she took GREAT photographs for us!) and the judge (who was also female). Everyone know the when and where, but we had our own little day. Tom's brother joined us for a FEAST of Chinese food and it was perfect. Not the traditional 'big' day, but absolutely perfect and though (like everyone else!) we have hills and valleys in our marriage, THAT is what truly counts.

"The average is often unique." This was in a book called Addition that I read this week. The main character is a middle-aged woman who is obsessed with counting to the point where it interferes with her life. The quote actually comes from her niece who doesn't like it when her aunt attempts a combination of drug/behavioral therapy to "cure" her problem. The woman defends herself by saying that she "wants to be like everyone else" but the girl, wise beyond her age, advises her aunt that "the average is often unique." Which, if you think about it, is true, not only in mathematics but also in life. In a set of given numbers, the average may not belong to the set -- in effect, it's "unique". And despite our efforts (often) to be like "everyone else", we maintain our uniqueness. As my daughter is approaching her teenage years (notorious for wanting to be like everyone else), I'm encouraging her to celebrate what makes her unique. Yes, it's fine to want to do things that your friends do, wear similar clothes, etc., but you need to develop into the person God intends for you to be -- and that is unique.

SO, for those of you who are married, focus on the marriage rather than the ceremony and for all of you, celebrate yourself!