Today is a special day as you all know is Daniel’s 64thbirthday. Thank you for calling him to wish him a happy birthday. It was a fun day. The employees at work had planned a luncheon for him and at home I invited the expats that work at the office including the Area Presidency to come to dinner. I prepared a Mexican meal.
Today is also when Elder Holland went back to Utah. Daniel went over to where he was staying to say good bye. Elder Schmutz told us of the wonderful meeting on Sunday as Elder Holland spoke on the sanctity of the sacrament meeting. He went into the importance of understanding all the pain Christ suffered for us and if our life is too wonderful to think that we don’t need any blessings to think of other people who do. Always come to sacrament meeting with a deeper understanding of His atoning sacrifice. He spoke from the heart and shook hands with everyone in attendance of about 500 members at the multi-unit sacrament meeting.
Elder Holland was here for ten days and in one of the meetings he spoke to the young married couples. First Elder and Sister Schmutz spoke about a time many years ago when a Bishop gave them the assignment to attend the temple each week for 52 weeks. Attending the temple each week granted them with the ability to be more considerate to one another and to speak tenderly to each other which has lasted all the 41 years of their marriage.
Elder Holland was right in his observation of the Schmutzes- they both looked like teenagers still deeply and madly in love, and having fun together. They are our neighbors and even came to dinner tonight and you can sense their love for each other. They are both an inspiring example of true love.
Elder Holland taught us many things, ways to strengthen our marriages so that our lives on this earth will be a bit of heaven. He told us that an advice he was given was to go on a date each week so they picked Friday evening. Those were not extravagant dates they did simple things like going to a walk to get ice-cream but according to sister Patricia Holland, those dates saved her life He counseled the wives to always remember what all husbands need from their wives - to feel that they are accepted for who they are.
I am here to say that I do appreciate Daniel so much for who he is. On Facebook I wrote: Happy birthday to Daniel R, de Almeida, the man who stole my heart! You treat me and all our family with so much love and care. I'm the person that has the rare privilege of knowing you as your wife. What an exemplary hard worker you are. I'm the one that hears all about the nights you stay awake attending conference calls with people at work on the other side of the world. I'm the person that watches you cook the best love-infused food for me. I’m the one who sees your eyes light up each time one of our children calls to say hello. You are the quintessential example of what a wonderful husband and father needs to be. Thank you for all you do but especially for who you are! Con mucho amor, tu esposita.
I am grateful for that Married Couples Devotional because we all need those reminders. I am grateful for the counsels given by inspired leaders of the Church. I am grateful for their examples. What they counseled us they lived and applied in their own marriages, and they have been blessed. And they want the same blessings for all of us who are willing to listen and follow their example.
Con amor,
Vero
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