The Anderson’s Family

This interview has touched my heart in an unimaginable way, about 7 years ago I met a
young family at church with 4 children who were the most educated and kindest children I had
ever met, I remember very well when I spoke with the mother of the children and in a casual
conversation I asked her how she had decided to get married so young and have so many
children and that is when she told me about her parents ‘’the Anderson’’, I remember a
particular Christmas eve where I met the parents of my friend and there began a great friendship.

I interviewed my friend's parents who have been married for 42 years, and I chose them
because I have great respect and admiration for them, I have known them for 7 years now and
their love for people and the help they provide is worthy of admiration.

They shared many experiences with me, the way they met was many years ago,
everything started in a church activity, they met through a friend, at the beginning she was
meeting other young people, however she was surprised when he invited her to a party and was
very punctual in pick her up from her house, she fell in love with how polite and kind he was
with her, after that date months later they decided to marry in the temple and have children, they
have 7 daughters and 3 sons, She decided to dedicate herself to taking care of her home while he
worked, one of the things I found so valuable was that her way of raising her children was
through music, all her children should learn to play an instrument, she told me that music in her
family was the most important gift she could give to each one of them, and I remember that
Christmas I shared with them to see their children and grandchildren singing and playing the
instruments with so much happiness, that tradition was passing from generation to generation.

During our interview one of the things they told me was, that many times his children
were frustrated for having so many responsibilities especially the young ones, and the gave me
some advice they said: Rocio whenever my children were frustrated or angry I would send them
to carry one of the babies or the smallest child, that was the only way for the young one to be
happy again, babies or small children have the capacity to make the feelings of kindness and
tenderness come back to your heart and forget all the bad feelings. I will never forget that great
advice.
 ‘’Your successes are my successes’’ that is the phrase with which she described the way
they worked as a couple, they decided to be a team, it was not a competition of who earned more
money or who did things better, it was a teamwork, she took care of the housework and most of
the children’s activities, she with a smile on her face and looking at her husband said: He always
rushed home early to help me with the children and the responsibilities, no matter how tired he
might be, he would changed his clothes and start cleaning, or sit with his daughters and help
them with their schoolwork and also go out and play with them and was always present in their
lives, telling them every day how much he loved them and how blessed he was to have them.

I asked them, in difficult moments how they solved their problems, they told me that after
putting their children to bed they always sat down to talk about these things, they never argued or
fought in front of their children that was one of the things they had talked about before they got
married that their children would not see their parents angry with each other, for them it is
important that their children remember them with a lot of love, no matter how big the problem
might be for sure there was a solution and for sure they would find it.

Many times they felt that there were many things to do and they didn’t have enough time
to do it, when someone got sick or they had activities to do, being able to divide responsibilities
was a great help, also looking for someone else to help them was one of the solutions they found,
once the kids grew up, the mother decided to work and she felt so happy to be able to do it and
see that her children had already grown up and taken the same paths of forming families within
the church.

When I asked them if they really wanted to have such a big family, they answered, of
couse we want it!!, that was the best decision they made when they were a young married
couple, they came from big families and where they had found a lot of happiness and they
wanted to do the same. They also shared that they would rather have many children in a family
that loves God and strives to fulfill the commandments, than in a family that does not and they
have to suffer and go through a lot of pain.

During the interview something that surprised me was, the love with which he let her
share her experiences, he told me; Rocio can you see why I married her?, she was the only one
who could help me to have this family that I have today, children who love God and who trust in
him, grandchildren who were born within the gospel that bring great happiness to our lives.
 What advice would they give to people who are thinking of getting married, looking into
their eyes they told me: for us the key was always to work as a team and clearly in our team the
Lord was our guide, we had a great team! All the members needs help and be guided, so we
decided to work with each member, we started with music and work in the home, we always
instilled in them the principles of God because if they loved the gospel and were obedient we
could be confident that they would never leave the path of the Lord.

Do not be afraid to get married and have many children, you can be successful and have
great happiness, children bring happiness, learnings, love and so many other feelings, their
company is a blessing, their smiles can cheer your soul and see them fulfill but most important is
feel the Lord’s blessing .

What I learned from this interview? my heart only wishes that in this world we need more
Jacobs, with that purity and love to God, I learned that success in a couple is achieved when the
team works together, together with the clear goal and helping each other, I learned that as we
strive to be good parents and give a great example to our children they will be good children and
obey God, I learned that it is better to walk this path on earth with someone who can support,
sustain, celebrate, love, console you in every moment of your life.

Personally I have always seen cases against family, I have seen pain, suffering and great
violence to children and adolescents, in the country where I live the situations are so different,
this family is so special and unique that gives me hope to believe that you can form strong homes
full of love, where the Lord is the center of our lifes.