My marriage

Four years ago this month (remember, I’m writing this on 16 February) I married Susan Jane Hibdon for time and all eternity in the Manhattan New York Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Indeed, since we got married on Leap Day, 29 February, this month is the first time we will be able to celebrate our anniversary on our actual wedding date.)

After three decades of life, I remain far from perfect—the five and a half weeks that have passed since I turned 30 have reminded me of that and shown me that simply turning a decade older doesn’t magically make me a better person. And yet Susan stands by me. I owe everything to her. I am better simply because she is in my life. And any improvements I make as a human being in the decades to come will be a result of my marriage to her.

And the little girl that has come into my life as a result of this marriage—Fiona—has changed me forever. I have been able to be the father I never had, and I have grown and changed in ways I never thought I could.
I love you, Susan and Fiona. The first 30 years of my life were complete only because you were part of it.

So, now I’m 30. Maybe one these days I’ll start acting that way.

---

This article appeared on pages 2–5 of Issue 5 | January 2012.