There is no I in Team

I started to write this post two months ago about Girls Camp. I went up for skit night and I had a great time. However as I started to write, the post turned from a commercial for Girls Camp to a post on marriage. How you might ask? I would have to say that one reason is that I have a crazy mind and the other reason is that I am interested in relationships and how they work. Church activities, camp, parks, the grocery store, etc. are all places where I like to observe relationships and I see many positive and negative interactions. I am not naive to think that a brief observation on my part can show me the depth of any relationship but I do think that I see a glimpse.

So what does any of this have to do with Girls Camp? Well, when I first got to Girls Camp the first thing someone said to me was about the Girls Camp Leader's husband. She said, "Scott hasn't stopped working since he got here." My friend told me that Scott decided to take three days off of work to come to camp because he told Linda (his wife & the Stake Camp Director) that she wouldn't order anyone else around so he was coming so she could get what she needed done without feeling like she had to do it herself. My friend then said, "Linda and Scott just make a good team."

Here is Scott (he is a doctor) performing minor surgery on Alicia to get a deer tick out of the back of her knee.

I started thinking of this concept of a marriage as a team sport. So, I looked around at some of my friends in the ward and I thought of what made their teams successful. Lately, I have just heard of marriages failing so it is nice to see some relationships actually do well.

For example, Teressa's husband went on the fourth year high adventure. This is his 3rd year in a row doing this. Two years ago, it rained so hard that Richard stood over the fire with an umbrella just so the girls could have a fire. At every stake young womens activity, you can find Richard, Nick, and Brent (my friend's husbands) setting up early and cleaning up late. When I asked Teressa about this, she said that is just how they work together. She supports him and he supports her and to watch them it is really true.

Richard & Teressa

My friend Jennifer's husband makes the family breakfast almost everyday. My friend Kolette's husband is willing year after year to teach certification lessons and help her with camp. My friend Kelley's husband comes home from work and plays with their three very active boys. He is also the person at every party who is out playing with the kids and keeping them happy. My friend Jill's husband does my taxes:) He also helps Jill with the kids, the house, etc. My friend Natalie's husband helps the kids get off to school. I could go on and on. I have amazing friends and even though I know that there marriages are not perfect, I admire the fact that in these relationships, both the husbands and wives work together to make good teams.

Here is a picture of my friend's husbands at the father's day picnic.
(Matt, Rob, Eric, Chief, Matt, Nick, & John)

Thanks for the good examples. I hope one day to find someone who will be willing to start a team with me. For now, I am happy being a bench warmer and observing the good plays on the field.