Welcome

Hi everyone, my name is Mauren. Since this is my first post I will introduce myself a little. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or more commonly referred to as a Mormon. I absolutely love my church, but this blog is pushing me way out of my comfort zone. I don't like being pushy, or preachy, or generally very serious. Jokes and sarcasm are my comfort zone. But since it is a requirement for my Marriage 300 class at BYU-I, and, unlike life, I take school very seriously, I'll try my best. 

I named my blog "Marriage Renovation" because like houses, I believe marriages should always be a work in progress. I may also add some of the projects I am working on, or have worked on, in to make things a little more interesting, and a little less serious.

My class dives right in taking on a tough subject first, any guesses? They say 50% of marriages end in it, more if it's a 2nd+ marriage or if you cohabited before marriage, that's right, divorce. Most of us have heard the 50% statistic and with odds like that it's easy to think why even bother? Well some good news for all of you who are hesitant to take the plunge, research says that certain factors can drastically reduce those odds(1).

1. If your Annual income is over $50,000 (vs. under $25,000) 

2. Having a baby seven months or more after marriage (vs. before marriage)

3. Marrying over 25 years of age (vs. under 18)

4. Family of origin intact (vs. divorced parents) 

5. Religious affiliation (vs. none) 

6. College (vs. high school dropout) 

Now having all or most of these factors before marriage doesn't guarantee you won't get divorced, but you're on the right track. If you have very few or none of these don't fear, the 50% statistic is actually not quite right. When researchers come to that statistic, they are assuming that the current divorce and death rates will continue indefinitely into the future, which is a pretty big assumption (2). 

In todays society it has become popular opinion that divorce isn't a big deal, and that it doesn't affect anyone but the family involved. The 2012 State of the Unions address paints a different picture. It names the disappearance of the stable/traditional family in America  (due to divorce/cohabitation/out of wedlock pregnancy) as the main reason the middle class is disappearing in America.

So what can we do to avoid divorce? According to Dallin H. Oakes in this talk, it is simple.

    "A good marriage does not require a perfect man or a perfect woman. It only requires a man and a woman committed to strive together toward perfection."

My husband and I have a long way to go, but we are always renovating our marriage. 

One of the happiest days of my marriage, top 5 for sure, when my husband graduated from college a month ago.

1 and 2 The State of Our Unions: Marriage in America 2012