Grateful ...

Today, I almost didn't go to church. I was dragging my feet in getting ready. I was hoping my son would sleep in really late so I would have an excuse to not go. I was tired, I wasn't in the mood to wrangle a 3 year old during sacrament & I was just wishing I could have a lazy day at home. But, I grudgingly got ready for church, Kason woke up in time to get to church and off we went. Albeit, we were late to Sacrament but, at least we were there.

Once Sunday School started Sister Schofield said we would be talking about how to prepare our homes and families for returning to the Lord. I thought, "I LOVE lessons like this - learning from the Israelites how I can be a better person." It really made me think about what I need to do in my home, or improve in my home so that the Spirit really can reside there. And it made me question how I'm living my life ... Am I really centering my life around Christ? Or could I be doing better? I've been wondering for a little while if I need to find a new circle of friends. I love my friends but, some of them have some qualities that I just don't enjoy being around. I always get uncomfortable when certain topics, they enjoy talking about, come up. I now know what it's like to be the girl in those Young Women stories they always tell ... the little Molly Mormon in an uncomfortable situation. And I'm ashamed to say, that I haven't always reacted the way that I should. And I hate that I've done that ... but after today's lesson ~ I have a new resolve to be the person I know that I really am and not conform to what society wants or what my group of friends want.

As Relief Society sisters started filing in for class, a girl named Jen came and sat next to me. Her husband was just diagnosed with MS in December and they have been having a REALLY rough go with it. His health is declining quickly and she is having to pick up all the slack for their family. As I learned of what she was going through I couldn't help but relate to what she is dealing with. My heart breaks for her and I completely empathize with her life struggles right now. I had been kind of distant from her because I just didn't know what to say. I had so much going on inside my head that I wanted to come out but, I didn't know how to say it. She had been on my mind so much these past few days and every time I drove passed her house I thought, I really need to check on her. And I had yet to do anything about those promptings.

Well, the Relief Society lesson today was on service & our stewardship. I was constantly being reminded of the sweet acts of service that had been done for me over the past few years. And I shared a quote that has become one of my motto's in life: "Those with true love, have windows in their lives, not mirrors." (President Brent L. Top) ... and I love that because as we focus on other outside of our home, everything else falls into place. We have more time for our lives and more time to focus on the important things.

Well, after the lesson I leaned over the Jen and I said, "I'm not just saying this because of the lesson we just had...but, I want to check on you. I have been thinking about you so much this past week and what your going through and it all just sucks. There's no other way to put it. And if you ever EVER need anything ... PLEASE don't hesitate to call me."

She looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, "Thank you." She had this look in her eyes that I remember seeing SO many times in my own reflection. Desperate for help, exhausted from the trials, frustrated with the path. I knew it all too well.

I turned to her and with tears in my eyes told her that I can understand the trials. I can empathize with the trials in her life. I wanted her to know that I was there for her, regardless of when it was. We sat and both cried. As I hugged her she whispered in my ear ... "Thank you so much." And right then, I hoped and prayed that she could feel of my love for her. No daughter of God should EVER have to feel alone and lost during a trial and I, again, hope and pray that she never has those feelings. I wanted her to know that I was there, I understood and I get that it sucks dealing with a grouchy husband and a complete lifestyle change.

As I walked out of church today I felt amazing. I felt as if all life's drama was gone, I felt as if I had no trials, no worries, no struggles. I was incredibly grateful I decided to roll out of bed today. I was reminded that the Lord is watching out for me and sending me subtle hints on how to improve my self and my life. He wants me to succeed, He wants me to be shaped and molded in to a certain person and He is willing to be patient and understanding as I figure that out. I am so grateful for the blessing of promptings and guidance as I live my life. I am SO incredibly grateful that I have been blessed with the Gift of the Holy Ghost to guide me down the straight and narrow and to direct back to that path as I sometimes wander off.

Today, I am especially grateful that I decided to go to Relief Society. That I choose to sit where I did and that Jen decided to sit next to me. I am grateful I got the courage to talk to her and say what had really been on my mind and just let her know that I am there for her. My institute teacher said on multiple occasions: Nothing is ever a coincidence. Everything in life happens for a reason. And I truly believe that. Every aspect of our lives are guided and directed by our Heavenly Father. And I am eternally grateful for that because you know what? I wouldn't want ANYONE else guiding my life. As I turn my life to Him, I will be given the best opportunities for growth, the best chances at learning and the most amazing experiences in life. It's all a matter of choice and if we choose to turn our lives to our Heavenly Father and say to Him, "make me who YOU need me to be." ... we will become incredible people and you will be able to see His hand in your life each day. All you have to do is look for it.

This is what I'm excited about ...

Today is OPENING DAY for Major League Baseball.
I'm sporting my Diamondbacks Sedona Red ... and I'm so excited.
I absolutely love baseball and I think I love it even more this year because Kameron was such a big fan (hmmm...maybe it will do the Dbacks good to have a huge fan on the other side to help 'em out.)
It is SO much fun to have baseball on my tv again. I honestly have been in the best mood today because it's the first game of the season. It's also making me somewhat homesick to be in Arizona. But, I'll get to atleast a few games this season so I can look forward to that. I'm just thrilled it's baseball season.

On Saturday ... I'm going on a cruise. I cannot WAIT.
Me and my good friend, April, are going together.
We are leaving from San Diego and will be going to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
I'm really super excited. I'm a little nervous because honestly, the ocean scares me.
BUT - I am excited to just relax and have fun for 5 days. I cannot WAIT! In Cabo we will do a city tour (and shopping and yummy food) and then the next day we're doing ziplining and repelling. I've got SO much work to do to get ready but Saturday can't come soon enough!

 

I cannot WAIT to take my final and have a break from school. I've loved being in school but, I've got some serious spring fever. I'm actually really going to miss going to institute every week. But, it's been a good semester, I'm just ready for a little break. 

Summer. Enough said.

Walk for Lupus

Can I advertise for just a moment?

Great.

On May 1, 2010 - we will be participating in the Walk for Lupus in Salt Lake City. We will be walking in memory of my husband.

Registration is just $35. You get goodies.

I would LOVE to have as many people that are able, join us for the walk on May 1. I think it would be awesome to have a huge group.

Now, if you don't live in Utah, you can still be part of our team as a "virtual walker". You still get goodies.

Then ... if you don't want the goodies - you can just donate.

Here's the info ...

You can donate AND join the team all from THIS LINK
(please let me know if you have any questions)

Thank you in advance. I really appreciate all the love & support!

Cougs vs. Utes

I got an email about the BYU vs. Utah basketball game and I really wanted to go! So, I texted my cousin Kirsti (who goes to BYU) and asked her if she wanted to go with me. Of course she said yes and I bought tickets for her to go with me and Kason.

It was a really fun night. I was a little nervous about wearing my Cougar blue on Utah Campus but we survived without any harm caused. The best part is that BYU beat Utah by 20 points in that game! It was awesome ... I love rivalries!

Kason, Me & Kirsti

Me and Kason

Kason with Kirsti:

Kason enjoying the game. He was so funny ... he would cheer so loud for the Cougars. He loved it.

Great final score ...

Hiking ...

There was one Saturday where the weather was pretty decent and I was wanting to just get out of the house. As soon as Kason woke up from him nap we headed out to find a place to hike. I decided to start at the base of a mountain pretty close to our house. Kason was in a horrible mood and he didn't want anything to do with hiking so I ended up carrying him most of the way but, it was still fun. It was such a beautiful view up there. And it was nice to get out of the house and do something active. 

This was his attitude uh ... pretty much the whole time:

So proud ...

I love little conversations I have with Kason. They just make me so happy and proud of him! Today as we were walking out of church I asked Kason, "Did you have fun in nursery?"

"Yep!"

"What did you guys talk about today?"

"We talked about Jesus." (this is usually the answer I get every week)

"Oh really? What else did you learn about?"

"That the lady was sad."

"And why was the lady sad?"

"Because Jesus died."

"And then what happened after he died?"

"He came alive again Mom!" And he was SO excited about that!

Ohhh, I love that boy so much. I am amazed at how quickly he learns, and remembers, the things that are taught to him. He is an amazing kid and I am blessed to have him and call him my own. I hope I do a good enough job raising him, that our Heavenly Father will be proud of my work and service as a mother. 

***

On another Spiritual note, just a little something I've been wanting to share ... a few weeks back Kason and I went to Salt Lake and went to temple square with a group of friends. We had walked around the grounds for a little while and then we ended up in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. We were all kind of standing around visiting, letting people who had never been there before explore. I had a moment where I didn't have Kason following me around and I walked over to the statue of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  

(For those non-members of the Latter-Day Saint faith, Joseph Smith is the first prophet of these times. He is the prophet who restored the gospel on the earth and translated the Book of Mormon. He is a very influential person in our church and there is much to be learned from him and from the type of person he was.)

 I walk up to this statue and I am hit with this knowledge and this truth that Joseph Smith truly was, and continues to be, a prophet of the Lord. I knew at that moment without a doubt in my mind that Joseph Smith was an amazing man and he was put on this earth on the Lord's errand. Joseph Smith fulfilled that and we are able to learn from him. I stood there and I looked at this statue thinking ... What a perfect symbol of Joseph Smith. This is a tall, strong statue and it puts off a sense of pride and power and knowledge. Those are all things I think of when I think of Joseph Smith. He is such an important piece of our church's history and I think that they did so right in building such a strong statue - built of solid stone. I was so amazed that I could have such a strong witness of a man while standing in front of a statue representing him. Since that night I have had a stronger love for Joseph Smith and a stronger understanding of what he did for our church and the sacrifices he made, day in and day out.

I am a member of the most amazing church and I am grateful for the blessings because of it.

Idaho ...

In February I went to Idaho to visit my good friend April. She was supposed to be moving into her house the weekend I was there but, her move in date got pushed back a week. So, I missed that. But, I still got to hang out with her and spend time with her. It was a good little getaway. I had never been to Idaho before so, it was fun to go up there.

One night we went into Boise and went to the mall and we saw this super sweet car. We just had to get a picture by it!!

And we got to meet up with a girl I'd only been friends with online. We used to be in a Mormon Moms group online and had become really good friends from that. So, when I knew I was going to be like 15 minutes from her - I HAD to jump at the chance to meet her!! She is so cute and amazing and has since had that cute lil baby in her tummy!

Kason and her little girl having a blast. They played so good together!!

Football in the mall ...

Kason was so mad when I told him they were leaving ...

The kiddos (probably the  best shot of them all...)

Us with the Ponds:

Kason's Boys

We have some good friends here, the Ostler's, that we do a lot of stuff with. Kason gets along great with the boys (and he calls them, "my boys") and me and Kristin have tons of fun together. I'm grateful to have found such great friends here.

Back in February we went to the circus with them and we also went to a Valentine's thing at the college where the kids got to decorate cookies and make Valentine's cards. I love living here where there are ALWAYS things going on!

At the Circus:

Valentine's Day:

Cookies!

Yum ...

Craft time ...

Playing with Camden ... 

Kason's Birthday!!

Kason turned 3 on February 11. For his birthday we went to Pirate Island for a YUMMY dinner with friends and cousin Kirsti. It was a lot of fun. Pirate Island is a restaurant kind of like Chuck-e-Cheese but it's way cooler. We love it. The food is delicious and the kids stay entertained the whole time! And Kason got a dish of ice cream and a pirate happy birthday. We got a box of some of the most delicious cupcakes EVER ... it was an awesome night. 

The birthday boy ... I still can't believe he is 3!

The boys playing ...

He shoots ... he SCORES

Kason's boys ...

Me and the birthday boy:

This is the whole group ... with our pirate waiter:

AZ in UT!

Back in January the Phoenix Suns were playing the Utah Jazz. I HAD to go! Me and my friend April bought tickets and I ended up taking a date while she brought her cousin. We had a BLAST. It was so fun to be a Suns fan in the Jazz arena. The Suns ended up losing but, it was still worth it.

Warm-ups:

This is when they were still winning:

The Girls, (Me, April, Joy):

April & Joy:

With my date ... a HUGE Jazz fan ...

And ... since the Suns lost - I had to wear a Jazz jersey. I felt like a traitor. But it was fun. Jazz fans walking by were loving it. Suns fans walking past were booing & the walk of shame through the halls of the arena was embarrassing. 

I couldn't do it for long ... I had to show my love for the Suns:

It was a blast. We had a really fun night and woke up with no voices the next morning.