What A Week, What a Week: Temple Open House, Swine Flu, Girls Camp, And A Day with President and Sister Monson

ell.... It has been quite the week. Clear full of fun and excitement of course... What else would there be.

Last Saturday - I woke up feeling pretty sick, but I made it to our Ward Temple Session. It was fun to go with Kamila - My cousins wife, who is still new at the whole temple thing. It reminded me of how nervous I used to get. After the session we went to breakfast at Denny's - I decided that I would never make a good waitress. I am just not patient enough.

After breakfast I came home, feeling much worse, but I had so much to do to get ready for finals. So I tried to study, but honestly, not much really got inside my brain. I had to keep switching studying spots to keep myself awake.

Saturday evening we went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. I absolutely LOVE this temple. I loved the design, the decorations, furniture, it was all just beautiful. I am looking forward to going again with our Young Women in July. I love how all of the temples are unique and different, but all so beautiful.


I started feeling like I was going to throw up (Sorry for all the details) as we sat down in the sealing room where a very cute couple bore their testimony of the importance of the temple. Luckily I made it out of the temple before anything happened. The weather was really yucky and rainy so I decided that I just wanted to get home before I threw up, but I didn't make it. We only had to make one stop but still...

Saturday Night, Sunday and Monday & Tuesday I was sick in bed. We joked about it being swine flu - with the flu you only run a fever for 6 to 10 hours and then you feel alright but we think the fever came during the night when I was making phone calls at 3 am. (Sorry Amy) I really don't think it was. I am just glad it is over.

Of course I had to get sick the week of finals. Couldn't have happened at any other time could it? On Wednesday I took two finals, I did well on the first one, and bombed the other one, but I think I passed the class. I am just glad that they are over, and I have decided that I am going to take a break from school for a little while. I will start classes again in August. I am still not sure what I am going to do with my time, but I am sure I will figure it out.

The fun part of my week started on Thursday when I got to go to girls camp. I absolutely love the Heber Valley Girls Camp. It is so amazingly beautiful and reminds me so much of the mountains of home. I just love driving up there and being with the Young Women of my ward. I work with the best young women and leaders in the whole church. I was really bummed that I only got to spend one day there, but at least I got to spend that day.

They did a really neat thing this year. The theme was GEMS - Girls Embracing Moral Standards. Each ward had a different standard , a Gem associated with that standard, and a scripture that related to it. They gave us a challenge to memorize and pass off the scripture to each ward and once you completed all of them you were able to go pick an oyster and have it opened to get a pearl. It was a really touching experience to remind us that to our Heavenly Father we are treasures.
After a wonderful testimony meeting that our Young Women had planned we loaded up the van so I could bring most of the stuff home. Let's just say I am not sure we could have put much more in that car. It was packed pretty tight! Kudos to Jana & Myndi for packing it all in there. They did a great job!









Today I had a wonderful day! It was the final day of the new mission presidents conference at the MTC and so I got to go be security. My assignment was to help Sister Monson. I got to push her around in her wheel chair and set with her during the sacrament meeting. What a wonderful opportunity. I feel really blessed to be able to meet the prophet and his family. They are both really funny people. My heart is always full as I get to shake hands with him. It was neat to see some of the missionaries as we were going out to the cars so they could leave. They started to sing "We Thank Thee of God for a Prophet" How blessed we are to be led by a living prophet. I am very thankful that I have a testimony, that I know that our Heavenly Father speaks through his prophets. What a great day!
During his talk President Monson quoted James Barrie, who wrote " God gave us memories that we might have June roses in the December of our lives." This week I feel like that I have had a few of those June roses. I love you all and hope all is well. May your June Roses continue to bloom!

To My Dad

The world
doesn’t know him
as a hero,
but she knows differently.
He doesn’t always
say a lot,
but when he does,
she knows it is
worth remembering.
Even worth writing down.
But she never has to
write down anything
that her father says
because she knows
she’ll never forget.

Terri Cecil (adapted)



You may never know
what a difference
your quiet influence
and steady caring
have meant throughout my life...
how much your strong,
protective love and wisdom
have carried me through...

...but maybe you’ll understand
with your heart
what no words can ever tell you...

I Love You, Dad
Happy Father’s Day

Catch Up

So...Regardless of popular belief I have not fallen off the face of the earth (As much As I Would Like to). School and Work have been a little much the last month. What do you do? I am really thankful for the opportunity that I have to participate in both. Here are some pictures of my Nephew's Graduation & My sisters suprise party. It was fun to be in Arizona for a day or two. The time always flies by faster than I want it to. My poor sister fell & broke her wrist and her ankle the day after her birthday. We partied while she sat from her wheel chair and watched. I felt bad for her.

Hope all is well with you guys. Let me know if I can do anything for you.

Everyday

This week I was working on one of projects for my favorite class (Digital Media) - Pointless class for me to take, but at least it is easy since it is the second time I get to take it! (UVU didn't transfer my classes the way they should have been). At any rate, the project was a collage using digital media to describe me. I was trying to find a video clip of something, and I came across the music video for Everyday by Rascall Flats.

I don't think that I have cried so hard in weeks. It made me think of all the opportunities I miss to be that life-saver for people but filled my heart with gratitude when I thought of all of the people who have "Saved My Life". Of course there is my dear sweet family, both the current and past. There was the elementary school teacher who made me learn life lessons that were hard, the home teacher who wasn't affraid to care about me, the Young women leaders who took me out for ice cream on those hard days, The friends who weren't afraid to call my Mom to tell her about some stupid things I was doing, The high school teacher who encouraged me to be something, the College professor that showed me that there is more to life than myself, the friends and family who have cried for hours and hours with me as I faced disappointment of not bieng able to be a mom, and then with me again as I lost my whole world. There are the people who encouraged me to "find myself", the people who laugh with me when I do dumb stuff, Those who are patient with me when I am always grumpy, the Young women and leaders I serve with, ...if I kept listing my list would go on and on, but know that your name is on my list.

My point is, I have been so incredibly blessed by all of you. Because of your examples I have decided to re-evaluate a little, to look for opportunities to save the lives of those around me. Thank you for bieng the angels that I have needed you to be.

"I have spoken . . . of heavenly help, of angels dispatched to bless us in time of need. But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind."

~Jeffrey R. Holland,

"A real friend is like an angel who warms you by her presence and remembers you in her prayers"

Is it Saturday Yet???

What a wonderful weekend!! Crazy YES, but wonderful! I know this is supposed to be my few days off from school where I am trying to relax and enjoy life, but not much relaxing going on.


Thursday night my sisters drove into town. Friday morning we left for Twin Falls Idaho to go to Wyatt's wedding. The rest of the family was staying in Burley Thursday night so we stopped to say hi to them before heading up to Twin Falls. In the craziness of trying to get changed and help get kids in the car my keys got locked in the car. Luckily I had pulled out my purse that had my recommend and stuck it in my trunk which was open. Thank Heavens. We were able to just pile in others cars and go to the temple. The sealing was so nice and the temple was so pretty. I was so glad that I could make it. Wyatt has always been the little brother I never got.

The weather didn't work very well with us, although it didn't start raining until they were almost done with pictures. The wind made all of the pictures turn out splendid. We were going for the wind blown look.

After the sealing we drove out to see the falls. While I hated the drive (Narrow Winding canyon) the end result was worth it. I have always loved waterfalls, and these were completely breathtaking. It was raining so we didn't get to stay very long, but maybe someday I can get back there.

After our little detour we went back to Burley where we had a fabulous winter day lunch. Luckily Uncle Oliver has opened a few cars after the keys got locked in them before, but I must say I was very impressed. I think he had my car unlocked in less than 5 minutes. The reception that night was in Burley, it was fun to have a minute to visit with all of the family that was there. That night we made it home about 12:00, yes Shane and Mathew I realize I was driving faster than the speed limit, but you were going slow.

Saturday morning we woke up early - it wasn't very bright, but wasn't that rain pretty. The agenda for the morning was to make 8 cheese cakes for the reception before noon. The magic ladies made cheese cakes & Mandy even got a salad done. My job - washing dishes. They know better than to let me cook.

One of my cousins was baptized on Saturday at noon. I think I was a little on the tired side because I started crying during the opening song. I have always loved the "rainbows" song. It gave me that new determination because I to want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain, to be the best I can so that I can live with my Heavenly Father again. Sorry- crying again. Trevor & Mandy you did a great job with your talks, thanks for making me cry harder.

After the baptism we started the decorating frenzy. The flowers that were ordered for the center pieces looked terrible, so thankfuly a dear sweet sister in our ward had red tulips in her yard that she was willing to share. Prayers are answered people. After a couple of mad dashes to Walmart we pulled it off, but as Cristal said "we lived at the church" yesterday. I thought the decorations turned out nice, even if the food table wasn't asymetrical.

The reception went really well. It was really good to see a lot of people that were there. I am so glad that family from out of town got to come. I loved seeing them all as well as ward members that I don't normally get to see. It was a long night, but a lot of fun.



This morning I went to Moab with my sisters to meet my Mom who wasn't able to come because my Dad got called into work. She had to bring Stef's car, because Stef is moved (Still in the process) up here! I am so exited to have her here.

It has been an incredibly long weekend with way to much driving, but I have loved almost every minute of it. It is raining outside now, and I love the rain, it reminds me to be better, just like after baptism. Have a great day!

The Best Final So Far

Finals are over!!!

(at least for this semester)

So, after a very stressful week of studying, trying to remember everything (or learn) everything I was supposed to for the semester I am finally done. You are all free to do the happy dance with me if you would like.

This semester I was so happy I actually got to take an education class - which I absolutly loved. The Professor - Tom was a great guy who works as a Junior High guidance councilor. Such a fun class. While the class was on adolesent development he encouraged us to learn how to help kids to see that change is possible. Sorry - I am rambling, bottom line, great class.

The reason behind the title for the post...

For our final in Tom's class he showed us a short clip from Dewitt Jones, a photographer for the National Geographic. The title of the clip was "Celebrating What's Right with the World". When I first saw it I thought - yah right - has this guy watched the news lately. But he soon changed my mind. Here are some things that he said that I loved:

• Celebrate What's Right with the World




• When I was growing up, I used to hold that maxim - - I won't believe it, until I see it. Yet the more I shot for the Geographic the more I realized I had it backwards. That the way it really works is - - I won't see it, till I believe it. That's the way life works.




• Vision controls our perception, and our perception becomes reality




• Instead of starting out as we so often do by griping about what's wrong with the situation...what's right with the situation?




• ...The very thing that so often frightens us today - that awesome change curve we hear so much about -- is really my ally.




• The power of vision is extraordinary - -We have to be willing to trust it, to come out to our edge, because it here on the edge that we find the winds to take us higher.




• that edges is between being the best in the world and being the best for the world.




• There's no use walking anywhere to preach, unless your walking is your preaching


• You just have to do it and believe




• If we look for it and believe it is there we will have a vision that fills us with energy, takes us to our own edge and gives us the courage to soar.

http://www.celebratetraining.com/ - You can watch the video.

What a nice burst of fresh air it was. I love to hear things that inspire me, and this one did just that. My goal is to celebrate and look for the positives in life, instead of wallowing in what is wrong which is what I normally do.

I am really looking forward to the 5 days off before I start school again. I am only doing 4 classes in the next five weeks. It should be really fun!

P.S. - I got a 100% on the final, all because I commented on the film. I love those kind of finals!