Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Remember

This isn't my typical blog post full of pictures of my cute little family, but this is something I've felt recently that I need to share more often.  I think a little background information is needed, so bare with me as I tell a short story...
I was raised in a strong LDS family.  I had a strong belief in, and testimony of the principles taught to me in my home and at church all my life.  At 20 years old I was planning on serving a mission the following year.  That year I was living away from home attending the University of Utah.  I was surrounded by friends and peers that were not LDS for the first time in my life.  This was eye-opening for me, and made me start to think about the things I had been taught my whole life.  To make a long story short, I began to question things and became very lost and confused.  I no longer knew what I believed and it was literally the darkest time in my life.  When I moved home in May I decided to approach my questions as sincerely as I could. As I began to search for answers humbly I received a piece of revelation that is dear and sacred to me.  I was sitting in my room one Sunday afternoon and the following words entered my mind.  As I wrote, more came. After a few minutes I had a poem in front of me.  I don't claim to be the author, just the scribe I guess you would say. These are the words of a loving Heavenly Father to his daughter.  I ask that if this isn't for you, you read no further. This is my pearl of greatest price, and in the six years since I received this I've only shared it with a handful of people. I'm only sharing now because I do believe it can help someone else that may also be as lost and confused as I was. So here's to strengthening and uplifting each other. My hope is that this offers comfort to someone.

Remember

Remember peace, remember love,
Remember your Eternal Father above.
He stands there still, He will not leave,
He begs you, "Please, trust in me".
He knows your heart, He knows your soul,
He thinks you're ready now to be made whole.

You've been so broken, lost and confused,
it's time now to hear the good news.
The answers you've been yearning for
are right before you, look no more.
It isn't complex, it's quite simple you see,
simply remember, that's the key.

Look back on your life now, the good and the bad.
Do you remember the times you were happy or sad?
If you look closely I know you will see,
that true happiness is found through Me.
In those darkest times you simply forgot,
or set Me and My counsel at naught.

You question now things you once knew,
you wonder how this could all be true.
A million thoughts race through your head,
some your own, some others have said.
I urge you now your answers to seek,
remember though to have faith in me.

Remember faith? Remember your youth?
You always clung so tightly to truth.
You knew it then, it was not blind.
You just trusted your heart over mind.
Continue to think and reason things out,
but do not surrender faith to doubt.

One more thing and then I'll be done,
remember who you are and whence you've come.
You are my child, a daughter divine.
And no matter what, you'll always be mine.
I love you more than you'll ever know,

remember this as you learn and grow.


Sunday, July 14, 2013

1 Year Old!

Our little peanut turned one last Monday! I can't believe a whole year has gone by already! It's crazy to think that just a year ago we welcomed Adda into our little family. Now it seems like we wouldn't be complete without her.
We celebrated her birthday by spending the day at Seven Peaks with my siblings and then had a party that evening.  I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off all day it seemed, but the party turned out better than I had hoped it would. We had a lot of friends and family come to celebrate with us, and Adda got spoiled with awesome gifts! She also got a whole cupcake to herself and definitely enjoyed it!
After the party we headed to St. George. Jer had to have a crown replaced so we scheduled it right after her birthday so we could throw her a party in St. George too.  We love going to St. George and had so much fun celebrating Adda's birthday with Grandmas, Grandpas, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Thanks to everyone who came to her parties!
















4th of July Parade...

The past two years for the 4th of July Jer and I have gone to Midway for a program and breakfast with my grandparents up there. Each year we tried to make it back for part of the parade in Provo, but each year we missed the whole thing. This year we decided to stay here to catch the parade.  I woke up at 5 am to go save us a spot on the parade route and Adda and Jer joined me a few hours later.  We had a pretty good spot saved so our friends, the Dossetts, joined us. We had a great time!











Hide and Go Seek...

The other day I was cleaning up the house a bit while Adda followed me around jabbering to herself.  She was right behind me one minute and then gone the next, and completely silent.  I searched all of her usual favorite spots with no luck. I thought I was losing my mind because I could not for the life of me find her anywhere. Then I heard her giggling and this is where I found her...


That's right...under the kitchen table! Such a funny girl!

Adda's Bestie...

Adda's best friend Emmy came to visit a couple weeks ago.  It is ridiculously hard to get the two of them to hold still long enough for a picture, let alone catch them both looking at the camera! We had a lot of fun having Cami, JD, and Emmy stay with us for a few nights!





Father's Day Take Two...

After the first attempt at an awesome Father's Day for Jer failed I decided to not try camping a second time. Instead Adda took her daddy balloons and visited him at work, then picked him up after and went on a really pretty hike up to a hidden waterfall. Thankfully this was a success!









Christian is HOME!

Yay! June has finally come and 2 years (plus some) has finally passed! Adda and I headed to St. George with Cass, Ry, Miles, and Kimber to welcome him home.  He was supposed to get in around 6 pm, however, there were complications with his bags and flights, so he missed his plane to St. George and had to wait for a later one.  He didn't end up getting in until after 11 pm.  I was really bummed because I really wanted to take Adda to the airport, but I didn't think it would be responsible parenting to take her at 11 at night.  It was so fun to see him walk in and to spend the weekend with him.  I can tell he was an excellent missionary! Jer and Dustin rode down on Friday afternoon together. That night we all went to the temple together for Cody's first time.  It was pretty neat to be able to be in the Celestial room with my whole family! Then on Sunday Cody, Christian, and my dad all spoke (in a few different wards), and we celebrated Father's Day for my dad.  It was a great weekend with the whole family!
We were all a little goofy at the airport so late...


...especially Cody:)



Adda loves her uncle Christian!


He's home!

Two good lookin men after Cody's ordination to the office of Elder.

Headed to Costco in a packed car.



These two love each other so much!





Costco pizza for lunch...mmmm!

Queen of the pool!

Adda couldn't stop giving Rylee hugs! So cute!