Time Flies...

Tonight after our mutual activity I was visiting with one of our Laurels. For some reason I was telling her that I graduated in 1992. Her response..."Oh, that was the year I was born." What???? Seriously???? What happened to my life? It is still blowing me away~that is seriously crazy!

Quote for the day

I have been preparing a lesson for Young Womens Sunday and came across a quote that I absolutely LOVED in high school and college...thought it would be a good one to post!

"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house than the one you thought of-throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace."
-C. S. Lewis

Hard to recognize blessings! :)

SO Saturday night was our Stake Womens Conference. For some reason ever since we have moved to this house it has been something I look forward to. It is always such an uplifting meeting that makes me feel like "I can do better!!!" Don't we all need a little push sometimes to tackle the world?? The theme for the night was Learning To Dance In the Rain...atleast that's what I think it was!? 3 women from our stake spoke and did an incredible job of sharing their struggles and what they have learned and become as a result of them--they sort of shared that our trials are really our blessings and that is how we grow. I have gained such a strong testimony of what a blessing our trials are during the last few years. Casey and I have a very strong marriage and are incredibly blessed but sometimes life throws you a curveball and it is hard to have faith and make sense of it all. During such uncertain times I am even more grateful we have had little trials to strengthen our faith and make us closer as a couple and as a family. It's amazing to me to watch the news and see all of the huge burdens people are carrying and to know that there really is no reason to fear. It's so comforting to know our Heavenly Father knows us and loves us and is there for us. It's always going to be ok!!! I certainly wouldn't ask for more trials but it's nice to feel gratitude for the ones I have had because I have become stronger. I can honestly say that as I look back over my life I really think the experiences I am MOST grateful for are the hardest ones. I am grateful to have felt so inspired by that meeting!!! It's such a blessing to be a member of this church.

Logan

Brian heard about a place called The Bluebird Cafe in Logan...we laughed about it but it was REALLY good food!!! We were probably a little roudy so everyone who sat by us probably got a headache! Hopefully they enjoyed our energy and weren't looking forward to a peaceful night out to eat! :) We drove by the Logan Temple and didn't let all of our kids out of the car-it was so cold! But since we were out we decided to take a picture! Such a beautiful temple!!!

Hardware Ranch

Alyssa and Madi...cute braces girls!!! Your smiles are going to be beautiful...the pain will be worth it! :)

Shaylee and Makenna

Sawyer and Austin

Jaycee with me & Casey

We went to Hardware Ranch with the Hicks family Saturday...our toes were FROZEN but it will be a fun memory-we kept reminding ourselves and the kids that as we waited in line!!! We are grateful for them, they are such fun friends and so good to us!!!

Way To Go Casey!

So...I have to brag a little. It's actually not BRAGGING because the experience was actually pretty humbling but I don't know what else to call it! Saturday was Casey's company Christmas party--the best Christmas party is always in January AFTER the crazy month of December has passed!! Casey works for a great company-he works for and with awesome people and we are both so grateful for that! At the Christmas party they always give out awards and the employees have to be nominated by eachother. At dinner they have a book at every table with all of the nominations so you can read what everyone said about all of the people they nominated. There are very few women in the company and it always blows me away to see how many great things the men have to say about eachother. They are always very specific about why they think someone should win the award. Casey was nominated in 3 different categories and I was almost in tears as I read what all of the employees had to say about him. He won for Most Valued Customer Service. He hates to be recognized so it was very uncomfortable for him but I was so grateful he won. He deserved it! Casey is one of the most humble, giving, hard working people I have ever met and he tries hard to not be noticed. All of these qualities were listed in everyone's description of him. I am one lucky girl to be married to such an incredible man!!! He is truly amazing. I am so grateful for his example-I learn so much from him every single day.

Look what was in my mailbox today!!!

We had a fantastic holiday season....super busy but super fun! Lots of great memories! With 4 kids, a husband, a house to clean AND my new calling in Young Womens it's felt super hectic so the blog has been left in the dust! :) TODAY however I went to check my mail and found a package from my friend Christina from high school. We have reconnected thanks to Facebook and it's been so great to chat with her. She lives in Boston! She saw my post about seeing Angel Moroni being put on the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple and told me her brother was involved in building that and her family was there to watch that day too. Apparently they were able to get some remnants of the granite that was used to build the temple and gave them as gifts for Christmas. She got one for me! I will always treasure it because it has been such a neat experience for our family to watch this beautiful temple being built AND because it is from an incredible friend. I am amazed as I look at my life-today and back over the years-at the incredible people my Heavenly Father has always blessed me with for friends. I have grown so much and become a better person because I have ALWAYS been surrounded by incredible people!!! I think that is the blessing in life is feeling absolute gratitude for everyone you have ever known-for a minute, for a day, in high school or now...we really are molded into who we are because of who we know and the experiences we get to have. I learn so much from everyone around me. Thanks Christina!!! You made my day!