The Joy of a Snowflake

Christmas has always been one of my favorite times of the year, but as the season came I felt as though pieces of myself were missing. In the search to find those pieces again… I noticed miracles happening all around me, some were small and seemingly insignificant, but they mattered and others were grand and beautiful.

The magic of Christmas is truly shown all around, all we have to do is look for it. I have been blessed with so many things this christmas season, but today I was blessed with snowflakes…

Yes, I understand that these tiny little particles of dirt and frozen water can lead to icy roads and ruined shoes. But there is something so magical when you are able to slow the pace of the holiday season, and take a closer look at one single snowflake… They exist! They aren't just flurries falling from the sky, they truly are snowflakes with perfectly cut edges, and every single one is different and beautiful in its own way. 

It made me think of each one of us, and how we were created in the image of our father in heaven. Each one of us is different and beautiful in our own way.

 Some are small, and some are tall, some are round and some don't feel like they have been found. Some spread joy, and some try to find it. Some are so busy that they don't take a moment to look closely at others. Some do take those precious moments to slow down and really look upon others in a different way. Maybe if we all got our noses out of the ground and actually looked up, we would find that there is a whole world waiting for us. Maybe we would find that what we have been looking for is already around us. 

It just made me think of how slowing down and really looking at these tiny snowflakes made me feel like our father in heaven, our creator is making all of us and shaping all of us in different, and beautiful ways… and making these perfect Snowflakes for us to enjoy.

I felt like a kid again, I was yelling in to my parents house saying "They are real! Snowflakes are real!" they all of course laughed. I have always known that snow flakes were real… haha , but it was so cool to see them up close and actually being able to see there shapes… The Spirit of Christmas is real. 

Life is funny sometimes

Whether you are 19 or 46; Many of us are at that age, where the decisions we make can change the course of where our lives are going. 

Sometimes I miss the days where all you would worry about was to make sure your mom got your favorite cereal/snack at the grocery store, or making sure you get home from school in time to watch your favorite show, or even when our biggest worries were making sure you had enough "good markers" that weren't dried up...

 Now I'm sure there are many of us, who still have a favorite show to make it home too, or favorite cereal we want... But those aren't our only worries any more. Some have lost a loved one, some are living paycheck to paycheck, some are dealing with crippling health issues, and others may be searching for a friend, a companion,  or a better life. 

There this word that people use called "growing up", but I call it "living". It's this amazing thing that throws you through loops and makes you smile bigger and cry harder than you ever have. You know, it's kind of a beautiful thing when something happens so out of left field, that almost breaks your heart; and all you can do is laugh. Those moment when you are so caught off guard and have no idea how to react, that you just laugh. After so much anguish, and heart ache, the light starts to appear.

There is a quote that says " The darkest hour is just before the dawn breaks." That quote has helped me through many things in my life, it has helped me to hang on a little longer, to have faith a little brighter. I will tell you, the light comes, it always comes. Sometimes it comes soon an sometimes it comes late. Always know that in order for us to grow and become who we were meant to become, we must know sorrow to know happiness. It is by this that we will be able to appreciate the good, because we will have known the bad. 

Life is interesting to me, it seems that just when we think we figured things out, we get thrown a curveball. So, we improvise. We find happiness in unexpected places. We find ourselves understanding what matters the most. Life is funny that way. Sometimes it just has a way of making sure we wind up exactly where we belong... I like to call it The Lords plan. 

Sometimes the Best time is Now...

I have had a little Dove Chocolate wrapper in my car for about 2 years, that says "sometimes the best time is now."  Today as I was driving it got me thinking about life and how so many of us are always waiting... We are all waiting for the storm to pass, waiting for the right time, waiting to be happy when we graduate, make millions, get married, have babies, be retired... So many of us spend our lives waiting to be happy, when it is now that we must act. If you want to start your own business, do it!! If you love someone you tell them, you don't waste any of those moments. Those moments that could be gone in an instant. Those moments that just might change your life. If you want to change your life, do it! Because a year from now you will wish you did something today! 

Life can be scary, it is scary... But it is the most amazing ride we will ever have. Our Heavenly Father has given us life, a life that we should not waste. Sometimes in the mist of getting things done, and trying to take day by day; life happens. 

If it scares you, do it! If you want it with all your heart, go after it. You will be guided in all that you do, if you do it with a sincere heart... 

3rd Nephi 27:29

"Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened."

I'm not saying if you ask you will win the lottery. But by praying to our Father in heaven for guidance and answers, you will receive them in The Lords own time and own way. Answers aren't always what we want them to be, but when the Lords will is lined up with ours there is no greater feeling of happiness. Now those times when the answer we hoped for is the answer that is right; those are the sweet and special moments that touch our hearts and strengthen our testimonies.

This life is a beautiful one, now go out there and live it, I mean Really live and love. 

A Sunday Thought

"True love requires action. We can speak of love all day long—we can write notes or poems that proclaim it, sing songs that praise it, and preach sermons that encourage it—but until we manifest that love in action, our words are nothing but “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

Christ did not just speak about love; He showed it each day of His life. He did not remove Himself from the crowd. Being amidst the people, Jesus reached out to the one. He rescued the lost. He didn’t just teach a class about reaching out in love and then delegate the actual work to others. He not only taught but also showed us how to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.” 

Love is what inspired our Heavenly Father to create our spirits; it is what led our Savior to the Garden of Gethsemane to make Himself a ransom for our sins. Love is the grand motive of the plan of salvation; it is the source of happiness, the ever-renewing spring of healing, the precious fountain of hope.

As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit."

Love for others, Love for something, or Love for someone; Love is what drives us to become better than we are, it's what helps us become who we are meant to become. 

- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

Bitter Sweet Goodbye: Farewell to a Mission

I should've been getting ready to leave tomorrow, I should've been packing right now... I should of had two suitcases full of things for my mission... I should've gotten my missionary haircut, and had my ugly Missionary shoes... But I didn't get the haircut, I'm not packing, and I don't own those ugly shoes... 

I wonder why we cling to our expectations in life, like the way a balloon clings to static electricity; because the expected is just what keeps us steady. Standing still, comforted, its a path that won't change, it's a path we had planned on.  Still, the expected is just the beginning, the expected is what prepares us... The unexpected is what changes our lives... 

On April 6th of this year, I knew I needed to prepare for a mission.

On April 26th I sent my papers in.

On May 18th my mission call came in the mail the day before my Triathlon

On May 24th- I opened my call, and was called to Little Rock, Arkansas.

On June 15th- Something Changed... My Mission wasn't feeling right... But I kept moving forward. 

On July 3rd, I had the Opportunity to go through the Draper Temple. I will be forever Grateful for that amazing experience. 

On July 12th, I went to the Dallas Temple with my grandmother, and as I entered those sacred walls I knew I wasn't supposed to go on a mission. I knew there was something else in store... Something amazing. 

Through this entire process I have grown more in the past 3 months, than I have in almost 23 years. 

I had lived In Saint George, Utah for about 5 years... I had a great job, great friends and family, and I had a plan; But then came in the Lords plan. I know I wouldn't of moved up to Northern Salt Lake if it wasn't for my mission, but as I have lived up here, I know this is where I am supposed to be. 

There is no question that is has been a hard process, but no matter how hard the process is of letting go of my mission I know that what I am doing is right. Sometimes The Lord calms the storm, sometimes The Lord calms his child, and sometimes he lets his child swim; to help his child grow and become what his child was meant to become. 

The Will of God Video

"This is how the real world goes, first you spend your life dreaming about how great things are gonna be one day. Then that one day finally arrives, and its thrilling, and scary, and its everything and nothing like you thought it would be. you thank Father in Heaven for the amazing new things he's doing; the new adventure, and the way he put all the pieces in place, and you pray that you will be able to handle it, like you thought you could.

This is how life goes, one minute its bright and hopeful, and then next, something seemly and unexplainable happens, but the Lord is there. One day you think you have it all figured out, and then you realize that there was something even better, because the Lord is there. One day follows the next; good times and bad times, time where your dreams are on hold, and times where they come true, times where you feel alone, and times where you feel love over whelming, times where you make sacrifices, and times where you are overwhelmed by blessings; because you're obedient and the Lord is there, he takes all these times,  and he works at you, he works through you... give it all to him, this is his time and I promise all will be well."

A woman once said that often she would watch her daughter and husband go out on saturday bike rides, and she would stay in the office and work, because she wanted a nice house, and a nice garden with no beetles. But as she got older her husband passed away, and she did have a nice house, an empty house, and she did have a nice garden, but it had beetles.. She often said that she wished she could get back those saturdays. She wished she hadn't taken forgranted the thing that truly mattered the most... Family... Sometimes we get so caught up in our own lives, so caught up in our "dreams" that we forget we are living them, and they have come true, but our noses are so stuck to the ground, that we never look up to see that we have had everything we could ever of dreamed of having right in front of us. Sometimes in the midst of uncertainty we forget to look up, we forget to look up and finally see that what we have been looking for, has been right in front of us all along.

Someday everything will make perfect sense. so for now, I will laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears, and remember that everything happens for a reason. Here is to the unknown of life; I'm taking it by the reigns and I'm going to enjoy this ride. :) 

Have a Little Faith

I'm sitting here at work on the couch  listening to the Forgotten Carols with my headphones in, while the girls watch a movie. I can't help but have this over whelming desire to tell you how I feel about my Savior Jesus Christ and my Father in Heaven.

I don't know if you have ever heard the song "I was not his father, he was mine" but it is an amazing song that talks about what it was like to be the Saviors earthly father.

I am so overwhelmingly grateful to be apart of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I am so eternally grateful to have grown up in such a wonderful family and for having such wonderful examples in my life.
I'm sure every person reading this has gone through their own set of trials and hard times that they thought they would never get through, the times when it seemed like all hope was lost. For me, because of this gospel and because of everything my Savior Jesus Christ did for me I have been able to always see the light at the end of the tunnel, I have always been able to know that all will be okay. As I look back on my life, I can't help but be so humbly grateful for every single thing in my life; the good and the bad. I would not be who I am today if it wasn't for every single one of my trials and blessings, I wouldn't have been able to have helped the people I did, and I wouldn't have been able to become closer to my Heavenly Father, if I hadn't gone through my own personal trials. I know that in these last days, there are a lot of reasons to give up and to stop believing when you think all hope is lost, or when the static of the world or the adversary is so strong that you don't know which way is up or down. But I write this to tell you, keep pushing forward, even if your belief or faith is so small... keep pushing forward. When you face decisions in your life and are not sure which one is right, move forward with faith and trust that the lord will guide you. Because he will!


We will face times in our lives when we have two roads in front of us, and sometimes we have to just keep moving forward in both directions, and let the lord guide us, but we must first be willing to do his will, not matter what it may be.

I asked for an Angel, and I got Two...

This past weekend when I was on my way home from Salt Lake; I was driving on I-15 and I started hearing this weird noise coming from the front end of my car, then I felt a huge bump and a constant screeching. It was a true blessing that it all happened right as I was passing an exit, because I just veered off the exit ramp and was able to safely pull off. I pulled off to what seemed like the middle of no where. I immediately got out of my car and went to the right side of my car to see what was wrong; underneath the front end of my car had literally ripped off from the crazy high winds, and bent back underneath my right front tire.

I knew I needed to go call someone for help, and as I went back to my car... I locked my self out of my car.. with it still running and my phone inside... Now this was not a good combo for 1. a girl 2. lack of sleep due to a race that morning 3. already a bad day.  I'm sure most people would of immediately started looking for cars and people to help, but my first instinct was to pray. I started praying out loud asking that my door would be unlocked, that some how the lord would unlock my car, I said that same prayer in different ways probably 10 times, and each time I walked around my car and tried to open every single door.  I then asked that if it was possible for an angel to come and help me, after a while I of course started tearing up, every car that passed and didn't even acknowledge me would bring me more and more to a breaking point.

After about 30 minutes of trying to get someone to stop and help, I put my arms on top of my car and closed my eyes and rested my head on my arms. I opened my eyes back up to a mans voice saying "do you need help?" I looked up and there were two men in a truck... a towing truck. They happened to own a towing company, and were on there way to Filmore, and offered to help me for free. We got my car all hooked up to take it to there shop, and started on our way to Filmore. While we were on our way to their shop Scott the driver said that he was planning on leaving about 30 minutes prior to when he left, because someone need his help, but felt the need to wait a little longer... he then said "I think I was inspired to wait a little longer so that we could help you."

Most people might think that it was coincidence that these two men Scott and Joe came to help me, and most people might wonder why God wouldn't just open my door, wouldn't it be easier to do so, than to have someone else do the work... Well I say to them, as I was in a panic and praying that the Lord would open my door, and that he would send an angel to help me. I realized that The Lord always answers our prayers no matter what, but he always answers them in a way that we wouldn't expect, or in a way that we want. The lord answered my prayer that day... But instead of sending an Angel, He sent me two Angels.


He always answers, but not always in the way that we would expect.

Believe in Yourself

With the weather being so nice in sunny St. George. I have been seeing all kinds of parents around with their kids. Some are tall, some are short, some are round, some are thin, some are athletic, some are biking, some are eating, some are yelling, and some are laughing.

It has made me start to think what kind of parent or mom I want to be.

I want to be the kind of mom that takes my 2 little ones in a stroller and goes on a run, the kind of mom that has the older ones on bikes or even running right next to me. I want to show my kids my love for being active and show them that if they want anything and I mean anything not just competing in races or getting a medal. If they want to play the flute in the marching band or be the next Michael Angelo, they can! I just want to show them that they can achieve anything they put their minds too.

As I am sitting here at work with 10 hours and 24 minutes left till I have to book it home and get ready for church, I am just thinking about all the things that I want to be "when I grow up" or when I'm a mom... I personally think it's so important to be your kids hero, and to teach them that they can fly! (If they have a pilots license) :) I think kids especially today are growing up too fast and are too involved in this technological world. When I was 9 years old I had markers and the outside to play with!

I'm not saying I plan on being the perfect mom, I'm sure I will have times when I will need a moment to take a deep breath or go on a long run by myself. But what I have learned over the years is that it's those moments when you think they aren't looking or watching you, those are the moments that matter most, those are the moments that they remember you as, the moments when you didn't think they were watching.

All I'm saying is try and help your kids believe in everything and believe in magic, but most importantly believe in themselves.

Live Like You Are Dying...

We get so caught up in this life, and living our lives day by day, that I think we forget what it feels like to reeeally LIVE. 


As John Lennon famously said, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."  

What would you do differently in your life?

Anonymous- 
If I know that I am going to die soon, It will make me more happy. I know we will all die (because we are all unable to prevent death) but it will bring me peace that I will be the first man who know’s his date of death. Everybody knows their date of birth but no one knows his date of death before his death, if it happens naturally.


Fellow Friend; I would spend more time with friends and family!

Fellow Blogger; I agree that, for the most part, if I want to make a change before I die, why not make it now? It seems more sensible to live my life with purpose all the way through and enjoy as much as possible the benefits as I go. I want to be right with God, show others in my life that they are valuable and special to me and to God, enjoy life’s small pleasures: a genuine smile, a cat’s purr, the warm summer sunshine…
I suppose, in actuality though, if I knew with 100 percent certainty that I was going to die soon, I am sure I would abandon my long-term projects and spend more time simply enjoying the people and activities I love most.

Comedian; Trim my nostril hair. Can't have that hanging out of my nose for the viewing.

Loving Mother; I wouldn’t change too much. I had twenty-three wonderful years with my late husband and am ready to meet him and God whenever He is ready for me. We have three smart, funny, zany kids who I am always proud to claim as mine. I love my job, I have good friends and a super big sis who ( along with her husband ) moved from her state to mine, when my husband died. Not much to complain about other than being widowed at 49 years old, that sucked big time. The only thing I might change would be the fact that the kids and I are all spread out. I would move everyone home for the time left and we would play like we used to when they were little and we were all together, Don, the kids and me.

Inspiring Example- I would take a trip to places I’ve never been before. But when the end was near I would travel to a familiar and wonderful place where I could be surrounded by loved ones and where I could spend my last hours admiring a beautiful view, listening to beautiful music, or the sound of the ocean, or the sound of steadily falling rain.


If you know your going to die, would you tell that someone you love them? After all, a True Love Story Never Ends... 

Did you say it? 'I love you. I don't ever want to live without you. You changed my life, I think you could be the one, but I'm too scared to make move, your an amazing mother, thanks for your example ' Did you say it? Make a plan. Set a goal. Work toward it, but every now and then, look around; Take it in 'cause this is it. It might all be gone tomorrow."

Pebble and the Penguin

I don't care what any of you think, but I think one of the best movies is Pebble and the Penguin. I grew up watching this movie, and it has always been a romantic comedy to me. I don't know if my 7 year old self comes out when I watch it, and that's the reason why  I enjoy it so much, or if it's just one of those movies that shows the good guy always wins the girl, and that true love conquers all!

Listen, I'm not one of those people who just likes any movie, or gawk at the simplest of film making, I take my movies serious, I love watching movies, and often go to movies by myself because I really don't mind too. Well, who knows maybe I am someone who gawks at the simplest of films, but who cares as long as I like the movie I don't see any problem with what anyone else thinks. Just please cut me some slack on this blog.

I'm almost certain that if anyone watched this movie today, they would probably say "Oh my gosh, this is a weird movie, let's watch another one." As I am sitting here on a Tuesday afternoon watching this movie with my two cousins who are 6 years old, and 4 years old they can't even sit still and enjoy the movie, because they think it's dumb. Yeah, what does that make me look like when I like this cartoon and my two little cousins don't like it.... I'm just that awesome I guess.

This movie is about a cute dorky penguin name Hubie who tries to find the perfect pebble for the girl he is in love with Marina. He of course gets bullied by the big buff juice head penguin and gets lost at sea. While Hubie is trying to make his way back to Marina, he meets another penguin named Rocko, and he helps Hubie get back to Marina and then they live happily ever... Just watch the movie.

Even though the movie was only made in '95 I still hope that they will remake it, so that the people who are used to Pixar movies, and all the awesome graphics of today would be able to thoroughly enjoy the movie and it's message with the new 21st century film making.

I am "blank" because...

I’m weird because…
I can’t sleep with my hair down, unless it's wet
I say Hola a lot!
I cry during sad commercials 
I love grocery shopping (alone)
I consider a solo target trip as therapy
I crack myself up multiple times a day
I make a wish any time it’s 11:11.
I love the smell of rain more than I love the smell of fresh baked muffins.
If I'm singing in the car, and not driving I often sing to the window, so incase I mess up no one will hear.
I have to sleep with at least one foot out of my covers, and the closet door closed.
I love cats, but I think they are way creepy at night time.
I love jalapeños.
I love eating grapes and watching thunderstorms; it's what I did as a kid my siblings and I would open the sliding door to the backyard, and count each thunder strike while eating grapes. 
I have a purse and sunglasses addiction... :)
I would rather clean the entire house 3 times, than clean behind the toilet.
I do enjoy watching The Bachelor, and always have some kind of hope that a love story will happen.
I have to open the microwave before it beeps.
I have posed for almost every picture since I can remember
I consider therapy to be driving with the windows rolled down, and music up.
I know how to take people down with paint balls and a sling shot...
I have had the same LIVESTRONG bracelet on since 8th grade

                                                            

What can I say I'm not camera shy.
                                                 






I'm awesome because... (I'm a loud to think fondly of myself... we all are)
I'm confident
I'm capable of so much
I've done a few 10k's
I have swam in alaska underneath the northern lights
I have also done a 5k in a wheel chair (broke my toe two days before the race)
I have stood up for what I believe in
I have slept on a golf course
I have drank water straight from a glacier
I'm okay being silly in front of a crowd
I have lost 70 lbs, and am celebrating that by doing a triathlon
I'm entertainingly funny
I have raided peoples houses dressed as a ninja to freak them out
I'm a good friend
I tell good jokes
I'm loyal
I sound like a dog with the past few things I have said...well a dog is a mans best friend, and so am I.
I love no matter the circumstances 
I make good salsa

                                                                                                                          overly confident

I'm a bad friend because
I don't call as much as I should.
I sometimes don't have the right words to say.
I never remember birthdays, so I put a reminder in my phone or planner.



I’m a good friend because…
I want to see those I love succeed.
I'm a good listener
I get excited for my friends, as if what was happening to them was happening to me :)
I'm trust worthy
I love my friends like they are my family
I remember little things, and try to pay attention to details 
You can show up at my house at 2am to talk about your bad day.
I’m not afraid to get silly and slap happy.
I send random "I miss you" text messages

I’m sad because…
I wish all my family lived closer.
I too often get consumed with my busy life.
I sometimes let little things get in the way of the big picture.
I wish I had more girl time with my best friends.
I need to be better at letting people in, it's the one thing I want most, but have the hardest time doing it
I've lost a friend, whom I thought would be in my life forever.

I’m happy because…
I'm so blessed in my life
I have more projects done for the DSU fashion show this year
I'm living my life to the fullest
I'm so grateful to be part of the LDS church.
It’s that time of year when everyone has umbrella's out walking in the rain.
I have friends who know me inside and out.
I see the greater good of things.
I'm about to accomplish something I have been dreaming about since I was 17.
I have an amazing family that I don't know what I would do with out 

I’m excited for…
Summer time
My first Triathlon
To cut back how many times I have to see doctors
The future
Reading a book and laying out in the sun all day
To teach english to the kids in mexico
...For the next 80 years of my life

I have a strangely wide and sometimes seemingly opposite range of interests.
- I'm the kind of girl who will check the news in the morning and watch the bachelor at night, the kind of girl who will wake up at dawn and go four wheeling all day and then get a manicure and wear a skirt the next day, the kind of girl who feels just as beautiful in Nike's as she does in Steve madden shoes... the kind of girl who... Let's just call her well rounded, but some use weird. :)





So, What about you my fellow friend, blogger, blog reader, what would you say about yourself?