True Friends

The past few days I've had the opportunity to hang out with friends I don't get to see very often. These are the best type of friends. The ones you can go weeks with out talking to, but when you do talk with them it's like no time has passed at all. You can pick up right where you left off. Some of these friends are family and others I have picked to be my family. Where would we be in life without our friends? I have found as I go through life that different friends fill different roles in my life. I have those friends who are there to help out when needed. I have those who understand me and are there when I need to vent and others who are there to go with me and have a good time and still others who fit all of these roles. I have been very blessed in my life to have met some wonderful people who have become the truest of friends. Thanks for helping me get through life!!

The Iceberg Within Us

"Its easy to look at people and make quick judgments about them, their presents and their pasts, but you'd be amazed at the pain and tears a single smile hides. What a person shows to the world is only a tiny facet of the iceberg hidden from sight. And more often than not, it's lined with cracks and scars that go all the way to the foundation of their soul." -Sherrilynn Kenyon

As I continue to get to know the wonderful people I work with it amazes me the things I find out about them. Many of them have been through incredible trials. Many are dealing with things today that from looking at them and their actions you would never guess. Bits and pieces of their lives that come out in ordinary conversations blow me away. There are truly amazing people in this world and I am privileged to be around them. So when someone does something that upsets you and you set out to judge them for it. Stop and think for a minute about what may have been behind the action that you know nothing about. Maybe you could give them the benefit of the doubt. It's easier said than done, but I'm working on it and I encourage you to do the same.

A Tribute To Joseph

"It is good to look back to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the future. It is good to look upon the virtues of those who have gone before, to gain strength for whatever lies ahead. It is good to reflect upon the work of those who have labored so hard and gained so little in this world, but out of whose dreams and early plans, so well nurtured, has come a great harvest of which we are the beneficiaries.” President Gordon B. Hinckley

Last night Mom, Marijka, Jan, Susan, Craig, Natalie, Greg, Brett and I attended The Nashville Tribute Band's concert in Smithfield (thanks Natalie for getting the tickets). For those of you who haven't heard of them they have released 2 amazing albums. The first "Joseph - A Nashville Tribute to the Prophet" contains songs relating to Joseph Smith. The story behind that album can be found here: http://www.nashvilletribute.com/behind.html. The second album "Trek - A Nashville Tribute to the Pioneers" contains songs about the saints trek to Utah. If you have never heard them you really need to check these songs out. I guarantee that some of the songs on the albums will move you to tears. The man who wrote the majority of the songs is named Jason Deere. He has an amazing testimony of Joseph Smith and our pioneer ancestors. I have attached a link to his blog on the right under Nashville Tribute Band.

Karen Luthi gave me the Joseph CD for my birthday several years ago. I credit that CD for helping strengthen my testimony of Joseph Smith. Those songs brought him alive for me as nothing else ever has. And not just him, but also Emma, Hyrum, Porter Rockwell and others.

Joseph Smith was such an amazing man. There is no doubt in my mind that he was a prophet of the Lord. He went through so much and yet never lost his faith. I don't think I could be that strong. His wife Emma stood by him until the very end and was an incredible woman. I think Joseph Smith would be so proud of the gentlemen in the Nashville Tribute band for the awesome missionary work they are doing and the impact they are having on people. Music is such a powerful thing and their songs are so moving. I am so grateful that I was able to attend their concert last night and feel of their spirit.

Surrounded by Greatness

Greatness is achieved not only by those who become political leaders or wealthy men, or award winning athletes. It is found in the people we look at every day, but never really see. It is in my dad, who has worked at the same job for 35 years to support his family. It is in my mom, who has helped raise more kids than I can count. It is in my grandma, who devoted over 60 years of her life to caring and loving my grandpa. Greatness is everywhere. It surrounds us every day, in everything we see. It hides in the accomplishments of ordinary people, passing unnoticed, in little things.

A Winter Wonderland

Winter is back with a vengeance!! At 3:00 a.m. this morning all the snow had melted and there was none left on the ground. When we woke up this morning there was a foot of snow outside and it was still falling. We now have at least 2 feet of snow on the ground. I can't believe 24 inches of snow fell in just over 12 hours


A typical Cache Valley winter. Last week the temperature was in the 50's and now we are back in the dead of winter. So much for the glimmer of hope that spring was on the way. When I tried to watch the news the satelite dish wouldn't pick up a signal. I had to wade through the 2 feet of snow to get to the satelite dish on the back of the garage and clean the snow off of it. The fun!! I can't wait for Spring Break so I can get away for a little while and enjoy a little warmth in Mexico. Only one more month!!

A Confirmation of My Beliefs

Today was my cousin Kurt's wedding. It was a very nice ceremony and it was good to see family we don't see very often. Charnelle looked beautiful and Kurt looked very handsome in his tux. They were married at a Stake Center and then they had a dinner after the ceremony.

I'm 33 years old and I have never been married. I have to tell you that there have been moments when I have wondered if it is worth holding out for a temple marriage. I have wondered if life would have been easier and less lonely if I was willing to settle for something less. But as I sat there today and compared the atmosphere of Kurt's wedding to the temple weddings I have attended, I came to the realization that I want nothing less than an eternal marriage in the temple. I want to kneel across the alter from my husband in the temple of the Lord, surrounded by my family and friends, knowing without a doubt that I am going to be with him for eternity.

I know as I sit here tonight that the choices and sacrifices I have made have been worth it and I pray that I am able to continue to make good choices and someday have the opportunity for an eternal marriage in the temple of the Lord.

Seasons of Rain

This quote was in the book I just read. It stuck with me and I thought I would share it with you.

"Indian wisdom says our lives are rivers. We are born somewhere small and quiet and we move toward a place we cannot see, but only imagine. Along our journey, people and events flow into us, and we are created of everywhere and everyone we have passed. Each event, each person, changes us in some way. Even in times of drought we are still moving and growing, but it is during seasons of rain that we expand the most-when water flows from all directions, sweeping at terrifying speed, chasing against rocks, spilling over boundaries. These are painful times, but they enable us to carry burdens we could never have thought possible. Floods are painful but necessary. They keep us clear and strong. They move our lives onto new paths."

The book was Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate and I would highly recommend it.

Happiness Is My Heritage

"As spirit daughters of our Heavenly Father, happiness is your heritage." President Dieter F. Uchtdorf.

I know my family has a blog, but I wanted one of my own. I've been giving some thought to what I wanted to name it and came up with this title. There is a little history behind it as I have explained below. I hope you enjoy reading my blog as I record my journey through life seeking my own heritage of happiness.

Last September Susan, Emily, Natalie, Sher, Chelsea, Janalee and I got together to attend the General Women's Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake.

As we ate dinner before the conference a conversation about taking dinner to a sister in Sher's ward led to a discussion about how we all felt we were lacking in talents and abilities. As I looked around at these amazing incredibly talented women it made me sad that we can't see what others see when they look at us.

I wish they could see that Susan has an amazing ability to manage money and children. Emily can play the piano beautifully and is an incredibly patient mom. Natalie has a knack for being able to create delicious recipes and also is a great mom. Sher has an amazing sense of style and great determination and drive to succeed in her career. Chelsea is very smart, has a way with horses and also has great determination. Janalee can keep anything organized and clean.

When we got to the confence President Uchtdorf gave a talk directed to us. He began by saying, "To me it appears that our splendid sisters sometime undervalue their abilities-they focus on what is lacking or imperfect rather than what has been accomplished and who they really are...it can lead to frustration, exhaustion and unhappiness."

He went on to talk about how creating and being compassionate can help us be happy. Creation takes place when we take unorganized matter and mold it into something of beauty (beauty is in the eye of the beholder.) Everyone can create something. Even the way you dress each day is a creation. We ourselves were created to seek joy and eternal happiness.

Being compassionate is another way to contribute to our happiness. When we reach out to others then our lives will be blessed as well. Service and sacrifice bring great blessings upon us. When we lift others, we rise higher ourselves. As we lose ourselves in service to others we can find happiness in our own lives.

James Barrie, the author of Peter Pan wrote, "Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."

As we left the conference we all commented on how inspired it was that he would speak on a topic we all needed to hear.