My New Favorite Book

Last month, Jonathan and I went up to Salt Lake for an evening adventure. We toured the General Conference Center and saw some amazing art work. We learned that a group of paintings was actually the illustrations to a children's book. After we finished our tour, we headed over to Deseret Book to find the book. It's called Girls Who Choose God.

source

source

I would argue that this isn't a children's book. This book shares stories about women in the Bible who chose for themselves to follow God. There were some stories that I don't remember learning, but I felt strengthened by these wonderful women.

source

When my mom was in town, we actually met one of the authors and the illustrator. It was such a neat experience to meet them and hear a little about why they made this book. If there is enough positive response from this book, they plan on making more. Their publisher just isn't sure that there is a market for books about women in the scriptures. I invite you to take the time to check out their Facebook page. I am so grateful for this wonderful book sharing some well known and lesser known women who willing followed God.

Eleven Years

11 years and a day ago, my very pregnant sister and brother went to the hospital. It was three weeks before her due date, so we all went on with our normal Monday schedule. My mom warned me though, that if the baby was coming she would switch pickup days with our carpool. (This is before I had a cellphone. So embarrassing!) Naturally, I had a hard time focusing on school that day. Finally, the final bell of the day rang. I dashed out of the band room to see whose car was there. It was Kim's and not my mom's. I ran with my saxophone in tow. Wondering how I was going to get the hospital. We pulled up in front of my house just in time for my dad to take me down to the hospital. I could not believe it. I was officially an aunt and only 13 years old. Ryan was so little and looked so fragile. He was under a heat lamp, so I didn't get to hold him that day.

3 years later, after my mom finished sewing my homecoming dress late in the night, we got a phone call from the same brother and sister on their way to the hospital. It was just after midnight when we got into the car. With only a few minutes to spare, my mom was there for the newest addition to our family. I was in the waiting room for less than a half hour, while another family had been there for over a day still waiting for their new baby. My sister's brother couldn't wait to see his hair because we were all hoping for another redhead. Ty did not disappoint us! He was the loudest baby when he slept. He constantly growled and squeaked the nights away.

It's crazy to think that they have been part of our lives for such a long time already. It still feels like they should be little kids. Since we weren't able to celebrate with them this year, we had our own little party last night.

We hope each of you have another wonderful year ahead!

When It Rains, It Pours

I have been so busy lately that I haven't really had much time to keep up with the blog. I feel like in the past week it's been pouring with blessings. 

Towards the end of August, my manager at work interviewed me for a supervisor position. I didn't hear anything back and was feeling discouraged at work after that. I did my best to keep a positive attitude, but I felt like I had missed out on a great opportunity. Then last Tuesday, my manager pulled me into her office and asked if I was still interested in the position. I was stunned that it was on the table once more. Right after I met with her, my training began. It has been overwhelming, but I am getting the hang out it. Though out of all of the new supervisors, I have the most titles/trainings.

Jonathan has started looking at internship opportunities that are part-time positions. He fit absolutely everything on the description, except for the GPA requirement. He's off by only 0.01. He has amazed me since we've moved here to Utah. His study habits are so much better than they have ever been. Before we moved, he wanted to get a new tablet for school since his current tablet was getting a little slow. As I thought about it more, I wanted to give him the best tools to enable him to really succeed in school. I suggested that he get a new laptop. He was stunned. If you know me, I am my father's daughter when it comes to money. I am a tightwad and I know it! Jonathan thought he was going to work to convince me to get a new tablet. He started doing research on what would be best for him. Jonathan decided to go with a MacBook, he just wasn't sure which one. On his birthday, Apple announced the new MacBook Pro with retina display. He was excited about it, but was still trying to convince himself that a MacBook air would be good enough. I finally told him that we should just go ahead and get the new MacBook Pro. Yet again, he was stunned. I really felt that at the time I wasn't just getting him an expensive computer, but really investing in him. Jonathan's GPA has shot up very quickly. It's nice to see that I made such a wise investment.

As I am typing this, my mom is somewhere in the middle of Nevada on her way to visit us before heading up to Idaho to take care of her newest granddaughter. (That's right, Jonathan and I now have 10 nieces and nephews!) I am so happy she is able to come out because I need her incredible organizing skills. She was even able to get tickets for the three of us to go to General Conference on Saturday. I feel really blessed that I've been able to see my mom every month since June. It was really hard going from January to June not seeing her, so I'm counting this as a big blessing!

Sweet baby Ruby decided to join our family this past Sunday. I still can't believe that after having so many boys in the family, that I have just as many nieces. She is already well loved, even if Clara still thinks her name should be Alice.

For me, one of the biggest blessings of the week is that our swamp cooler will be turned off tomorrow. I was grateful for it when it would get hot, but I am so cold all the time right now. We even turned on the heater to fight of the cold air. I am so happy that I won't have to bundle up to be in our apartment until it is turned on next spring.

Usually people us the phrase when it rains, it pours for negative things. I know I have used it that way many times, but we can also have the exact same thing happen with blessings as well. I had already thought of this title last week before General Women's Conference for church. In it President Uchtdorf said: 

"Part of our challenge is, I think, that we imagine that God has all of His blessings locked in a huge cloud up in heaven, refusing to give them to us unless we comply with some strict, paternalistic requirements He has set up. But the commandments aren’t like that at all. In reality, Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us." 

Now, I'm not saying that I am perfect at this by any means. I'm just saying that this past week I have felt like many blessings have been pouring down and I am grateful to know the source of these blessings. Things, especially good things, don't happen by coincidence. They truly are blessings from heaven.