Wrong Roads

Last time my family was all together, my dad shared this video with us.

As we were watching it, I leaned over to Jonathan and told him that is exactly what we have been experiencing throughout our marriage. We have started down many different paths and each one felt right, but most of them reached a dead end. I am grateful to know that we are currently on the right path. As we start figuring out where to go next, I know God will guide us even if there are a few more dead ends for us to go down. I know we will get to where we need to be.

Also, this weekend will be the General sessions of General Conference. (I feel like I am saying general a lot...) Anyway, join us by clicking here!

My Stash

I have my own little stash of candy at my desk.

The bag started out with Christmas candy from FedEx Office. I have since supplemented it with some of the candy they have around the office.

Spiritual Enlightenment: Be Ambitious For Christ

General Conference

Tomorrow night is the General Women's Session of General Conference!

This was how far I was at the beginning of the month.

After General Conference is over every 6 months, I make a list of all the talks that were given and (try to) study each of them. I just barely did it this time. (I'm still working on April 2016...)

Click here to find out how you can watch it!

We typically watch it through the Mormon Channel on Youtube.

Amy's Diary

No, I am not about to share what Amy wrote in her diary when we were growing up. I'm going to share what I wrote in her diary. 😊

During our last trip in California, Amy gave me her old diary. I don't remember if she gave it to me or if I took it, but that doesn't matter anymore.

It is really funny. I wrote in it 5 times and mostly about how much I miss Andy because he's on his mission. I'm glad that I wrote these little things down, even when it was complaining that my mom got a nutcracker for Amy and not for me. I also like that I was bragging about my "inproved writeing". Don't worry 9 year-old BJ, spellcheck is an integrated part of life in the 21st century.

Sister Esplin

During my shift at the temple, I buy lunch in the cafeteria. A couple of weeks ago, there were massive cinnamon rolls just begging me to buy one for my dessert.

I sat down at a table near some of the temple presidency, President and Sister Esplin and President and Sister Pinager. As I started eating the cinnamon roll, I noticed that some of them were looking my way. (I thought it was because I was struggling with cutting it.) As I got up, Sister Esplin told me that my cinnamon roll looked so delicious that she wanted to ask me for a bite of it. I did offer her what was left, but she declined. President Pinager was surprised I didn't finish it. I told him that if I did, I would need to take a nap. That wasn't going to work.

Sister Esplin

I will forever remember that one time when Sister Esplin wanted a bite of my cinnamon roll!

Dried Out

The weather has been going back and forth between spring and winter. The crazy weather has been drying out the back of my hands. It doesn't help that I drink a ton of water and work and so I go to the bathroom a lot. All that hand washing and cold air is drying out my hands.

A few months ago, my Visiting Teachers gave me some wonderful smelling hand lotion. I keep on my desk at work. It would probably work better if I didn't wash my hands right after putting it on.

Grief

This time of the year is hard for me. It shouldn't be. I love spring and being able to enjoy more time outside after being cooped up for winter.

These flowers didn't even last through February.

It also reminds me of J and E. Their birthdays (really it's their due dates) are coming up. J is 4 and E is 3 this year. Last year was the first time we celebrated their birthdays. It was much better than previous years, but I still want to be selfish and have them here with us. I still think about them every single day.

I came across this scripture in the temple. It has helped
bring peace to my aching heart.

Grief is weird. I don't know if it has changed or if it's just me that's changed, but something definitely changed. I went from every day being a hard day to slowly having a few good ones sprinkled here and there. Now I have certain times of the year that are hard and just random things make me miss them.
(Of course when someone says something condescending about children to us makes for a hard day.)
I started following Emily Meyers ( also known as the Freckled Fox) a few years ago. Her husband died last year and I love what she says about grief.

"First of all, there is no 'other side' of grief. It's never going to pass. You don't ever 'move on' from it. You just learn to live with it. You absorb it. It becomes part of you. You simply adjust and change. You slowly but surely find how to navigate through your new normal with it. It doesn't get easier, you just get stronger. I'll say that again: It does not get easier, you just get stronger.

You stop waiting for the storm to pass, and instead, learn to dance in the rain."

It's hard trying to enjoy life without our trailblazer J and our thoughtful E because I know if they had stayed they would make life so much more rich. I just have to keep reminding myself that they are part of our eternal family.

That is why Jonathan and I were married in the temple. We wanted nothing, including death, to separate us as a family.

Spiritual Enlightenment: Mountains To Climb

Google Day

A couple of weeks ago, Google came to visit UVU.  He wanted to look his best, so I cut his hair and he ironed one of his favorite shirts.

I love it when he dresses like a grown up!

I was able to meet him for the last part of their presentation. Now Jonathan has a better idea about what companies are looking for and the hiring process.

Spiritual Enlightenment: The Doctrine of the Father

I Love Us

Last weekend, we celebrated our anniversary and it was awesome!

It started out at the Provo Temple.
(No surprise there!)

Then we headed up to Salt Lake for dinner at The Roof like we did a few years ago. We started and ended our delicious meal with dessert.

 Jonathan noticed that we were sitting at the same table when we were there for our 3rd anniversary. I bet they are going to be holding it for us in another 3 years!

Next, we went to the Disney Store and fulfilled our childhood dreams. We each got our own light-saber! It is awesome! We worked on our dueling skills as we wandered around Temple Square.

Light-sabers + Anthropologie = AWESOME ANNIVERSARY!

I am so blessed to have Jonathan as my husband.

He is incredibly patient.

He makes the most delicious dinners.

He honors his priesthood.

He acknowledges his weaknesses and works through them.

He is easy to love.

He magnifies his callings.

He is graduating in 9 weeks!

He supports me and my goals.

He listens to understand.

He loves me and our family.

He is my best friend.

He is all mine for eternity.

Spiritual Enlightenment: Eternal Marriage