February and March

A lot has happened since I last posted, and I feel bad that I'm already getting behind (but not that bad because I only skipped February, so secretly I feel like that's really good for me). First off I got a new calling. I have two now. I've been on the Enrichment committee, or whatever it is actually called now, and then the beginning of last month they asked if they could give me another one. I was thinking it would be ward librarian or something. Nope. They asked me to be a Sunday School teacher for the 12-14 year olds. At first I was a little terrified, but oh my gosh! Can I say best calling ever!? Ok I won't go that far, but I really love it so much! My first week I was shocked at how similar it was to substituting Sunbeams because they talk and get sidetracked like crazy, but I think I'm learning how to work around that and most weeks we get through the lesson pretty well. I don't know if its just the kids I get to teach or if I actually like teaching, but I feel so blessed to get this calling right now!

Next my grandpa passed away. I was going to dedicate a whole post to this but had a really hard time saying what I wanted to about it, so I will just say that I feel so blessed to know I will see him again. God's Plan of Salvation is real and it is amazing! The more I learn and understand His plan, the more I am in awe at how merciful He is to us. He loves us so much!! And I know that because of that love, and through Christ's atonement and resurrection, I will get to be with my grandpa again someday. Of all the people who wanted me to keep going with the violin he was probably the one who encouraged me the most. He told me years ago that I had to play at his funeral and I'm so glad I was able to do that while my sisters sang. I think he would have loved it. Maybe he and I will get to be in an orchestra in Heaven together :)

And another big event, my sister got engaged!!! Although its sad to be losing her, and one of the one and a half people who text me, I am so excited for her! I can't wait to see how they do together because although I think they will have some things they'll have to work out (like everyone else), I think they will be great for each other! And I'm really excited to have a reason to buy a new outfit...

And just for fun, here are some pics!

 Matching pouty faces...

 This one isn't a great pic but they were having so much fun playing with this giant Frisbee! 

I love seeing how much she loves her grandma and grandpa!!

My New Year

In the past few years New Years has meant nothing to me. I don't write resolutions because I feel like that's setting myself up to break them, so I just make goals randomly through out the year. However, this year feels SO different! I don't know what it is, but I feel like this year holds so much potential, and I'm really looking forward to it.
Instead of writing lists of resolutions, a couple of my friends wrote their goals for this year out in one word. I thought this was a really great idea, but wasn't really for me. Since this is my first year in a long time even writing resolutions I figured I should stick to the list and then maybe in a couple of years I will try it that way. As I thought about the goals I have made though, I did think of one word that summed up most of them: LOVE. That didn't quite encompass everything I want for this year though so I added one more: LEARN.

LOVE: I have spent the past few years being really bitter and self-centered. I don't know why. I just have. I have had opportunities to make life long friendships with people I absolutely adore, and have completely let them slip away. I haven't kept in touch with friends I do have, and I've held grudges toward people I care deeply for and let that hurt our relationship. Until a month ago I had never done my visiting teaching unless my partner set it up because I was too afraid to take charge. I'm totally sick of this. I don't want to be that kind of person. So this year I've decided, or better yet, resolved!, to open my heart. I want to lose myself in loving other people. Because I really do love people! I just really stink at showing it. I want to stop being shy and closed off, I want to make friendships and nurture the relationships I am so blessed to have.

LEARN: And for the other half of my 2014, there is so much I want to learn! Like I said I feel like there is so much potential this year, and I want to use it well. I am going to stop shying away from learning new things. For instance, I haven't blogged in years because I don't know how to design my blog the way I want. But I'm going to learn! I have a new camera and I am going to get as good as I can at using it. And I have more....

Anyway though I am so excited for this year! No more avoiding life and all the goodness it holds. I am going to love and learn till I don't have room to be bitter and stagnant anymore!

Twenty Five

A couple months ago I turned 25, and although I don't feel old yet I feel like I've hit a milestone. It made me think a little, and it hit me that I am exactly where I always wanted to be at this age. Back in school or church when we were asked to write our goals or where we planned to be in 10 years the most important things to me were that I was married in the Temple to an amazing guy (and was still married), and was a mom. I feel so blessed to be where I am right now. I married that amazing guy I had dreamed of in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple back in 2010 and I can gladly say I love him so much more now than I did that day. And a couple years later had an adorable baby girl and now the cutest little boy ever!

Although the road to get here wasn't quite like I expected it would be, and I know there are a lot more surprises to come, it is so much better than I imagined it would be. And I had high expectations! Being a mom is the greatest thing in the world. I'm literally not exaggerating at all. It's the hardest thing I have ever done, but it truly is the best thing in the world to me.

Sometimes I catch myself wanting more. I want a house, and I want to be closer to family, and I want to live in a city that isn't freezing all the time and has more than one grocery store. But it doesn't take a lot to stop and realize how great life is even without those things. All I really need is what I have, and that is my loving husband who comes home to us every night after work, the ability to care for my children and love them every day, and my testimony. Life would be so different without the gospel of Jesus Christ. I get to go through every day knowing that my family and I are loved and watched over, and that even if bad things happen, we will be together forever after this. I have so much to be thankful for! Life really is beautiful!