Sundays, Sing-Alongs, Sickness, and Choices

It's true. Sundays are wonderful. Yesterday in particular. Besides the fact that I was sick and I didn't get go to church. (I didn't want to get my Nursery kids sick). I stayed home and slept and watched/reread conference talks and read my scriptures. One talk in particular really struck me, Faith--the Choice is Yours by  Richard C. Edgely. We don't know the future, what's coming, or the reasons that certain things happen. But choosing to have faith in our Savior that He knows what's best for us and will help us through everything, that is a critical choice. As Bishop Edgely so eloquently stated,  

"Yes, faith is a choice, and it must be sought after and developed. Thus, we are responsible for our own faith. We are also responsible for our lack of faith. The choice is yours." 


Faith takes work and discipline. It is not something that can just come to us. I've been working on having more faith. I'm the kind of person who has a love/hate relationship with surprises, just ask my husband. He can't tell me about a "surprise" or I'll BEG him until he tells me what it is. The future is something that is sometimes hard for me to handle. Why can't I just KNOW what's coming?! What Bishop Edgely said regarding the future really helped me, 

"...But while I don’t know everything, I know the important. I know the plain and simple gospel truths that lead to salvation and exaltation. I know that the Savior did suffer the pain of all men and that all repentant people can be cleansed from sin. And what I don’t know or don’t completely understand, with the powerful aid of my faith, I bridge the gap and move on, partaking of the promises and blessings of the gospel. And then, as Alma teaches, our faith brings us to a perfect knowledge (see Alma 32:34). By moving forward into the unknown, armed only with hope and desire, we show evidence of our faith and our devotion to the Lord."

And I realized that I know the important things too. I know that Heavenly Father loves me, and I know that I have a testimony of the restored gospel. I know my Savior lived and suffered for my sins, and died to pay the ultimate sacrifice. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is a true Prophet. I know that President Monson leads and guides this church because that's what God wants. And most of all I know that I want to make the right choices and do whatever I can to make it back to my Heavenly Father.  The future becomes less scary when you think about it with an eternal perspective. So what if I don't know what's going to happen next Thursday, with faith I can get through anything! I loved this talk, it really helped me gain a more eternal perspective. I highly recommend reading it!


    UWhen Michael got home I was feeling much better. (I think I needed some serious sleep and vitamin C, I've been trying to head off a cold). We talked to our parents which was great as always. And then Michael spoiled me. He sat by my side on our comfy couch while we watched my favorite movie,

And he was very patient with me while I sang all the songs, and quoted most of the lines. He even tolerated my "Oh my goodness she's so cute!" comments every time Gretl was on. He really does love me! Thanks for making my birthday weekend the best! (more to come on the happenings of the weekend!) During the movie we were talking about the fact that Hollywood just doesn't make movies like this anymore, wholesome movies with no filth, good plots, good dialogue (albeit somewhat cheesy but I'll take that over swearing anyday!) great music, and a good moral. I miss good movies like this. The world really is changing, getting scary in a whole bunch of ways that I often don't even want to think about. But we can let that affect us and we can get scared, and want to hide from the world or we can choose good entertainment, hobbies, books etc. and choose to have faith in the future rather than fear. So today as I look to our future, I think of one of my favorite childhood books,

"You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go!"
 Oh the Places You'll Go, Dr. Suess

Today I choose to have faith. Faith in the future, faith that I will be able to conquer any challenges that come my way, and mostly faith in my Savior Jesus Christ. Yes indeed it was a great Sunday.

Fall into...Fall

I love summer. I always say it's my favorite time of year. I love flip flops and t-shirts and sleeping in a little bit longer. However I would be lying if I said it was actually my favorite time of year. You see I've had a realization this year. I LOVE Fall. I LOVE snuggling under the covers at 6am, after my alarm has just jarred me from a peaceful sleep, because the tip of my nose is cold, and I can't think about moving from the warmth of my bed. I LOVE the anticipation and excitement for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I LOVE the smells of hot chocolate and apple cider. I love walking and hearing in the crunch of crispy leaves under your heels. But most of all I love love LOVE the clothes. Sweaters and jackets, coats and boots, hats and scarves. I know that sounds very materialistic but I mean I love the way the clothes make me feel. I love when it gets chilly outside and you put on the cute new jacket you just bought, that makes you feel like a million bucks, and all of a sudden you feel like you can conquer the world, like you're superwoman and you just donned your favorite cape. My mom and my husband both tease me about my obsession with jackets and coats(that fill an entire closet in our apartment here in NY). I can go into a store with the purpose of buying a much needed pair of pants or a skirt and find 5 new coats and jackets that I just HAVE to have. There's something about the way that coats always fit, cute, perfect, like they were designed just for you. Pants, well we all know how shopping for pants is, torturous, arduous, and simply no fun.  So a couple of weeks ago, when I realized I didn't have a black coat and the weather started turning cold, I was so excited! Especially when I went to Macy's and found this,


                                                               View Photo Here 


(sorry the Macy's website is retarded can't copy paste the pic, oh and it's the black coat, not the grey) I just had to buy it. And then I did. And all was right in the world. I LOVE Fall!

Time for an Update, donchya think?

So...we live in NEW YORK now! :D I realize I've been here for a month, but finally our apartment is rid of boxes and pictures are on the walls, and I feel like I can show my beautiful apartment to you all! Here are some of our pictures! By the way, Michael picked this apartment {insert applause here} I am seriously in love with our place :D

And that's our apartment! :D

Slippin and Slidin

So about a week ago, T.J. and Annaliese called me. Conversation:

Annaliese: Whatcha doing?

Me: Nothin

Annaliese: Do you have plans for this afternoon?

Me: No, what'd you have in mind?

Annaliese: We were thinking we should have a slip n slide 

Me: Definitely!

And so the wonderful plan was hatched. 50 feet of plastic was purchased, dish soap was used (1/2 a bottle to be exact), water was sprayed, fun was had by all. See for yourself. 

The Slide

Annaliese creaming Me

T.J. creaming Dad

Our attentive watchdog Milo

Who needs a hot tub when you've got this contraption?

All in all, very successful day of slippin and slidin. 

Never Alone

I absolutely love this song. The lyrics are so beautiful.  And it makes me cry. I want to dedicate this song to the Sullenger family who tragically lost their year and 1/2 old daughter Preslee in a drounding accident. To read more about their story CLICK HERE. To view the music video to "Never Alone" by Jim Brick featuring Lady Antebellum click here

The Rock of Our Redeemer

"Hope, Happiness, and Joy are not products of circumstance but of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." 
I definitely needed this reminder today as I was studying/writing an essay for German, trying to finish my Modern Art class, trying to prepare singing time for Primary, and missing my husband terribly. I was feeling overwhelmed and stressed, and then I read Elder Wilford W. Andersen's April 2010 Conference address entitled, "The Rock of Our Redeemer." I was reminded of the Savior's infinite love for me when he sacrificed Himself to atone for my sins, and that he has felt every pain, every stress and every heartache I have ever felt. I know that through faith in Jesus Christ we can find peace in our everyday lives, and that no situation is too insignificant for the Savior to care about.

Highest of the Highs and Lowest of the Lows

This past week has been full of ups and downs. First the Ups: Michael surprised me with Carrie Underwood tickets for the 4th of July! Do I not have the best husband ever? We went to the concert and it was absolutely amazing. Carrie sounds just like she does on her recordings, and I was loving every second of it. We left the concert nearly deaf because we were on the 9th row on the east side with a huge speaker system right in front of us, but it was definitely worth it! On Monday July 5 we went boating with my family and we had a great time. We all got sunburned but it felt wonderful to get out of the classroom and get some vitamin D! I've been needing that for a very long time. After boating we went to G&G Denning's house for a 4th of July well really 5th of July bbq. It was so much fun. We love hangin' out with the family! Classes have been going really well for me, I'm nearly done with Modern Art and I'm doing well in German. I'm so close to graduation I can just feel the freedom coming! :D Michael took the GMAT this past week and he did really well! I'm so proud of him and all of his accomplishments. He really is the best husband in the entire world and I can't believe he's mine! Now for the Downs: Michael left on Friday morning. He moved to New York and I won't see him until I finish my class at BYU and move on August 15. Dropping Michael off at the airport was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. He's my best friend, the one I go to for everything, the one I laugh with over the stupid things I say (and let's face it, that definitely happens a lot). He's the one who supports me in every goal I've made, and the one whose smile just carries me to cloud 9. He's my best friend and my everything. When he left (granted it's only 5 1/2 weeks, but that's the longest we've ever been separated)  I felt so sad and hopeless. I'm doing a lot better now, I have a lot of new goals and I've just been called as the Primary Chorister for the month that I'm here, so I definitely have things to keep me plenty busy. Michael started his job with Citigroup today and he had a great first day! It's kind of weird that I'm almost graduated and Michael and I are starting "real-life." I'm excited for everything the future has in store, especially to see my incredible husband again!

Carrie Underwood! 

Dad waterskiing

Michael getting ready to wakeboard

Chelsee and her friend Kelsie getting ready to double wakeboard

Grandpa and Michael all tuckered out. 

Just a close up :)

My adorable Grandma!