Family: Eternal

It's amazing how the love for family, even extended family, grows with time. I got to see some of my extended family today after over 3 years, and it was a breath of fresh air. Upon seeing them, my heart just filled with deep love and excitement, and I couldn't keep myself from hugging every one of them (after I got over the shock of the two who are now 1 or more feet taller than last I saw them!).

It was a small taste of when I was riding down that escalator in the Idaho Falls airport, coming home from South Carolina. The only things that brought me home were my future and my family. I remember being sooo nervous walking off that small airplane, picking up my carry on bag, and then walking up that airway, walking through the small airport, and stepping onto that escalator. Fear filled my heart because I knew I was different now (a good different) and I was afraid of the changes in my family while I was gone. How would I fit in? Life was about to begin. Could I handle it? Oh no, life was beginning!!!! I saw my brothers and then the rest of my family through the security glass doors begin standing up as they saw me coming down. They just stood there, with smiles on their faces and pure joy in seeing me again, after so long, so many experiences, so much change. There they were, the people on this earth who I loved more than anyone else, because they had stood by me for so long, because they had a huge part in making me who I am, because I am sealed to them forever. I didn't know if I should cry or laugh or run or stop or...my feet moved, my head held high, my eyes tearing, and my heart breaking. I knew if I came home to them, it was all over, but I was so happy to be with them. I knew it had to happen. Life had to go on, because there were so many amazing things waiting in the future.

My mom was first. We embraced for a long moment, crying, whispering our love and gratitude, hugging more tightly. My dad was next. My heart filled with gratitude as I hugged him that I was blessed with a father such as him, a worthy Priesthood holder, protector, care-giver, and presider. I never realized how blessed I was. My sister, my dear twin sister was next. We had been through so much together! I whispered in her ear during our tight embrace, "I made it to the top," and, "Thank you for serving faithfully!" After 19 months apart, serving together in the work of the Lord, we were together again, having both finished with honor. What joy filled my soul! Then came my three brothers and their wives, little Jared, the new addition, and then mom again, and my sister again...I didn't want to stop hugging them or touching them. They were there, really there. I was with them again, and I loved them sooo much.

I refused to let my oldest brother roll my carry on, but undaunted, my brother's three were first at the baggage claim to grab my other two suitcases. How I love them dearly. I have such amazing examples of amazing brothers (now amazing husbands and fathers/fathers to be), and I am so grateful. I pulled my coat out of my carry on, and we walked out into the cold Idaho Spring wind. Snow on the ground, family all around. I was home. I was home. I was with them. We drove to Blackfoot. I was released from my missionary service (that was so hard to hear), and we went to a nice restaurant to eat. I basked in their presence. I absorbed their words. I took in every moment, still feeling as if I were in a dream. Yet, sitting there, with them, I knew my life was moving forward. I was leaping into the next step on my journey. I didn't want to let go of all I had been a part of for 18 months of my life, but life was going on whether I went with it or not.

I want to live it with all my heart.

Heaven would not be heaven if I could not have my family there with me. The power to seal our families together for all time and eternity has been brought back to the earth. It is available in Christ's true church. To me, there is little that can compare with the amazing power of the family, to support, guide, lift, strengthen, bless, teach, and love. They effect your entire personality and your very existence! It is a model of our heavenly home. It is divine and precious. No wonder Satan, Lucifer, is using all his tools of destruction, pain, anger, malice, pride, immorality, pornography, substance abuse, apathy, and indifference to tear it a part! If he can destroy the family unit by forcing in anger, infidelity, false reality, and even trying to change the very definition of what a family is, he will seriously cripple society as a whole and the very progression of our eternal souls.

Whether you have an amazing family, or only dream of one, I can testify that they do and can exist. I am part of one. It's not perfect. We're all still learning, but it is strong. Families like that are exactly what God wants us to have. And I am so glad to know those sacred relationships can and do last beyond the grave!

Oh, how I love my family.

Getaway in Moab

My family just spent a week in southern Utah exploring the red rock of Arches and the Canyon lands. I loved the break from busy life. I was able to forget about the the worries of the world for a while and enjoy the creations of God. We hiked, jumped rocks, 4-wheeled (hummer tour), biked, took pictures, and sight saw.


Some of us went on a guided hike through the Fiery Furnace in Arches. Our park ranger guide stopped us under surprise arch where we discussed how nature has been proven to relieve stress. I love nature because it does calm me and brings my spirit closer to God. Works of God’s hands are truly beautiful and always remind me of Him.


Of course, I also loved the opportunity to spend time with my family. They are truly amazing and inspiring people. I am so grateful that God put them in my life.

Something to be thankful for...

Thanksgiving is just under 3 weeks away, and I am getting more and more excited each day that passes by. One of my music major buddies mentioned the closeness of Thanksgiving earlier this week. All of a sudden, the tasks before me seemed less daunting because Thanksgiving is so close. On one side of the perspective coin, the fact that this holiday is looming ever closer means that I need to start thinking about the final projects in several of my classes, juries are looming ever closer, the orchestra concert is coming up quickly for which I still haven't solidified my parts, etc. On the other side of the coin, the holiday is a closer goal for which I can strive to endure before I take a break, I will get to see my family very soon after almost 3 months away from home, there are only a few weeks of the semester left after Thanksgiving, I will get to relax for a few days, I get to see the 7th Harry Potter Movie Part 1 the Saturday after the holiday, and I get to remember all of the things for which I am thankful.

I am most excited about the opportunity to be home and spend time with my family again. My home is truly a sanctuary from the world. Love abides there as does the Spirit of the Lord. I am always welcome there. The people I care about most on this earth will be there. We strive to build a piece of Zion there. And, it's just so packed with memories.

You may think I'm strange for doing this, but I start listening to Christmas music at the end of October or beginning of November every year. I'm not sure why I love it soooo much, but I do know that every time I listen to it, I'm reminded of home and all of the wonderful memories from this time of year. I remember the magic and light of the season and my heart is renewed at a time in the semester when I'm starting to wear down. I'm so grateful for this time of year and all the wonders it brings with enchanting decorations, glittering snow(if we get it), reminiscing of the past, dreams of the future, and the emphasis on my Savior.

This greeting may be a little early, but I am going to say it anyway: Happy Holidays!!!

3 tools for life

My mom made an interesting comment this evening as we were talking about cub scouts and things from my childhood. She stated that she has always believed that if you can give a child integrity, the ability to read, and creativity, that child is set for life. As I reflect back on my childhood and recent education courses, I know that is what she gave me, and she was smart in doing so.

From a young age I didn't usually do things that were untrustworthy, but several instances come to mind that have left a mark in my conscience. One of the worst things we could do as kids was lie to our parents. I think lying was the one thing that reaped the harshest punishments. The only time I got grounded was when my sister, and I did not tell Mom where we were and then disobeyed her by going to our friend's house when she told us not too. There was another instance when a mess of peanut butter and jelly was left on the counter. For some reason, Mom didn't simply clean it up; she insisted that whoever left it should clean it up. Well, no one admitted to the deed, and we couldn't do anything until someone confessed and cleaned it. I think we must have all forgotten whether we had done it or not, but finally one of my brothers volunteered to clean the mess, though he did not know who made it. It was a strong lesson on the importance of honesty. The other that I always remember is the only time my mom ever gave a few licks on the backside to one of my siblings was when one of my brothers didn't tell her the truth.

The ability to read unleashes an amazing realm of possibilities. Not only can one explore other worlds and lives through novels and stories, but she can inform herself in any subject, have more opportunities to do critical thinking, have power over her own life and learning. If one can read...etc. I remember my mom and my siblings sitting down and helping me as I first began learning to read. Once my mom and several of us kids sat in the hallway of our house, and she read a Dr. Seuss book to us. Dr. Seuss was one of my mom's favorite authors. We grew up mainly on his books. It is amazing what a simple thing like literacy can do to change a person into something better.

Now, creativity is a little different, but it was one thing my mom taught us very well, and it's a tactic she utilizes at almost every cub scout meeting she holds. Because she encouraged it so heavily by coming up with strange, on the fly projects using everyday materials, allowed us to spend hours and hours building dirt cities in the back yard, encouraged our imaginations by reading to us, forced us to turn off the TV, didn't give in to the "popular" toys, and vocalized her views; we assimilated similar traits. We would sometimes rather spend hours building Lego houses, snow villages, or dirt towns than watch TV. We never had a game boy or X-box to "entertain" us. Our main computer games were things such as Roller-coaster Tycoon or Age of Empires (over which we tended to fight and from which we eventually shied away). The older computer games were things that dealt with solving puzzles, reading, or solving math problems. I could go on and on, but the main jist is that because she insisted on providing such a rich environment for creativity, problem solving, and exploration, we gained the abilities to do things creatively, solve our own problems, and seek new territories.

I am very grateful for the stubborn, creative, intelligent, resourceful, honest, loving, confident young woman that my mom shaped me to be. And thanks Dad for encouraging her methods and expounding upon them. I hope to do the same for my future children.