Lauren & Kirk

As I said before there has been some excitement at my house. Most of this has had to do with a relationship between Lauren & a boy named Kirk. Kirk and his family moved into the ward shortly after we did, about 8 years ago or so. They live just a few houses down from us. Lauren is friends with Kirk's sisters but Kirk and Lauren never really had much interaction before he left on his mission two years ago to Indianapolis, Indiana. Kirk recently returned from Indiana in the beginning of March.

Mutual friends in our ward set them up on a date. For their first date they went hiking to the Y. When I came home on the Friday night before their first date Lauren was frantically trying to decide what she would wear. To say the least it was kind of stressful. Eventually I encouraged her to relax. I mean it's not like she was going to marry the guy or something. It's just a date, no big deal! Well obviously their first date went well and they made plans for a second date, which happened to be to go skiing.

Kirk of course is an avid skier, Lauren on the other hand has never gone skiing. I guess that should have been my first sign that she really liked this boy : ) They ended up snowboarding and it turned out to be alot of fun.

Throughout the next week they continued to talk and made plans to go on a road trip with their mutual friends to Rexburg. Even though their relationship had continued to progress I think that things started to get serious the week after this trip.

I know that it might seem crazy that things have gone so fast for them and now they are engaged and planning to marry on August 4th, but the truth is that it has been such a blessing to watch the love between them develop, to see them come to the realization that this was the person they wanted to spend eternity with and to also have the ability to know that this was the right thing for them myself.

Kirk is an amazing guy! He has all the qualities that I would want in a man who will marry my daughter. One of those qualities is his faith and his willingness to do what the Lord wants him to do. And of course I am partial to Lauren : ) She is not only an amazing daughter but one of my best friends. I am so proud of her for always making the choices (even when she had to deal with some pretty hard things) that led her to this point in her life.

Congratulations Kirk and Lauren!

Living the Abundant Life

I found this great message by President Monson from the January 2012 Ensign. Just thought I would share a bit of it today because it is just what I needed.

Living the Abundant Life

Having a Positive Attitude

A in my ABCs refers to attitude. So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference. To do the best we can and then choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment.

We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment may we choose a positive attitude.

Believe in Yourself

B is for believe-in yourself, in those around you, and in eternal principles.
Don't limit yourself and don't let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities.

You can achieve what you believe you can. Trust and believe and have faith.

Face Challenges with Courage

C is for courage. There will be times when you will be frightened and discouraged. You may feel that you are defeated. The odds of obtaining victory may appear overwhelming. At times you may feel like David trying to fight Goliath. But remember-David did win!

Courage is required to make an initial thrust toward one's coveted goal, but even greater courage is called for when one stumbles and must make a second effort to achieve.

Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come but also to make a second effort, should such be required. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, "I'll try again tomorrow."

May we remember these ABCs, cultivating a positive attitude, a belief that we can achieve our goals and resolutions, and the courage to face whatever challenges may come our way. Then the abundant life will be ours.

Life can be so hard. Sometimes even when we know that we are doing what we should be doing things don't always go as planned and we feel overwhelmed or discouraged. But I know that if we do the things that President Monson suggested and have faith that our Heavenly Father loves us and is there to help us everything will be okay. We can do it : ) 

What now....

Lots of stuff to do and a fried brain do not mix. This is the point that I am at right now.

First of all...
I am trying to finish up my last class but literally have no desire to write a paper.

AND...
Practicum is beginning soon, which will add 10 work hours to my weekly schedule. Hmmm not sure how that is going to work out!

AND...
The dryer stopped working this weekend (that is all I need to say about that I am sure you can imagine the fun this entails).

Friends coming for the weekend (very exciting BUT the house is trashed.)

Grass is growing like weeds (as usual) but of course I missed the Monday window of sunny weather to get it mowed so not sure when that will get done.

Plus late nights, not enough sleep and zero ability to concentrate.

One good thing though I did decide which place I was going to do my practicum and internship at...I start the 30th! Please pray for me :/

Ummm Happy Wednesday?!

Spring Break and beyond...

We didn't go anywhere exciting this past week but it was probably the most eventful Spring Break EVER! I wish that I could share with you all the exciting things that are happening at my house but I will just have to wait a little longer. I hope that everyone had a great Spring Break.

Emily's Blessing

Emily Bristol De Silva was blessed February 5, 2012. The day was as close to perfect as it could get. There were a lot of people there to celebrate this special day. Julie, Rod and family, Jeremy, Meg & family, Crysta, Ryan & family, Jason's mom, sister, niece and a close friend and his wife. Of course mommy, daddy and the girls and granny.

We were a little nervous that Emily would cry during her blessing so we had everyone praying that it would go well. She didn't cry at all even though she was awake the whole time.

Rod gave the blessing, it was so beautiful. It talked about all the people that loved her that she could look to for examples. The spirit was very strong.

As you can see, Emily wore the most beautiful dress on her blessing day. Meg's sister Amy volunteered to make it for her, it was perfect.

There were so many sweet testimonies born during the meeting that Emily was blessed in. Many of them spoke of the sweet spirit that Emily has and that her blessing brought.

What a blessing it is to have this little girl be part of our family. She is the sweetest, cutest, happiest baby and we all love her very much.

Lauren's Senior Pictures

Still trying to get caught up...

Meg took these awesome senior pictures of Lauren last Spring. Of course we had to bring Wesley along to get some cousin shots :)

Happy Thursday!

Sometimes...

Sometimes for all of us it probably feels like things don't work out.
Maybe we had a dream of what our life would be like and it doesn't turn out the way that we thought it would. Or maybe we didn't have a clue what we wanted out of life but it still turned out very different from what we might have expected.

But I have learned that...

Sometimes no matter how many hard things you have to deal with there is always something that makes you smile.

Sometimes when you feel alone there is suddenly someone there to listen or help and you realize that you have amazing family and friends that would do anything for you.

Sometimes when you wonder what you have accomplished in your life you look around and see the greatest kids and the sweetest grandkids you couldn't even have imagined.

Sometimes people find each other when they need each other the most.

Sometimes best friends fall in love.

Sometimes what you have been looking for is right around the corner.

So even though sometimes things don't work out.

Luckily...

Sometimes they do!

Photo Shoot

Last summer Meg took some pictures of Lauren and her friends before they all went their separate ways.

So Cute!