Snow and Faith

I drove from Soda Springs to Logan last night in snow. It was pretty consistent the entire time and it made me a near-nervous-wreck. As I was driving though, I thought about my journey and how it relates to faith:The road we travel on in life is just like the road I drove last night. It can be clear of obstacles, and completely dry which makes for a smooth trip. Other times it can be covered in slush, water, or snow with the chance of deer bounding across very real. We're not always going to be able to choose the road we have to travel on but with faith, we'll make it safely home. There were times when I had a hard time seeing beyond what was right in front of me and I had to rely on my headlights to guide me. Those are the times in life when we have to rely on the Holy Ghost to guide us because we can't do it alone. Each time I tried to look farther than what was illuminated, I was only met with disappointment. We'll face these trials now and again and we just have to keep moving forward, knowing that as we do, we'll receive just enough light to keep us going.
Before we set off, my brother warned me of dangers that would be on the road. I also had my dad in the passenger seat, working as my "navigator". As members of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we know that we'll be given heavenly help to guide us on the path of life. We have an Elder Brother who has traveled the road before and can help us reach our destination in safety, and we have revelation from our Father who can also watch over us and caution us when we need it.
How greatful I am for little teaching moments in life to help me remember what's important. I'm also greatful that I had the "eyes to see" last night and learn what I needed to learn!

The 12 Apostles

On our way home from Heath's birthday dinner last night, Dylan shared this little story that he and his Deacon's quorum made up in church on Sunday. We thought it was quite clever!

President Monson, President Eyring, and President Uchtdorf put on their Packer jerseys and went to Perry to visit the Nelson’s. On their way there they saw an Oak tree with a Ballard in it. Then it started to Hales and they said, “Great Scott lets go to Holland!” But they got tired on their way there so they went to Bednar. They were hungry in the morning so they Cook(ed) up some fried Christofferson(s) and fed it to Andersen.

Heath

Today's my brother Heath's birthday!!!

Heath's the oldest of us kids and ten years older than me. He's the husband of Sheila and the father of Dylan, Hailey, Hanna, and Hadley. If you happen to be driving through Caribou County, ID, make sure to mind your business or you might be facing a ticket issued by Deputy Downs. Though there's a ten year age difference between us, there'll always be a special connection between Heath and myself. He was the one to baptize me and it's a special memory for me. I love you Heath! Happy Birthday!!!!

Ogden Temple

Yesterday, Monica and I went to Ogden to do a session in the Ogden Temple. It'll be closing 1 April to undergo extensive renovation and Monica wanted to make sure she saw it before everything changed. Of course I agreed to accompany her! We arrived and found a large number of people everywhere in the temple. They all seemed to have the same idea as us. We ended up in the 9:40 session, just as Monica had predicted we would. There were 8 people receiving their own endowments in our session. I think only 2 of them were young men preparing for missions and one of them was an elderly gentleman who was going to be sealed to his wife following the session. It was pretty cool. As if that wasn't cool enough, Elder Kikuchi was there too. He is the Elder Kikuchi of this post: What an incredible weekend I had . Monica thought I should go up to him and tell him I was the one who made him the delicious cookies. I however, didn't get a chance as the session ran late and he appeared to be in quite a hurry to leave. Those 70s must be pretty busy!After the temple we went to El Matador for lunch, per my friend Meggan's suggestion. It was quite delicious and I'd eat there again. We had a great time together and I feel so blessed to have not only the opportunity to attend the temple but to have so many temples within a relatively close driving distance.

Landon Dean

Today’s my nephew Landon’s Birthday. Happy 7^th Birthday dude!

Landon is a stud. He’ll tell you he’s the smartest kid in his class and that one day he’ll be class president. Not an ounce of humility in him! Ha, just kidding. He really is a pistol. I wish my brother didn’t live so far away and that we could get together for the birthday of our “little Jared”.  I guess we’ll have to settle for a phone call and hopefully some pictures, *hint, hint. Love ya Landoney!!!

The Foundation of A Great Work

The theme for our recent Stake Conference came from Doctrine and Covenants 64:33-34 which reads “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. Behold the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these the last days.” 

I’ve been glancing at this scripture nearly every morning as the announcement for the conference, which had the scripture printed on it, is the bookmark for morning Ensign reading. It’s beginning to sink in and I’m trying to apply it my here and now.

A lot that I’ve done in my life has been the foundation work for something greater that I have yet to see. Take my schooling, for instance. I thought that I’d laid the foundation and nearly built the house for my career when I finished college 2+ years ago. I’m learning though that I may have built the foundation and possibly framed the walls but my house is far from complete. And ya know what? I’m pretty ok with that. It’s taken me time to get here and I’m not always in a place where I’m perfectly content but for the most part, I’m ok. If I’d gotten that dream job right out of college, I would have missed out on the opportunities that I’ve had to teach things I never thought I’d be teach. I’ve started looking at my present situation through the eyes of a med student. They don’t go from undergrad to the operating room but have years of additional training in-between. So, in essence, my subbing and work as an aide is my personal “med school”.

And who knows what the future is going to bring???

Relief Society

Today’s the anniversary of the organization of the Relief Society. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what being a part of this worldwide sisterhood means to me. I can’t think of a time when it hasn’t been a part of my life. I used to attend monthly homemaking meetings with my mom when I was young. I loved watching her making crafts; super Saturdays were especially fun! My mom let me come with her a lot and I’m grateful for that early exposure to the Relief Society. She didn’t make me go to the nursery with the other kids but let me be a part of whatever she was doing.

Later, as I turned 18, I really looked forward to going to Relief Society. It was a rite of passage, I felt, and when I was told I couldn’t attend, it was disheartening. Michelle and I were informed that because we were a couple months shy of our 18^th birthday and that they talked about things in Relief Society that we weren’t ready to hear about, we couldn’t go. Both Michelle and I thought that was crap! As did our parents.  So, we met with our bishop and after “threatening” us that we’d be given Visiting Teaching responsibilities, we were allowed to join the ranks of the 11^th Ward Relief Society. In spite of this rocky beginning, I knew it was the right place for me. I was given a great VT partner who was a great example to me and I was even called to be the RS pianist!

I was a part of my home ward Relief Society for a little less than a year. Soon after I graduated from high school, my stake created a Young Single Adult Ward and I started attending church there. Our humble Relief Society was small but we were mighty. It was there that, at the age of 20, I was called to serve as the Relief Society president. I served almost two years and little did I know how much that calling would come to help me in the following few years.

In January 2009 I was called to serve as the secretary to the Stake Relief Presidency. I held this calling for almost two years again and enjoyed nearly every minute! :o)  Out of the four of us, I was the only one who had ever served as a Relief Society president. Crazy! I learned a lot in the short time I was with them and was definitely sad to have to leave when the Young Single Adult program was changed and I left my home stake.

Last Sunday, I was once again in my home stake, with that same presidency, participating in the RS Anniversary Celebration. It was good to be there and it felt like “home”. There’ll always be a soft spot in my heart for that stake and the all the sisters with whom I was able to rub spiritual shoulders.

I heard, once upon a time, a quote that said something like “Relief Society needs you and you need Relief Society.” I believe that with all of my heart and am thankful for all the experiences, good and bad, that I’ve had in the time I’ve been a part of the R.S. Here's to 60 more years!!!