Christmas

This Christmas season has been even busier than normal.

(How is that possible, you ask? I. Don't. Know. It's hard to believe. But with The Forgotten Carols, various family parties, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert - where Brans and I got to manage the signing, and stood next to Tom Brokaw and Alfie Bow all night - yes... We're super cool. And yes we got their autographs. And yes we got our picture taken with them. See? Proof. Not super flattering proof, but proof nonetheless - it's been a super busy month.)

But, the Holiday season is my favorite time of year - even with all the hustle and bustle.

I love our house at Christmas time.
I love the smell of a fresh cut tree.
I love the roar of the fireplace.
I love the sound of Christmas music playing nonstop.
I love the lights.
I love the colors.
I love the decorations.

This year, I decided to be ambitious, and I made our stockings. Aren't they cute?

(After all, this is our fifth Christmas since we've been married. You'd think I would have been more on the ball by now. But I've been busy. So I  f i n a l l y just dedicated two hours and got it done. And Now our fireplace feels even more Christmasy.)

As part of our ward Christmas program, our choir director asked me to perform the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah.

Now, I'm not bragging when I say I rarely have to practice to play in church. Not that I'm amazing, but I've been playing the piano and the organ in church since I was 11 and 13, respectively.

But this - the HALLELUJAH CHORUS - was hard. SO hard. I had a solid 4 hour practice session the day before the program, and got it down to an acceptable level. (read: not perfect, but good enough.)

I joked with our choir director - who just so happens to also be the surgeon who fixed my hands last year - that he was so willing to do my surgery so that this year, he could throw the Hallelujah Chorus at me. He just laughed. A little too hard, if you ask me.

But in all honesty, I was grateful for the challenge and super grateful for the support from an awesome family. Brans is the best organ-stop-determining-page-turning-husband of all. And Gram has been telling me for months that she has faith in me - which means a lot coming from your piano teacher. My parents and siblings came to show their love and support, and stood to sing the Hallelujah Chorus with the rest of the choir and congregation. If you know my family, you're aware at the heavy, heavy musical talent that runs through the whole fam. So, of course, they knew the parts and every word. And people in our ward keep turning and looking at them, jaws dropped, like "Who are these people?" So awesome.

 

And every year, I dream and wish and hope for a white Christmas. There's just something so magical about fresh snow on Christmas. It's so clean and beautiful. It's the cherry on top of Christmas Spirit for me. I love it. So, today, Christmas Eve, I woke up to wet, muddy brown grass. But by about 3pm, we had about 5 inches of snow. Heaven. Merry Christmas to me!

I love Christmastime. I love celebrating the birth of our Savior. That's what it's really about. It's about Mary and Joseph, and that perfect little baby.

Christmas is about Christ. 

More Christ in our lives. 

More Christ in our homes. 

More Christ in all that we do.

So, Merry Christmas.

And we wish you a truly joyous season, with a greater focus on our Savior, and a renewed conviction to be more like him.

My family has a traditional Christmas song that we sing every year. It was written by my great-great-great grandfather, George Eyre. Every Christmas morning, back in his time, the whole family would get on a party line and sing this song to each other first thing.

So from my family to yours:

We wish you Merry Christmas

A Merry Christmas all.

May the richest blessings

Ever on ye fall.

May each year be brighter

Than the year before--

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas morn!

M'ry m'ry m'ry m'ry

M'ry m'ry m'ry m'ry

M'ry Merry Christmas all!

M'ry m'ry m'ry m'ry

M'ry m'ry m'ry m'ry

M'ry Merry Christmas all!

Merry Christmas. 

thanks

It's my favorite time of year.

And we have so very much to be thankful for.

We're so lucky to have incredible family and amazing friends that support us and love us and help us all the time.

We're blessed to have so many opportunities in our lives - a good job, insurance, the opportunity to go to school and learn.

We're so thankful for all of the wonderful blessings we've been given.

We're so blessed.

And we are so grateful.

Here's to a week of kicking off the holidays by spending time with family and friends, eating a bounteous feast, and remembering all of the good in your life.

Each of us has so much to be thankful for.

I love having a day completely devoted to remembering that.

Happy Thanksgiving!

hope

I woke up disappointed and discouraged this morning.

Though, not for the reason you might first think.

-    -    -    -    -    -

I voted yesterday. (technically I voted early... but...)
My vote counted yesterday.

And just like four years ago, my candidate of choice was not the winner.
And like almost half of America, I found myself a little saddened that Mr. Romney did not win.

But...
I stand by what I said four years ago here, when President Barack Obama was elected for his first term as President of the United States of America.
And as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I still believe - perhaps with an even stronger conviction...

in being subject to kings, 

presidents, 

rulers, and magistrates, 

in obeying, 

honoring, 

and sustaining the law.

I also stand by an official statement released by the First Presidency of the Church, 

men who I also sustain, honor and obey...

as they declared:

We congratulate President Obama on winning a second term as President of the United States.

After a long campaign, this is now a time for Americans to come together. It is a long tradition among Latter-day Saints to pray for our national leaders in our personal prayers and in our congregations. We invite Americans everywhere, whatever their political persuasion, to pray for the President, for his administration and the new Congress as they lead us through difficult and turbulent times. May our national leaders reflect the best in wisdom and judgment as they fulfill the great trust afforded to them by the American people.

We also commend Governor Romney for engaging at the highest level of our democratic process which, by its nature, demands so much of those who offer themselves for public service. We wish him and his family every success in their future endeavors.

President Obama's message has always been about hope. In the spirit of truth, I have to admit that I have not been as hopeful under the President's first term as many of his supporters. I've watched people I love lose their jobs, their homes, everything they own. I've witnesses such economic devastation in my own family. I've seen hatred and arrogance, and vindictive decisions steering people, and at times our nation in the wrong direction. Outside of my relationships and my faith, my outward, temporal/economic life hasn't seemed to get any better over the last four years. (With the exception of our new puppy, of course. How can you not love life when you have a puppy? [grin]). But...

But, I believe President Obama really does believe in hope. I think he believes that things can get better, and he's trying his best to make it happen. I think he, like any leader of our country, will be guided in decisions and will, hopefully, listen to that guidance. I think he is a good man, a good father and I join with countless citizens in America and throughout the world, in prayer that the leader of the Free World, the President of the United States will make choices and strategies that he honestly believes will make America a better place. I won't always agree with the choices he makes. [But I'm positive I could say the same thing had Mr. Romney won instead.]

-    -    -    -    -    -

I made the mistake of reading blogs, and logging in to Facebook today, and much to my dismay, I've seen some nasty, vicious, awful things said about our President, and about the people who voted for him.

We live in a country that grants us the right to elect our leaders by casting our vote. 

We live in a country that grants us the freedom of speech.

And I belong to a Church, a culture, and a steadfast belief to stand firm in the truths I was taught in my youth. 

Things like:

We are all children of God, our Heavenly Father

If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all

Happiness is by choice, not chance

Love one another

Kindness begins with me

and I'm trying to be like Jesus

But the things I read and heard and watched did not follow any of those principles that I hold so dear.

People who I grew up with, went to school with, work with, see at church every Sunday, were blasting hatred and insults to the world like they had never even heard of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

So many Christians [in particular] saying so many un-Christian things.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. It's part of being alive, part of living on this earth. Our agency. It's how we all received the opportunity to come to earth in the first place. We chose to make choices for ourselves - whether good or bad. And fortunately we live in a country that allows us to make those choices openly without a general fear of retribution from our government, or attacks from extremist neighbors, or sometimes, even without obvious consequences.

But, I was so discouraged and disappointed in those things I read, by people who are usually so good and such good examples to those around them. How hypocritical to openly campaign for Mitt Romney and what he stands for as an economist, a former Governor, the rescuer of the Olympics, a good Mormon man and a child of God - and then slander and hate and spit upon the opponent. 

President Obama may not have been your choice. 

But as a citizen of the United States of America, he is your president 

[until you move and become subject to a king or other ruler that doesn't allow you as much freedom as America does.] 

and he deserves our respect and our support. 

And so do the people that voted him into office. They are our brothers and sisters. Have you forgotten? God loves them just as much as he loves you. God also granted them the same agency He gave you and me. Just because they voted differently than you did, or because they think differently than you do doesn't mean they aren't as smart as you. It doesn't make them idiots. It doesn't mean they aren't as righteous as you. It doesn't mean any of that. It means you disagree. It means maybe you have to work a little harder to find common ground. But you have it. Most people love their families - whether connected by blood or by choice - more than anything. Most people believe in working hard for what you get. Most people believe that there is good in the world. Most people just want what's best for them and the people they love. You might disagree on politics. You might disagree on whether your little section of city should be incorporated or not. You might even disagree on big, controversial things like abortion, immigration and guns. But you have something in common. 

Try to find it.

-    -    -    -    -    -

I hope the next four years do get better. Yes, I'm skeptical that our nation will see drastic improvements in such a short amount of time. But I believe it's possible. I hope it's possible.


I hope that America continues to be strong and revered as the greatest country on the earth.
I hope that I can raise my children to love our country like I do.
I hope my children take pride in pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America as one nation, under God.
I hope that when my children turn 18 and are give the incredible opportunity to vote for the leaders of this country, that they will do so with pride,
I hope that my children will learn to be gracious when things don't go their way.
I hope that my children will have infinite opportunities to learn and serve and grow in our community as well as our church.
I hope that God will continue to watch over our country.
I hope He will bless all of our leaders, both locally and nationally and throughout the world, with the presence of mind, sound judgment and character of integrity they need to do their jobs.

I have

h o p e.

God bless our nation.

God bless President Obama.

And please, God, bless us to be kinder to one another. 

red

[no, not the new Taylor Swift album.]

Meet our new puppy:

RED

She's beautiful

and smart

and playful

and energetic

and just the perfect dog.

She's an 8 week old Border Collie.

And if she weren't a dog, I might have some serious jealousy problems, considering how in love with her Branson is. [but secretly, I adore how much Branson loves her. It makes my heart happy.]

But seriously - cutest puppy ever, right?

Yes, we love her.

No, she's hasn't attacked out chickens. She actually seems to like them and want to play with them all day. But they are terrified of her, even though they are bigger than her. She'll kind of jog towards them and then they'll scatter. Then she'll stop and watch them run away and wait for them to congregate again. Than she'll jog towards them again. Chickens scatter. Repeat. It's funny. But no casualties yet. And we've already seen the chickens get a little braver and come closer to her, so I think it will turn out just fine.

We're so happy.

Come play with us!

harvest

We've had a bounteous season. 

And we are so grateful - 

for the food, 

for the beauty, 

and for the sheer deliciousness of homegrown produce.

day of japanese

Did you know that today is one of my very favorite days, and one of the best Holidays?

Did you know that it's been 29 years since my dad returned home from his mission to Sendai, Japan?

Did you know that I always eat too much on Japanese Day? It's like a pre-pre-Thanksgiving meal. Except, there's no turkey, and it's still warm outside. But we are grateful on Japanese Day, just like we are on Thanksgiving.

Grateful that my dad made the decision to serve a mission.

And grateful for the amazing example he is.

I bet you didn't know my dad is tougher than Chuck Norris...

And that he's a fantastic cook...

But more importantly...

My dad has an amazing testimony and is the most worthy priesthood holder that I know. He is incredible. 

I'm so grateful he served an honorable mission, serving in a foreign land, reminding our brothers and sisters in Japan that Jesus Christ loves them and that families can be together for eternity. I'm grateful for his testimony of the Book of Mormon and that he so freely shared it with me while I was young. 

I'm so thankful that my dad's mission was so important to him. It's so fun to celebrate his mission every year. It's my favorite family tradition. There's something incredible that happens when you realize  that what is so important to your family and those you love is also so very important to you. There's no doubt in my mind that celebrating Japanese Day every year played a role in my brothers deciding to serve missions of their own. And now we also celebrate Boise Day (Brans), Toronto Day (Austin), Chilean Day (Chad) and Manchester Day (Taylor) - In about 8 months, we'll celebrate Belgian Day (Blake) and in just under two years from now, we'll celebrate Micronesia Day (Bryson). [We need to start celebrating German Day for Branson's dad... Goulasch? Rouladen? Eis und Heiss? Yum.]

I love missionaries! I'm so glad so many members of my family have chosen to serve. I'm blessed to be a part of such a great missionary heritage.

Happy Japanese Day!

handiversary

Would you believe today is my "Handiversary"?

[No? You don't like my made up word of celebration? Fine... the Anniversary of my Carpal Tunnel Surgery.]

It's been one year. It's a little hard to believe that much time has past.

On one hand (no pun intended... ha ha... seriously... not intended, but funny.), it feels like forever ago. It's been so long since my hands have gone numb, or since my dexterity was compromised. I haven't dropped any dishes in months!

But on the other, it seems like I just got my bandages off a month ago. Like my stitches just came out. I still feel renewed strength everyday.

My scars are almost unnoticeable. They've healed beautifully. (Truth be told, they are still so alarmingly obvious to my eyes, but when I show anyone else, they almost don't know where to look, because they blend in with all of the other lines on my hands.)

It took awhile for me to feel strong in my wrists and hands after surgery. Six months later, I still felt like I didn't have 100% support or strength back. I couldn't bend my wrists back very far. I couldn't do anything that required full weight on my wrists (like a push up, or sitting on the ground, leaning back on your hands.).

But, would you like to know what my little hands can do now?

Just about anything I want... [grin]

I've been able to carry heavy things, play the piano to my heart's content, knead bread dough, decorate cakes, eat with chopsticks again - I've even been able to do a few push ups lately!

One interesting thing I've noticed lately... my handwriting has changed. And maybe only to me. But I noticed the other day that I've altered how I hold my pen, and it has resulted in just a slightly different way that I write. Better or worse? I'm not sure. Mostly, I'm just grateful I can write and not want to chop off my hands afterward.

I'm so grateful for how well my hands have recovered. And so grateful for modern medicine. Who knew that one little slit in each hand would alleviate so much pain? It's truly amazing.

I've tried to remember to thank my Heavenly Father everyday for all of the many things I can do with my hands. He's blessed me with the ability to do anything I set my mind to, and even more important, blessed us with the opportunity to be healed when we are broken. I'm so very grateful. Some days, I'll forget - because now almost everything feels natural again - but then I'll notice a certain way my wrist is moving when I do the dishes, or I'll be able to play a really hard piece of music that I haven't played since surgery, or I'll be doing something and have to twist my hand in a weird position. And then it will hit me again:

Look at that! I used to not be able to do that!

And more gratitude will ensue.

So... Happy Handiversary to me! [I don't care if you don't like it. I do. It's clever. And obvious. Ha ha]

I hope I always remember how blessed I am to have working hands that can do amazing things.

fraud

To the persons East of the Mississippi who stole all our money,

Stop it. Please.

Had you taken our money because you had none and were in desperate need of food and shelter for your family, I *might* have been more understanding. Had you been a beggar on the street who just happened to come across our savings in a delightfully labeled envelope that said "Please Take, and Spend Freely," I also would have understood.

But you aren't and you didn't.

How do I know?

Well because, dear thief, I monitor my checking account quite regularly. And what you might not know is that I can see everywhere that you spent my money, and other places you tired to spend at, too. Maybe you *needed* to spend $300 at WalMart to buy new school clothes and diapers for your unfortunate children who call a thief "mom" or "dad"... or for your girlfriend who thinks that $300 worth of jewelry and makeup from WalMart will make her feel better about having a stealing loser for a boyfriend...

But I am absolutely positive you did not *need* anything that cost $700 at the T-Mobile store.

Oh, don't worry. I'm gonna get it all back.

You see, my bank is pretty good to me and has great fraud protection, and has guaranteed that I'll get my money back.

Also, I believe that actions have consequences - and you will pay. Just like we all do when we do something wrong.

But more importantly, I pay a faithful tithe and I know that God will take care of us. I have a very strong testimony in the principal of Tithing and how it blesses us when we obey.

Now, it may sound like I'm holding a grudge and that I haven't forgiven you. Do not be deceived. My heart was hardened, but has since been made soft.

I forgive you.

You obviously weren't raised in truth and righteousness - otherwise you would have known that stealing is wrong. You also probably didn't know that we aren't rich, and that your access to our limited funds wouldn't get you very far, and that your spending spree would only last a few hours.

So, while you GREATLY inconvenienced us (seriously, folks - stealing someone's money at the end of a month, when bills are due, and it's a holiday weekend... could not be worse timing.) and made me more furious than I have been in a long time, I've decided to forgive you and move on.

Just don't ever do it again.

Sincerely,
Greatly-Inconvenienced-But-Trying-to-Be-More-Christlike
in Salt Lake City

elder bryson ashcraft

Today, my boy Bryson went into the MTC to embark on his epic adventure serving the Lord for two years in the Guam / Micronesia Mission.

I've been pretty emotional about him leaving. You'd think on my 5th brother (1-Austin, 2-Chad, 3-Taylor, 4-Blake) I'd have this whole sending-off-a-missionary thing down and that it wouldn't even phase me.

But it does. Every. Time.

I love Bryson. And I'm so proud of the decision he's made to dedicate his next two years to the Lord in serving and teaching, and reminding the people on those tiny islands in the Pacific that God loves them, that Jesus Christ died for their sins, and that their families can be together forever.

A week ago, he gave an awesome sermon for his farewell talk, and our family sang together a beautiful arrangement of "I Believe in Christ." (Also, a very emotional day. Don't judge.)

Last night, we were privileged to attend his setting apart meeting with the Stake President. It was truly a personal, insightful and comforting blessing that I hope Bryson remembers forever. The spirit was strong and the words we heard were truly inspired. I'm so grateful for that memory.

Bash is amazing. I've learned a lot from him, and have loved watching him grow up into such an incredible man.

No doubt the people on those islands will adore him.
How can you not?



Godspeed, Elder.

And Heavenly Father, please watch over my little brother, and keep him safe.

iron chef + bingo + yard sale-ing

In addition to our Alice in Wonderland party, 

my family spent a few days last weekend continuing our "Great Staycation of 2012." 

[Since we all don't have enough money to go on a fun trip this summer, we've been creatively finding fun things to do at home or around town. It's been a blast!]

We played Human Bingo, participated in an Iron Chef tournament and had a Yard Sale competition.

On Friday night, we went to City Creek and filled out Bingo cards with different kinds of people we had to see.

Brans and I were the first to get Bingo - then we played for Blackout.

As soon as our time limited expired, we met at the fountains in City Creek to watch their nightly show, set to music. It was fun. And yes, that is fire in the middle of the fountain. It's so beautiful. And so amazing that we've figured out a way to sync water to music. Awesome.

On Saturday morning, we woke up early and split into teams. During the week, we thought of things we needed and made a list of items we'd like to find. Each team got $20 to spend and 3 hours to find as many things on the list as possible.

We didn't do so well with the list - and Brans and I spent a little bit extra, but the haul we ended up with was pretty great. Mostly things we needed - plus two fun music things to add to our collection.

After our Yard Sale Escapade, we came back to our house to watch the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. (We recorded it to watch later sans commercials. We so love modern technology. Rewinding and fast-forwarding TV is marvelous.) I love the Olympics! But more on that later...

Then, we split up into three teams [again - each time, different teams] 

and began our Iron Chef competition.

Our ingredients:

Our task:

To create a complete meal using all of these ingredients.

main course, side/appetizer and dessert.

It was really fun to see what everyone came up with. 

It was an eclectic meal, for sure, but everything was delicious and everyone had fun in the kitchen.

As always, we ate too much food, but it was oh, so tasty.

I know I say this all. the. time. 

but I really do have an amazing family.

I'm so grateful that we all get along so well,

and that we can have so much fun together.

"We don't have much, but we've got us..."

Go team!

alice in wonderland

It's been four years since all eight of the siblings in my family have been home. And it's likely it will be another six years after this. So, we've been making the most of our limited time together and doing all sorts of fun things.

My favorite was our Alice in Wonderland Murder Mystery Dinner Party.

It

was

EPIC.

For years, I've wanted to have a Wonderland themed party, and it turned out so well. It was so very fun - Everyone laughed, enjoyed the company and ate way too much. 

I had a blast decorating and setting the scene.

Everyone was assigned a different character. I altered a game I found online, added a few characters, made sure everything was family friendly and went from there. My family did an excellent job of finding amazing costumes. Some of them were so elaborate, yet I think between all of us we spent less than $20 on costume supplies.

First, we had Tea. The Mad Hatter opened with a speech - 

And Tay could not have given a better performance. 

[Ha ha - We actually made him do it twice because it was so hilarious!]

We had five different kinds of 'tea' [read: koolaid] in fun colors.

And our Tea menu consisted of:

Mini Quiches

Cucumber Sandwiches

Egg Salad Sandwiches

Crumpets and Jelly

After tea, we played a rousing game of croquet with flamingos and hedgehogs.

We had to be authentic, you know.

And after croquet, we had dinner and continued our investigation -
asking and answering questions, accusing, laughing...

 The menu:

Bread and Butter-flies
Strawberry Mushroom Salad
Carrot Bottoms
Mad Hatter Rice
Absolem Catepillar Chicken with Avacado
and Rainbow Parfaits

I boiled the rice in my neon food color gel to get the bright colors,
and broiled the chicken in lemon juice and sea salt.

And for dessert:

Wonderland Cake
Queen of Hearts Tarts
Cheshire Cat Tails

The cake was six layers - each a different neon color. I decorated it with white roses, in the spirit of playing cards painting them red [with red sprinkles].
And the Cheshire Cat Tails were made out of marshmallows and chocolate.

So fun.

 [My mom was an exquisite Queen of Hearts - in character the whole time. It was so funny to see my mom so very different from her usual pleasant, gracious self. At the end of the night, she said, "It's exhausting being so grumpy all the time!"]

 [Can you see the eyes on the daffodils?]

 [Bryson was a perfect White Rabbit. He was so fidgety, and the way he ate his food was hysterical! He would take these little tiny bites, scrunch his nose, and chew everything with his front teeth. Awesome.]

Later on in the evening,
Executioner Ace did his duty, and upon the Queen's request,
[OFF WITH HIS HEAD!]
Held an execution.

It was so very much fun.
It was so entertaining, and extremely hilarious.
It's been a couple weeks since we did it, and still we all want to talk about it.
Memories were made for sure,
And a new family tradition created.

My family really is the best.
No question.

roller coaster

June was quite the roller coaster for our family.

The ups and down have taken an emotional and physical toll on us - and we're exhausted. 

(But... aren't we always?)

UP:

TCa$h came home from his mission, and we've spent a lot of time with my siblings. 4 years with someone missing was a long time, and we know it's likely to happen again (for 6 years) with the next 3 missionaries. So we're soaking it up, and loving being together.

DOWN:

Branson's condensed Arabic course this summer almost killed him. It was essentially two semesters of information and homework condensed into six weeks. I've never seen him so stressed. But he worked super hard. But it literally made him sick. Really sick. Poor guy. He's feeling much better now that's its over, and hopefully his last year of school at the U will be a little nicer to him.

UP:

We celebrated our fourth Anniversary. Its amazing to look back and think about how much I loved Brans four years ago and realize that love just keeps increasing exponentially. I didn't think I could love him more than I did on that perfect day. I didn't know that I was capable of being more in love. But I am. We are lucky [read: blessed] to have each other, and so happy with our life together.

DOWN:

We heard sad news about Jessica and Adam's baby Jack. My heart is still broken, but I'm so grateful for the knowledge that families are forever. And I'm so grateful that Jessica and Adam know it, too. I'm in awe of their strength and perspective. They are magnificent, faithful people.

UP:

When we first moved into our house, the yard was a jungle. Gramps had sown some immaculate gardens, but since he passed, it became overrun and, well, a jungle. But we've been working on it, slowly but surely over the last four years, and this summer is the first summer I haven't been completely overwhelmed by it. [I've actually enjoyed weeding and planting and sowing... Don't tell my mom.] We've laid sod. Planted flowers. Cut down trees. Gotten all manner of battle scars from taming the Pyracantha [read: Worst. Plant. Ever. Think of the briar/thorn patch Prince Phillip battles to get to Sleeping Beauty.] Pulled out more volunteer plants than you can imagine. It's been a lot of hard work. But, it's looking really good.

DOWN:

June was rough on the health of so many members of our family. Three of Branson's aunts have recently been diagnosed with cancer - three different kinds at various stages. My cousin Jason has been in the ICU for a few weeks battling and recovering from brain aneurysms and arteriovenous malformation. He's had multiple surgeries, and goes in for the last one today. Our thoughts and prayers have been with each of them, and we're sending healing wishes their way. It just seem to all hit at once. And I'm really starting to believe that when it rains, it pours.

UP:

It's July. And I'm hoping it's a more... steady month with less lows and more highs. 

jack adam tidwell

One of my most favorite people, 

who happens to be my cousin,

gave birth to a stillborn baby boy earlier this week.

Jack Adam Tidwell.

[such a beautiful photo, shared by Jenn]

My heart aches for Jessica and Adam.

I'm sure I can't even imagine what they feel.

And I feel so helpless.

So I've been praying - hard.

For peace. 

And comfort. 

And strength.

And understanding.

And remembrance. 

I love Jess and Adam and their darling little family.

Max, Zoe, Cannon, Will and Jack.

I'm so grateful for the knowledge that families are forever.

I am thankful for the Plan of Salvation, that gives me deeper understanding.

I'm so glad to know that Jessica will get to hold Baby Jack again

and that he is forever part of their family. 

And I am beyond thankful for the Atonement -

because, not only did Christ atone for our sins,

He atoned for our pain and our suffering.

And only through Him can we truly find comfort.

four years of love

Four years ago [right this very minute] I was kneeling across from the handsomest man, promising to love him forever, and making a sacred covenant to be partners and equals through all eternity.

It was a beautiful ceremony. And a wonderfully perfect day.

And now, four years later... We're even more in love.

Happy Anniversary, Brans.
I love you more than words can say.

welcome home ca$h

He's back!

And he's as amazing as ever.

He served a faithful two years in Manchester, England.
What a great missionary.

 Mom waiting patiently...

 There he is!

Tay ran up to Mom and lifted her up off the ground, and swung her around.
So adorable.
That boy loves his Mama.

There were eight or nine other missionaries coming home on this flight,
and they were all excited to see their missionary, as well,
but when Tay started hugging and swinging Mom, everyone stopped
and watched in adoration.
It was awesome.

 "This is so weird"
Tay kept saying it over and over and over.

Team and Ca$h

It's been a long four years.

[Taylor left for England 6 days before Austin came home from Canada.]

Welcome home Elder Taylor Ashcraft!

We've missed you.