This Is Us

  For my birthday this year things were different... It started out with me doing a workout from  Grow With Jo on YouTube . Nick took the day off and we had the kids stay home from school because... Nick's brother's daughter got married on my birthday.  They were married/sealed in the Draper, Utah Temple.  Then in the evening they had their reception at the barn at  Wheeler Historic Farm . After attending their wedding, we had lunch with the kids.  Then when it was time we attended their reception.

  Tyler was baptized today. It makes my heart happy when our kids love the gospel and want to do the things Heavenly Father has asked us to do. He was so happy today! We didn’t have a luncheon afterwards because I had Allie’s Bridal Shower that I was doing. I wanted to make sure that Brichette could be off work, so that’s why I had it on the same day as Tyler’s baptism. Here are the two photos I got of his baptism.

For day 8 of our photo challenge, it's a woman or women who inspire you.  We chose this today because it's International Women's Day.   I personally have been inspired by so many women in the Bible and The Book of Mormon. Bible   Eve - Without her love and desire no one would have been able to come to this earth, gain bodies, and be able to become like Heavenly Father. Sarah - (Abraham's wife) her faith in the covenant that Heavenly Father made with Abraham, "I will make of thee a great nation." had to be strong.  It took decades for this covenant to come about. Mary - Jesus' mother.  Even though she was scared, she never wavered in her faith with Heavenly Father. She knew everything her son was capable of, and it shows when she asked him to help with the wine at the wedding dinner. Esther - Even though she could have been killed for speaking to the king, her husband, she knew it had to be done and would sacrifice her life to save her people....

  This evening Nick and I went to the Payson Utah Temple. Our nephew got his endowments taken out and we were invited to be there with him. It was such a special and wonderful experience. Nick and I are so happy that we could be there! If you read  This Post  that I wrote about a conference talk by President Russell M. Nelson, then you know how much I love the Temple. It’s such a wonderful and peaceful place to be! If I could, I would stay there forever! 🥰 When Nick and I went to Europe, we were going to the Frankfurt and Paris Temple but weren’t able to make it. The Frankfurt Temple was closed for renovations and the subway to get to the Paris Temple was under construction. So we will just have to go back so we can visit them. 😍 Here are two pictures from the Temple tonight. What temples have you been to? What temples would you like to visit?

A few weeks ago in Relief Society we discussed the talk by President Russell M. Nelson called  Overcome The World and Find Rest . It was so good and definitely something I needed to hear, read, and ponder. At the start he says: “But, my dear brothers and sisters, so many wonderful things are ahead. In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time He returns “with power and great glory,” He will bestow countless privileges, blessings, and miracles upon the faithful.” That brings some peace to me. It’s also nice knowing “how it all ends”.  It’s so hard to find peace and rest these days. It feels like the whole world is against you. That no matter what you say or do, the world tells you that you’re stupid for believing the things you do, or you don’t care about other people, or you need to get with the times. It’s hard to feel safe with all the hate and violence in the world. After reading this ta...

  What are you?? And Introvert or an Extrovert? Me? I’m an introvert. I am content staying home with my family. However, I do love to travel and see new places. I really don’t like crowds, but if I have to deal with them to visit somewhere new, I will.  I have the Gospel Living app on my phone. I do my best to read through the articles every night. Well, a little bit ago I came across these about our gifts and talents as Introverts and Extroverts and how we can help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So I screen shot them so I could share them, because I felt inspired to. Hopefully no matter which you are, you can find ways to serve others and bring light to their lives!

On Sunday in Relief Society, we discussed the talk by sister Michelle D. Craig  Wholehearted  from the October 2022 General Conference. I don't usually blog about our discussions, but I need to start doing it and all the time.  Then I can remember the feelings and impressions that I get, and maybe someone else needs to hear it. I don't want to type her whole talk, so please take the time to read or listen to it.  It's really good! I'm just going to type my feelings and impressions and hope everything comes out the way I want and feel it to. We all have hardships that we go through.  A lot of the time we feel so alone.  It feels like no one will understand and no one can help.  I know, I've been there. You feel so weighed down with sadness, confusion, depression, loneliness, and sometimes anger, that you feel like there is no help. I know that it's hard, but that is when you need to throw yourself into reading the scriptures, praying, conference talks, ...

Last year Nick and I made it to the Temple every month, until everything shut down. Then because of everything going on and Nick being out of town so much, we weren’t able to go until last night. It was so wonderful to be back in the Temple. For me there is always peace in the Temple. I always feel loved, welcome, home, and closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus. I feel like they are sitting right next to me, and that is so comforting! I love being able to go with Nick and feel that eternal connection with him. We aren’t much of selfie takers, put I did get a couple pictures of the temple. Temples are so beautiful!

On May 27th Brichette graduated from Seminary! Yay! Great Job sweetheart! Thanks for listening to us and taking seminary. We know the experiences you had there will help you through your whole life! We love you!

  Today Lydia made the decision to get baptized. We are so happy! Because of the pandemic we weren’t able to have anyone there with us. Everyone had to join the zoom. Even though it wasn’t the same, I’m very grateful for zoom so that everyone could still watch her get baptized. I didn’t get any photos at the church, but the couple who help with the baptisms did. So hopefully we will get a copy. I did get a picture of her in her baptism dress outside in our front yard.

  Today we went to the Bountiful Temple and had Tyler sealed to our family for all time and eternity.  It was a beautiful day.  The feeling we felt in the Temple was amazing.  I could have spent so many more hours in there.  We had friends and family come and support us and Tyler. It's a great feeling to have Tyler legally be our son, but an amazing feeling to have him be our eternal son!  We are so happy having him.  He completes our family! Here are the photos we had Nick's dad take outside the Temple after he was sealed.