April 11, 2024

A tender mercy in the form of an email from a former Snow College girl that went to the Manti temple regularly and always saw my parents. Denise forwarded it on to me. (Denise let her know my parents had passed away.) Her email had wonderful timing as I have been missing them a little extra this week with my mom’s birthday. I have been quite teary after reading it. It’s a good reminder that kindness can span generations. I sent her an email and her reply to me was so sweet! 

April 8, 2024

“Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” - Oprah Winfrey 

I didn’t understand why whenever I asked my mom if she would move up by us she would say, “No. I could never leave my friends.”  As she entered hospice and passed away, her friends showed up! Such kindness and thoughtful words were shared from so many of her friends. Then tonight her friends celebrated her at their monthly Rook night. They had a birthday cake for her, shared memories, and signed a card. I understand now why she didn’t want to leave them. 

April 7, 2024

Missing my mom on her birthday (and every other day). Her birthday present was an announcement for a temple in Lehi. 

April 6, 2024

Today was such a good vacation day. I love those. Darren and I started out the morning early in Zion. As we got close to the park there were misty, cold clouds hanging on top of the Zion rock towers. Sigh. It was another cold Spring Break day. We hiked some of the West Rim trail. We love that trail. The views seemed extra awesome this morning. This hike felt so good (and not warm so we kept moving).

We spent the afternoon with all of us exploring some downtown St George. We hit the cutest bookstore - Bungalow Books, and then had some yummy ice cream - Bee Sweet ice cream. I loved that the stores were historic buildings. 

We split up for diner with the kids going for Thai and sushi while Darren and I grabbed to go food from The Diner - complete with delicious pie (and their fries were so good). 

Evening hanging at the Airbnb with a few games including a new game of Donner Party. Lots of laughs while playing. We even convinced Cam to play a couple rounds but Sadie was beyond bribing. 

 

 

April 5, 2024

First full day Spring Break escape to Hurricane with Darren, Cam, Sadie, Kenzie, and Tanner. Sadie woke up and chose Dolly and donuts. She came out of the room singing, “Farting in my bed and farting in the kitchen” (sing to 9to5). Today’s entertainment was Barnes and Noble for the girls (with mall pretzels) and golf for the boys, with Pizza Factory for everyone after.  Mmm.  Darren and I went to see Brian Regan tonight at Tuacahn. That guy is so funny! We laughed and laughed. I love his comedy. We wished it was a little longer but it was freezing so it was also nice to get warm. 

March 31, 2024

Happy Easter!

Elder Wirthlin - October 2006:

On that Friday the Savior of mankind was humiliated and bruised, abused and reviled.

It was a Friday filled with devastating, consuming sorrow that gnawed at the souls of those who loved and honored the Son of God.

I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world’s history, that Friday was the darkest.

But the doom of that day did not endure.

The despair did not linger because on Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind.

And in an instant the eyes that had been filled with ever-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, stood before them as the firstfruits of the Resurrection, the proof that death is merely the beginning of a new and wondrous existence.

Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.

But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.

 

 

March 30, 2024

Good pre-Easter celebrating today. The kids got donuts to start the celebration. We had a coloring contest and an Easter egg hunt. Cam and Kenz found the golden egg in a funny flurry of egg grabbing. I love that I got to see all my kids this weekend.