Easter

I love how weekends home have become mini vacations to me. The family all crashing at the parents house. Easter was a great weekend break.

My presence was also requested to help with Prom. Yes, its that time of year again. Kristi came back from her tournament and we turned the bathroom into the Prom prep area. What's sad is we started 2 hours before she was suppose to leave and we weren't done by the time her date showed up. Hahaha! I guess we just provided extra time for my dad to corner him :D. Oh the poor little teenage boys. We watched Tangled and goofed off while I endlessly formed curls in her hair. Poor Kalli is sick with the evil bug going around. So she crashed in the middle of the hallway while Kristi and I finished the preparations. All about the girl bonding time. Frantically, we put her make-up on and got her into the corset dress. Oh I'm still in love with that dress. It's a princess dress. I laughed at how nervous she was as she left. Oh to be 16 again!

I can't believe how grown-up she looked though. When did both my little sisters get to be so grown-up?! Yeah for more girl bonding moments to come.

Easter excitment happened Late Saturday night when Kristi got home. We ate the candy, dyed the eggs, and watched the movies until 0200. Then everyone passed out. I love Easter. Every holiday has such great small traditions. Mostly the time I get to spend with my family.

In church we sang, He is Risen. I am eternally grateful this is true. I know He lives, but more importantly I am coming to understands He lives for me. Happy Easter everyone! I'm now going to finish off my candy.

Spring

I got my first true taste of Spring today. I kidnapped Cheryl and tricked her into spending the day with me. My biggest goal--taking pictures of the tulips on Temple Square. Time to breakout my camera and play with it. Just in time for my photo class in a few weeks.

Cheryl and I stomped around the grounds, laughing, talking, and taking pictures. So much fun. We interrupted a few brides who waited for us to take out exciting pictures.

The rest of the day? Yeah we met up with Amberly to see Hanna--don't go see it. Devoured too much ice cream. Bought a book. And laughed all the way home. Such an amazing day. Me Days are such an essential part of life.

Disappointments

I grew up always thinking that life's tests and challenges had to be big life changing events. A mother dying, personal health problems, infertility, overcoming abuse, and all the other nasty challenges you hear of. Because I have not experienced enough any of those tests, I always thought I was weak for not being able to handle the events of my life.

However, the older I've gotten the more I've seen how life is simply a challenge. Some people have outside events challenge them. Most of my challenges seem to come from the inside. Most are also self-inflicted.

It amazes me how those stupid little challenges can weigh me down. To the point where it hurts to walk. To the point where all the fight is taken out of me. My heart is heavy with trying to find solutions to the stupid simple problems I face. I'm sure I'm not alone. For some reason, 2011 has been a year full of these little disappointments. Bringing back all sorts of degrading feelings I though I had moved past. I'm tired. Not just physcially, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. So I go between wanting to throw in the towel to standing up to fight again.

Today I didn't want to do either. So I compromised. The weather is beginning to turn around. The sun came out for hours. While my list went on, I took advantage of the grassy area and did something I enjoy doing. Read.

My Ultimate Reading Kit

What can I say it's my therapy and it does wonders for me.

Grandpa

Over Conference Weekend, my family and extended family surprised my Grandpa Moore for his 80th Birthday. I could tell it meant a lot to him. Most of the family--with all my mom's siblings--were there to surprise him. I can't believe my grandpa is 80! I helped my mom put together a book of all grandpa's memories.

In celebration of his birthday, I wanted to list a few things I love my grandpa:

1. When I was little I use to comb through grandpa's hair--it was his favorite thing.
2. I remember sitting on his lap pretending he was Santa Claus-cause to my little kid brain he was.
3. He has been at every one of my violin recitals, concerts, graduations, and every other big event in my house. I'm lucky to have him live so close. He is always there supporting me.
   
4. I love how my grandpa laughs.
5. I own some beautiful wood pieces he has made for me.
   

Happy Birthday Grandpa!


The Whole Clan

My mom and Aunt Karen--Yes, they are twins.

Moore Clan

Conference

I love conference. Every six months I get a kick in the pants and some serious encouragement. Plus it means a bunch of fun with my family. We do interesting things when we get together. The peep wars were witnessed, Tangled was watched, and sleep occurred. All this happening during the Bipolar weather Utah decided to have over conference weekend. I dislike spring for the very reason that it just prevents summer from getting here.

This time around I wanted to attempt cake pops again! Heather, Mark, Kristi, Kalli, Nathan, Mom, Kelsy, and I all gathered around the table to decorate the "eggs." They actually turned out pretty spectacular! Plus the tasted amazing so it didn't matter. Kris actually just sat on the couch. I knew she wasn't feeling well when I wasn't tackled when I entered the house. Poor thing has been floored with a nasty case of bronchitis she has shared with the rest of us.

How Kristi Felt


All decorating--under the influence of a sugar high

Mark kissing his version of Heather

Like I said, conference was a much needed refresher. Usually a spiritual overload for me. Thanks goodness I have six months to process everything before the next one. Being the early riser I am *cough*cough* I make have a taken a few naps. Thank goodness for today's technology and my Ipod. With the Podcasts I've been able to listen and process everything. I swear some of those talks were just for me!

Overall my impressions for this conference are to:

1. Spend more time at the temple--I am still able to do baptisms and learn from the temple. I could also use the time to block out the chaos of the world.
   
2. Look for more opportunities to serve. Be open to the opportunities that may come up and listen to the small voices that point them out.
3. Recognize the spirit will talk to me often in small and simple ways. No big Ah Ha moments, but quiet daily ones.
   
4. Refocus and reflect on what I really want in this life. Who I want to become.
   
5. Stand up and figure out my own problems. Things are not as complicated as they seem. The gospel is simple.
   

Wow, it really is a good thing I have six months before the next overload!

Simplicity

Conference started a bit early for me this year. I've been reading a lot of talks, devotionals, and scriptures this week and have sensed a theme. Simplicity. Go back to the simply primary answers to all my doubts, questions, and fears. Since I am not the most eloquent with my words, I will let the prophets speak for themselves. Each quote has changed my perspective lately.

Elder Todd F. Christofferson:

We do not live in the future—we live in the present. It is day by day that we work out our plans for the future; it is day by day that we achieve our goals. It is one day at a time that we raise and nurture our families. It is one day at a time that we overcome imperfections. We endure in faith to the end one day at a time.

The Spirit can guide us when to look ahead and when we should just deal with this one day, with this one moment. If we ask, the Lord will let us know through the Holy Ghost when it may be appropriate for us to apply in our lives the commandment He gave His ancient Apostles: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”

Christine S. Packard:

There is a difference between accepting a feeling as legitimate and real and being defined by that feeling. Often, real feelings deepen and expand when they are minimized or ignored. When singles experience feelings of loss, if they and those close to them will acknowledge and accept the feelings as simply real, singles can more readily transcend the pain and avoid defining themselves by their marital status or their feelings.

Elder Jeffery R. Holland:

God doesn’t care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go. Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away.

In the process of revelation and in making important decisions, fear almost always plays a destructive, sometimes paralyzing role. Of course our faith will be tested as we fight through these self-doubts and second thoughts. Some days we will be miraculously led out of Egypt--seemingly free, seemingly on our way--only to come to yet another confrontation, like all that water lying before us. At those times we must resist the temptation to panic and to give up. At those times fear will be the strongest of the adversary's weapons against us.

If God has told you something is right, if something is indeed true for you, he will provide the way for you to accomplish it.

President Dieter F. Utchdorf:

We would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most.

Some people can’t get along with themselves. They criticize and belittle themselves all day long until they begin to hate themselves. May I suggest that you reduce the rush and take a little extra time to get to know yourself better.

Let us simplify our lives a little.

President Henry B. Eyring:

You show your trust in Him when you listen with the intent to learn and repent and then you go and do whatever He asks. If you trust God enough to listen for His message in every sermon, song, and prayer in this conference, you will find it. And if you then go and do what He would have you do, your power to trust Him will grow, and in time you will be overwhelmed with gratitude to find that He has come to trust you.

Joseph Fielding McConkie:

It is not the design of heaven that we be rescued from all difficult situations. Rather, it is the Lord’s will that we learn to handle them.

I can't wait for conference! So much more to be learned!