It's Easter!!!

Yay!! for bunny rabbits, candy, dyed eggs, and candy! Sadly, I have none of those things....but it's all good. I still love Easter, even if I don't get to pig out on junk food. This is such a wonderful time of year. It is so nice to be able to walk outside without freezing!! I love the change in the weather, it just makes me want to dance for joy at seeing the sun and the new green blades of grass poking through. It's nice enough outside that I might just take a book and head over to my favorite spot on campus and read. In fact, I think I will! (after finishing this of course ;) ) 

Before I head off, I just wanted to share with you my thoughts. These past nine months with school and being called as Relief Society President have been some of my most trying and yet most gratifying times of my life so far. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to be here in Cedar with some of the most wonderful, crazy people I know. I have learned so much this past year and grown in so many different ways that it is astounding to look back at who I was and see how far and how much I have come. I have a greater understanding of Christ and the love He has for all of us. I have felt that love for me, but mostly I have come to know how much He loves everyone. I didn't use to believe people when they stood up and said that they loved everyone in the congregation. I didn't think that there was any way that they could love me, they barely knew me. But now I know what they were feeling because I have felt that too. They were feeling Christ's love for me. And when you feel that, it is impossible to not love that person as well. I'm grateful for that love and kindness. It has helped me, and will continue to help me, through some tough times. I can't express how much I love my Savior and how grateful I am for the sacrifice He made for me. I can't wait for the day I'll see Him again and be able to tell Him myself of the blessings and joy He has brought into my life. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter! Remember the true reason we celebrate this day. I know I will, forever and always.

Remembering Grandpa

This being General Conference weekend means that it has been six months since Grandpa died. We had his funeral the weekend of the last General Conference. I've been thinking a lot about Grandpa this whole week. I still miss him like crazy. Going up north just isn't the same without a quick visit to see him and Grandma. Part of me can't believe how long it has been, while the other part thinks that it was just last week that I got to go and say my goodbye. 

While I was with him that last week, I had the hardest time understanding why he had to go. And during his funeral I was amazed at how mad I was at him for leaving. I had plans that involved him that can't happen any more and it hurts. I was going to make my husband (whoever he may be) visit Grandma and Grandpa to see how they treated each other, especially how Grandpa treated Grandma. And let him know that that was how I expect us to be when we're old and senile (not that I'm calling Grandma senile...Grandpa, yes. He did have Alzheimer's you know :) ). And that's just one of my plans...I tend to plan a lot.... My plans aside, I couldn't figure out why I was so mad during his funeral. Until I read one of my books that I got for Christmas. In it the main character talks about the anger you feel when a loved one dies: "It is a senseless rage burning inside you, first against the person you loved for leaving you alone, and then against the fates that took them away." When I read that, I flashed back to Grandpa's funeral and I realized that that was why I was mad. Grandpa left and there was nothing I could do but sit there and deal with it. Luckily the past six months have helped my anger to lessen and I have learned many lessons from this whole experience. 

I didn't realize how much I loved him till they closed the casket for the final time and it became real that he was really gone. Poor Dad had to see me at that point, when I literally broke down and sobbed. I think that was the first time I've ever seen Dad that close to crying. Followed closely by the second time 20 minutes later when Dad had to give his talk. 

Whenever I think of Grandpa I can't help but feel that he's right there next to me, listening in on my rambling memories of him and laughing with me. That is the greatest comfort and blessing to me. To feel as though he's here looking out for me. Because that means that he knows who I am and loves me. I don't have many memories of Grandpa from when he knew who I was, before the Alzheimer's. I can't tell you the comfort it is to know that because of the atoning sacrifice of Christ my grandfather can once again know me. That when I see him again he'll come running over to give me a huge hug and let me know that the only reason he forgot me was because of his mortal body's weakness. That his spirit never once forgot. And that is the greatest comfort of all. 

My two favorite pictures of Grandpa:

Grandpa and Shelly 2006

Me and Grandpa September 2008

Someone lied to me!

Whoever told me it is Spring, is in BIG trouble! They best be heading for their secret hideout cuz I'm gonna come after them! This is just....UGH!!!! There are no words for how I am feeling right about now. Maybe a few pictures will help ya understand my annoyance. Exhibits A-C:

This was all between 10 am and 1 pm. And it's still snowing. UGH!! Why, does this always happen to me? Why, oh why, oh why.... (Ten points to whoever can guess that reference) 

I made it through!!

The week is over! Thank goodness! I thought it would never end. I have been looking forward to today for about a month now. I had three group projects (two of which were presentations), two tests, and a paper due at about the same time. Oh and today it was my ward's turn to teach Stake Leadership Training for the RS. I've been a little stressed lately! But I made it through. I was able to turn in my paper early to get it out of the way (and I got an A on it!!), I made my groups get as much done as possible before Spring Break so I could relax and actually have a break, and I stuck it out at the library until I couldn't stand it any longer every day. And finally it is done! Now there are only 4 weeks left of school and it should be smooth sailing the rest of the way.....well, I least I can dream it will be :D I've already got a few more short papers to write for next week and two new assignments in a different class...I guess the past month has prepared me to be able to get all that done without breaking a sweat. Though sweating would be a nice improvement over freezing! It's snowing again outside. I am very put out! I want to be warm!!!

OH! I almost forgot to tell ya about yesterday, which has to be one of my most favorite days of the year so far. My really good friend Amy is engaged and getting married next month. Yesterday was her bridal shower and I got her the best present EVER! It was a bouquet of fake flowers with a vase. (I'm sitting here cracking up over this...oh man...now I have to tell the back story so you get why it was so amazing). So flash back to 2006 when Amy and I were roommates. We went to a ward activity where they had a white elephant gift exchange. One of the gifts was fake flowers, which I stole from a very confused boy (he just didn't understand why I wanted the flowers. To be honest, I'm not sure myself). On the way home, Amy and I were naturally in a hyper mood (we were always laughing and giggling over something back then, heck we still do that!), and we turned to each other at the same time and practically yelled "We can put it in a Vase..... with Water!" And proceeded to burst into laughter once more. Of course when we got home we found a vase and proudly displayed our flowers. 

When I left to head off on my Florida adventure, I left the flowers with Amy. And when she moved out of the apartment, she ended up leaving the flowers there. Every time we talked about those flowers, she always said how sad she was that she had left them. So, I have had this idea of giving Amy fake flowers ever since. I just hadn't found the right time to do it, until now. Giving her the flowers was my way of telling her I love her and to not forget me. (She's moving later this week up to Delta until the wedding and then she'll be living in Oak City, so I won't be seeing much of her anymore :( I'm gonna miss that girl!!) I knew that she would laugh hysterically when she opened the gift and she did. It was awesome. She and I were cracking up and everyone else just kinda looked at us wondering what was going on. It was a moment I'll never forget. I ended up spending basically the entire day with Amy and her family (her mom and sisters had come down for the shower). It was too brilliant! I love Amy, she's just too amazing for words.

The sleeping Shelly

Shelly loves to sleep in the weirdest places:

Why she chose a box, we will never know!

The Garden Project

Rach has been planning a box garden for the backyard. This weekend, the project commenced!

The beginning!

We were so cool, we mixed our own dirt.

Shelly and Jason were glad we were so cool. They had a lot of fun climbing on the bags.

Mark showing off his mixing skills

Jason "supervising" the project

The pouring of the dirt (really, it was more shoveling than pouring, but you get the picture :D )

Evening out the dirt

We didn't finish completely while I was there. We only got one box filled in, but it was fun! I'm sad I had to come back before we finished (that always seems to happen. Last year I was there for the buying of the plants, but couldn't stay for the planting). It'll be fun to go home and see the finished product.

Spring Break Pictures!

Here are a few pictures of my trip home for Spring Break:

Mandy Jo came over to play for a bit and it became "Story Time with Mandy Jo"

Painting Time!

Shelly got a little stuck....

Jason being Superman (as Doug called it. Everyone else just laughed!)

Photo Op with Aunt Katie!

My Play-doh creation