Mamma Mia and Angel's Landing

Can I just say I love my family. I love having a mom and sisters and daughters who are always on board with my ideas. I left the boys to fend for themselves over UEA weekend and took off for sunny, warm St. George for some bonding, laughter, and to forget about life for a few days.

With a car full of crazy women, crazy things are bound to happen. Stuck in the middle of the freeway with stop and go traffic, we needed a little diversion so we unrolled the windows, cranked the volume, and shared our love of Abba with the world around us.

When I purchased the tickets to Tuachan's Mamma Mia, I had no idea that front row really meant front row. We've all been in love with the movie and to see the play was just as good.

When we visited Zion's several years ago, Kiersten decided then that she wanted to conquer Angel's Landing (or Hell's Landing as I coined it) at some time in her life. I broached the idea the next day and we were off. Two miles up with a half mile to go, I seriously just about called it quits. When I saw this view, I knew my heart could not take whatever it took to get to the top, and frankly I was shocked that they let anyone navigate that last half mile unsupervised.

But my trusty comrades, or should I say naive billy goats, coerced me to the top.

Our bishop, who I discovered is terrifically terrified of heights, summited with the priests this past summer. I figured if he could get this picture of Erik, I could also conquer this terrifying feat. 

All I could think about as I clambered up this mountainous precipice was please don't slip and fall and two, what comes up, must come down. I also refused to glance down as I was headed up lest I get vertigo, plummet to a tragic death, and become an angel myself. 

The tricky part of the entire climb was negotiating around people ascending and descending all while not letting go of the safety chain. 

It's a long way down if you do.


But the view was worth it. Spectacular.

Would I do it again?

It's like childbirth. Immediately after my feet were planted on more stable ground I said no way. But time has a way of erasing those fears and thoughts. I might could do it again.

Unconquerable

Ah, last weekend. Just what the doctor ordered. I've been looking forward to our getaway since June.

Somehow I just knew we would be in a better job position and could justify this little trip. And actually the day our entourage of girls left marked one year since finding out Tyler would no longer be employed.

I don't think I could really call it a celebratory vacation, just kind of ironic in the timing. This past week I've randomly come across the story of Joseph in Egypt three different times. My patriarchal blessing references him so I reread his story because maybe God was trying to point something out to me. My take aways:

He was filled with an unconquerable spirit.
Life most certainly did not turn out quite like he anticipated.
He had some mean brothers.
He maintained his integrity.
He was wise.
He was generous.
He was forgiving.
He was a smart businessman.
God was with him at all times and . . . my favorite . . . 

"That which he did, the Lord made it to prosper."

That last line came as Joseph sat in prison, unjustly condemned. God can work miracles and make even the worst of circumstances prosper for our good. I'm sure Joseph wondered many times how it was all going to turn out. As I read, I was rooting for him, telling him to hang in there, things are going to get better. Because I had read the conclusion. I knew how the story ended. But in the middle of it all, Joseph didn't know. He simply continued to put one foot in front of the other. Faith. He was a man of faith.

My last take away from this story:

Joseph was blessed with 7 years of plenty and then 7 years of famine. We've had many years of plenty and are one year into our income famine. Oh, I hope the Lord wasn't trying to tell me that we are in for another 6 years of drought. I don't think my heart nor our bank account could hold out that long.

I am very grateful for the little income we do have but pray every day for a better opportunity to come along.

Joseph. I need to be more like him. More full of faith. More trusting. God knows the end of this story and he is working to turn these less-than-desirable circumstances into something better. The middle is not a fun place to be, but I'll take it over where we were a year ago.

Social Media

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers”
(Ephesians 4:29)

Facebook : Instagram : Twitter : Snapchat : Pinterest : Youtube : Blog

I'm coming up on 10 years that I've kept and maintained this blog. Back here I wrote a post about how I came to start a blog, and then Elder Ballard just a few short weeks later in a devotional asked us to begin sharing the gospel online.

"Most of you already know that if you have access to the Internet you can start a blog in minutes and begin sharing what you know to be true."

His words were more than coincidental and I truly felt like God was asking me to do this. So what initially began as a blog to document family stuff became a blog where I began to add more of my thoughts and experiences with the gospel. It's become what scrapbooking used to be but online. I failed miserably as a scrapbooker but have loved being able to document my life, our lives, with pictures rather quickly and share with whomever cares to read.

Honestly, my only following may be my family but if that is all I write for, it is enough. "For [I] labor diligently to write, to persuade [my] children, and also [my] brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for [I] know that it is by grace that [I am] saved, after all [I] can do." (2 Nephi 25:23) Ashlyn is quick to tell me when I haven't posted anything for awhile.

My blog was the beginning of my online presence. From there I joined the world of Facebook in 2008 and slowly added more media over the years. I'm using Facebook less frequently now that I've discovered Instagram. I have a Twitter handle but use it mainly to follow General Conference talks and elementary ed ideas. I use Youtube and Pinterest primarily as organization tools. Snapchat? Tried it once and didn't get it at all.

Lately I've been thinking about social media, how I use it, and my persona that is being projected to the world. I love how I can stay connected with family and friends but is what I'm sharing good? Does it uplift? Is it authentic? Does it build relationships? 

I was posting this picture of Erik the other day on Instagram and hovered over the box to also have it post to Facebook. To check or not to check? I rationalized that I have family members who are not on Instagram but are on Facebook so what the hey and I checked the box despite my uneasy feelings. He had received his ACT score of a 34 several weeks prior which put him above the threshold he needed to get a scholarship. He and I headed to the USU open house where they awarded him a 4-year, full tuition and I was excited to share the good news.

After making the post, I just didn't feel comfortable despite all the congratulations that came in. A week later I read a friend's blog entry about keeping it real. She basically laid out for the world that in the last 5 years they've lost their main source of income, had to sell their home, found out she has a debilitating disease, and that her kids aren't getting straight A's and scholarships.

Ouch!

Honestly, I know that was not aimed at me but it really has made me reflect on why I post what I post. What is the purpose and intent? Is it to make me look good and have everyone give shout outs with thumbs up and hearts of love?

I read a story years ago about a meeting where a general authority was visiting. The stake president was speaking about his family and going on how all his children had served missions and married in the temple . . . yada yada. The general authority gets up afterwards and kindly rebukes the stake president, "President, please don't burden the rest of us with your successes." (I tried in vain to find where I have heard/read this story and had no success.)

Heaven forbid anyone should feel worse about themselves after reading something I've shared. We live in a society of instant everything. Most people generate a quick response to an email or text or post and immediately hit send without rereading or rethinking what it is they have written. I've thought through a few questions to keep in mind before sharing anything online.

1. What's my motive?
2. Am I boasting or sharing?
3. Will it edify and uplift?
4. How will others feel?
5. Could this be hurtful?
6. Is it kind?
7. How would I feel about this post in 5 years or 10 years?

I want to continue to document my family's life. What a treasure trove I've amassed over the past 10 years. I want to continue to uplift and motivate and share goodness with my little part of the social media world. However, I want to be more authentic about why I'm doing it. I hope to never burden others by drawing attention toward myself but rather I want to multiply the goodness in the world by being more cognizant of my reasons for participating in this vast online world.

Cognitive Dissonance

Puppy heaven is where my kids have been all weekend and will have some withdrawals when the neighbors return.

"Mom, you know you want a dog!"

"Can't we get a dog?"

And what would I hear in a few weeks.

"I took her out last time."

"Why do I always have to take care of the dog?"

"It's not my turn."

Yep. Not gonna happen.

Kiersten came home this weekend and her facial expression was priceless when she was greeted at the door by a yapping dog named Queen Bee in her honor.

Cognitive dissonance. That is what she called trying to wrap her little brain cells around the fact that we had indeed introduced a dog into our family. We have been adamant for years when the subject is always broached that there would not be a dog in our family. I grew up with dogs; most of them a yellow lab all named Lady. Tyler has a disdain for them. 

Number two was the fact that it was an inside dog. I've never been overly fond of animals inside the house. For those brief minutes that we toyed with her, I wish I had it on camera. Her dad and I reveled in her complete and utter consternation.

The truth eventually emerged that we were only dog sitting for the weekend. Our family will still continue to be the family Kiersten knows us to be.

God doesn't do random

I was given a couple of tickets to the General Women's Meeting in Salt Lake (which is now technically the first session of General Conference) and treated my friend Lisa to dinner and then conference. She has dealt with a lot of really hard things in her life and is one of the strongest women I know.

She is working her way back to activity and told me afterwards how she wasn't sure about coming, but after listening to the talks, was so glad she came. The spirit is so cool how it can touch us all in different ways. God knew she needed to be there and made it possible for us to go. There was no randomness in having my neighbor across the street sit next to me at stake conference the week before and offer me her two tickets.

I love to listen to Sister Neill Marriott, with her southern accent, speak about her short comings and the authenticity that flows from her. This particular night she spoke about a relationship with a family member gone sour. I guess I never imagined anyone who is in that position to have struggles of any sort. But isn't it these hard things that make us strong? A life of ease will never mold me into who God needs me to be.

As I waited in the foyer for a moment, I was drawn to this painting by Brian Kershishnik. Continuous heavenly help is always with us during our difficult times. Our heavenly father loves us with a love that is immeasurable. He has not left us to toil alone.

My favorite talk from the general women's conference was Sister Eubank:

"Finally, my dear sisters, may I suggest to you something that has not been said before or at least in quite this way. Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world … will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different—in happy ways—from the women of the world." -- President Kimball

“You don’t … build out of pessimism or cynicism. You look with optimism, work with faith, and things happen.” -- President Hinckley

The prophets are calling on us, my sisters.
Will you be righteous?
Will you articulate your faith?
Can you bear being distinct and different?
Will your happiness in spite of your trials draw others who are good and noble and who need your friendship?
Will you turn on your light? -- Sister Sharon Eubank

Additional talks that spoke to me this conference
*Elder Rasband
*President Uchtdorf
*Bishop Waddell
*Elder Zwick
*Elder Ellis