Up the Mountain for Conference

We headed up the mountain saturday night to spend some time in the crisp mountain air! Something about being there is so fun and refreshing.
We got burgers at the malt shop and ate tons of candy.
We made monkey bread for breakfast and enjoyed it while hearing the prophet and apostles speak.
Jude spent as much time walking as possible.
Then we went for a walk around the village.

Time is flying

It's already April! The weeks are coming faster and faster now. I'm officially 18 weeks now, and I finally feel like I actually look pregnant. Yay! We are getting more and more excited to welcome baby into our family. This past weekend we cleaned off the crib we'll be using. It's the crib me and all of my siblings slept in. I'm so happy my parents saved it! I love old things, and especially ones with sentimental value.

Last weekend we got to welcome my little brother home from his mission. And when I say little, I mean younger. I am definitely the shortest person in my family now, even tho I'm the oldest sibling. Funny how that worked out :) We are so happy he's home and so proud of all of the amazing service he did for the people of Nicaragua. His accent is funny, and he's really tan, but he's still the same goofy boy he was.

We decided when we found out we were pregnant that we would wait until Kyle got home to tell him we were pregnant. I started to get worried as the weeks got closer and I wasn't showing as much as I thought I would have been. The true test came when he hugged me and looked down at my belly and said, "What's that?" Relief! I said, "Your nephew." It was a little much to take in right then, but he is really excited just like the rest of my family. Yay!

The Sabbath

Sunday is a special day- a day of relaxation, learning + listening, spending time with family. It's a quiet time. I am not a fan of 'breaking' the sabbath. I like the term 'breaking' because the day is like a clean slate, and if I do something I'm not supposed to, I really picture the slate breaking. There are certain things that I REALLY care about, and this is one of them.

Growing up, my parents were VERY strict about Sunday rules. They became active again in the church when I was about 4 years old, and I think with that activity came true devoutness. What were we allowed to do on Sunday?
Go to church. We were allowed to watch TV- but we couldn't go outside and play with friends. Sometimes we'd go for drives or visit grandparents. It was basically a quiet, relaxing day. (It makes me think of this scripture, one of my faves. Alma 57:21 "Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them."

Once I was a teenager I usually took a nap in the afternoon after church, depending on the time our church was. But I always spent the day with my family- that was my favorite part.

The reason I'm writing this? Moving to Utah has done something to us. We have become relaxed. And I hate it. Everyone struggles with different things. Some people are really good about keeping the sabbath holy, or reading their scriptures, or doing service. Some people have a hard time being modest or keeping their language clean. I used to be so great at so many things, and I feel like those things have faded. So this is me admitting that I need to be better.

"Try a little harder to be a little better." Gordon B. Hinkley

Sealing Day

Our weekend via the iphone

I love the hipstamatic app for iphone, obviously. Here's our long weekend in sunny CA via the iphone.
I have a billion more pics I took with the 5d and I'll upload those eventually.

The reason we went to California? Brian + Moonsung were sealed in the Newport Beach Temple along with their sweet daughter Campbell. The whole family was together and it was wonderful. I also got to throw my parents a 25th anniversary party. The days were busy but we loved it.

Remy attacking David's breakfast burrito

Amanda + Lilah
David + crazy Lilah
We stayed the night on Wed night at the trailer park in littlefield, az.
Me attempting to calm Campbell down

Me + mom at burger basket
Dad + Nana
The girls entertaining Campbell
Lilah on uncle Davids shoulders
Us at the temple
the newly sealed fam

the girls with the dolls nana jean made them
chloe drawing in sacrament meeting
Me + the Cam-meister

Martin's Cove

From James E. Faust's "A Priceless Hertiage"
"You who are among the descendants of these noble pioneers have a priceless heritage of faith and courage. If there are any of you who do not enjoy fellowship with us in the gospel of Jesus Christ, we invite you to seek to know what instilled such great faith in your ancestors and what motivated them to willingly pay such a terrible price for their membership in this church. To those who have been offended or lost interest, or who have turned away for any reason, we invite all of you to join in full fellowship again with us."

photo taken by David of Martin's Cove + the Sweetwater River on Christmas Day night with a long exposure

The Nicaraguan

I think my little brother who's on a mission is officially as tan as the natives.



It's good to know he's enjoying himself tho. He was always up for adventure, and I'm pretty sure that's what he's getting. Plus, he knows how to have fun AND work hard.

Elder Faught

Amy's Shower

We are so excited for Amy's upcoming wedding and it was fun to celebrate at her shower and eat the yummy crepes. After the shower Dres and I headed to the temple to check out the grounds since I hadn't been there before. It reminds me of the Rexburg temple a lot, and I'm excited to shoot there next week.

missionaries

i read a lot of blogs. today i read one that belongs to a family that i grew up knowing in yorba linda. they posted a letter they got from their son who is on a mission. it's strange to read his words when i haven't seen him since he was in primary, but the end of his letter was one of the greatest things i've read.

I'm so happy that you are happy. Life is good isn’t it? The Gospel makes everything brighter, I love it.

my testimony of missions and what they can do for individuals and families grows every day :)