Thankful for Seminary

For those of you who may not know, Kori has been student teaching seminary with the hope of getting hired full time. When were engaged he was offered the opportunity to teach early morning and I told him to go for it. He continued this for the first year of our marriage and was then offered a student teaching position and has been teaching ever since.

Monday evening we recieved an email from Salt Lake with the news that would change the rest our lives. One we have been anticipating for a very long time and it finally came. Before we opened it we prayed that whatever happened we would be able to feel at peace. The letter thanked Kori for all that he has done but unfortunately they already filled all the positions available. We both had our prayer answered and felt peace about the decision.

This was hard. Very hard. It is really hard to have to let go of something you have been hoping for and dreaming about for so long. I have cried a lot this week, every day several times a day. Enough for both Kori and I for at least a month. It has been an emotionally exhausting week. It honestly is heartbreaking. I will probably cry some more. Kori has a passion for this and it is hard for me to see him have to give it up. He is so strong, and I am amazed by him. I wonder sometimes if this is harder for me than it is for him. He is so amazing with the youth. He loves them and they love him in return.

I have wondered and asked why he didn't get hired. If there were simply just 20 people who were better than him, we may not ever know. I have wondered and had so many different thoughts as to why this is suppose to happen. The last time I cried this much and had this hard of a time with something was when I was engaged the first time. The thing is if I was never engaged the first time, I would have never met Kori. The only reason Kori and I started talking was because of our trials. It makes me wonder what is going to happen now that he isn't suppose to teach seminary. In many ways I don't see why he shouldn't teach but I don't know everything. Sometimes we have to be humbled even if it is in the way we don't want it to be. Usually it is in a way we don't want it to be.

Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Obviously the Lord has a plan and even though we may not understand why some things do happen, he certainly does. Trials aren't easy, and they aren't meant to be. But we can be bitter or better. When we choose to be better that is when the Lord is able to help us grow and teach us what he wants to learn or needs us to learn. If we become bitter then we won't ever learn from our experience, it will only keep us from moving on with our lives. Elder Neil L. Anderson said, "These fiery trials are designed to make you stronger".

We aren't meant to live in the past, we are meant to move forward. If we are too focused on what happened or why something was so "unfair," how will we ever enjoy what we have now. Life is to be enjoyed, and the Lord wants us to be happy.

The past three and a half years we have had the blessing to associate and be a part of the seminary and institute program. They have lots of meetings with the students teachers and their spouses where we get to learn how to become better teachers, parents, and examples. During this process we are also interviewed in our home as well as over a video call with general authorities and others from Salt Lake City. It is tedious process but a very rewarding and wonderful process to be a part of. There are things I have learned that I can apply to my personal life and as a mother, friend and wife. I have grown closer to my savior and have learned so much.

Not only have we been blessed, we have also seen students lives changed and blessed. Since he started teaching there have been a few students from different classes that decided to get baptized. The most recent one we went to the whole family was baptized. I was so grateful to see how much the gospel could help a family so much and help them come so far from such a hard place.

I am so grateful for my husband and his hard work and dedication to the Lord and to seminary. He is truly amazing. I have never seen someone so passionate about the gospel and helping others gain a testimony. I love him and everything he has done for our family.

The seminary and institute program is inspired. It changes lives and has changed our lives. We are so grateful that we were able to be a part of it as long as we were and we will miss it so much. We are so grateful for all the friends we have met and made because of this program. We are grateful for those who have dedicated their lives to this program and teaching about the savior so that other can gain the truth of the gospel.

We are also grateful for all those who have prayed, loved, and supported us before and after the decision was made. We have never felt so loved and hope all of you are blessed for the many kind words and acts you have said and done. We love all of you and hope for the best.

I want to share my testimony that I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true and only church on this earth. I know the Joseph Smith saw our Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon and Bible are true. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true Prophet of God and I sustain him and all the General Authorities of the Church. I know that Heavenly Father does answers our prayers. I know that we can be with our families forever. I know that trials are there to make us stronger and can help us learn in a way that maybe we wouldn't be able to otherwise. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

It's finally warming up!

I love being warm. This long cold season just doesn't always sit well with me. Maybe I just think it's cold but really it's just my native (St. George) upbringing that makes me thinks it's cold. Either way I am so happy to finally get out of the house more. There is only so much you can do inside with your two year old, and doing dishes everyday with her isn't the most exciting thing in the world.

I have been taking advantage of this (hopefully permanent) change. I took the girls to Kori's seminary. We surprised him and Kallie had never been so it was fun and loud. School had just ended and sometimes the youth like to be loud. Which is totally cool, I guess I just forgot I was the exact same way. Kallie enjoyed sitting in several of the blue chairs, playing the piano, and coloring on the white board. It's fun to watch her explore, grow, and get excited about little things.

Kori had a meeting so we said bye and left for the park. We stayed for almost three hours. Kaitlyn was totally cool with it so why not. Kallie was all over the place and asked me to take like 20 videos of her going down the slides. Of course I did. Well not quite 20 but a lot.

She is just so cute!

Her run totally gets me. It's so adorable. Little kids are just so cute.

We also fed the ducks this week. It was a lot of fun and Kallie told me all the colors the ducks were. She also tried to hand them some bread but they ran away from her. Kaitlyn just stared at them for a long time.

We went to the park again because I am desperate to get out of the house. A different park than the first and we had a picnic. There were not quite as many kids playing at this one and some girls from our ward showed up so she had a lot of fun.

 There is a giant chair at this one. Kallie wanted to sit on it, but what kid wouldn't?

Getting a Returned Missionary!

Last week was wonderful! My family and I drove down to Salt Lake City, Utah to see my sister on Temple Square. She has been serving a mission their for a year and a half. We got to have a tour of the mission office and call center. She showed us how you chat and what they record about each of their investigators. It was really cool, I had no idea how much they did online! We also got to meet her mission president, he was a really neat man of course. We also watch Meet the Mormons and got a tour of the Tabernacle. We also saw a glimpse of how the sister missionaries are when they aren't out teaching. To put it mildly they are very happy ladies.

Temple Square is a pretty neat place. Well, that is an understatement, it's awesome! If you haven't gone, go.

After Christy said her goodbye's we all drove down to sunny St. George. It literally was sunny and I LOVED it. Perfect weather the whole time. I really really miss the weather. My sister and I went running together. It was the first time I have been running in over a year. I had horrible chin splints and my legs were in a lot of pain but I still loved it. Hopefully this Idaho weather warms up or makes up it's mind soon, I am so ready to start running again.

While we were in St. George Kori and I went on a date! Wahoo! We don't get to go very much or as much as we would like so we take advantage of the opportunity. We also got to go to the Temple. It's really nice when it's only a 10 minute drive. Apart from seeing my family, going to the Temple is one of the things I look forward to the most when we go to St. George. It is so neat being able to go back inside to the sealing room we got married in. It is so beautiful. If you haven't gone there I recommend it ;) Preferably with a spouse if you can.

While we were down there Christy was released as a missionary. It was hard for me and I wasn't even being the one released. Being a missionary brings such a special spirit and feeling into a persons life. They are given a special blessing that helps them to know how to help others come unto Christ. When you are a missionary you entire goal is to help others find happiness in Christs' church. It is a completely selfless thing to do. Missionaries are amazing because they leave their families and serve others so that other families can be together forever, to help those who are searching for the truth, and for those who just want to be happier. Not a temporary happiness but an eternal and never ending happiness. After Christy was released she said she felt like she lost 20 lbs. and Kori suggested 20 lbs of muscle. Which makes sense because when you are a missionary and serving the lord he gives you a lot of extra strength. Missionaries are amazing, enough said.


That was our trip to St. George. Here are some pictures and videos for your enjoyment.

Christy and Kallie being missionaries together! Once we saw Christy on Temple Square Kallie wanted to wear a name tag and be a missionary too!

Kallie loves seeing Jesus. After all, he is a pretty good person to be around.

This was after Christy gave her homecoming talk. Micheal and Alena also came down with their three adorable boys! Christy did so wonderful, she could be a really good youth speaker.
Not even joking.

 This was on our drive home. Kaitlyn has an adorable laugh and both of the girls did really good on our road trip. We owned those 9 hour drives. (I thought I shortened this but oh well, the second half she laughs a lot more.)

"Thank You for Trash"

Those four words came out of Kallie's mouth last night as she was saying our family prayer. Kids say some silly things but I don't think I had ever heard that one before. Kallie is a sweet girl but I can't say trash is something I am particularly grateful for. (It stinks and is sometimes the not funnest chore to take care of.) It took everything and more not to laugh, yet Kori and I both still did. I am pretty sure she was just looking around the room when that popped out because she said "Thank you for cups" too... like three times. Either way I started thinking about it probably more than what you would say is reasonable. Now I guess you could say that I am thankful for trash too, and I have said it, just not in those words. I would like to share two types of trash I am thankful for.

1. The trash that we have in our garbage cans.

When we have trash in our garbage cans that means we have been blessed temporally. For instance the empty bread bag and an empty shampoo bottle means that we have had food to eat and a nice warm shower. How can we not be grateful for that? I really like being able to shower and eat, as I am sure all of us do. I know I have shared my gratitude for those things. (Especially for a shower after camping).

2. The trash or trials we have to overcome in our lives.

One of the first things I think of when I hear the word trash is something that stinks. Sometimes life is trashy and stinks. Sometimes we have trials and things that are not very fun to take care of but that's kind of the only way we grow. And just like the trash in our garbage cans shows that we have been blessed, trials can do the same thing for us.

Trials and trash sometimes come and we don't expect it, well probably most of them come when we don't expect it. I have had my share of trials and I am sure I will have many more but I honestly can't imagine my life without those hard things. Because of some of those trials I found my husband who is the biggest blessing I have been given in my life. If I wouldn't have gone through hard things I wouldn't know the good things. If I didn't feel sad or burdened, I wouldn't know happiness, peace, and freedom.

There are so many different trials people can go through and I am grateful for the ones I have had. I have seen some pretty sad, difficult, and heart breaking things that many of my friends and acquaintances have had to go through and it amazes me how much stronger they become and happier they are once they have overcome and made it to the other side of their struggle. I can't imagine having to go through some of those things and I am even more grateful that I have been given the trials I have had because it is what was best for me. Each of us are given different trials because the Lord knows each of us so intimately that he knows what we need, what will make us stronger, better and happier. The thing is, we have to let him help us. We can get through anything as long as we let the Lord help us. Of course it isn't always easy. It's not meant to be. Sometimes letting him help us is the hardest thing to do during a trial. Maybe letting him help us is the trial, but he will always help us if we allow him to. Trials are there to build us up, not bring us down.

Lets be thankful for all the different kinds of trash in our life.

Here is a little video of Kallie! I am grateful for the trash we had after we made our treats! ;)

Some Thoughts on being a Mom of Two

I haven't posted for a little while. Well actually it has been over a year and a half, oops. I decided that I need to keep a journal better and this is one way to do it. I am at a time in my life where there is so much happening and I don't want to forget about all of it. Plus blogging is something that I can do for myself. Which is probably what this post is going to be about, well and about my beautiful family too.

So I recently became a mother of two. It's kind of surreal.

Two kids is a lot fun and a lot of work. They are about 21 months apart so you can imagine the diapers. (Well, I am in the process of potty training but that is for later). It is amazing to see how much they love each other already. I didn't expect an infant to really pay attention as much as Kaitlyn does. Kaitlyn is so aware of her sister though. She watches her play constantly and I am pretty sure she wishes she could join. She stares at Kallie when she plays her little piano and watches us run around the house playing tag.  She sometimes will cry if she feels too left out.

Kallie is also very fun to watch interact with Kaitlyn. She is always giving her kisses and toys. Most of the time she just sets them next to Kaitlyn on the floor. Kallie also gives her blankets because "Kaitlyn is cold". It's pretty adorable. But I think my favorite thing to witness is when Kaitlyn wakes up in the morning or from a nap. Once Kallie hears her making noises she runs into the room and says "hi" to her like 20 times in her high pitched voice that she learned from Kori and I. (Because you always talk to a baby in a higher voice, of course). Kaitlyn smiles and lights up every time. Needless to say, they love each a lot.

There are also some difficult things about have two kids. The hardest for me; splitting up my attention. I didn't realize how hard it would be to do this. I worry and wonder all the time if I am giving them both the love and attention they need. Kaitlyn especially because she does cry more than Kallie did. (But Kallie hardly ever cried). Kallie is two so I have to make sure she doesn't get into things. Plus disciplining and playing games with her. All the while, Kaitlyn just wants to join us. Sometimes she does join us, because Kallie likes to hold her on her lap.

Two kids is a lot of work. Especially when both are pretty dependent. Kallie is starting to get more independent but I still have to help her with a lot of things. With that being said, I never have needed "me" time more in my life. It gets tiring even exhausting sometimes especially if you don't get a good nights sleep, which is pretty common with infants. I have come to realize just how much it helps to be able to do something for yourself that you enjoy. Don't sell yourself short. Being a mom is a lot of work no matter what stage of life you or your kids are in so if you don't take time to do something you enjoy it might get overwhelming. We all need breaks. I have always enjoyed working out and running but it's still too cold to go running (Growing up in St. George spoils you) so I started going to a free Zumba class. Even though I feel very white (because lets face it, I am very white) it's still fun and helps me to feel like I am doing something for myself. Plus exercise releases endorphins which makes you happier, right? (I think).

Overall, being a mom of these two little girls is the best thing ever and such a blessing. They are smart, strong and beautiful and I get to be their mom!

An update about Kori; he graduates in July! Oh my goodness I literally cannot wait. It can't come soon enough. He is also currently student teaching seminary at Nampa High School. Oh and he is up for hire this Spring! If I think about it too much I get really nervous. But whether or not they decide to hire him full time, at least I know it is what is suppose to happen. Either way, it has been a huge blessing and a wonderful experience to be a part of the seminary and institute program.

P.S. My little sister finishes her mission a week from Wednesday!