Returning with Honor!

My brother Danny comes home from his mission in 3 weeks! I can hardly believe it has already been 2 years. But I just can’t wait to give him a huge hug. He is honestly one of the best people I know. If I can be half the person Danny is, I will make it to the Celestial Kingdom for sure. He is so kind and has the biggest heart. In our ward growing up, we had a girl named Cara who had MS and really just latched onto Danny. She would call the house and if I answered she would talk to me for a little bit and then immediately ask for Danny and then he would sit and talk to her for anywhere from 15-30 minutes every time. He would spend time with her at church and mutual and tried so hard to make her feel special. I was always so impressed with that. But that just is a small example of who he is. My senior year in high school on Valentine’s Day he had roses sent to my Anatomy Class with a card. We have always been so close and I have always said that I will marry someone like him. The year before he left on his mission, I was still in Mesa and we had 4 classes together at MCC, we taught primary together and while I was working for Dr. Germaine, he was working for the construction company that built the office and so he would come everyday to finish the work on the building. I have never spent more time with anyone in my life. We did get on each other’s nerves occasionally and one time he told my mom, “Bekah is so bossy.” Ya that is a true statement but if anyone could put up with that, it would be Danny. But I am trying to do mucho better because I know how annoying it is. Anyhow, this picture is a perfect example of how people love him. Everyone loves Danny! Everyone! Can’t wait to see him!

Mom's are 99.9% right most of the time!

Well I think this deserves a posting because it’s a funny story. At least to me. So when my mom was up here in Utah about a month ago, she went and visited and spent time with her college roommates and had decided to give one of her friend’s son’s my number. And then she tells me that I would have a good time but she didn’t know if I would be attracted to him but that I would most definitely be attracted to his younger brother….WHO IS ON A MISSION! Oh mom!. But don’t get me wrong. She thought he was cute but didn’t know if he would be my type completely. So her telling me that just screams a horrible date. Right? Wrong! So he calls about a week ago to go out last Friday and I decide to go into this with the lowest expectations so I’m not disappointed. And so Friday rolls around and he plans to pick me up at 7. So he knocks (sorry for the play by play) and as I am opening the door…I couldn’t believe it! He was so cute! And I just thought, “Mom, do you even know what I think is cute!” Because he is! And we had a great time. So funny and laughed at my jokes the entire time, (crucial by the way) and he just really brought out my personality. And I was totally myself which sometimes I think can be overwhelming but luckily he has 3 very independent, strong willed, loud sisters so he is used to it. And we went and played pool. How cool is that!

So he called again last week and we went out Friday up to the moonlight lifts at Sundance in the canyon and had so much fun. We have very similar interests and he is really chill and easy going. So then I got bold and invited him to the Rocky Mountain Revue at Salt Lake Community College for a group date with my roommates and their boyfriends the very next night. My friend Melinda’s brother was playing and she got us free tickets. I had a picture of Britton Johnsen playing but then I realized none of you would know who he is.

But the moral of this story is, for some reason, my Mom has never really thought that they guys I think are super cute, are cute. Did that sentence make any sense? I remember when I was still living at home in Mesa, I went out on a couple of dates with this one guy (who is now married to my friend that I set her up with) and she couldn’t believe how handsome he was and I was like, “ya he is” but she just couldn’t get over how cute he was. Oh well. So mothers are amazing for judgment calls and advice and all that great stuff and my mom totally knows my taste in clothes which is nice because she will buy me stuff on her own and I ended up really liking it. Which is fantastic by the way! But thank goodness this one time, she was wrong! Because I wasn’t all the way for going out with him and almost didn’t answer his phone call. Almost! Well more like 60% but then I knew that would have been so rude and I am happy I did because he’s cute and a really great guy! And he does have a younger brother coming home in November and I have to say since seeing a picture, he is pretty cute. So if any of you are interested….I will think you are ridiculous because that makes him my Brother Spencer’s age. Haha. Just kidding! No but seriously. My roommate McKell on the other hand…

Crazy or...Creative?

So Batman The Dark Night comes out tonight at midnight. I have personally never been to a midnight showing of any movie but my brothers have always gone with their friends to the big midnight showings. And so they always go real early with their friends to save a spot and who knows what they do to keep themselves busy. Play cards, listen to music, eat, flirt with girls (not my favorite one), who knows? Well today my mom called me to let me know what my brother and his friends had done to keep themselves busy for about 6 hours. Take a look:

Yes, Yes. That is exactly what it looks like. They are playing Guitar Hero. I have to admit that is pretty dang creative.

My Cup Runneth Over...

I really don’t mean to get on a high horse and that is not my intent on writing this but I just can’t stop feeling so happy. I don’t know where all this extra happiness is coming from but I woke up this morning with so much gratitude and I haven’t been able to stop smiling. Actually that's a lie. Work was crazy today. But anyways, I am amazed at the blessings in my life. I just can’t keep track of all the Lord’s tender mercies. They just keep coming and coming! I have the best family! They have always been such an incredible support group for me in everything I have done or been through in my life. I can’t even put into words the feelings and love I have for my sister and brothers. I remember when I was in the hospital, my sister came every single day when she wasn’t working to be with me and make sure I had someone when my Mom wasn’t there. I remember when my brothers administered the Sacrament for me on the Sundays I was there. It was such a special and sacred moment to have Danny bless the bread and water and Spencer preside and Dallin pass it to me. The best was when I saw the tears strolling down Spencer’s face. The spirit was so strong. I just felt so much love for them and I am grateful for the boys they have become and continue to become. I am grateful for parents who have taught me the correct principles of the Gospel and then allowed me to govern myself. What a light they are in my life!

When my parents were first engaged, my Mom lived down the street from President Kimball. So one day while he was out for a walk with his bodyguard, my parents got to talking with him and my Dad asked him if there was any advice he would give him what would it be. And so President Kimball looked at him square in the eye and told him, “Surround yourself with good people.” That is something I have always remembered. The people you spend time with have a tremendous effect on you. It’s rare you find a wayward child with good, faithful, church-going friends. My mom was always so specific about whom we hung out with. One time a girl came to the door to pick up one of my brothers and…lets just say she wasn’t wearing the most modest shirt. And so my mom told her that Danny wasn’t going out with her wearing that shirt. Danny about died! But I would probably do the same thing. I am so blessed to have the friends I do. I just don’t know where they all came from! We have all formed this incredible bond with each other. We do everything together and I know wherever life takes us, we will all keep in touch. They are all so supportive of me and I hope and pray that I do the same for them. We are happy for each other when good things happen, and we listen and feel each other’s pain when the not so good things happen. My friend Code got engaged a few days ago, and when her and Jon walked in and I saw her ring, I just started to cry because I just felt this immediate happiness for them. To see Code that happy, makes us happy too. What a blessing to have such good friends! And I don’t think anyone knows me as well as my best friend Amy. She can see right through me. About a week ago, I saw something I wasn’t exactly ready to see and it about killed me. So I drove straight to her house and cried for probably an hour and she just laid there with me and rubbed me back and let me cry. She told me that everything was going to be fine and that before I knew it, it wouldn’t affect me as much. And she is right! We have just been there for each other through thick and thin! And I am so grateful for her.

I am grateful that I am getting my education. I am grateful that I can wake up every morning with a full functioning body to go run, or go drive some where and go to a job that is the best one at BYU. I am just honestly grateful to be alive. I am grateful that I am not wearing a wig with an IV stuck in my arm and having to give myself shots in the stomach everyday with a needle stuck in a port in my chest hooked up to a vein in my neck pumping chemo into my body. When I think I am suffering, I remember that! Life is amazing! I have the greatest life. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t thank my Heavenly Father for a second run. I know that He always provides because He knows what is best. I am grateful that when he closes one important door, that he opens compensating doors. I know that when things change, or when somebody or something disappears from your life, that He sends other people and other things to make things easier and sometimes even better. What a blessing!

I am grateful for the Gospel. I am grateful that every key, every ordinance is available to allow us to one day return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. He has given us everything! I am nowhere near deserving of all the blessings I have. I sometimes wonder why in the world I have such a great life! I have so much to work on. But I keep trying and a lot of the times I fall but sometimes He lets us fall so we can learn how to allow Him to lift us higher. And if there is one thing I know so far it is that it is so worth it!

And so now that you all have wondered when this is going to end, wake up and…got get something to eat because I am really hungry right now. Thank goodness Kelli is having her All Star Game party tonight because that means there will be pizza!

This ought to be funny. Great idea Kim!

Be Gentle.

Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Not Fun!

So I have started trying to get back into shape the past month and I am here to tell you …it is not fun! And I am not quite sure why I keep doing this to myself. It’s just a pattern. I do really well all through spring and summer and then winter hits, and I am back to square one come May. Last August I could whip out 7 miles (thanks to an amazing running partner) and about a month ago, I could barely run twice around the track in the Smith Fieldhouse. Talk about embarrassing! Rather pathetic actually. So I am back to struggling to get to 3 miles and then I wake up each morning with sore, sore muscles (not because of bowling) and then I just have to run through it. And I have officially decided that it is much harder to get back into shape running on the ground versus on a treadmill. Holy Cow! I usually start out on a treadmill but nope, not this time. My body will thank me later…I hope. Oh and I think it’s time to get new running shoes. Oh wait I change my mind. I have great running shoes what am I talking about. I think it’s time to get a new running partner. But I really don’t think anyone can outdo Tim. I remember when we would run at home in Mesa, he would always run curbside so I wasn’t anywhere near the cars and we would put one ear phone in and leave one out for whenever one of us needed to say something. And we were running during all the drama with Max and I really needed a good run one night. So we start out running and at about 2 miles I just really start to pick up speed and then Tim does, and pretty soon we are trying to out do each other and finally I was like, “Tim why the heck are you running so dang fast?” And he was like, “because you are” and I was like, “no you are” and this went on for like 10 seconds and I just miss that with Tim. I would give anything to go run with him. And I know you all want to hear my sob story but the moral is…it’s always great to run with someone. Kelli you up for it?

Nothin Like Family

My parents were in town all last week and it was so great having them here. My brother was here for baseball camp but flew home right after because my brother-in-law needed help on their new house and so Dallin went home to help. I was sad but when family calls, family calls.

And my work gave me the day off on Friday so I could hang out with my Mom and Grandma. And for lunch….they wanted to go to Legends! Can’t they choose somewhere else to eat since I spent every single day of winter semester there! Oh well, my Dad came too and of course they really wanted to see all the sports memorabilia. My dad was definitely in his element. And then we went shopping after lunch and I found some super cute stuff so that is always fun.

My Uncle Larry and Aunt JaLene flew in from South Carolina on Saturday and I love spending time with them. My uncle is a history professor and knows everything and has the best stories especially about the civil war. There isn’t anything he doesn’t know about that time in history. And of course he has that super dry personality which just makes me laugh all the time. I could listen to him forever. And my aunt is just adorable and so sweet and I really wish they lived closer.

I went up on Sunday after church and I had an interesting experience. My Grandma is 86 and my Grandpa has been gone now for 7 years. I try to go up at 3 or 4 times a month and seems every time I go, she is getting just a little bit older especially compared to even a year ago. She repeats everything like 5 times to me and I find myself talking really really slowly. She just doesn’t have the energy she used to have and what I remember as a kid. And of course it’s hard for my mom to see her mom like that. I can’t imagine the day where my mom will be like that because there really isn’t anything my mom can’t do. Anyhow, my Aunt Jeri and Uncle Max came over too and I sat in on them, my parents and my Uncle Larry and Aunt JaLene going over my Grandma’s living will. All her assets, the house, the car, the investments, the bonds, the interior of her house and on and on and Grandma is just sitting on the couch between my mom and aunt and I just kept thinking how it was so strange to think that some day my Grandma won’t be here anymore. We have become so close these last few years and I will be crushed when her time comes. But it all was just a reality check and we kept commenting on how weird it was to talk about this with her sitting right there. And of course her response, “it’s ok…I know I am going to die soon.” Weird to hear her say that! But how great it is to know that life goes on and I know she is anxious to see my Grandpa and her parents and siblings.

And one of my mom’s projects while she was here was to go through all my Grandma’s pictures and write names of who and where things were. And as I was looking through the pictures of my grandparents as children and their wedding and their parents and siblings, I kept thinking about family history work and how important it is. What a blessing to know who you came from and to see the person you were named after, and who you looked like as a baby and it made me grateful for my family history. Which is probably why I am so big on journaling and picture taking and all that fun stuff. Someday, my grandkids will be doing what I was doing Sunday. Looking through pictures and thinking….wow look what she was wearing! No I am just kidding. Hopefully they will be thinking more then just that! Anyways…family sure makes everything right!