Livi's Logic #6

Some pretty sound advice.  If you don't like what's happening with your life, change it.  We're all in charge of our own happiness :)  

Little Skiers :)

I got to go home the weekend of the 22nd and teach my niece and two of my nephews how to ski.  We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day, and they did so great!!  It was their first time ever, and we did six runs!  I was so proud of them!  They were so happy and so fun to be with.  Here's me and my little skiers :)

Not only was I able to be with these kids all day, but almost all of my family came home!  We had a fun ski day together

a sister's walk

a delicious lasagna dinner

celebrated Tillie's birthday with some Angel Food cake

and got to spend some time loving on this little cutie :)

Isn't he perfect?!

As you can see, it was a great weekend!  I love my family and I love the great relationships that we have with one another.  The whole weekend was full of laughter, hugs, food, and fun.  I feel so blessed to have the family that I do.  I thank my Heavenly Father for them every day.  

First Day of Spring

I absolutely LOVE this time of year down here in Provo!  Here's what I did on the first day of Spring :)

Zumba

Spanish

Gymnastics

Attended a guest lecture about social competency in elementary students--very interesting

Made myself a taco and ate it

Taught a four-year-old how to ski

Made a quick stop at Lo-Lo's for ice cream for a roommate party tonight :)

Filled my car with gas

Went to the temple with some peeps from my ward where I took this pic:

(I love flowers SOOO much!)

Finished my Spanish homework

Wrote a blog
Plus, I've been GLUED to  my ESPN app all day because I made a bracket, and let me tell ya, I'm stinkin' it up right about now...

Nothing extraordinary, but seriously, what a great way to kick off spring!

A Little Bit of Perfection...

After Spanish this morning I sat down to do homework in the JFSB in front of the large, east facing windows.  I had been doing homework for about 10 minutes when this was my view:

Oh how I love the sunrise.  It feels me with hope, joy, and love.  I am so blessed.

Livi's Logic #5

I love my parents.  The problem is that sometimes I take them for granted.  I saw this quote a couple of days ago and I decided I need to do a better job of making my time with my parents count.  

This weekend I was able to spend quite a bit of time with my parents.  I went to the state basketball tournament where my dad was coaching his high school girls' basketball team.  Tess and I stayed with my parents and had a grand ol' time!  His girls did so great and pulled out an upset in the semifinals to play in the championship game Saturday afternoon.  They played so well but ended up taking second.  I'm still so proud of them!  

Mom, Tessa, Violet, Sedona and I got to do some shopping and swimming and sit together at the games.   We had so much fun just being together and visiting about life.  It was so great!  My mom is just so loving.  I know she cares about me so much and I love being with her.  Nothing makes my day more perfect than a being with my mom.  She's the bookkeeper for the team, so she travels with them and my dad.  I thought it might end when Tess was graduated, but she still keeps going!  She loves going and watching the girls and supporting my dad.  

I had a lot of great moments this weekend, but my favorite one was with my dad.  It was pretty personal, so without going into too much detail, Dad basically told Tess and I how he knew we had worked so hard to be the best we could be and how bad he wanted us to accomplish our goals.  I almost cried.  My dad's not a one to dish out compliments or really tell us that he's proud of us.  I just always pretend he is :)  So, this moment had a big impact on me and I am so glad I was there to support him in his coaching.  He loves basketball, and he loves these girls.  They work hard and he was so proud of them this weekend. 

Summer's just around the corner, and I'm heading home!  I'm not going to lie, I'm a little nervous…  I feel like I'm heading into social Siberia.  I have great friends here and it seems like something is always going on!  When I head home there's going to be like no one my age!  I've been kinda bummed about this and wondering what I'm going to do.  Even Tessa is going to be gone!  I've never spent a summer home without at least 2 of my siblings home.  This week though, I decided it's going to be awesome!  I'm going to get some quality time with my parents.  I'm excited to spend some time with just us three.  Hopefully they don't get too sick of me bugging them about doing stuff with me…  I guess it'll keep 'em young :)  

Anyways, so all of you out there, love your parents.  They need us.  They need our friendship.  They need our love.  Just like we need theirs.  

Happy Birthday Uncle David!!

Today has been a special day.  My Uncle David had his first birthday in Heaven.  I haven't written about my experience with his passing yet because I've been having a hard time with it.  I just kept asking myself why it had to happen to him, why it had to happen to his family.  He passed away from complications due to lung cancer.  He always kept the Word of Wisdom to a "T," so it seemed so strange that his body would fail him in this way.  The only way I can make sense of it is that Heavenly Father needed him up there more than we needed him down here.  I can only imagine the marvelous work he is doing up there!  

Tonight Mary, Tessa, and I had a birthday part for him.  It was so great!  We made a cake, lit up the candles and sang our little hearts out.  When the candles were out and there was that birthday candle smell I was flooded with memories of birthdays around their table, David at the head.  He always made sure we sang the song quick and with gusto!  No song was ever finished without the follow up phrase: "What a windjammer!"  

The cake :)

A quick memory of cakes with Uncle David:  When Tess and I were in jr. high we were up at David and Sally's when he asked us if we'd ever made a cake.  Neither of us had… So he promised us that each time we made a cake we would get more good lookin'--that's why his wife was so pretty!  Obviously I haven't made enough cakes yet…haha!  I'm sure he was proud at how quick I whipped up this cake :)

This next picture is one of my favorites.  It was the first time we went to visit him at the hospital after his stroke.  I remember talking to him as he squeezed my hand.  As I was about to leave he brought my hand up to his lips.  I started bawling, but was filled with so much hope!  I knew he was going to recover and be back to his normal, happy self.  

We went and visited him again after he was transferred to the rehab unit.  This visit we actually got him to laugh!  It was so exciting!  I told him a story that my dad had just told me about his football days at Ricks.  My dad's coaches had gone to one of Snow College's games and watched David play.  They were very impressed with David and brought my dad in to talk to him.  The coach asked my dad if he was as fast as David.  My dad replied: faster.  They asked if he was as big as David.  His reply: 10 pounds bigger.  The conversation went on and my dad was so thankful that his brother played so well because after that he became the punt returner.  This story now has a special place in my heart because I heard Uncle David laugh for the last time.  

As the semester went on and I was down here at school I called my mom everyday for an update on David.  Most of the time I was in tears.  It was tough on his family and my heart was breaking for them. I was having a hard time dealing with this reality and as I tried to put myself in their shoes I couldn't even imagine the heartbreak they were experiencing.  Sometimes things just don't work out the way we want them to, but the Lord is in charge and He knows what is best for us.  Healing definitely didn't happen overnight, and I am still receiving comfort each day.  It seems though whenever I think of him, a picture of him laughing pops into my head.  He was always the happiest guy and I imagine he's even happier now that he's back with our Father in Heaven.

Uncle David and his sweetheart.  What an amazing woman she is!  I can't think of a stronger, more loving and caring person.  

Aren't they perfect?!

I know that Uncle David wants us to be happy down here.  He wants us to love one another.  He wants us to find peace.  I know we can find that peace through our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He knows exactly how we are feeling.  He can comfort us and help us find peace if we will let Him.  So, Happy Birthday Uncle David!  I hope I made the right wish for you :)  I love you!  

Livi's Logic #4

Mother Teresa has been one of my heroes since 7th grade.  In English class we had to write an essay about one of our heroes.  This hero couldn't be a family member and had to be someone we could look up facts about on the internet.  I didn't really have any heroes at the time besides my family, so I asked my mom who would make a good hero.  She told me about quite a few people and the things that they had done, but Mother Teresa won.  The more information I found about her, the more I grew to love her.  She was an amazing lady.  She truly lived her life in the service of others.  This is one of my favorite quotes from her.  

Don't worry so much about what others think.  The Lord knows your heart.  And really, that's all that matters.