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.  

Sometimes Dreams Don't Come True...

When I came to school here my freshman year I was pretty certain that I was going to be an Elementary Education major.  I went to all of the meetings and declared it my major.  One meeting at the end of my freshman year they told us that the department offered a study abroad program in New Zealand your last semester of practicum, or the semester right before you student teach.  I was sold!  

So, since then I have been saving my money, dreaming, and, conveniently enough, staying single :)  (you can't go on this study abroad married).  As my dream was getting closer, I was getting more and more excited!  I was so excited to go to New Zealand and experience a different culture, see how their school system works, and just have an adventure!  Then on Monday I got an email telling me that the study abroad for 2015 is cancelled.  I was devastated.  (I still kind of am…)  I cried a couple of tears while I read the message on my way from the JFSB to the Library.

I was pretty bummed and for a moment I even considered changing my major to Spanish?!  I told Tessa and my roommates when I saw them.  I couldn't get the courage up to call my mom and tell her though, cause I knew I would cry again.  It's just kinda hard when your dreams get crushed, ya know?  Then I went up to the ski hill and taught 5 kids grades 2nd-4th how to ski and everything was right again in the world.  I just love those kids and I decided I really do want to be an elementary education major!  It's okay if I can't go to New Zealand, that wasn't the reason I chose this major in the first place.  

Tuesday I finally mustered the courage to call my mom.  I still cried.  She helped me out though, and since then I've thought of a bunch of really great things I can do with a semester abroad that involve using/learning Spanish.  Really, the possibilities are endless and I haven't had time to look at all of them, but rest assured, I'll be doing something fun next fall :)  

I guess it was about time I received this little bump in my charmed life.  Looking back at it a couple of days later I know that it's going to be a blessing.  Everything is going to work out, and it'll probably be even better!  So, even though this post is kinda depressing, don't feel bummed for me.  (It's just so I don't have to re-tell this story every time someone asks me when I'm going to New Zealand) So, even though dreams don't always come true, sometimes they change, and sometimes the change is even better!    

21!!!

It was my birthday yesterday, and it was the best birthday of my life!  The whole weekend was so great!  Definitely better than I could have asked for.  

I'll just start with Saturday, the day leading up to my birthday.  I had Insanity and work nice and early, but I got to go and work on some of my personal skiing before the lift was open (another nice perk of being an instructor--instructor clinics). Then I had a fun lesson in the morning with two cute little 4-year olds who had never skied before.  They did great!  Then after I signed them out to their parents I turned around and my parents were there!  I was expecting them, but I was still so surprised to see them!  We visited outside in the warm sun while I ate my lunch.  They were able to meet some of my co-workers and bosses and it was just so fun to have them there and have them meet some of the people who are having such a huge impact for good on me.  Then my lovely boss let me off early to go with Mom and Dad.  So, we came back and went to the BYU Women's basketball game and then out to dinner at Texas Roadhouse!  It was my first time ever, and of course I got the ribs :)  Ribs are one of my favorite things, and these ones were especially delicious!  Then we went to Target where Mom and Dad "gave me" two super cute sweaters for my birthday.  Then we went to the Creamery and got some good ol' ice cream :)  I'm so blessed to have such a great family.  I love them so much and I'm so glad they chose to spend their day off down here with Tessa and I.  Thanks again Mom and Dad!  I love you guys!

My real birthday was Sunday, and boy was I spoiled!  I woke up to texts full of birthday wishes and they kept coming all day long!  My roommates cooked me breakfast.  French Toast even!  My favorite!  I seriously live with the best girls!  

Then church was great, and after two guy friends from my ward came over and sang 3 different renditions of Happy Birthday accompanied by an accordion.  It was so fun!  

Celinda and Jesse had Mary, Tess, and I over for birthday dinner, lasagna!  Once again, one of my favorite things! Then when we came back to the house the side door was locked!  I was trying to get in with my key, I pounded on the door, I even cussed a little (I think I said stupid…) and then Mary convinced me to just go through the front door.  When I went through the door the living room was FULL of my friends and they all yelled, Surprise!  I really was so surprised!  I had no idea that they had been planning this?!  I still don't know how they kept it so hush-hush… Then we had cake and candles, and played a game and it was so great!  Mary even made a chocolate roll?!  When we sat down to play the game I looked around and said, "Wow, I'm so lucky to have such awesome friends."  But really you guys, there were so many good people in one room, and I considered ALL of them my friends.  I love every one of them.  One of my friends took video of blowing the candles out.  I can't figure out how to upload it, but it was good!  

I don't know if awesome birthdays are precursors for an awesome year, but I think we're off to a pretty great start :)  I can't wait to see what the next 364 days have in store for me :)  Thanks everyone for making my day so great!  Thanks for all the phone calls, texts, voicemails, Facebook posts, and wishes in person.  You guys are great!  

Paige Montgomery

Another amazing girl has made an impact on my life.  She has been one of my roommates this past semester and I'm so glad I've had the privilege to life with her!  Paige is so great!  We've been the babies in the house, she's just a few months younger than me, and we've gotten a long so well!  This morning Paige left to Germany to do an internship.  She's going to be working for the Church over there, and I'm so excited for her and the awesome experiences she's going to have.  While I'm so excited for her, I'm sad for me--I'm going to miss her so bad!  I'm already having withdrawals!  Normally when I got home Paige and her now fiancé, JJ, would have been here, I would have talked with them for quite a while, smelled there delicious cooking, and then been offered something pumpkin and healthy that she made from a new recipe she was experimenting with.  She's just so great!  

So, one of my favorite memories with Paige was just a few hours after I arrived, she invited me to go with her, JJ, and some friends to hike Mt. Timpanogos.  I was so excited and so surprised that she'd invite me.  She barely knew me!  I could be some annoying weirdy for all she knew! (Maybe I am, but at least she's nice about it :)…) It was one of my favorite days, and I'm so glad I got to share it with Paige.  

Paige is a go-getter and is going to go so far in life.  She's a great friend and a great example. Love you Paige!  See you in a few months :) 

Livi's Logic #3

I know Heavenly Father loves me, and I know He loves all of you too.  

He is our comforter and our best friend.  

Turn to Him.  

Resolutions

 So, resolutions are typically the bane of my existence.  I would always set great ones, do well for about two months, and then totally bomb it!  The problem was, when one seemed to start to go downhill, all of them seemed to do the same.  As soon as I messed up once, I felt like I had failed already because I wrote in my goal "everyday," or "every month," ect.  This was pretty discouraging for me because I tend to consider myself a fairly driven person.  I'm not one who gives up easily, but these dang New Years resolutions were kicking my rear!  So, I stopped making them all together.  Instead of resolutions I made "commitments" to myself.  These were not written, they were just things I told myself I was going to do, and I always did pretty well.  It was definitely a much less stressful way for me to go.  But now, about 5 years later, I'm giving this resolution thing another go!  This year it's going to be different.  

Now, before you all start laughing, let me tell you what I've decided to do.  So I was talking to my mom on the phone on Sunday and she was telling me about her Relief Society lesson.  She said that the teacher talked about a new kind of resolution.  Here's what you do: Pick a word that you want to describe you in the coming year.  Some that I've thought of are kind, listener, service, happy, optimistic, friendly, outgoing, and charity.  I've narrowed it down to one.  By the end of the year, I hope that this word is part of the definition of who I am.  Each morning when I wake up, I'm going to think of this word.  I'm going to try to pattern my life after what this word means by my thoughts and actions each day.  If I don't do so well one day, guess what, it's not over!  I just need to wake up and do better the next day.  I'm excited to try this new way of making a "resolution."  Instead of feeling like I have to schedule all of my new resolutions in, I'm just going to try to incorporate it into the everyday tasks of my life.  So, for any of you who struggle with resolutions, maybe this is the solution for you as well :)  

I thought this was pretty good:

Oh, and:

Happy New Years Everybody!!