One thing is for sure about my family, when it's time to learn, they get both hands and their heart into it; when it's time to work, they are all in; and when it's time to party, GO BIG OR GO HOME!! We did all of that in August that's for sure! We got there just in time for my birthday, my grandpas, dad's brothers, my aunt's, and Jason's birthday! Plus my parents and my grandparents anniversary!! We had a Lagoon pass so we spent both our birthdays there. Man we also went to BYUI education week and a few musicals, we caught up with college friends, saw my ward as a teenager, went horse back riding on Antelope Island, cheered BYU games and listened to stories at grandma and grandpa Kunz' house, watched movies almost every night till super late...pretty much caught up for 3 years of being away. Any time I thought it was too late to do something my Dad would say "You can sleep in September". :)
I L.O.V.E.D being actually in my home for the month! I loved seeing my mom do school work with the kids at home and just being able to talk to her the whole day. I didn't likeloveddidn't like loved running with my Dad and Marshall first thing every morning. Thought it was so cool to be a part of my dad branching out into his own law practice (btw if someone wants an awesome attorney who really gives each person his best call Derek Williams at Wasatch Legal Services 8018609727 He is amazing!..And i'm biased), Priscilla and Marshall's friends were seriously some of the best I've met and I I totally felt like one of the group...which I thought was cool but maybe says something about my maturity level... anyways. Caleb, Clancy and Wesley were so cute playing with Aiden and Brynlee and helped me a ton so I could study for my Interpreting Certification exam and my Bachelors, and getting everything lined up for Michigan. Seriously they were a life saver.
My family taught a ballroom dance class every week and they invited me to teach some line dances
since I wouldn't have a partner I could teach with since Jason was working 7am-9pm :S. I have always loved dancing. I started ballet when I was 3 and have always been involved in some kind of dance whether it was in a musical, official dance production, or eventually on the ballroom and folk dance at BYU.
In the middle of the month Jason flew to Philadelphia to take Boards and despite a crazy work schedule was miraculously able to feel like he did very well on his exam. The last week of the month I had my ASL National Interpreting Certification exam and that was a special experience I will never forget.
As we were preparing for our exams we asked my dad to give us a blessing. Both were very tender and needed. I have been singing since I before I could talk and teaching it since I was 8. When I was 12 I went to Salt Lake Community College and started studying ASL Interpreting which I graduated with my Associates with when I was 18. Becoming a Nationally Certified Interpreter has been on my New Years Resolution list since I was 18 but other things have become more of a priority. With lots of faith, fasting, and prayers I was finally taking the exam again. When the day of my exam came I felt calm until the hour I was supposed to leave. I was so nervous and stressed trying to get everything ready to go and despite listening to Elder Uchtdorf's talk on being grateful despite our circumstances (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/grateful-in-any-circumstances?lang=eng) I was still struggling to not be scared. I got in the car to drive to the exam and turned on that talk again but my phone "accidentally" pulled up the wrong talk..."Fear not I am with thee" started playing (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/fear-not-i-am-with-thee?lang=eng). I was reminded of my blessing which among other things said I am loved and that there will be angels with me in my exam guiding my hands. I started humbly crying. I felt peace the rest of the day. Whether or not I passed my exam isn't the point to me. I have felt Heavenly Fathers love in a way that I will never forget and that to me is more than anything I could ask for.
When I finished the exam I rushed home and ran in a family 5k that my dad, brother, and I had been training for the whole month. It was an awesome way to end the day!
Things got kinda crazy after that! We bought and sold a car so we could drive in the same vehicle to Michigan, but three days before our trip we found out no one rents to the car we bought!! After frantically researching things we decided our big car was still fit to tow our small car so we bought a car dolly and made the trek out to Michigan!! I'll save the adventures here till next months update but in our less than a week of being here we have been in two motels, almost one apartment which was supposed to be our main residence, and are now renting from an AMAZING family in the ward. All I can say is Heavenly Father answers prayers and is with us more than we recognize.
Saying goodbye to my Blanchard family was one of the hardest things I've done in a long time!! I seriously love EACH of them sooo much. Moving closer to them to finish podiatry school was one of the best moves we've made, but since we were now moving away from them to keep our own family loser together, it made it more bearable. We all got together at Bahama Bucks the night before we left and of course a midst all the crying and hugging had to have one more competition. Depending on who you ask there is a different winner, but since I am the one writing this blog, It is SOO obvious that Jason won hands down. I dont know why there is even a debate on who won ;). (btw he is in the plaid shorts and yellow shoes)
After some special Fathers Blessing, the next morning afternoon we were off!! ..once the red Yaris and white Accent was packed to the brim including a roof bag. My Dad was awesome enough to have flown down from Utah to help with the drive, which was sooo helpful!
We made a quick stop to Utah to see my brother Colt before he took off on his mission to the Philippines. Which was another miracle because with Jason's work schedule we didn't think we would be able to see him before he left on his mission for two years. Of course He and my sister Priscilla (age 15) taught us some of their favorite ballroom dancing moves. I was so blessed to have been able to see his smile one more time before he left.
In Colorado we stayed with me Great Aunt Jeanie. They were sooo sweet to let us stay in their upstairs! When we pulled up my cousin twice removed (or something like that) was there with his family! They were our instant best friends. Mark and Crystal seriously were there for us in so many ways from having a friend to go to the beach with to being being our mechanic when the rood started to leak. On the 4th of July they invited us to their place and we saw them at least twice a week it felt like. Which was so needed because I had just left my best friend Jennifer Smith who I would see a few times a day. (I LOVE YOU GIRL!!! Seriously she is my hero in SO many ways)
We went to The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward that also had AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE in the meetings!We found out which ward building was ours by going to mormon.org . At this time I was really getting nervous (and scared and slightly going crazy) because I was taking my National Interpreter Certification exam the next month and it got moved up two weeks and I was not ready. After a lot of prayer we found this ward and the people there were so amazing. They were such an immediate answer to my prayers and fasting. They welcomed us in and let me volunteer interpret for their meeting and activities. There was a sweet interpreter in the ward that even met with me during the week. I can't say enough how overwhelmed with blessings I felt. And my exam was even able to be postponed till the end of that next month. My testimony of fasting was strengthened that month and I will never forget this experience. I went from panic to peace so quickly as I was put in a situation that all I could do was pray and fast for direction.
The Colorado beauty was stunning. Driving around in Greely Colorado and seeing the large open spaces and lakes you couldn't help but feel closer to God. My soul was defiantly nourished in so many ways.
Jason loved the drive also as he spent some of his day driving to different clinics. He said it was a great time to re focus during work. Jason's schedule was a very light one where he was at work around 9 and was done between 3 and 6! He did wish there was more surgery in this rotation though but he loved the teaching and the co workers.
Needless to say we were very sad to leave our friends and the beauty of CO but it made it easier knowing we were going to stay with my family for the next month in Utah!!
I can not believe it is almost Go Time for us! With Jason being in Podiatry school we have now hit our 4th year rotations around the country for the next year!!! We have been talking about this day for the past...well since we started Podiatry school...so for the past LIFETIME it feels like lol! Our schedule is going to be
June ~ Tucson AZ (just Jason)
July ~ Colorado
August ~ Utah
September ~ Michigan
October ~ Kentucky
November ~ Indiana
December-April ~ Michigan
WOOHOO!!! I am honestly SOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!! Usually when I tell people what we are doing they think I am crazy (or super needy) but here is why we decided to do what we are doing. It's pretty simple. It's just what we wanted and felt like it's what was best for our family, and Heavenly Father is helping make it a possibility! :) We have been so blessed already. For me, I would much rather move around every month to be able to see my husband for 5 minutes a day than to stay home and not have that little bit of contact. Jason wanted me to add that he is "so grateful and excited that my family will be coming with me!!! :)"
So we will have an awesome fun/hard/unpredictable/exciting year ahead of us, but I am so excited to learn whatever we need to make it on this adventure. I'll do little updates each place we are at of course. I haven't been able to find a lot of info out there on how to fit a family into a shoe box of a car so I'll also be posting do's and don'ts about that... for whoever happens to need that info later... Here is my first tip.
TIP FOR LIVING IN A HOME THAT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A HOME BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING IN IT:
* With Jason being gone this month we wanted to get most everything given away so I'm not having to do all the heavy work while he is gone. Good idea, but now with him being gone and nothing on the walls..or floors..it can feel pretty empty. I have learned while not being able to decorate to make my space feel like "home", by having good uplifting music on or playing crazy with Aiden and Brynlee, it brings such a happy spirit to the home! It is the best thing I can think of to fill a home with. Oh and for when Jason is gone and its super quiet at night, I have started listening to conference talks to go to sleep and it makes all the difference.
OH AND RANDOM TIP NUMBER TWO: Turn off all fans that are not in the room you are sleeping in at night. It's kinda creepy to wake up hearing the blinds moving in the living room because the fan was blowing them around lol. Save yourself some sleep and worry and just turn the fan off haha.
If you have any light packing tips I would love to hear them!
Here is a confession of mine in case you didn't know...I am a fighter! And this is to all the fighters in my life and everywhere. Not the fighters that react out of hate and revenge or spite, but the fighters that fight for the right! I'm specifically making a shout out to people that fight for their family!
My husband and I felt inspired to make our move from Glendale to Gilbert for several reasons but a big one was we wanted to develop closer relationships with family members. As I have lived in this complex and as our time in Gilbert is nearing an end I have been HIT IN THE FACE over and over again about the importance of fighting for ones family. Without going into to all the details of the pains I have felt for others my time here (like I am pretty much crying right now), let me just say that after all of it (and the more to come I'm sure) I know now more than ever that YOU AND THE ROLE YOU PLAY IN WHATEVER FAMILY YOU HAVE MATTERS!!!! My heart is yelling this right now! YOU, YOU, YOU - YES YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND YOUR FAMILY NEEDS YOU TO FIGHT FOR THEM!
Now let me be clear that when I say I am a fighter it doesn't mean I'm looking for a fight. Being a fighter can be substituted with the word defender, protector, safeguard-er...anways, any kind of action word that means you are willing to do what it takes to keep your family strong. Going along with that let me also add the words Nurturer, spiritually in tune, prayerful...
I have sooo many examples in my life of men and women who have fought for their family. My Mom is a hero among heros in that regard. She has taught me, though I haven't really realized it till now, the importance of fighting "for the right, without question or pause, to be willing to march into Hell for a Heavenly cause". How? Mom isn't just a word for her, Mom is someone who listens, encourages, LOVES, nurtures, mentors, and is a "Lioness at The Gate". I know just how much that title "Mom" means to her. I can't talk about her in -exchangeable role as Mom without talking about my Dad. He has the smile that goes to his ears, a voice of reason and guidance, a provider, and priesthood protector both spiritually physically. The two of them work side by side in making our family a place where the Christ is the center and and home is our fortress against the storms of life. What a team!!
There are many other Fighters in my life! One fighter can seemingly hear every problem anyone has ever had and still is a spiritual rock for her family and the people around her. One works endless hours and sacrifices more than I can even imagine for her children and after all that is often seen at the park with them. Another is her children biggest cheerleader and advocate and loves her husband dearly. My husband works endlessly for us and then takes time to listen, be crazy, and be the spiritual leader we need in our home. Another doesn't have any children but is most the loving and truly caring person to everyone I see her talking with! I can go on and on...in fact, think of a way that you fight for you family and go ahead and insert it here!
Sometimes we feel like fighters because we are literally having to fight to keep ourselves together from freaking out, or on a bigger scale, our family together for eternity. PLEASE keep fighting! You are making a difference! So often I am having a precious family moment and I catch it on film only to then notice that my house was a mess behind the fun or my kids were practically naked in the picture. I think of the picture perfect pinterest captured moments and think there is no way I can share this! Stupid! I am not focusing on things that matter in life! As my mom said to me today "when some part of life is going crazy, there will ALWAYS be another part of life that is going right". To people that are having times much harder than my crazy messy house or not getting kids dressed by dinner time,
To you fighters that feel like you are the only one that even cares about your fight, please please please know that I know that there is a Father and Mother in Heaven that notice the difference we are making and are making up for all of the things we lack.
I truly believe that family is central to God's Plan for us. Being a Mom is so sacred to me, and whatever role you have, Sister, Daughter, Son, Brother, Grandpa, Grandma, Friend, YOU AND YOUR IMPACT ON YOUR FAMILY IS CENTRAL TO GODS PLAN TOO! I don't know why I've had to learn this lesson such a hard way these past few months, but because of this I am willing to fight, nurture, provide, pray and do whatever it takes to be with my family for eternity. Family is the center of my plan too...and I'm a fighter.
Think back on a moment when you
were CRAVING to be closer to God. Where you caught a glimpse of what Heavenly
Father has to offer and you longed for that conversion or change in your hearts
to be a little better.
I had a
moment like that recently at the Gilbert temple dedication. I was on a
spiritual high and I wanted to be as good as I possibly could be to be closer
to my Heavenly Father. Singing the closing song "The Spirit of God" I
was BELTING the words. I wanted to mean every word of that song and I wanted
the angels to hear and be witnesses of it! I was going to do what I knew was
right and nothing and no one was going to get in my way!
In
Mosiah 5:2 king Benjamin's people had the same desire that I had. "The
spirit of the Lord omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in
our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good
continually." As a character in Little Women put it, "I give myself
up, longing for transformation".
Bonnie
L Oscarson in the last conference said "Living the gospel and standing in
holy places is not always easy or comfortable, but I testify that it is worth
it! The Lord counseled Emma Smith to lay aside the things of this world and
seek things of a better. I suspect we cannot begin to imagine just how
magnificent those things of a better world are."
For me
usually after I catch this vision and am on a high I start writing down goals
of how I can be better....and by the time I finish the goals I can be SO DOWN
and think that I am a failure! I realize just how much I need to work on and it
can seem like an impossible dream. This is NOT the spirit of Christ. Christ
wants to help us! HE LOVES US AND UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH AND THE
DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS! So often we think perfection means being perfect when
all it really means is that we are trying and doing our best! Christ will make
up the difference! Enough of comparing ourselves to others, even good things!
All we need to do is keep on trying! We cannot give up!
In the
talk be ye converted sister Oscarson said "true conversion comes as you
continue to act upon the doctrines you know are true and keep the commandments
day after day. Month after month." Just go slow and steady. But be
consistent.
To
receive that mighty change in our hearts and become converted it is a
process that takes time effort and work. We need to allow ourselves to become
changed by this! So many times I am too busy to let myself become changed from
the time I put into a scripture study, so the scriptures will be open for a
half an hour but my thoughts will be everywhere else but on "things of a
better world". I put the time in, but I didn't give any effort to showing
Jesus that I want be changed. Other times I'll put the effort to have a good
scripture study, but doing it only once a month is not putting int the work to
allow yourself the time to become converted! Conversion or change is a process,
but it is a JOYFUL PROCESS!
One of
our family scriptures Helaman 3:35 says "Nevertheless they did fast and
pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in humility, and firmer and firmer
in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation,
yea even unto the purifying and sanctification of their hearts, which
sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." It
doesn't say that they did immediately become strongest humble person around or
the firmest person in the faith of Christ! lol It was a process! But the next
sentence says that it was a joyful process. It FILLED THEIR SOUL WITH JOY AND
CONSOLATION till it purified and sanctified them BECAUSE they yielded their
hearts unto God. This time on earth is a time of growing in the plan of
happiness. Not depression from wishing we could run faster than we can walk.
It can
be hard to tell if we are becoming more converted in the business of life, but
if we take time to be still we are more easily able to reflect on the direction
we are making in our life.
I have
felt my conversion to family history strengthen as I did family history and
took some names to the temple for Sealings. While I was there I felt like I was
a part of the most tender sealing of a couple that loved each other so much on
earth but weren't sealed and thus weren't married in heaven...till just then
when their love story was finally complete and they sealed for eternity. I was
reminded of the BOUNDLESS LOVE that I have for my husband! I am soooo in love
with him and I'm so thankful four our special sealing that took place on May
27th 2011. Our sealing is one of the most precious things to me and I want to
share that blessing with all of my family. Family history work now goes beyond
my ancestors, I want to do it with my living family members now and I want
everyone I know to be a part of this incredible blessing of the gospel that I
have! My heart was changed by acting on something I knew to be good.
Another
time I had a choice to make and my head was telling me one thing and the spirit
was telling me another. But I trusted my head more because it made sense to me.
Long story short people were hurt from my choice. I felt horrible because I
ignored the spirit and now I had such sick feeling around me that I couldn't
shake. I could hardly think. My husband asked if I had prayed and I hadn't. I
pleaded to my Father in Heaven for the power of the atonement to be forgiven
and to PLEASE take this nasty feeling away so I could be joyful again.
Immediately I felt the peace and joyfulness that I was longing for. Through a
mistake on my part I was able to grow and become changed because I allowed my
savior to change my heart. THAT’S ALL THAT MATTERS! Growing though our trials.
Don't get hung up on the mistakes and instead embrace the ability to change our
hearts in the process.
Right
now missionary work is huge and everyone is saying that now is the time to do
our part. Last week we were asked to pray for each of the missionaries and the
people they are teaching by name. So that is what I am doing now. I don't have
a testimony why I am doing that, but I know that that is what I am supposed to
do, so I'll do it! Little by little every day/month/year my heart will become
changed by me showing the Lord I am willing to obey even if I do not know
exactly why. Someday hopefully I will see that conversion.
Slowly
and Joyfully by living commandments my heart will be molded and converted into
what God needs it to be.
"Although
Conversion is miraculous and life changing event, it is a quiet miracle".
We just need to "Be still" and know that God is God and that he does
have a purpose for us. I testify that He loves us and longs for us to be closer
to Him just as we long to become closer to him. It is NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM.
I love that the important things in life are really made up of such little moments. There are so many quotes dealing with this. I'm just thankful that I was reminded of it today. In this video there is a spot where the mom is on the computer and the children are playing in the rain outside, then the mom stops and looks out the window. I LOVE that part. There is so much to experience around us if we take the time to slow down and open our eyes; allowing ourselves to fully LIVE!
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” Robert Brault
"Life isn't measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"
What a WONDERFUL day! We passed boards
part one!!! Such a huge blessing. I am sooo grateful for the blessing to be in
podiatry school and the many lessons we are learning about trusting in our
Lord. When I saw the email saying that we had passed I started dancing and
cheering around the house with Aiden...ok I was the only one dancing and
cheering around. All Aiden would give me was a funny look as he was eating
breakfast.
Later on today I
turned on Prince of Egypt for Aiden and found in its Extras section a multi
language version of the song "When You Believe". I love that song
anyways but listening to it after finding out we passed just really hit the
spot. Hearing it in so many languages reminded me of how much our Father in
Heaven loves ALL of us and understands what we need to help us come closer to
him. I probably listened to that song three times and I almost cried every time
I listened to it. I KNOW my Father in Heaven has been helping us make it
through school and that there is no way we could do it without him. I love and
need him so much every day. For all of you that aren't fluent in 28 different
languages, here are the words to the song :)
Many nights we've prayed With no proof anyone could hear
A few days ago I
listened to the talk called Beautiful Mornings by Elder Bruce D Porter. Reading
it made me appreciate how beautiful my mornings really are. When I get Aiden
out of bed many times he will start clapping when I walk in to get him. Jason
isn't working crazy hours at a rotation yet so I get to spend a little bit of
my mornings with the love of my life before he goes off to school for the day.
My mornings are never better though than when I wake up before everyone else to
read my scriptures and write in my journal on my balcony....ok so that one
doesn't happen very often...but when it does it always starts the mornings off
beautifully (till I crash on the couch from being so tired later on in the day
lol). Reading my scriptures later on in the day is always great too, but it just is something special to sacrifice precious sleep to read before people wake up. Anyways. My days go so much better when I take the time to notice
the things that I think are beautiful and give thanks for the guidance Heavenly
Father gives me as I listen.
This is the part
that I have been thinking about the most lately.
Every one of us, and our families, can be armed with the power of God as a defense if we will but remain true to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and let the Spirit be our guide. Trials may come, and we may not understand everything that happens to us or around us. But if we humbly, quietly trust in the Lord, He will give us strength and guidance in every challenge we face. When our only desire is to please Him, we will be blessed with a deep inner peace.
In the early days of the Restoration, the members of the Church faced severe trials. President Brigham Young said of that time: “When surrounded by mobs, with death and destruction threatening on every hand, I am not aware but that I felt just as joyful [and] well in my spirits, as I do now. Prospects might appear dull and very dark, but I have never seen a time in this Gospel but what I knew that the result would be beneficial to the cause of truth” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 357).
My missionary companion, Paul, was someone who always radiated good cheer. As a young father, he was stricken with multiple sclerosis. Yet despite the adversity that followed, he continued serving others with joy and good humor. He once entered my office seated in his first wheelchair and declared, “Life begins with a motorized wheelchair!” I will always remember him, a few years before he died, holding high the Olympic torch while riding in his wheelchair as hundreds cheered. Like that ever-burning flame, Paul’s faith never dimmed in the storm of life.
When I was a student at Brigham Young University, I lived in a house with several young men. My roommate, Bruce, was the most optimistic person I have ever known. We never once heard him say anything negative about any person or any circumstance, and it was impossible not to feel buoyed up in his presence. His good cheer flowed from an abiding trust in the Savior and in His gospel.
One cold, wintry day, another friend of mine, Tom, was walking across the university campus. It was only 7:00 in the morning, and the campus was deserted and dark. Heavy snow was falling, with a brisk wind. “What miserable weather,” Tom thought. He walked farther, and out in the darkness and snow, he heard someone singing.
Sure enough, through the driving snow came our ever-optimistic friend, Bruce. With his arms outstretched to the sky, he was singing a number from the Broadway musical Oklahoma: “Oh, what a beautiful morning! Oh, what a beautiful day! I’ve got a beautiful feeling, everything’s going my way” (see Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” [1943]).
In the intervening years, that bright voice in a dark storm has become for me a symbol of what faith and hope are all about. Even in a darkening world, we as Latter-day Saints may sing with joy, knowing that the powers of heaven are with God’s Church and people. We may rejoice in the knowledge that a beautiful morning lies ahead—the dawn of the millennial day, when the Son of God shall rise in the East and reign again on the earth.
I think also of two other beautiful mornings in the history of the world. In the spring of 1820, on the morning of a beautiful, clear day in Palmyra, New York, a young man named Joseph Smith entered a grove of trees and knelt in prayer. The answer to that prayer, the appearance of the Father and the Son, ushered in the dispensation of the fulness of times and the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ to the earth.
And yet another beautiful morning dawned nearly 2,000 years ago just outside the city wall of Jerusalem. The sun no doubt shone with exceptional radiance that Easter morning. A small company of women had come to visit a garden tomb, hoping to anoint the body of their crucified Lord. Two angels met them and declared: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24:5–6).
Of the triumph of Jesus Christ over sin and death, I bear witness. Of the merciful plan of our Eternal Father and His everlasting love, I testify. As we rise up each morning, may we look to heaven in faith and say, “Oh, what a beautiful morning,” I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
One thing is for sure about my family, when it's time to learn, they get both hands and their heart into it; when it's time to work, they are all in; and when it's time to party, GO BIG OR GO HOME!! We did all of that in August that's for sure! We got there just in time for my birthday, my grandpas, dad's brothers, my aunt's, and Jason's birthday! Plus my parents and my grandparents anniversary!! We had a Lagoon pass so we spent both our birthdays there. Man we also went to BYUI education week and a few musicals, we caught up with college friends, saw my ward as a teenager, went horse back riding on Antelope Island, cheered BYU games and listened to stories at grandma and grandpa Kunz' house, watched movies almost every night till super late...pretty much caught up for 3 years of being away. Any time I thought it was too late to do something my Dad would say "You can sleep in September". :).MOV)
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