Sedona hiking

Back in January, I took a day trip with some friends to hike in Sedona. This was my first time hiking these hikes. Sedona is a wonder!

Ou first hike of the day was Devil’s bridge.

It’s super popular, quite short, and a must do in Sedona.

Mandi made sure we did a modeling shoot.

Because my modeling skills are ahhhmazing.

A perfect place for meditation on the way down.

Have you ever stopped and asked a stranger to take the most awkward picture you can think of? We have!


At the next hike, I did a one try parallel park in the van. It had to be documented.

This trail brought us to three destinations. First, you pass Devil’s Kitchen. Then you arrive at the Seven Sacred Pools.

You continue on Soldier’s Pass to eventually get to the secret cave. Such beauty!

For someone not afraid of heights and plunging to your death, you do this.

For the person with a whole heap of fear but willing to attempt at facing at, you do this.

She is so brave!



We sat at the window, too.

And this is the point that my anxiety got the best of me and I thought the whole thing was going to break or my vertigo was going to make me tip right off. Inside I was freaking out. Outside, I panicked a bit too.

 

But it’s gorgeous!!!


We ended our day eating Mexican food. Sign me up for a Sedona trip anytime!

cheers to 40 years

Eric is 40! While the actual day was celebrated on our family vacation to Disneyland, we had a second celebration when we got back home. (Followed soon after by a third celebration. More to come on that later.)

Cheers to 40 years! We invited friends over for a Rootbeer tasting party and a smoked meat dinner. We had a house full and it was loud but such a nice night.

How cheesy is this. What a good sport to hold still for a picture. 

We had one table filled with all sorts of different kinds of bottled rootbeer. Everyone could sample and then vote on their favorite.




There was also a name that rootbeer table to guess which rootbeer was which.

We sang happy birthday to the old man.

The aftermath of the table.

The votes came in and Teddy’s was the favorite rootbeer.

The only picture I got of Eric with any of his friends.

I’m so glad this man was born and for all the ways he blesses my life on a daily basis. 

Happy 40th birthday, E!

priesthood

At the beginning of the year, Perry decided he wanted to be ordained a deacon in the priesthood. He knew one of the things this would mean is that he could help pass the sacrament to the congregation of the church. As his parents, Eric and I were so anxious about this new responsibility. I knew he was capable if he wanted to do it, but it would take some extra preparation and thought into how to best support him.

He had a great interview with the Bishop. He explained to Perry the significance of being a priesthood holder. We talked to his Young Men's leader and came up with a plan. 

The day came for him to be ordained a deacon. It was a special day.

And it was like a mantle was placed upon him. He has risen to the occasion and God has strengthened him. 

One of our concerns was getting Perry to wear a white shirt. He refuses buttons and collars usually. I think if we really couldn't find a solution he would've been just fine wearing a t-shirt, but we found a solution he agreed to--a white short sleeved polo style shirt.

The next concern was his fine motor skills. His hands are very shaky. He was nervous himself that the sacrament trays would be too heavy. We practiced once before he was trained with the other deacons. And amazingly he hasn't had a problem carrying the trays yet.

We were also worried he would get confused and wouldn't know where to go. One of the sweet Deacons (this kid is amazing and seriously his care for Perry brings tears to my eyes) buddied up with Perry and walked with him for the first month. They give Perry the same route each time so he know exactly what to do and where to go. When Perry has questions he turns to Trevor and Trevor so kindly and patiently teaches him. During the second month of passing Trevor gave Perry a little more space to allow him to independently pass the sacrament. The support of the other young men has been extremely beautiful, appreciated, and exactly what Perry needed.

Since Perry started passing the sacrament and joined the Deacons quorum, I have seen a positive shift in him. He is more confident and independent. He feels important and needed. He feels a part of something big and special.

My heart is so full watching all of this. Isn't this the same kid who would throw his keys, the ones he clutched everywhere he went, while we sat in the pews of the chapel and our friends and ward members would have to duck to not get hit when his impulses got the best of him? Isn't this the same kid who would scream and bite and have to be carried out of our meeting each sunday? I couldn't imagine then that this glorious day would get here like this.

I know it has touched the hearts of our congregation as well. Most sundays, I have at least one person approach me and tell me how tears come to their eyes when they watch him pass the sacrament. It really is a beautiful thing.

I'm so grateful for Perry in my life. He teaches me and tests me and makes my heart grow deeper and my love soar. Glory to God for this special experience.

a woman's voice

This morning Brinna and I climbed into my bed after the older kids all went to school. She held up her little hand and wanted to match it up with mine. Then she asked to match up our noses which led to a fit of belly laughter. 

We spent the next five minutes pretending to sleep while we took turns shouting "boo" at each other to make the other person wake up with a jump. Brinn's laughter spreads out of her soul and fills a whole room with joy.

THAT is why I love being a mom. 

I went to book club last night and we discussed the book "The Woman They Could Not Silence" by Kate Morton. 

It reads more like a history book than a novel, but definitely not as dry as a text book. The author was able to use the exact words of Elizabeth throughout the book so you get to hear her true voice. I loved it. Because Elizabeth Packard is a woman whose character I can relate to. Her story--her life--is incredibly difficult yet her courage, her convictions, and her voice change the world for the better. 

She lived during the Civil War at a time when a married woman had no rights and no voice. She was the property of her husband and when he didn't like how her opinions were different than his and how she spoke out against him, her husband wrongly committed her to a asylum. She endured and saw so much abuse. But she knew "You can not kill a spirit, it lives after all you have done to destroy its existence." (Elizabeth Packard) So she carried on and overcame and did so much good.

"What is very singular in my case is that this woman crushing machinery works the wrong way. The true woman shines brighter and brighter under the process, instead of being strangled." (Elizabeth Packard)

She upheld truth no matter the consequence. She valued motherhood. She stood up for the oppressed. Even in difficult circumstances she was caring and serving. She was intelligent and wise. She didn't cower or change who she was. In fact, she knew her purpose and her assurity and confidence in her mission and in herself carried her boldly forward. She made mistakes and owned them. She used her influence and her story to bring about big changes. She was oh so forgiving, even to people who I didn't think deserved it.

What an incredible human she was! 

"Women are made to fly and soar, not to creep and crawl." 

-Elizabeth Packard

I believe that so strongly. As a woman, we can use our voice, our compassion, our wisdom, our empathy, our virtues, and our influence for so much good in this world. We women need to be vulnerable, supportive, and kind with each other. Yet we need to defend truth and righteousness and stand up for those who can't no matter where we are. 

We must use our voices for good.

The world needs us.

Someone needs you.

spring

My kids just went back to school after over two weeks off.

We stayed local for our spring break. We deep cleaned and went on little adventures here and there. 

I love having a break and I love getting back into a routine again, too.

Spring is such a happy, calming, and inspiring time of the year. It makes me want to, metaphorically, plant some good seeds in my life and rise up a little more to enjoy the sunshine and to blossom.

Eric and I have been joking this week about how I have a "simple list of just ten things to do each day" to relieve all the challenges one person may have. Whether it be anxiety, depression, relationships, adhd, sickness, grief...I do {admittedly annoyingly} advise all to follow this pattern. It's so simple...hahahaha.

1. read something inspiring

2. write your thoughts down

3. exercise

4. write out a schedule/plan

5. connect with nature

6. connect with people by doing something you enjoy together and engaging in good conversation

7. breathe/meditation/break from screens

8. write out and say out loud affirmations

9. sincere prayer

10. organize/clean or plan something

See? Easy list that solves ALLLLLL problems. Right? ;)

Even if I don't get to each of those things every single day, I personally feel better and more content in the striving for them. 

Eric reminds me that people are so different. I do understand that. But I'm still convinced that if you check off those boxes each day, or even swap a few boxes with things of your own {like have true fun or eat healthy}, your life does get better in a hopeful, joyful, lighter way. I'm just sure of that. Maybe I need to enlist my family to conduct an experiment to see? Wish me luck on that one. :) 

Regardless of what I do and how I actually spend my time each day, right now I'm grateful for spring and the refreshing hope and growth of a new season. However, I choose to approach it.

Disneyland day five

Our last Disney day was back at Disneyland.

I love this family of mine. Even if this trip was not as magical as I hoped it would be. It was too cold, too wet, too crowded, and too much sickness. I think I swore off coming at Christmas time ever again. But I do love these people who I get to experience the good and the hard with.

So much rain! But we went on rides anyways.

We rode the rides at fantasyland that we had missed the days before.

We spent some more time in Star Wars land.







We got some appetizers and drinks in the Star Wars cantina there. That was fun!






It was raining so hard at one point that we rode the train and the matterhorn around for as long as we could tolerate just to stay dry. We tried to hit up many of the other rides that we hadn't gotten to yet, too.


I truly love the white room at the end of It's a Small World.

We took a break back in the hotel like we did every afternoon. 



And then went back in the evening for more rides.




I did something really interesting before we went on this trip. I watched documentaries and researched so much Disney history. It enhanced my disney trip ten fold to sit on Jungle Cruise and understand how the ride came to be and to walk by a door on Main Street and understand who the people were and their contribution to Disney that were named on the door as an often overlooked detail. It was fascinating to me! I shared all my "fun facts" with my family as we walked around the park. It made me want to be a Disneyland tour guide someday ;). In all my preparation, my appreciation for Walt Disney and his vision grew. I don't love the current direction that recent leadership is going with the parks, but I do love the goal and belief of Walt and this special place he worked so hard to create for families. Disneyland is one place that our family with a wide range of ages and abilities can all enjoy together. Thank you, Walt Disney!