1 Year

It's hard to believe that today marks the 1 year anniversary of Reed's death. In some ways it feels like the time has flown by, but most often it feels like it has been the longest year of my life.



I miss Reed a ton. Sometimes I still expect to walk into my parents house and have him be there.



I will forever be grateful that I listened to the prompting to invite Reed to go to the Temple with me hours before his death. Those few hours will always be a special memory for me. Being able to chat with him one on one about the different things going on in each of our lives on the way there and back, stopping to get ice cream (the "husky boy" needed a treat) on our way home, and just feeling of his Spirit were simply perfect.




A little over an hour after dropping Reed off I was at my house reading the Book of Mormon when I had the most overwhelming feeling of peace. Within minutes my brother Tommy called to tell me Reed had been in an accident and it didn't look good, I needed to get to the scene. As soon as I got off the phone I felt the Spirit comfort me and tell me Reed wouldn't make it.

Never have I been so grateful for a knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and God's Plan of Happiness for each of us. I know that one day I will see Reed again. I miss him so much but what an incredible blessing it is to know that death is not the end.


“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. … It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.” - Elder Orson F. Whitney

Sunshine and Flowers

I love this time of year, there is such a sense of hope that comes with Spring! I absolutely love the newness and freshness of everything. I am such a sunshine kind of a girl and I'm so thrilled that it's been such beautiful weather the last few days. (too bad I have to work in an office and can't be outside all the time!) Best moment though, walking out of work and seeing these gems:



I love flowers! If I could, I would always have fresh cut flowers in my house, they make me super happy!

I know that Spring will probably play a few tricks on me as it has in years past and we'll still get a little snow. But for now, I'm going to love this sunshine!

A Few Things...

1. I would like to publicly thank February. Typically we have an incredibly rough relationship but this year it wasn't half bad. I'm not going to go as far as saying we're friends, but I don't despise it with every fiber of my being like I did last year.

2. 3rd row Jazz seats are incredible. Especially when the Jazz win big.


3. Loved being reunited with the Little Girls/Big 5/Fab 5 last weekend. Too bad we were slackers and didn't get a picture of us all together.

4. I love to teach Relief Society. I wish I got to do it more than every 3 months.

5. Getting to talk to my little missionary was fantastic!

Breakfast of Champions

The last few weeks I have tried harder to have a healthy breakfast (green smoothies, muffins, etc.) Today was not that day. Combination of running late, realizing I left my work computer at home half way to the office, my favorite Valentines treat from my mama, and being exhausted resulted in the following combination:

1 slice of strawberry pie + 1 McDonald's hash brown + 1 large Dr. Pepper = the Breakfast of Champions

I don't even regret it.

Jazz Fever!

Free tickets to the Jazz vs. Clippers game
+ Fantastic Friends
= One great night! (even if the Jazz lost)

Back to Blogging, I think...

Life is good. Perfect, no. But overall I am one blessed girl to live such a great life. Things have changed a bit in my life since my last post. New position at work, new callings, Tommy leaving on a mission, a new car and loads of other stuff. Change tends to be a theme in my life, I choose to embrace it. With my new job I have gone to loads of meetings about furthering the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have felt over and over again that I need to start blogging again. I don't know why and I don't know what about necessarily. (especially since I don't feel like I have loads of spare time on my hands plus I don't think that anyone even checks this anymore) But I have decided to start up again. I plan on just posting some of the random loveliness that occurs in my life, dwelling on the positive. Even if it's just for my own benefit, at least I will be able to look back on the many great things I experience in life.

Big News!

Good News #1: So I had a great new job opportunity fall into my lap last week! This is the view from the outside of my new building:



I am going to be doing human resources for the Family History department of the LDS Church. They gave me an offer that I couldn't refuse! I'm pretty excited about it!

Good News #2: This boy



received this big letter in the mail today!


(my pink finger nails, not his)

I can't wait to find out where he's going later tonight!

Watch My Corn Pop Up In Rows

One of my goals has been to learn to garden. So for my first attempt at planting my own garden I would say it's been pretty successful so far. (minus the cilantro that died and the two zucchini plants that suddenly went missing a day after planting them)









Some produce I picked on Monday.
It has all tasted so good! I even made some fresh salsa with it yesterday.

Childhood Dream Job

In elementary school I dreamed of being an archaeologist when I grew up. I loved history and thought it would be awesome to discover things from ancient civilizations. I absolutely adored reading books about ancient Egypt and Greece.

In college my love for ancient architecture grew stronger as I took History of Interior Design classes. I dream about going to all of these places that I have studied and learned about. My parents just got back last night from my number one place I dream of going to…Greece! Seeing their pictures made the desires to have my childhood dream job came back. So while I save my pennies I will live vicariously thru them and their pictures and stories and dream of going there someday (hopefully not too far away!).

Life is Beautiful

Life is interesting.

Let's go back a few months. I thought I knew exactly what was going on. I am a planner and I had a plan for my future. Then life happened and my plans were no longer in the works. To say that these last few months have been hard would be an understatement.

I have done a lot of reflecting and looking back on my life, specifically the last year of my life; I can see the hand of the Lord so distinctly. I can see how He has led my path. There have been many times where I didn't understand why I was getting the answers I was but now I can see that it was for a wise purpose. I have come to know more than ever before that my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ know me perfectly and they love me infinitely. Never have I had to rely on them so completely.

I never would have picked these trials, not in a million years. But I would never trade these experiences because of the lessons I have learned and I am continuing to learn.

"…fear not. Be of good cheer! The future is as bright as your faith."

• President Thomas S. Monson
  

I have faith! I have faith that the Lord has a plan for me. I know that I am learning so much right now. I know that there are great things coming my way! So although life is so complicated right now, it is Beautiful!

I think the most important thing that I have learned thru all of this is something I've always known but never completely done. I have learned to rely on my Savior.

I know that as long as my Savior is by my side, I can do all things (including the hard ones)!

How Sweet It Is!

Let's just be honest, I'm totally loving my Cougs these day! They have been so fun to watch this season. Even though I haven't gone to as many games as in years past I have totally been supporting my boys in blue. The atmosphere at the Marriott Center has been incredible (especially for the San Diego State game!). Confession, at the last home game I may have gotten a litte emotional and teared up a little bit when the seniors were announced and then at the end when the players were cutting down the net.

So thank you BYU Basketball! You've done my heart good!

Welcome Back!

I got home from a fabulous week long cruise in the Caribbean yesterday. Of course Utah welcomes me back with a beautiful snow storm today. So while freezing in my office I thought about this sight from last week.



I know you're all jealous. You would probably be jealous if you saw me and saw how tan I am.
Also my lack of blog updates the last few months have been because most of my time lately has been spent with this guy.



So be looking forward to some more posts about the cruise, my big 25th birthday party, and ice fishing.

Come What May and Love It

To say that this last week has been rough would be an understatement. I don’t think I’ve ever felt heartache at this level in my life. But through the trial my family is experiencing I have grown. I’ve never felt such an outpouring of love as I have this week, especially from my Savior. I feel like my relationship with my Savior Jesus Christ has strengthened immensely. I have felt his love for me so strong. I know that he knows me and is aware of my situation and is lifting me up. Isaiah 41:13 says, “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” I don’t know if there is a more comforting statement then to know that our Lord will hold our hand and help us. I am so grateful for the Atonement.

This last week I’ve also felt how much the Holy Ghost truly is a comforter. I can’t even describe the peace that I have felt despite the hard things happening. I know that I’ve been lifted and strengthened to be able to do hard things. I’ve been reading a lot of church talks. I love this statement from Elder Jeffery R. Holland in the talk “For Times of Trouble.” “In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike—and they will—you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham’s seed.” Not only does more comfort come with this knowledge but I have honestly felt it.

I truly feel so blessed. In no way is this easy, but if life were easy how would we grow and become the people that our Heavenly Father wants us to become? I have embraced the statement and talk from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin “Come What May and Love It.” I know that how I react to adversity is huge. I choose to react with faith in the Lord. One of my favorite scriptures the past few years has been Doctrine and Covenants 123:17. It is part of the revelation that Joseph Smith received while in Liberty Jail. It says, “…let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the Salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.” So I will cheerfully do all things that lie in my power. I am determined to. I have faith in my Savior that he loves me and will never leave me alone. And for that I will love him for eternity.

“Remember an unfailing, continual, ever-present source of peace and comfort is available to you. It is the certainty that your Father in Heaven loves you no matter what your circumstance, no matter what winds of trial, turmoil, or tribulation whirl about you. That certainty will never change.” (Elder Richard G. Scott, The Sustaining Power of Faith in Uncertainty and Testing)

Looking Forward To...

I have a lot to look forward to in the next few months. Here are a few of the items:

• Seeing The Color Purple with some awesome girls
• Reed and Tommy’s Birthday
• Tommy’s School Play (he is the lead in South Pacific, everyone should go see it)
• Harry Potter 7 (yes, I’m aware that makes me a nerd)
• Thanksgiving
• Trip to Arizona to see Monday night football! (my first NFL game)
• MoTab Choir Concert
• Melissa Coming Home
• Christmas!
• My Birthday
• Week long Eastern Carribean Cruise with friends (my first cruise)

A Halloween Treat

Cause who doesn't love to see me dressed up as a werewolf?

Random Fact of the Day

I've had the skirt that I'm wearing today since 9th grade. No joke, I've had it for 10 years.

Sugar Cookies

Considering my love for sugar it should come to no surprise to anyone that I love sugar cookies. Homemade are definately my preferance but there are some delicious store bought alternatives.

Confession: I have ate 2 large sugar cookies already today. NBD.

Where these cookies came from is a grand story. Last night I went to my new wards fhe. I say new ward but I've been going faithfully every Sunday and gone to every FHE activity the last 2 months. I've even taught Relief Society. This last Sunday my records were finally transferred over. So back to the FHE activity. They were decorating sugar cookies to take to people who were inactive along with a flyer of upcoming activities. I happily decorated the cookies. Fast forward to this morning. I'm pulling out of the garage headed to work and my dad runs over with a plate in his hands. It was a plate of cookies from my ward that they left on the front porch last night. I don't know how I feel about that. While I am grateful for the cookies I'm not inactive, I go to all of the activities, I went to last night's activity, I talked to people, and it's not like I'm unknown.

Oh well, I'll just be the one eating her plate of sugar cookies.

3 months and 3 days

Until this girl comes home from the Tucson, AZ mission.



We officialy found out her release date yesterday and we will be seeing her December 18th at 10:30 am. To say I'm excited would be an understatement.

Tis the Season...

Can you feel it? There is a change in the air. There is an added level of excitement. I love it. The anticipation has been killing me. All for the best season of the year, college football season. Specifically, BYU Football season.



Dear BYU Football,
Welcome to a brand new season. Good luck tomorrow. I will be there in the stands, faithfully cheering you on. Just as I always have. I have anticipated your return to my life for months. Just so you know, I love you. Please have a great season.
Your's always,
Suzy




See I'm there rain or snow!





I AM SOOOO EXCITED!!!


The love for BYU athletics runs deep in our family.


(just a few pics from some great football moments the last few years)

Change

Lately I crave change. I know that's not exactly normal but it's true. I love change. So big change #1: I moved out of Provo. After being there for 6 years I decided it was time for something new. As of right now I'm just living at my parents until I find something. I want to make sure I'm moving into a good ward/area so I'm taking my time and scouting things out. I feel really good about this decision even though I never thought I would be moving back with my parents.

Big change #2: my little brother Reed is getting married tomorrow. Crazy. I do love Jen though and think that she is the perfect match for Reed. I'm so excited for them. And I'm excited to go to my first sealing.