Glorious sunshine!

First of all, thanks sooo much for everyone's encouragement from my last post! You have no idea how much that helps. I am doing much better emotionally, and I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Things will get better - - and even if we have to go through some craziness here and there, I CAN survive, right? Survival mode is OK every once and awhile!! This must be making me stronger . . . I certainly feel like I am stretching. And stretching ourselves isn't meant to be a comfortable experience. My mom said it's not like we have to be skippy happy through our hard times- it's not like we break our arm and say "yay! I am in pain!!" We just know it will heal eventually. So- I am trying to tell myself, as many of you did on my last post, that it is OK to cry, it is OK to feel like something is hard - - it is OK to just survive. I also know that I CAN get divine help. On Sunday we sang "I know that my Redeemer Lives"- and a line from the song especially touched me. The whole song is beautiful so here it is- but the part in caps was the line that stood out to me:

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living Head.

He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
HE LIVES TO COMFORT ME WHEN FAINT.
HE LIVES TO HEAR MY SOUL'S COMPLAINT.

HE LIVES TO SILENCE ALL MY FEARS.
HE LIVES TO WIPE AWAY MY TEARS.
HE LIVES TO CALM MY TROUBLED HEART.
HE LIVES ALL BLESSINGS TO IMPART.

He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare.
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”


As we approach Easter, it has been especially wonderful to remember my Savior, and that I do not have to bear my burdens, however big or small, alone.

This brings me to my wonderful week!

I am having a wonderful Spring break! Ahhhh- I am currently in sunny Arizona visiting my sister and having an amazing time enjoying the warm sunshine (80 degrees and I haven't seen such clear blue sky in ages!). It is so nice to have a break from taking care of children, and having some quality girl time with my sister! Thanks again, Shauna for watching my kids! You are such a wonderful sister.

I should back up and describe the rest of my trip. Pictures will follow later- when I get them. My camera is broken- so I will be getting copies of pictures from everyone else. Anyway, the kids and I left last Friday and drove to Orem Utah, where my sister Shauna lives. It was a long drive, but we made it just fine - - it took us 12 hours as I expected. Saturday we enjoyed going to the park- the weather was pretty good - - and I especially enjoyed being with my sister and her family. My kids love their cousins! Sunday was Natalie's (my brother's wife) birthday and we had a fun little party for her and I got to see both my brothers. I love my family- we have so much fun together. Monday we hung out and tried to stay warm - - we woke up to 4 inches of snow! Yikes! We took the kids to the mall on Monday because it was too cold to be outside. It was fun, though . . . there is nothing like visiting family.

Tuesday I got on a plane (by MYSELF!!!) to go see my sister Laura down here in Phoenix. Ahhh- the flight was great- I could actually read a book and not worry about kids. It has been so fun to see my sister. I wish we could live closer. My sisters truly are my best friends. As I said earlier, the sunshine (and full nights of sleep without having to get up with kids) is really helping my mood!! We even went swimming yesterday- I think that is the first time I have ever been swimming outdoors on April 1st! The best thing we did yesterday was a short visit to my friend Kristen Burnett - - we met as newlyweds in 1998 when we lived next door in our tiny basement apartments! Good times. She and her family now live in the Phoenix area so I went to see her. It was sooo good to see her again.



We also saw the Mesa Temple Easter pageant- it was AMAZING representation of Christ's life and was so well done.






Today we are going to go out to lunch and do some shopping (my sister is getting a babysitter for her two little ones) - - fun, fun, fun!! Mostly I have been enjoying being with my sister and her family. Tomorrow I will fly back to Utah, and Saturday drive back to Yakima. This trip was so needed. It was sad to be apart from Jon- that was the only drawback. Hopefully he has been OK this week. Thanks, honey, for being supportive of me going on this trip though, I needed it!!