"Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life." - Alma 40:11

"That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.” - D&C 76:24

As I sat in a hospital room for nearly 10 hours on Monday, surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins, my sister and her husband, my parents and my grandparents, I felt tremendously grateful for the plan of happiness. Our joy can be full. Our lives are eternal. Families can be together forever. These are things I often say, and even testify of to other friends and family and even strangers that I meet. But for the first time, I realized how inexpressibly grateful I was for that knowledge, for the comfort and surety that the gospel brings.

President Gordon B. Hinckley once gave a talk entitled, "The Empty Tomb Bore Testimony," how truly thankful I am for those words, and for knowing that they're true.

I loved my Grandpa Christensen. He was the George Bailey in my life, and probably in the lives of so many others. He was the man with a million friends, someone who loved and accepted and cared for anyone he met. I am so grateful for his legacy of love, and for all that he has left his spouse, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren behind. We'll be seeing him again one day soon, I know it.

springtime sunshine.

When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest. 

-Ernest Hemingway

That quote is perfect. If I wasn't swamped with school, I could probably relate a little bit more.

Tonight I glanced over some of my saved pictures once I realized that our annual Springtime picnic has been on a continual raincheck the last few weeks. You know it's the end of a semester when your slammed with final assignments and projects and papers for class, which seems especially tiring this semester considering one of my professors treats statistics like it should be a part time job.

But today felt like spring. And that is good enough. Better yet - according to the weatherman, spring is here to stay. Since the summer solstice is exactly three months away from today (summer can't seem to come fast enough this year!) I decided to celebrate in small ways like wearing a skirt without tights and having a lunchable picnic inside of a car (but hey! at least we were parked next to the park!)

For now, I'll take what I can get.

my dad.

My dad is special in many ways, mainly because he's mine.

The other week I was stressed out of my mind (unfortunately stress is sometimes an all too common factor in my life) but my dad knows that. It was about one in the morning, and he was all the way in Sydney (12 hour time difference) and we were texting. He was in the middle of a busy day, but said he'd run back to the hotel so we could Skype. We talked for two hours. He listened to all that I had to say, and gave me bits and pieces of advice. He referred me to about twelve different talks given by twelve different general authorities (like always) -- but then, like he always does before we say goodbye, he told me how much he loved me.

I don't know who else gets out a pen and paper to take down notes when they're on the phone with their dad, but I do. I don't know who else plans on making a quote book of their dad one day, but I do. I don't know who else could possibly be more proud of their dad, but I am and always have been. I can't think of anyone smarter, wiser and kinder than my dad - someone who is infinitely patient and understanding and loving. I love him more than I could ever say.

Happy Birthday (your today, my tomorrow) Dad! I love you.

it's finally friday

"Let us not give up on the Lord, his blessings are eternal."

I should steer away from watching Mormon Messages at work because I always cry and that's always asking for an awkward situation when you're sitting at a front desk. But this video I loved, like I do the rest, and I wanted to share. Am I the only one who has a countdown to General Conference weekend? Nothing gets better. Unless you add Cadbury eggs to the mix.

And it's Friday - which means date night, which means holding hands and ice cream and sitting on the sidewalk talking about nothing in particular. And tonight we have an adventure scheduled in the grand old Salt Lake Cit-ay. I'm excited.

tommys.

There is nothing quite like an afternoon of skipping class for french fries, diet cokes, and holding hands underneath the table.

Tommy's Burger is a new favorite of mine, (and in my humble opinion) is way better than Ripples just up the road. No diner should be named Ripples.

it's about time for summer.

All I need when the weather is warm

is a good playlist
and the windows rolled down.

the boy who i'm usually talking about.

And thinking about.

And I thought it was about time that I stole his picture from his Facebook (because my camera is broken) and talk about the boy who I just like so much.

Originally all I had wanted to say was how wonderful and smart and kind and great he is (etc, etc, etc) but I will do that another time. So I'll share something else.

Two nights ago I was overwhelmed with life. With decisions (the biggest decision I'll ever make! And I am so excited to talk more about that soon!) And all the changes and the adjustments and the plans and then even the millions of other decisions that will follow.

So I did what any other girl would do, and I cried. I was happy and anxious and excited and stressed. And I cried. And all Max did was put his arms around my shoulders and when he looked me in the eyes he told me: "I will help you, and you will help me, and we will love each other."

And the way I felt after he said just those few words I will never, ever forget. I remember when my favorite next door neighbor while growing up would tell me and my little sister that the best advice she could ever give us would be to marry our best friends. I hope I'm lucky (and blessed) enough to be next.

new kids on the block had a bunch of hits.

The start of a Summer to-do list:
Buy a swimsuit
Plan a cruise
See the coast
Read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (again)
Move to Salt Lake
and get a tan

Already started working on my summer to-do list after church today. One down, a few more to go... I can hardly wait.

confession session.

The first time I ever had a confession session was on a Friday night with the "7up girl gang" on a drive up the canyon with nothing else to do. We stopped by Macey's and picked up our favorite bags of cookies, and made the drive talking for hours that night. I don't know why, but the tradition continues on, and March the 1st seems to be the day that it all just happens again.

Confession Session #4

1. One thing I terribly regret and would do over again if I could: stay at BYU-Hawaii longer. I was so insistent on coming back to Provo (don't ask me why) to be near my friends here at the Y, but that was a mistake. Huge mistake.

2. I listened to this song for an entire week after Max got home.

3. I don't mean to brag, but... no cavities.

4. One word: kisstixx. To save my dad giving me a phone call, that's all I'll say about that.

5. I have actually hidden under my desk at work. Long story.

6. I have never, ever eaten a tomato.

7. I probably burned about 3,904,850,049,304,935 cd's before I owned an iPod. Not a joke. Heaston would always say that I could bring the 90's back with how many CD's I owned.

8. Did I ever write about the day that I got to talk to Elder Holland on the phone? After speaking with him for a few minutes, he told me that he considered me a daughter that he loved, and that truly remains one of the sweetest things anybody has ever told me in my entire life. There is nobody on earth who has a happier or sweeter voice.

9. I get onto Disneyland.com and plan pretend vacations at least once a week.

And last but not least,
Number 10. I know Buddy the Elf already said it, but I'm in love, I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it!

--

Confession Sessions: 1, 2 & 3

(thanks for the picture Sarbear)