Oh the Sunshine

Aren't you loving this weather? There is something so magical to me about warm spring and summer nights. Last night was perfect weather for miniature golfing, so we were pleased Kailee requested it for her birthday date!

This birthday girl turned 10 a few days ago! Our Kailee is growing up.  

 Get yo game face on.

 Voted most darling pic of the night...by me that is! :-)

And  ending the night with truly the best ice cream in Utah: Cold Stone. Someone has quite the sweet tooth: Kailee ordered chocolate and peanut butter ice cream with kit kat, snickers, and reese's cups mix-ins. Atta girl! Unfortunately, I've put on a good four pounds since working full-time and sitting so many hours a day at the hospital. No ice cream for me. :-( 

And going back in time a bit further...We have loved making friends in our student ward this year. Not sure why it felt so awkward to try and make friends in the last place we lived. So many times in Relief Society, I felt like "the awkward kid on the playground". Maybe there were just too many newlyweds all smashed together in one place trying to find their new identities as couples? I did have one friend, my neighbor who lived above me. She saved me in so many ways. :-) Anyhow, we feel so blessed to feel connected to so many friends in our current BYU ward. We will miss those who are moving away!

Anna and Dave, headed off to Duke for medical school. This girl is such an example to me.

More Wardies. All so stellar. 

Our friends Stephanie and Trent invited us up to their gorgeous cabin in Park City for General Conference weekend, and then last weekend for their graduation party. It felt so refreshing to get away both times. And, we fell in love with THESE.

One year down of law school and counting. Oh the sunshine! We are very pleased to announce that it wasn't near as awful as we heard it would be, or even expected it to be. In fact, it feels good to be so busy and responsible all the time (for the most part). The only difficult weeks were the two weeks of finals, one last December and one this past April. But we're made of strong stuff, I think. And we can do hard things, for which I am grateful. 

Recent Faves at the IHC

The physical, occupational, and speech therapists I work with kept asking me when I'd come out to play soccer with them during their lunch breaks. Repeatedly, I assured them I am not talented at the sport. I just like to run. Finally, I gave in a couple weeks ago. It breaks up my day in a way that I love love love. It feels so good to move rather than sit for so many hours straight!

And the best news of all, I have scored two goals since I started playing! The first time I actually scored, I did a few cartwheels, shouted for joy, and exclaimed how quickly I needed to call my husband. He is so proud. I think he secretly always wanted to marry a soccer chick. ;-)

I sit on an exercise ball at my desk. You know I would. My supervisor frequently comes in and kindly tries to throw off my balance by kicking my ball. Not gonna happen!

Our regular patients make me laugh and bring me joy each day. Most of them are survivors of stroke, traumatic brain injury, breast cancer, lymphedema, and leg amputations. I have a willow tree figurine of a faceless girl holding a bouquet of calla lillies on my desk. She reminds me to be gracious and understanding each day. If I can play even the smallest part in the healing process of these wonderful people, then my day was meaningful. I come home filling inspired and filled each day.

"Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts." - Charles Dickens

Tender Mercies

Yesterday felt like a day of many small yet meaningful miracles. I am so grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This past General Conference weekend was particularly significant for me. Preparations for it began months ago, because I almost signed up for an all-day kickboxing event for Saturday March 31st and the spirit distinctly told me NO. I know how the spirit speaks to me, for which I am so grateful, and the stupor of thought I felt about missing Saturday's conference session was very strong last February. I decided to forego the kickboxing opportunity for another day, so that I could be exactly where the spirit told me to be.

Yesterday morning we somehow made it to Salt Lake in record time, despite how late we left Provo and the awful construction of Utah County. I got out of the car and lifted up my two fingers for tickets to the session, and I waited a mere ten seconds before three future missionaries came behind me and placed the tickets into my hands. Once Jon arrived from parking the car, he showed me that the same thing happened to him, only his tickets were on the plaza level. We sat closer than we ever have before, so that we could easily observe those admirable men who lead our church in these latter days. My eyes burned with tears as we sang the words "I'll strengthen thee and help thee to stand, upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand." We sang those words right when I noticed Elders L. Tom Perry and Russell M. Nelsen holding up an aging and weaker President Boyd K. Packer, so that he could stand. Jonathan and I were deeply touched.

And every talk seemed to speak directly to my soul, and my fears, and my desires, and my  heartaches. I know I was exactly where I needed to be. And my Heavenly Father spoke to me over and over and over again. Sometimes it is so obvious that He is speaking to me, I cannot help but laugh and tell him I am listening.

The BYU Law School never ceases to impress us. They fed us a free lunch at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in between sessions, and we were able to find tickets to the afternoon session.

I am listening, and humbled, and full of gratitude for the peace and comfort of my Heavenly Father's tender mercies. His presence surrounds and comforts me, and because of this gospel I feel joy each day.