Don't grieve over cherries. Enjoy the pineapple and mangoes!

I have had a few friends lose parents recently. I feel for the pain they must be going through.
"Don't grieve over cherries. Enjoy the pineapple and mangoes."  Majorie Hinckely

There are so many things  that we can grieve over, death, divorce, moving, unemployment, infertility, mental illness just to name a few.   It is amazing the lessons we can learn when we are grieving or struggling with something. I will admit I hate struggling or experiencing difficulty, but always when I look back I am amazed with how much I have learned.

So even though the cherries might not be available we can look for the pineapple or mangoes that are in our life.  No matter what we are experiencing,  we can find joy in our life. Sometimes it is hard to find it, but if we look hard enough can find so many blessings.

One thing I know is that we came to this life to receive a body and to progress.  Sometimes we need to go through hard times to learn the lessons we need.  Usually, I don't understand why I need a particular lesson, but I have enough trust in my Heavenly Father to believe that all things truly will work for my good.

Last week a friend and I went over to another friend's home who recently lost her father.  We had  collected money to get a gift for her from people in our neighborhood.  We got  her the Hansen statue, "Toe Dancing (below) and a gift card to take her family and mom out.   We had a wonderful conversation talking about how each of us had lost a parent or both parents.  The spirit was so strong as we shared our pain. In our conversation we each shared some of our experiences with death.  I shared my last evening with my mom before her death.  It happened almost 28 years ago, but I still found myself doing the very ugly cry. The one I try to never do in public.   It amazes me how grief comes in waves.  We each shared  how we have been blessed and influenced by our deceased parents.   I feel so grateful that I have felt both of my parents helping me from the other side. Because frankly, I need all the help I can get.   It is amazing how our grief can bring us closer to one another.   

The one thing I have realized is that   "The only thing constant in life, is change." ink
And maybe, like SO many things. It's just another one of those lessons that we must learn over...and over...and over again.  At least that has been my experience.   

I forgot to mention in my last post that Matt's brother Tony and his wife Kathy came into town on Saturday for a couple of hours from Reno.  I was gone at TOFW so I missed them.  Below is the picture they took together.  Matt said they had a wonderful visit.

Matthew's 40th Birthday----Amazing Race!!!

My brother Matthew turned 40 in May, but Suzanne didn't have his big surprise party until, August 20th.   It was a lot of fun. Matthew had a very busy day before he got to the party.  He ran a half marathon, then biked 46 miles,  drank wheat grass, had six random strangers see Happy Birthday to him, and then he went to Lagoon to go  on the Bungie jumping adventure.  I think he was pretty tired by the time  he came to his party at the home of the Doman's. 

At the party it was pouring at one point.  I don't think I have seen that  much rain for a very long time!!!!!  Yikes, I was so glad they had gotten a few tents until the wind stated blowing them away!!!

Matthew, I am so glad you are my brother!  You are the best! 

FHE's with my family each month

Once a month my brothers and our families get together for FHE each month.  We take turns hostessing it at our home.  We use to be able to have it on the first Sunday of each month, but as everyone's life becomes busier and busier it gets harder to have it as often.  The pictures in this post are from my brother Mark's home.  It also happened to be his birthday so we all came over for cake and ice cream.  Mark hates to have anyone sing Happy Birthday to him, but we love to tease him so we decided to sing Happy Birthday to him, by singing as many different Happy Birthday songs we knew. 

My brother Matthew and Mark both work together.  When we moved to our new neighborhood my son Spencer recognized some of the people at  church from people he works with at work. Coby and Spencer have both worked at the same place so it has sort of become a family affair.  My sister in law's brother, Robert also works there as well as one of his kids.  Anyways, the point I was trying to make was that my brothers have to travel a lot for work and many times on weekends.  So that is one of the reasons FHE gets harder and harder.  Also, my brother Mark is now a bishop and that keep him even more busy. I love spending time with my brothers and their families.  Actually, I love spending time with any family members, of course!!!!

Christmas happenings with our family

Here are some of our pictures from Sunday the 21st to Thursday Christmas day. The first group of pictures is our FHE that we have each month with my brothers and family. And also, that night was Layla's birthday we celebrated. In this picture above (left to right) is Matthew, Mikayla, Brighton, Layla, Brittany, and Suzanne.
FHE at Mark and Miriah's home, this picture above is during the lesson that Miriah did with everyone participating. In this picture is Mark, Miriah, Layla, Caleb, and Mikayla
Layla turned 6 on 12-21-08. In this picture above is (l to r) Mikayla, Layla, Brittany, Cumorah, and Nathan.
Brighton playing with blocks at our FHE at Mark and Miriah's home.
Kara playing with Cougar with Mikayla and Brighton in the background too.
Our Christmas tree in the family room!
Colton and Kara in their new PJ's and opening a present from Cami's deceased parents ( a tradition each year). On Christmas Eve we had the missionaries over for dinner and then we read the story of Jesus's birth in the Luke 2 and in Matthew 1 and in parts of the Book of Mormon. Then we got in our PJ's, got Santa's plate all filled with cookies. Then we played the game that Cami's parents gave us which was the American Idol Encore Wii game. We had a blast singing and dancing!
Here is Spencer with his new PJ on Christmas Eve. He went to Lindsay's home during the afternoon evening to enjoy the Christmas fun at their home. To see more pictures look at Lindsay's page that I have a link to.
Christmas breakfast, this year we ate before we opened presents. Lindsay is the one taking the picture for us. :)
Kara in the midst of opening presents.
Colton enjoying opening his presents.
Matt and I on Christmas morning. Christmas was a wonderful day filled with wonderful company, a TON of snow, wonderful presents, a great talk with our Missionary, Coby, delicious food and celebrating the birth of our Savior and the life he lived so that we can have eternal life through his gift of the Atonement.
Lindsay and Spencer, Christmas morning.
Christmas afternoon at Matthew and Suzanne's home. We ate a delicious meal, visited, and then played a few fun games. In this picture is L to R, Mikayla, Matthew, Nathan turned around, Mark, Kara and then Cumorah.
Matthew looking great after a long day.
A very tired Cougar after a busy Christmas Day in his mom's arms and Cumorah standing close by. On December 26th we went out to a late lunch and then we went and saw the movie, "Bedtime Stories." Our family all enjoyed it and the fun event was because Matt's parents for Christmas sent us money to go out to eat and to go and see a movie. It was a fun day. Then later that evening Matt and I saw the movie, " Seven Pounds." That is a very thought provoking movie.

General Conference

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to watch General Conference. I feel so much gratitude for my membership in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. I am so blessed to be a member of the restored gospel. I so enjoyed watching General Conference and hearing from the brethren and sisters. What a wonderful way to be edified. I always receive so much at conference that I know I need to work on, but I just so grateful that the Lord continues to give us guidance and revelation. I had so many favorite talks at this conference, I think some of my favorites were President Uctdorf, Elder Nelson, Elder Bednar's, and the prophets message on enjoying the journey.

One other piece of great news I got was that Matthew ran the marathon in Saint George and he qualified to be in the Boston Marathon. How did I get so fortunate to rub shoulders with such awesome siblings?