Butterfly Kisses

This post is a little late, but it is for one of my best friends, my dad.


Dad, you have been one of the most influential people in my life and I thank you for all that you have done for me: all the hard work, the time, the love, the counsel, the patience, the understanding, the punishments from my dumb decisions, and the memories. I cherish all those memories very close to my heart. You have taught me so much and I am so blessed to have you as my father.


I remember trying to be the first one out of your daughters to get to you when you came home from work at night. I'd throw my little arms around you and plant a kiss on your cheek. I also remember proceeding to grab onto your leg and have you drag me around...(Sorry about your knee problems, sometimes I wonder if that was because of me doing that to you!) I definitely miss receiving and giving you hugs, they are always a comfort to me. You have always been a main source of comfort throughout my life, thank you for that.


I remember you teaching me how to fish and taking me with you when you would go with grandpa or when you'd just take all of us girls. Even if we didn't catch anything we always had a fun time and you wouldn't get mad when we lost your lures. Thank you for teaching me how to not get angry, over anything big or small. You always were an example to me of being kind and patient through everything. I am still working on acquiring those virtues but thanks to you, I have a great example to look up to.


Even though I sometimes complained about doing it, thank you for teaching me how to work hard. Yard work and chores were most of the time looked down upon by me, but I did them and eventually learned to enjoy them! In fact, now that I don't have a yard to work on, I miss doing yard work! Teaching me the concept of hard work through labor helped me apply the concept to every area of my life: education, hobbies, and mental status. Any success I have had in any area of my life I owe to you because you taught me one of the most important abstractions of life: hard work. Thanks for that!


One last thing I will mention is that I am very grateful for your spiritual example in my life. If it weren't for you being strong in the church and setting an example, I'm not so sure that I would have grown to have the testimony that I have today. Thanks for initiating Family Home Evening and family prayer at night and morning scripture study. Since you put the church first in your life you have helped me work on doing the same. Thanks for always being a worthy priesthood holder as well, because of that you were always able to give us blessing when we needed them. You are such a great individual in every way!


Words can't accurately express how I feel and all the gratitude I have for you! Thanks for the memories, lessons and love. I couldn't have asked for a better dad to raise me and grow up with. Thanks for always being there for me and still being here for me even though I'm a state away. I appreciate you so much and I love you more than you know!


Remember that book you gave me called Butterfly Kisses and that note you wrote in the cover? I read that today. Brought some tears to my eyes.


I love you so much Dad, you're the best!

The Three Angels I Also Call My Sisters

"Sisters are different. They heard the sobbing in the darkness. They lived through all your triumphs, all your favorites,
all your loves and losses. They have no delusions.
They lived with you too long.
And so, when you achieve some victory, friends are delighted -
but sisters hold your hands in silence and shine with happiness.
For they know the cost."-Pam Brown

Two boys and then four girls on the end of our family. I wonder sometimes how my parents did it...raising four crazy girls! What a blessing it has been though, having three beautiful and unique sisters to grow up with. From playing house, barbies, indians, having tea parties and bike adventures to first kisses (Hannah yours will be coming soon!), boyfriends, heartbreaks, graduating high school, college, going on missions and getting married. Life definitely flies by when you stop and think about it, but I am so grateful for the memories. I cherish the memories I have made with my sisters: girl's nights with nails, back massages and face masks, eating lilacs outside, dressing up weird and being ridiculous in public while renting a movie, heart to heart talks late at night, embarrassing each other, being obnoxious, laughing attacks, music videos, playing pranks on each other (Steph can't saran wrap a toilet seat very well!), sleepovers on the trampoline and so much more!

 They have been the strength and support throughout my life and I am very grateful for them. The quote above is very much true. I love each of them so much. I am grateful for them holding my hand and loving me through the dark and hard times of my life as well as the good. Even though we are all in separate states now, I know that they will continue to be there for me. Thank you God for blessing me with these three angels. I love you Heidi, Stephanie, and Hannah. Thank you for everything. 

The Hike

Gradual incline to steep incline, the way up is never easy. Always heading up and never reaching level ground on the trail. Will the view be worth it? It would be much easier to turn around and go down. Should I do that? Stop for a few breaths. Think awhile on what to do...decide to keep going.


I've been on many hikes in my life and went on a gorgeous one this past week. Consumed in deep thought a few days ago, I thought about an analogy. I'm sure this one has been used to death but life is like a hike. It's never easy. Sometimes the beauty around you is ignored because you're too focused on one thing. Sometimes you lose sight of the trail and wander off. Sometimes you get discouraged or tired and turn back and miss the better view. Sometimes you never realize how far you have come. Sometimes you are not cautious and end up getting hurt. Sometimes you slow down. Sometimes you speed up. Sometimes you fall. Sometimes you are at a standstill. It is always your choice to keep going or to call it quits but if you go back down, you forfeit all the effort you have already put into getting as far as you have.


Lately I feel like I have been at a standstill, which isn't completely a bad thing, but at the same time I see people moving on their own trails of life while I am standing still, and this can get me a little discouraged at times. But I guess I have to remember and remind myself that everyone moves at their own pace and I will get moving forward again eventually. So I guess for the time being, I will take these standstill moments to reevaluate my life and myself, and enjoy what is around me.


"Today is the first day of the rest of your life."


Whether at a standstill, moving forward or backward, lost, hurt, or discouraged, make everyday count for something.