Sculpture Exhibit

This morning we had a really nice Fayette Ward Relief Society Activity.

We went up to the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center in Palmyra to witness a sculpture exhibit:

"The Healing Power of Christ"

Ella really liked this one. It was the largest,

a statue of Jesus Christ.

This is from my favorite. I think that in this sculpture you really see the healing of Jesus Christ. Such a gentle touch with loving hands. I can only imagine what this man felt to have the Savior's hand upon him. I spent a lot of time here, looking at this. The man's face, the Savior's face, and His hands.

This is the full view of the one above. You can see the man reaching up to the Savior. I love Christ's posture as he leans down to this man. There is just so much I love about this piece. The detail is amazing. I cannot even begin to describe the feelings I had as I looked at this. I just kept coming back to it. BEAUTIFUL.

This is the First Vision. We know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ (as separate beings) appeared to the boy Joesph Smith when he was but 14 years old. You can see (maybe not in this picture) God and Jesus are in the air. What beautiful art to be able to depict such a sacred event in a way that is so real.

This was my Mom and Andrew's favorite. (Andrew went after Stake Conference). Christ walking on water. I wish the camera could have captured the colors that the bronze made in the waves of the water. Breathtaking!

Lastly Gethsemane. I am not even sure that I can describe the feelings that I had in looking at this sculpture. I wish my camera could capture the feeling in the Savior's face. Again, His hand reaching to the Father. All that happened in Gethsemane portrayed in this sculpture. Amazing.

I feel so blessed to have had to opportunity to go and see this exhibit. I especially feel blessed to have been able to share this day and experience with my Relief Society Sisters. How lucky we are to have such a sisterhood. I was able to get to know some very sweet sisters as I drove there as well as while we were there. My love for them grew as we shared this experience.

I am also grateful for people who have such amazing talents and are willing to share them with the world. The woman that made these did not go to school for art. She was an opera singer. I believe she made these with angels assisting her hands as well as her eyes and heart.

Amazing, just amazing.

If you are in the area, PLEASE go witness these for yourself.

They are only here till the end of the month.

Make time.

January 8, 2008

My mom just sent these to me...

pictures from the airport when I got home.

I got in at 11:00pm.... pretty late.

Here is one of Mom & I... she stopped crying for the picture :)

Here is one of Dad & I.

Lastly, my stake President met me at the airport to release me...

President Clark & I

What a night.

ahhh... I miss Colorado so much.

AMAZING people.

Swing Set

I've been telling my mom I would do this for the longest time... so here we go.

This past fall my parents decided that they wanted to build a swing set for Sophie & Ella (and any other grandchildren that may come in the following years) for Christmas. We wanted it to be a family project. With my dad as the mastermind and resident carpenter (with a little math help from Sarah) he designed and planned the swing set.

This is what he came up with!!

When this portion was completed, he decided that it needed a slide! So, he added one.

This is the final product!!

I am so lucky to have such a talented and skilled father!!

He is sure amazing!!!

Thank You Dad!!

I am sure many many wonderful memories will be made here!

Garbage Man!

LOL! So, yesterday I asked Andrew to take out the trash.

I looked out the window and this is what I saw....

I LOVE YOU from my balcony!!

I LOVE YOU TOO ANDREW!

2 Years Ago...

Two years ago today I returned from the

Colorado Denver North Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

I cannot believe it has already been 2 whole years. What an amazing time in my life. What an opportunity I had to be able to serve. I am so blessed. I can honestly say it was the best 18 months of my life.

This is Sister Bunk and I in front of the Denver International Airport as we got ready to fly home. Sister Bunk and I were MTC companions.

I have been thinking a lot about January 8, 2008 today. I wanted to remember what I was thinking and feeling, so I pulled out my journal. I will share some of what I wrote...

January 8, 2008

It has been a hard day. I think it kind of hit me last night. I knelt down to pray & it hit me - I couldn't get out any words as I was crying uncontrollably. I am going home. I could not stand the thought that this would be my last night as a missionary.

I cried and cried and cried. Sister Lima came and rubbed my back for a little while-no words were said-she is amazing. I am so blessed to have her as my companion. I have learned so much from her. What a wonderful missionary, and a wonderful example to me.

We left the West's home at 6:00am to go to the Loveland Park-N-Ride. We arrived and it was FREEZING. We took a few pictures, visited, and said goodbye. Amazing missionaries.

...

When we got to the Transfer Meeting the Missionaries were all singing hymns. The Spirit was amazing in that meeting. Elder Milne conducted the meeting... I led the missionaries in The Standard of Truth. As I went to sit down Sister Montague whispered "last time" I nodded with a full heart and was seated.

President Montague then introduced the new missionaries. I loved watching their faces! It made me reflect on my 1st Transfer Meeting and I was happy! :)

...

It was a pleasure and an honor to serve as one of the Lord's missionaries these past 18 months. I know this is where Heavenly Father wanted me to be.

(A portion of my testimony... written on the plane...)

We have a Father in Heaven who loves us. I know that is is involved in every area of our lives. I know that he sent his Son to Earth for us. I know that the Atonement of Our Savior is real and is the ultimate act of love. I know that Christ was and is the perfect example and I know that if we will come unto Him and follow His example and Keep the Commandments we will have Eternal Life. Eternal life with our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and those we love. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was Restored to the Earth in this dispensation. I am grateful for the humility of a 14 year old boy - that he would kneel and ask Heavenly Father for direction. I know that God the Father & Jesus Christ did appear to the boy Joseph Smith. Many blessings came as a result of the Restoration. I am particularly grateful that the Priesthood keys which were restored-for our blessing and benefit. I know that we have a living Prophet today. I know that he will lead us in the way of truth if we will but listen and act.

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's Church. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ LIVE, they love us, and this I know because the Spirit has witnessed to me of it's truth.

What an experience. I served under President & Sister Montague. The best of the best. I love them so much. I served in 4 areas: Greeley (1 transfer), Boulder (4 transfers), Fort Collins (6 transfers), and Loveland (2 transfers). I had 8 companions: Sister Bunk (MTC), Sister Atwood & Sister Silva (Greeley), Sister Kum Kee (Boulder), Sister Alfaro, Sister Correa, Sister Prince (Fort Collins), and Sister Lima (Loveland). All amazing Sisters. I learned so much from each and every one of them. Lessons that will last a lifetime. Lastly I have an amazing family who supported me through EVERYTHING.

For all who had a part in those 18 months of my life:

THANK YOU & I LOVE YOU

Hairy Beast

We FINALLY did it! After much coaxing Andrew finally let me cut his hair. I got him some Axe hair products for Christmas in hopes that he would want to let me cut and style it.

Here is my hairy beast before.

He actually has beautiful curls, but they are untamed and needed some control brought to them.

That's me... scared of the beast.

or scared of what I was going to do to the beast!

These are from after we were done. I actually did a pretty good job for someone with absolutely ZERO training. I used the clippers on the back and sides and used scissors on the top.

Impressive!

And here is the after picture! Bummer that it is so dark.

I am really proud of myself. I wish you could really see it. It looks really good!

Yes, an accomplishment that I am actually proud of!

Now that is the Andrew that I fell in LOVE with.

I love you Andrew, and hope you like your haircut!

You look SO handsome!

FINALLY!

BIG DAY!! Ok, not really. But a good day.

Today is the first time I have been able to wear jeans since my surgery on December 1. Because I am a jeans kind of girl, it was really hard to go that long without them. I missed you my dear jeans! I have had to wear workout pants since then... and I've looked like a BUM. Oh well, they were the only thing I could wear that wouldn't irritate my incision point.

So, Here I am (in front of our Christmas tree) in my beloved JEANS! Not my favorite pair, but they are midrise, so they work!

BONUS: Since the surgery I have lost 12 lbs.!! I had lots about 15, but with the holidays and all... my Dad made a rockin' cheesecake... what can I say! I have ZERO self control when it comes to cheesecake and other YUMMIES!!

New Years Resolution: no Emergency Room visits, no surgery, & no Hospital stays!