"Men are that they might have joy!" - 2 Nephi 2:25

I just keep having this same thought rolling around in my head.  Life is supposed to be fun, right?  That is the way it is intended to be, I do know that!  It may not always go the way we have planned.  But, we can choose to be happy, or not, whatever may be going on. That "choice" word is key!  Whether we are happy or not is our choice!  Even in tough times, we can choose to be happy!

I love what Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley has to say about this:

Everyday there are new challenges, but always opportunities for happiness.  It takes effort, sometimes, to look for the good and to smile and embrace life and love it, but, the world is an amazing place and there is so much good in it!  For that I am grateful!  I am grateful for a husband and children who make me laugh and smile each day!!  And, I am grateful for a wonderful Heavenly Father who gave it all to us!  I see His hand in everything!



Choose happiness!!

Mariann

My 111th Birthday and Book of the Dead

Once, multiple years ago my brother and I were sitting in the BYU football stadium watching BYU vs Utah.  It was a November and near my birthday, maybe even the day of it.  While we were there during halftime the announcer started doing a life sketch about a man. They told how he was a doctor until in his 60's and then he retired and went into real-estate, and how he drove himself to St George once or twice a week until he was in his 90's.  They talked about his family and friends and then they said, "And today is his 104th birthday". And the guy walked out to the field and 60,000 fans sang him happy birthday as he stood there and waved to all of us.   That was the day when I decided I wanted to live to be 104 and still be ambulatory.  Now, I have my doubts that I'll reach my "eleventy-first" (111th) Birthday like Bilbo Baggins did, as I have no real say in my genetic time-clock, and when my clock winds down then I'll be done with this life.  But for now, that is my goal, and goals are good things to have and to work for.

So why am I thinking about this now.  Probably because I have one of those major milestone birthdays coming up in a few weeks.  I'll be the big 5 - 0.   That means its only two more years until I'm "middle aged", "over the hump", and  "starting on the back nine."  I do find it a time to be a little reflective and grateful for the life I've lived up to now, and for the second half of my life that will start in yet another year or two.  One of the things I'm grateful for is my family, and another is the friends I've had through-out my life.

There are many people who have influenced me and for whom I am really appreciative.  But its easy to forget all the people who have been part of your life once they move along.

One of these friends of mine passed away early last year.  His name was Wayne Lambourne.  We met at work in 1998 or 1999.  We worked together for a few years but remained friends long afterward, in fact, until he died.   Even though I hadn't seen him for year, we stayed connected online.  Every now and again, he'd ping me on instant messenger and we'd have a great chat.  He even became friends with another friend of mine I worked with years later via facebook.  Although, he and she never met, they also shared a great online friendship.   He was an amazing artist and had a real thirst for knowledge.  He would often tell me what new thing he had learned, or was researching.

One time he shared with me that he kept what he called his "Book of the Dead."   No this doesn't have anything to do with "The Mummy" or Imhotep.  This was a book were he kept the names of all the people he personally knew in his life who had passed away.  It was his way of remembering them and the influence they had on his life.  After he died I decided to make my own "Book of the Dead".    Like his book, mine doesn't include anyone famous or that I knew "of" only people with whom I had a real, and personal relationship.   

The first person I can remember from my life who passed away was my Great Grandmother Simpson.  I am told I also had a wonderful relationship with my Great Grandmother Parker, but I was too young when she died and I don't remember her at all.  She died sometime before I was five.  My Great Grandmother Simpson passed away when I was 10 or 11.  I remember her at family dinners and gathering and sitting on her lap when I was younger, and talking with her.  I remember feeling at peace with her.

My Grandfather Simpson passed away when I was 14.  As a kid he was one of my two favorite people.  He was everything a grandfather was supposed to be, at least to me.  As a side note, my other favorite person of my childhood was (and is)  my Grandmother Simpson who is still alive today and about to celebrate her 95 birthday.

My grandmother has lived alone for over 30 years.  She has, of course, had many family and friends, and some have stayed with her. By alone I mean she has been without her spouse since 1979.  Over the years, she has taught me some really important lessons.  One thing she taught me is to really listen to people.  I'll admit I'm still far from perfect at doing this, and have to work on it.  As a kid or an adult I would tell my grandmother something, and she would listen, and remember it.  Sometimes a week or two later she would ask me about what it was we had talked about.  Other times she would give me a newspaper clipping or something she had found that was directly related to what we had talked about. 

She also taught me to be thoughtful.  Her gifts were always thoughtful.  She didn't give them just to give them, but she had thought about them, and picked them out specifically for me, (and later for my children) because she knew us, and cared about us, and thought about us.  

Even now, when she can't see very well, or hear very well, and doesn't get out of her house much at all... she is still thoughtful.  If you tell her something she will think about it, and when you talk to her next she will ask you questions about it, and tell you the thoughts she's had as she has time to contemplate.  She has always been thoughtful.

As I've gotten older, the people in my book are not all my elders.  The majority still are, but there are other people I've known who passed away younger than I am now.  Others who are just plain young when they die.  When you get to my grandmothers age, everyone she knows who is older has already passed away.  But age doesn't matter, what matters is how you lived the years you have.

So why should I remember them, why should I keep this small record?  I believe I am who I am because of them.  In many little ways each of them has affected me and my life.  Its been interesting since I started keeping this book to suddenly remember someone who I hadn't thought of in years, and them add them to my list.  Many of them passed away before I realized the influence they had had on me.  Most before I told them.  But I think by remembering them I bring them closer.

I know they aren't really gone, they have just left this mortal life.  Our separation will be brief, a blink-of-an-eye in cosmic terms.  Then we are all promised we'll rise again from death, through the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.  And because he broke the bands of death, all men will be raised again from the grave.  We will all be together again some day.  And in that day, we'll get to thank those who have influenced our life.  We'll get to laugh and share, and talk, and hug, and be together again.  So for now, my book of the dead is a good way for me to remember these great people from time to time, to make sure what they have taught me, and the example they were for me has not completely been forgotten.

And until I see them again, I'm glad for their memory, and hope I'm able to share with those I meet some of the things my friends have taught me.

The Dad

Just Another Manic Monday

Often times, in the moments of distress and struggle in this life, we don't see adventures. We can't grasp the "epicness" of what's occurring because we are simply consumed in trying to make it through. It's moments like these, when we look back on them days or weeks or months later, that we can truly appreciate the experience and the simple fact that God truly is in the details.
I've been looking forward to posting here since the idea was conceived and presented in our family. A family blog isn't something that's commonly undertaken (although it might mean a few trips to the undertaker in some families....) and I was rather enthused by the idea. Thankfully, the Lord in His infinite mercy, provided the perfect source material for my post.
Mondays tend to set the tone for the week. If it's a great day, you know that you're going to have a great week. This past Monday set a tone that I'm not quite sure how to describe. It's the first time that something like this has happened to me so it was a learning process. Nonetheless, it was, like I mentioned earlier, one of those experiences where you don't quite grasp the "epicness" of what's happening.
My ever dedicated climbing partner and roommate, Christian Elkins and I decided that Monday was a day to go climbing. (Most days are good days to climb as long as it's a dry day and above 35 degrees.) We called up our long time friend and climbing accomplice Kylie Johnson and we ran to the hills.
It was a beautiful day. Singular, really, in the breath taking beauty that only mountainous canyons in the fall provide. There were yellow and orange leaves lilting down all around and the air was crisp and sharp. The smell of dying leaves and climbing gear wafted all around us. I felt alive. I felt amazing. My feet were totally and completely numb. We had decided to not only take it upon us to climb that day, but also to try our first attempt at climbing photography.

This means that I hung from the wall for the next hour as my mates climbed the route next to me. The weight of my body was resting entirely on those leg straps and the result was the oddest sensation in my feet and toes. I could rest them against the wall and all that would register was pressure, and nothing more. A rather interesting sensation. It was worth it.

There's really nothing like being in the mountains, surround by the titanic proportions of God's workmanship. There is something sacred about the communion between the creations of God's hands, His Children and our Playground.

See what I mean?

So there you have it, an excellent backdrop for a wonderful experience. We then crossed the canyon and repelled off a promontory, scoping out the route we would work on the next day.
Now, we had planned the evening out perfectly because our Young Single Adult Ward was having a weenie roast up that same canyon at 7. So, we got off the walls, gathered the gear and walked over to my Jeep to ride down and have fun with the ward.

Right after we broke the key

Then, we broke the key in the back door. It was 7:15 and we had no cell reception because we were 2 or 3 miles deep into the veins of the canyon. (Green Canyon in Logan, Utah to be specific) Now, 2 or 3 years ago, I might have been worried. Livid as well. Monday night, I chuckled. We packed up our gear and began the hike down. The interesting thing is, I felt distinctly that we should pray, as soon as we broke the key. I ignored this impression and proceeded to gather gear and prep to head out. Now, I can't say if things would have turned out differently than they did if I had listened to the Holy Ghost in my heart. What I do know is that about 25 minutes later, I felt that same impression. I had been calm the entire night after the key incident, but I still felt like we should pray so I asked the others if we could. We stopped right then on the side of a dark trail and prayed. I offered the words, yet no supplication nor pleading left my lips. Instead, it was a simple prayer of gratitude. Gratitude that we had been able to climb so well during the afternoon. For the gorgeous landscapes that we had witnessed. Gratitude that none of us had been harmed and for the strength and the calm that we'd had in the face of uncertainty and trial. We finished the brief prayer and within 15 minutes were with the ward and had a sure ride home.
I remember showing up to the activity in the dark and everyone wondering who on earth the three hippies in packs were. I remember the shock on their faces as we told them what all had happened and them asking how we could smile and laugh about it. It's simple. It really is. It was epic. It was an adventure and I'm so grateful that I could share it with my good friends. Not only was it an adventure but it was a blessing. In spite of the adversity that we'd encountered, everything pieced together perfectly. Instead of a disaster, it was mere inconvenience. I know for a fact that my Heavenly Father guided us Monday night. I know He protected and comforted us and that's why we were able to get home without a hitch.
Like I said, Mondays tend to set the tone of the week. If every week started like this week did, I'd never have a dull moment. Then again, that's a choice isn't it?

“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” 

 

-J. R. R. Tolkein

  Here's to the adventures that lie in wait for each of us.

-Andrew Simpson

Reconfirmation from on high.

It has fallen on my week to post on the blog and it could not have fallen at a better time. With General Conference being held this last weekend I have many spiritual moments bestowed upon me in the course of a few hours. However the one I want to share with everyone is somewhat near and dear to my heart. This experience starts back about a year ago when I finally decided to apply and was accepted to attend school at Brigham Young University- Idaho. Those of you who know me well know that this school was the LAST place on Earth I wanted to end up (maybe with the exception of BYU Provo). It took nearly a year of subtle hints and pokes at the subject for me to even consider it and then one night in the temple for me to finally give in and apply. After I was accepted I had a vital decision to make...what would my major be? Nothing really interested me expect the Home and Family department. This is widely known as the "mommy major". Even though I have since changed my major to Child Development it is still in the same department and when people ask me what my major is, I often get the, *pause* oh, and the look in their eyes that says "you're in the mommy major" as if it is a bad thing.
I'm not going to lie it has bothered me for as long as I have been up here. Why do people look down on those who choose to help children or families in some way or another? Tue it's not brain surgery or rocket science but that shouldn't make it any less important. The family is at the center of our Heavenly Father's plan and striving to help children and families find happiness in life is a great way to live your life!
Luckily Elder Christofferson agrees with me. He talked about the moral force of women and how it is a force for good in the world. He talked about how encouragement from women leads others to reach high. He then said that we don't diminish men's careers and we should not diminish a woman's career of homemaking. Yeah I know he was talking about women as mothers but I couldn't help but see the connections between his talk and my chosen career path. My eventual goal in life is to become a certified Play Therapist. Basically I'll be playing with children under the age of 13ish who have been traumatized, abused, abandoned, etc and help them understand that what happened to them is not their fault and there is nothing wrong with feeling the way they do.
I realized this weekend what I have known all along. The "mommy major" is important! Women need to understand how the development of a child works, how children understand more than we think they do and how everything they do has a purpose if we just stop to ask questions before assuming we know what is going on. And since not everyone knows that mistakes happen, I want to be there to fix some of those mistakes, encourage children to reach high and never stop believing in themselves!
So to end my post I want to give a shout out to the woman who has always encouraged me to be the best I can be. Who has always been there for me, lifting me up when I fall down, and supporting me through every step of my journey. I love you mom, thank you for the wonderful example you set for me everyday!

That's all for now,
-Kylie