Patronus Charm Memories....

Have you ever thought about casting the Patronus spell from Harry Potter?  The one where you have to think about one of the happiest/peaceful moments of you life, in order for you to defeat a bunch of dementors?  Come on.  I know you have.  Well, I love to think about that.  Mostly because I just like an excuse to try to think of those moments - the most powerful ones.  I love that we have the gift of memory, and I pray that I never have to be with out it.  It truly is such a blessing.  Here are some of my most powerful Patronus Charm memories:  Please uplift us all, and feel free to think hard about and share yours as well!!

• Not too long ago, my family was gathered for a family dinner, and I can't even remember what it was that made my sister and me laugh so hard, but we were laughing uncontrollably.  The best part was that our laughs are insanely similar, and so when she would laugh even more, I would laugh even more.  This went on for seriously like 10 minutes.  My whole family was practically in tears from just watching Shandee and me laugh so hard at each other's laughs.  Matt even caught it on camera, and it is such a treasured moment for me.   I KNEW that this is what heaven must feel like.  Just like moments like this, there have been countless times that I have sat back and just watched my family, feeling so much peach and the purest kind of joy because I know that I get to be with them forever.  
• This next one is kinda like Harry Potter's where he couldn't exactly pin in to just one memory.  This one is all of those moments that I have sat back and been so unbelievably humbled at the amazing blessing that my friends have been to me.  From the time that I was sobbing uncontrollably, and Becca just held me like a little baby, to the time that Cami, Danner and I just had a much needed dance party outside of Danner's car after one really long CATS rehearsal.  I can list so many more specific instances like these ones. Some of my greatest memories, the kind that I so look forward to being able to replay and watch someday, are with both my old friends and my new.   
• The fourth of July 2009.  I was surround by the people that I loved the most.  I had my whole family around me.  Including all of the little ones.  I had my best friend sitting next to me, as he held my niece.  We were eating homemade ice cream, and watching the little firework show that we put on every year.  I sat there, and felt more content than I can ever remember feeling.  I thought to myself, "I must be the happiest girl in the world right now."  Looking back, I can still feel that specific feeling.  It's so simple, but it is honestly one of the happiest memories I have.  
• Running up to be the first to get to each of my brothers as they first returned from their missions.  Okay so I wasn't the first with Adam because of a blasted AIDA rehearsal, but the family had already seen him, so they were all around to watch as we saw each other for the first time in 2 years.  
• Being there when my sister had her first little girl.  It was a miracle to witness, and I instantly fell in love with that little gift that came straight from our Heavenly Father.  The veil was so thin.
• The opportunity I had to share my testimony with a girl from one of my classes after I gave her a ticket to Savior of the World.  She isn't a member, so I knew I wanted to give her the tickets.  She brought her boyfriend and said that they both loved it.  That is about as far as our post-show conversation went, though.  Every time I saw her in class after that, I felt the strongest feeling in my gut that I needed to actually talk to her about it.  For days I prayed for the courage to share my feelings about the Savior.  One morning I told Heavenly Father that I was running out of time because the semester was almost over.  I asked Him for an opportunity to be put in my path.  Mostly I asked Him for courage to do what I knew He wanted me to.  Later that very day, I got out of a class early, so there wasn't anyone else around on the sidewalk.  Except for her.  I looked up, and directly in front of me, she was walking.  She was literally put in my path!  I had to chuckle and shake my head at the plainness of this answered prayer.  We small talked for a minute, then we talked about Savior of the World.  I shared with her my testimony of the Savior and of the Book of Mormon.  Although my words weren't eloquent or well thought out I knew, by the look in her eyes, that the Spirit had told her what I couldn't.  I walked away from that with so much joy in my heart.  I couldn't stop smiling for the rest of the day.  I felt so close to my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ.  I was amazed and so grateful that they would allow little ME to be a part of their great work.  I will never forget this powerful, testimony strengthening experience.  It is an easy go-to for a Patronus spell.  That is for sure.  

Well!  Those are just a few of some of my favorite memories!  I have so many more - some simple and some elaborate,  some old and some new - but the important thing is that I have them.  Take the time to think about your favorite memories, and don't forget to thank the one that allowed for you to have them. Thanks for letting me share!