"My Lord and My God."

After watching this year's Christmas Devotional put on by the first Presidency, I am overwhelmed with love and gratitude.  What beautiful messages that were shared this year!  I truly felt the love of the living Savior while hearing the words of His chosen servants.
It got me thinking about a tradition that my family has had ever since before I can remember.  Every Christmas Eve, we do a gift to Jesus.  It's one of my favorite traditions that I fully intend on carrying on into my own family one day.  We sit down as a family and think about a gift we want to give to Jesus - a goal or resolution of sorts.  We then share them with each other one at a time, put our written down goal into a little frame and keep in by our beds throughout the entire year.  Last year mine was, "as I'm fed, I'll feed them.  As I learn, I'll teach.  I will feed His sheep."  These are some lyrics from Savior of the World - nothing says Christmas to me more than that show does.  I can't imagine Christmas without participating in, or at least seeing it!  I like to make my gifts to Jesus from the messages of that show because it has and always have a special place in my heart.  While listening to the devotional, I was just  flooded with awe that the Savior of the World died for me.  Can you imagine?  A babe born in a stable, destined to save all who ever lived - He saved me.  I am forever completely indebted to Him.  But as inadequate and undeserving as I am, I can still do something with the life He has given me.  As I reflect on this past year, I think of opportunities I have had to share and to feed His sheep.  He even gives me those!!  Oh, heavens.  He is far to kind to me.  "Our lives are the gift of 'what happens next?'".   So what happens next is me taking just another opportunity to make sure I share and maybe feed a few more sheep by testifying of Him.  I know Jesus Christ lives.  He rescues me and each of us in every way possible.  He is the good in everything.  He bore the burden of living a perfect life and still gave the glory to His father.  Our father.  I need Him always.  Every minute of every day.  I have learned in more personal ways than I ever have in the last several months that we are constantly under His wing - that He is in the details of our lives.  The tiniest of details!  His atonement covers every pain or heartache we could ever feel and He reaches out to us constantly.  Constantly!  His promises are real!  I know Him.  I know His kindness.  I know His love.  I have felt it and seen it and have been sustained and lifted and strengthened because of it.  He loves us in a way that we can't even fully understand in this life.  I know He lives.  I know I will see Him in person one day.  I so look forward to the day when I can fall at His feet, bathe them in my tears and say, "my Lord and my God."
He lives, my friends!  He lives.

Transition

So, I've started dating someone.  Someone called myself.  Yes, it's true.  No, this is not a pity party, this is an empower-Hannah-because-she-feels-empowered party.  From spending a Friday night coloring a picture for myself to sitting on the floor next to my cinderblock supported bed of my college apartment while painting my nails and listening to some of my favorite songs and noticing that my hands are getting older (whoa run-on sentence)...I am on my way to getting to know myself again.  To figuring out how to have my heart to myself for a while.  To finding myself by losing myself.  Losing myself to my calling, to serving, to my school work, to being a true friend, to being an open book, to fresh starts - even the scary ones.  We live and we learn, don't we?  And LIVE, we must!!  Give up a bit of the control.  Palms up, ya'll.
Here's to drinking milk from the carton.  Here's to multi-colored finger nails and to songs that express what you can't.  Here's to building new bridges from the ashes of the very ones we have just burned - some we worked hard to burn, and some we watched burn without much say of our own.  Here's to changing the world one daddy-daughter date at a time - especially the Heavenly kind.  I like those.  Here's to feeling so small yet, big as the whole out doors at the same time.  Here's to sitting in the Logan temple parking lot in your car by yourself while eating leftover pie and crying because only four people showed up to your Relief Society activity.  Ha, here's to making funny faces without even trying and then laughing and slapping your forehead about it right after.  And here's to the transition moments in our lives when it feels like little progress is happening but in reality everything is preparing you for blessings that have yet to be put in place.
So, sit.  Get to know yourself a bit.  And heck, even like yourself!!  Like ALOT!  Because whoever really does get to date you one day is one lucky friggin' dog.  ;)  But until then, little girl crushes can bring you lots of joy.
I think this is going to be a very long, beautiful, fantastic, fruitful relationship with me, myself, and I.
God is good.
Cheers!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like.....Therapy.

Guys!  I had my first real live therapy session!  And when I say MY first therapy session, I mean I was the therapist!!  Okay, okay so it wasn't a real case.  And it wasn't a real client.  Obviously.  Or I wouldn't be sharing it. It was one of my coeds from the program.  BUT!  We were given a case (Celene, the client, was at a business conference when she got date raped and just doesn't have any motivation in life anymore), and we got to film a NON-SCRIPTED session.  We filmed them so we could analyze ourselves later on.  It was actually a really great learning experience!  I'm excited to continue to practice like this.  So it was just a pretend session, but this is a big deal to me!!  Yay!  Ahhhh...I love my major...

Also, my left side is SOOOO my better side.  Hhhaaallo.  

This one is me being the client, Celene, while my friend is the therapist.

This one is of ME being the therapist!  

Things I like about myself:

Because everyone needs to have a positive self image, be less hard on themselves, and see the good that we sometimes forget to.

I like my eyes.  They are big.  And like my dad's.
I am a pretty resilient person.  That takes some serious practice.
I have always prided myself in my high/well-defined cheekbones.  That's a Gibb feature and I don't have a lot of those.
Freckles are sometimes frowned upon...I happen to like mine, thank you very much.
I'm funny.  Okay?  I am.  If it takes you a few times getting to understand my sense of humor, that's fine.
I'm an extremely forgiving person.  Grudges, none such.
I'm very organized and clean.  Everything has its place.
I am very sensitive to other's feelings and emotions.  I'm very aware of and astute to what others might be feeling.
I just used the word astute.  (Social Workerrr).
I am a super duper people person.  I make relationships fast.
I'm good at making people feel comfortable.
I'm a very good communicator....
In fact, I'm a fairly assertive person.
I'm feisty.  I love it when my dad tells me that I remind him of his mom - who was a very spunky woman.  She changed the world with her spunk and fire.
I'm creative artsy fartsy.
I like my voice most of the time.
I am actually quite fond of my lips.  They are full.  And quite kissable.  Ahem.
I have great shin muscles.
I know it's crazy...but my laugh is so me.  Only me.  And I like that.
I think I have pretty good style.  I can pull off lots of different looks.  One day I'll wear heels and red lipstick and the next day I'll wear a hoodie and a baseball hat.  And rock them.
Babies bring me joy. I cannot get enough of them.
I can make some of THEEE wackiest, ugliest, silliest faces and/or voices ever.
I like my smile.  My teeth, the mole above my right lip, and my sometimes scrunched nose.

Okay, okay.  Self-esteem boosted!!  Day seized!!
Now back to life.
Pheww!
Lets do this.

And sometimes we go down the wrong road, then start going on the correct road, then double back to the wrong road again...just to make sure. Because we are stubborn and human. Yet the Lord is patient all the while. Mercy, I tell you. Mercy.

Move

I was so touched by this video.  Sometimes we have to take a few wrong paths in order to get on the right one.  But the truth is, it is all progress in some form isn't it?  It may not seem like it, but it is.   I know Christ loves us.  I know God will guide us.  Through all of the hardships, confusion, chaos, and heartache.  He.  Will.  Guide.  Us.  In a way He knows will help us the most.  Be open to the direction of His loving hand.

Dear You...that's right. You know who you are....

I swore I wouldn't do this.  I've seen other girls do this, and I have thought it was...well weird.  But, I have to this time.  I've come to the conclusion that I haven't met you yet.  Well, if I do know you, you sure aren't doin' anything about it!  Come on now, we don't have forever!  Ha.  Yeah that's funny that I say that cuz ha we actually do have forever.  Look.  What I'm trying to say is that I'm so excited to love you.  I'm so excited for that forever!  I'm excited to learn and grow with you and to make mistakes and to have to learn how to carefully say what it is that is bothering me.  I'm excited to trust you completely and to have my profile pictures be of you and me.  I'm excited to get excited when you come home from work or school.  I'm excited to be out-of-control giggly with you.  That annoying kind that other people around us cant stand.  Because everyone should have a chance at that kind of love.  I'm excited to have babies that look like you and to have coordinating family halloween costumes.  I think of you often.  I feel you close.  I pray for you often.  I pray that you are preparing for me and that you will know it when it's right.  I pray that I will know it too - that I will be brave and see you.  Really see you.

I actually dreamt about you last night - a person I'd never seen before.  And let me say, if you really do look like that guy from my dream...well win for Hannah cuz sheeewwt!!  You was gorrrrgeous!!  :)  Ha, I then spent half the day looking for you as I walked from class to class.  Just to see if maybe I'd recognize you.  Nope!  Not today.  Just around the corner, maybe.  Maybe you're in a different city.  Or state.  Or country.  Or continent.  Maybe you're a missionary.  BAH!  I've already done that missionary thang.  Mmm mm.  No thanks.  Not again.  Maybe you're four years older than me!  And done with school!  Oh that would be nice.  Or maybe we could go to the Library together if you aren't.  Whatever is fine with me.

Honestly, whoever, wherever you are...I know you're amazing!!  You have to be!!  (I'm kinda bankin' on that).  I know the Lord has a plan for me.  And you!  Forever really is just a heartbeat away.
And just so you know,
I loved you before I knew you.  :)

I Meeeade Diiiss.

Holla atcha random...

• Hoodies are my safe place.  Started being so in high school.  Who's with me?!
• I accidentally gag myself almost every time I brush my teeth.  What are some of your quirks? 
• Speaking of teeth brushing, did you know you can be allergic to your toothpaste?  Apparently you can. And I am.  Still using it.  Toothpaste is expensive.
• I love hats.  I wear them frequently.  Mostly because I don't want to wash my hair.  But you didn't know that.  
• I'm a cryer.  It's true.  I cry often.  It's how I process things.  It's how I work through them.  So what do you need to do?  Just let me cry.  Hold me, maybe.  Tell me to stop, absolutely not.  Make me laugh, Yes.  Always.  Above all, just listen.  Good.  Glad we had that discussion.
• I'm a fairly fickle person, I've come to realize in the last while...which is strange cuz I usually am not.  heh heh.  Crack on then, shall we?!
• I have a large amount of candy in my backpack.   I don't share.  
• I sleep on my stomach a lot and I can't stand to have to covers all tucked in and stuff.  Nope.  I will go to great lengths to loosen them up.
• I become a pretty needy baby when I'm sick.  
• I paint my nails probably about twice a week.  
• I talk on the phone while grocery shopping.  I get bored and need company.  
• I love earrings.  I feel naked if I'm not wearing earrings.  Okay, not naked.  But I don't like it.
• I chew my gum really hard.  Last month the cartilage in my jaw kept popping out of place because I chew too hard.  Oops.  Don't worry, I learned to calm it down a bit.
• I also love perfume/body sprays.  I can't just have one smell.  I have to switch it up.  Although I usually keep it pretty consistent when I'm dating someone.  Is that weird?  Yeah, I think that's weird.  I think I just try to keep things simple for 'em, ya know?  Do you have a specific scent you always stick with? 
• Current favorite snack?  Those apple-sauce pouches.  I feel like a child when I start sucking out of those things in class, but they sure are tasty!  Also expensive.  Right now, they take priority over getting new toothpaste of which I'm not allergic to.  Any recommendations for less expensive munchy munches?
• I want a baby, dang it!!
• The more and more I get into my social work classes, the more I am interested in the DCFS/child protective services/forensic interviewing stuff.  Eeee.  I know.  Scary stuff.  But it fascinates me!  
• I feel empowered when I'm wearing lipstick.  Bright.  Red. (or pinkish) Lipstick.  So I usually wear it on days I take tests.  Totally works.  Past 3 tests...ACED.  What empowers you?

Welp, there's that.  Some randoms I have noticed about myself lately.  It's good to learn about yourself, ya know?  Healthy I think.  What things can you learn about YOURself??  :)  

Progress

Two steps forward and one step back.

Sometimes its okay to cry and again be fragile.

Sometimes you have to acknowledge the heart attack

because being brave and strong is usually how it's handled,

then everything is torn up by a dream or two in your sleep.

So you lay down in the dark listening to your favorite love songs

trying to pretend they don't have the same meaning they used to keep.

A plan is what you had, how do you let go of something that lasted so long?

You've "tasted flight" as they all say,

and until you're back in the air you do all you can to fly.

Move.

Try, try, try.

What are you trying to prove?

It's fine because most of the time you do.

But today was a bit of a haze.

You felt feelings you aren't supposed to feel anymore.

You don't even know when you'll get back everything you gave.

You give and you give what's already been gone.

Yet regret.  There's none of that, learning is what it was for.

Now you wonder if the step back was so wrong.

What if things are not quite as you thought?

Well honestly you don't know - you haven't all along.

 You can't just go by the opinions you've always fought.  

It's your heart.  God's too. 

He walks you through.  

So you step up to tomorrow, you move yet again.

Sleeves are rolled up and who knows where the future will go.

But it's hopeful as the sun that comes up, the world to mend.

Now you choose to be happy, because we all know...

we reap what we sew.

Two steps forward and one step back.

A Man is Stronger on His Knees, Than He is on His Feet

I'm fairly ashamed to say that for the longest time, I said my personal prayers without kneeling.  I have always grown up seeing my mom and dad kneel to say their personal prayers - at the beginning of the day before work, or before starting the daily chores, and at the end of the day when they could barely think straight.  I've always known that kneeling is the best way, that it shows respect to God, that it is reverent to do so, and all of those things.  But.  I have always just hopped in bed to say them, or if anything, sit up or kneel in my bed.  Of course, we all know what happens when you try to say your prayers while laying down.  You fall asleep.  Some mornings I would even notice myself finishing that fragmented prayer between pushing the snooze button.  I would always say my morning prayers (once I finally learned that lesson - that I couldn't NOT say my morning prayers without it greatly impacting my day) in the car, or on the bus, or walking to campus.   I guess I just sort of justified - as if it were some sort of "understanding between me and Heavenly Father" or that "that's just how our relationship is."  Oh, lanta.  How ridiculous is that.  Im cringing.  Like, gagging a little bit.  If you don't know what deception is - that's it.  Oh, but He was kind.  I know Heavenly Father still listened.  He never ceased to show me His love or answer my prayers.  He waited patiently for me to learn my lesson....which, I did.  One day when I was studying in 3rd Nephi, I read the scriptures about Christ going off on His own and  kneeling to pray to His father.  They were scriptures that I had read many times, but it hit me so hard that day!  If our Savior, the king of kings himself, kneels to our Father in Heaven...then I am dust!  Well, I sure wished to be dust at that moment because at least dust does exactly what the Lord expects it to.  Who am I to not kneel?  How selfish I had been?!  Now, I think the chastisement I put on myself was even more harsh than the gentle reminder that the Lord had to give me in that moment, but I sure realized how important it was for me to kneel when I can.  

Let me tell you something...it has made all the difference.  My relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ has changed.  I LOVE kneeling, on my own, morning and night, to talk to my Father.  I love it!  Probably some of my favorite parts of the day.  I was only hurting myself by not kneeling before!  Now, of course sometimes I forget to kneel before running out the door in the morning, or sometimes I'm too cold, and just have to hop under my covers!  And of course, my prayers throughout the day - when I'm in class, or in a specific situation, or not at home - are just said in my heart, but even those prayers have seemed more meaningful because I have chosen to kneel when I can.  The communication line just got so much clearer!  Sahhh-weeeeet!!!!    

Guys, I'm not telling this story to do a big awkward confession, or to boast of my magnificent epiphany or whatevers haha.  I'm telling it to share that I know that from small things come GREAT things.  Oh, the lessons we learn in this life...sometimes over and over and over again because we are goofball humans.  Also, to share how real deception is!  What?!  Not me, I don't get decieved.  HA!  Yes, yes you do.  In little itty bitty ways.  In tiny, justification-you-don't-think-it-has-to-apply-to-you ways....IT ALL APPLIIIIIIES!!!  :)  Always.  Because God is good and He loves us, that's why.  

Shout Out....

This is Shandee.  AKA Shand.  AKA Shandu.  AKA Shaunaaaay.  AKA my sister.  AKA my best friend.

Shandee is eleven years older than me, and my only true blood sister (I say that because I have lots of sisters of the not blood, or in-law kind).  Shandee and I are as different as you can imagine, and yet we still find little moments when we realize how very alike we actually are.  I have loved that now that I am older, we can relate on a lot more levels and we love talking.  She and my mom are usually the first people I go to when I am in some sort of dilemma.  Guys, she really is just fantastic.  Let me tell you a few reasons why:
Shandee is a wife.  And mommy.  She is a good at both of those.  One of my favorite things about watching Shand be a mommy is how much she plays with her babes.  A lot of times you see mommies just being mommies and ya know, taking are of the kids and teaching them what is okay and what isnt' and yeah of course Shandee does an amazing job at that.  Obviously.  But she is so good at really playing with her kids.  She is a "cool" mom.
She is funny!!!!  We have the exact same laugh and when we get goin' together, there is no stopping us.    She is goofy and brings out the goofy in me and I love it.  She keeps our family laughing with her silly voices and funny dances.
Shandee is a constant friend.  For example, when Shandee was in high school she was a part of the peer tutoring program and became best friends with one of the sweetest angel girls you could ever meet.  To this day, Jenny calls Shandee several times a day because she knows Shandee will always be a resource and friend for her.  Shandee still schedules special time to be with Jenny.  Jenny knows each of Shandees kids by name, and frequently has all of our family go to her family's house to play.  Shand loves Jenny and anyone else for that matter in the most Christ-like ways.  She fulfills her callings, she serves, she is everyone's best friend in her ward, and everyone just loves her.  No one could ever speak unkind words about Shand.  She is just too great!
Now. Speaking of Christ-like.  Shandee has one of the most tender hearts in the world.  There have been several times that I have gone to her with some trouble or concern or heartache and while I cry to her, she cries too.  I've seen her do that with others too.  To me, that is an extremely unique and special gift.  She truly mourns with those who mourn.  She is extremely empathic - a quality I personally work hard to attain.  For her it is the most natural thing in the world.  She loves deeply, openly, and actively.
I so admire my older sister.  I truly feel that so much of who I am goes back to who I watched my sister be.  She was the perfect example to me.  I don't know if I've ever told her this properly, but I loved hoping and thinking that I was maybe becoming like her - music she listened to, clothes she wore, make-up she put on, but mostly the testimony that she lived by.  So many times when I was little, I would walk past my sister's room (later to climb in bed with her because I got scared) and she would be reading her scriptures or kneeling at her bed in prayer.  I honestly don't remember a ton of things from when I was little, but some of my most vivid memories are of my sister - just little things like her cleaning her room while listening to Shania Twain, being so proud of my big sis when she was up dancing on the stage, and us practicing our little "sister, sister" secret handshake.  These are the images I think of when I think of my Shandee.  She is incredible.  Incredible, I tell you!
So just so you know, Shandee Lynn, you are my big sister.  FOREVER!  I couldn't be more blessed.
I sure love you!

My thoughts lately...cept not MY thoughts cuz it's a quote.

She Changed US - a summer miracle

I have been wanting to tell this story for a while now, but have had a hard time knowing how to say some of the special feelings I have.  Knowing that expressing them isn't really possible, I'll just do my best. :)

This is Dita:

(She came to my family's 24th of July bbq)

 This summer I was staying at my friend Cami's house while my parents were out of town.  One morning my Cami was up way earlier than I was and heard a big commotion out on the busy street in front of her house.  She grabbed her dad who is a doctor and they ran out to find a crowd around a girl who had just been cruising down a hill on her bike, lost control and hit a bus that was pulling from a stop at the bottom of the hill.  This girl was from Latvia and here for the summer for work.  She was staying with a family in my friends ward.  After the accident, ward members, Cami's family and I were able to rally around her and help her during her healing process.  She received a priesthood blessing that night and recognized the spirit immediately.  They got done and she said “what did you do to me?!  I feel so warm!”  The Lord had prepared her to receive the gospel.  It was because of this big accident which ended up causing her a lot of pain and discouragement and even the need to quit her sales job, that she was exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I was able to witness her conversion as we and the missionaries worked with her.  She was baptized right before going back to her country at the end of the summer.  At her baptism she tearfully said that she would be hit by a bus again and again because it brought her to Christ.   
Now, this is the short version of the story.  There are details and miracles along the way but I just don't know where to begin.  I was so grateful for the opportunities that I had to share my testimony and learn and grow with Dita.  I was constantly reminded of how very close the Lord is to each of us - how He plans out the details of our lives, sometimes even down to the smallest of moments.  I was experiencing some hard things at the time, but was reminded in a very tender moment that if the Lord loves this girl, and has prepared her to receive the gospel, then He loves me and has a perfect plan for me too.  Mostly I loved seeing how much healing and joy Dita received from the gospel.  I loved seeing how much she loved the Savior.  She was a delight to be around.  She reminded me about what was important.  She brought me back down to earth.  She taught me to see things simply, to not complicate things, and to just feel.  Apparently she did this for all of Centerville too because half of the city showed up to her baptism.   Everyone who met her, even if it was just while she was out doing door-to-door sales, was touched by her light.  
While it may seem that all the miracles happened on her behalf - that she was the only one to have gained - this girl came to little old Centerville, where the majority of us have grown up with the gospel in our lives, and reminded us where true joy is found.  That the gospel brings new happiness every day, even when we have never had to be without it, or even when we experience "monkies" as she would affectionately call hard times.  She reminded us to not be complacent.  She helped us remember!  
I had prayed for an opportunity like this, and still continue to.  I'm so grateful that the Lord allows us to be involved in this joyous work.  It is happiness.  
Dita is back in Latvia now, and I don't know if I will ever see her again in this life, but we are sisters, she and I.  I am forever humbled and grateful.

Cami, me, Dita, Meredith at the Conference Center theatre

Ships

I have been so unbelievably spiritually fed in this last week, and General Conference hasn't even happened yet!  I feel so blessed.  Yesterday our stake had a home evening with the stake president and his wife.  I love President and Sister Green.  They are the cutest, most tender, most in love couples I have ever seen.  They tease and are hilarious with each other, but the Spirit is ever there when they are. Together they gave a talk about families and not building them "after the manner of men," but instead building them like the three ships built in scriptural history:  Noah's ark, Nephi's ship, and the brother of Jared's barges.  We need to build them from the instruction we get from the Lord.  We need to build them tight like unto a dish.  We need to operate them by faith.  Among the stories and many profound words they said, my favorites were said after we read these verses from Ether chapter 6:

 6 And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind.

 7 And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being^atight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ^barkof Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters.

 8 And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters; and thus they were ^adriven forth before the wind.

President Green closed with this: 

"Please remember the concept and truth that the very wind that continuously blew them to the Promised Land, was the same wind that caused the waves to bury them.  Lehi explained that there needs be opposition in all things." 

The Lord is in charge, and always provides a way for us even in our darkest times.  The stones that lit the barges were not only sources of light, but there were witnesses of God's existence and we still have those stones today in our everyday lives.  President Green and his wife said that one night when they were brand new married, they decided to kneel down and dedicate their marriage and lives to the Lord. I'm so excited to one day do the same.  

Oh.  And remember....

Conference is Coming!

Yesterday for USU Religion in life Sister Elaine Dalton came and spoke to the institute.  Guys.  I love her.  She is an amazing speaker, but that's nothing new.  Her whole talk was phenomenal - she talked about how we can make decisions and get answers because we are "called."  She said that as the work of the Lord's gospel is hastening, we have more and more opportunities.  We also have more challenges.  She told us that when she was set apart by President Monson, she was blessed that she would "see the youth of  the church the way Heavenly Father sees them."  She said that when she was released she thought this would stop, but it hasn't - she promised us, because she was blessed by a prophet of God to know this, that Heavenly Father does indeed love us and that we are not ordinary.  She said, "in fact I am honored and privileged to be speaking to you today."  She was honored!! Because we are "highly favored."  She pointed out several people in the scriptures who were highly favored and it was because they were faithful in the prelife as they were in their earth life.  But if we sat at Christ's feet and were tutored by him in prelife, then why did we need to exercise faith?  Because all of us to have ever walked the earth had to have faith in the Savior in saying, "I know the plan will work because I know Jesus Christ."  So WE are here!  Now.  And we need to remember that we are indeed highly favored of the Lord.  He loves us.  But with this, we have great responsibility and cannot delay in the work!  

I love the leaders (or past leaders) of our church and I feel so blessed to have heard from sweet sister Dalton.  I cannot WAIT to hear from more of our leaders next week!  The church is true, ya'll!  I know it.  I live it.  I love it.  

Don't forget to watch conference!!

Where have you been all my life?!

So apparently there is this guy named James Taylor.  Umm he is amazing and I love him and I didn't even know him!  Why have I only heard his name and not his music all of my life?!  Well, now that I got to attend the MoTab choir concert featuring ol' James, I have and I love his sound!  He has such a unique sound and combing that with another one of my favorite sounds: the choir (my dad), was a heavenly feeling!  Ya know how some music can really just calm ya down and make you feel so content and like you have just gotten all the answers to everything?  Well that's how I felt during this concert.  So good.  Plus I was with some of my favorite people in this whole world.  I got to go with my mama, sister, and brother-in-law, and Mr. Chase Hansen was kind enough to be my date that night. Love these people!  Love James!  Love music!  Love the gospel!  Love my papa!

These people are bomb!

Mama gets a little irked when she cant see Dad real well.

Sista, sista.  Oh, I love this lady.  We are soooo different, but sooo alike in a lot of ways too.  She has become one of my very best friends.  Also, we make each other laugh like no ones business.  I absolutely love it when we get goin'.  The poor people around us before the concert...stifling our laughter is a very painful and awkward experience for all parties involved.

I think Chaser was a little overwhelmed at mine and Shandee's sisterly-ness. ;)

Aww.  Got a good one.  Phew!

#1 Dream

Some days I just think to myself, "oh my heavens I just want a baby so bad!!!"  

Then I remember I have to get a husband first. 

Then I remember that I have to have a boyfriend first.

Then I remember that before that, I have to go on dates (which I doooo {Nacho Libre accent}).  

Ughhh. 

 Darn this impatient mother inside of me.  Darn, I say! *Fist shake* ;) (Really though, I love it.)

[I'm so excited!!]  

In the mean time, I love life cuddling with my nieces and nephews and buying them gifts and I may or may not buy my future babies gifts at the same time...they go right in my hope chest.  Like I'm going to afford to buy them things when I actually have them....so stock up now, eh?  Judge me as you will.

No, I'm not miserable and moping because of the place I am at in my life.  I'm quite pleased with where I am at.  I love investing myself in my life here in Logan.  I love being 1st counselor in the Relief Society Presidency.  I love making new friends.  I love going to school and dreaming about the assignments the Lord has in store for me.  I love that He is molding my life and me - into the person HE needs me to be.
Also I love love and marriage and babies and things like such as.  :)  *Content sigh*...Someday.  But for now I dream.  And it moves me.

Hello, Sweet Love

Alivia Joy Russon

born 5:08 p.m. August 26th 2013

6.10 lbs 19" 

Perfect in every way!  

I love being an aunt.  This little girl was waited for for a long time in our little family.  Matt and Stacy knew that there was one more comin' but had a hard time getting pregnant for a while.  Stacy miscarried a couple times as well.  This story is similar to mine!  Apparently I was waited for for a long time as well, and I was the baby to complete our family.  That's why they gave me the middle name of Joy!  When Matt and Stacy found out that she was on her way, they knew they would give her the middle name of Joy.  They say that every time they thought of her name, they thought of her "special aunt Hannah Joy" too, and how she and the new babe would have a special little connection. 

 Us girls are the cabooses of our families, Livi girl, and I can't tell you how much I love this spot in our family.  It is so much fun!  It means that you have SOO many people looking out for you - backing you up.  Always.  You have some amazing examples over you!  Even though you are the 7th niece, and the 14th grandchild in our family, it doesn't get old!  I was so excited for you to get here!  Remember that your aunt, Hannah Joy, is always here for you to talk about mean junior high girls, cute boys, hard classes/teachers, our Savior, and anything else in the world!  Mostly remember that I love you no matter what!  Welcome to our forever family!