A Red Marble Promise

Okay.  Let me tell you a story.  It's a good one.  Promise.  Worth the read, in my not-so-humble opinion.

So for a long time I had been feeling like I needed to get involved in family history work/indexing and all that good stuff.  I would get on my computer and see the little tree icon in the corner of my desktop and get a haunting pit in my stomach...then I would quickly facebook it out.  Well done, Hannah.  Anyweee, so finally the feeling wasn't so much of an anxiety or guilty feeling but it was more of just a need to do something.  Clearly the latter is the one that came from the Holy Ghost.  But I just could NOT get excited about it!  I couldn't bring myself to do it even though I knew that I was holding back as far as what I could give to the gospel went.  So this Christmas, I decided to make my gift to Jesus be that I would learn about and become more involved in family history work.  We take our gifts to Jesus pretty seriously around here and so I started going to the three week course of family history sunday school.  Then I knew I needed to sign up for an institute class but my schedule is all weird so in my brain I kept justifying NOT signing up for a family history class (guys, Satan can be tricky, k?).  So finally I just did it.  I just registered for the once a week class.  Theeeen I debated actually going because it was during a nice little break I had in between classes - a break that I would usually take a small snooze on campus during (like I said, Satan is tricky and plays at our weaknesses.  We all know how much I love a good campus snooze).  SO!  This is where it gets good.  And a bit more serious.  Wednesday night, the night before I would have to decide whether or not to actually go to this institute class, I had a good conversation with my roommate about how the Spirit works in our lives and how we need to act upon the promptings we get.  I knelt down and prayed and prayed that I would have the energy, motivation, and excitement I needed in order to make it to my class.  I knew I couldn't do it on my own because I am human and ridiculous.  GUESS WHAT HAPPENED NEXT!  Well, I went to bed.  BUT!  The next morning, when my tired wave usually hits around 10 in the a.m., I was wide awake!  I had a bounce in my step and I went into that family history class and LOVED it!!  I cannot even explain to you the joy and assurance I felt as I left my class.  I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face.  A) because I knew that I had been blessed - that the Lord got me there and B) because I truly felt confirmation that I was supposed to be in that class.  Since then, I have found a few names, given them to my parents, and those members of MY deceased family have received their baptismal and temple blessings.  Then I showed my dad how to do it and HE found some names.  Then I showed my brother and my sister and my nephew, and THEY are now determined to do the same.  What a joy.  A true, you-can't-find-it-anywhere-else joy.  My dad told me how excited he was about all of this after he found the name of a Russon man who needed every ordinance performed.  I thought to myself, "imagine how excited he is."  Which reminds me of a simple scenario I once heard that describes the importance of family work, missionary work, and our promises to "our fathers."  I re-wrote it in more of narrative form, and it is not doctrine by any means, but it personalized it for me.  I'll include it at the end of this post.  Read it, I say!!!

So to make a long story...less long, let me just tell you how exciting this has been for me.  Let me tell you how my testimony has grown in so many different facets.  I know family history work is important.  It is necessary and is most definitely us red marble holder's responsibility to participate in.  If the family history bug hasn't bitten you yet, pray for it to!  Pray for some motivation and desire and help.  You'll get it and you'll be blessed.   Promise. :) 

Well done for making it to the end of this story.  

The End.

Actually the end is after the red marble story, soooo....GO!

It was what seemed just a moment after the final decision of how our Father’s plan would be carried through, that we all lined up - waiting!  Excited and nervous to see what color of marble we would get.  We knew that the choice of receiving a body and going to earth would mean hardship.  We knew it would mean forgetting, for a while, the face of our Father.  We knew it meant being tested, but we didn’t know whether or not we would have the truths of the gospel to accompany us on our journey.  That’s what we were waiting to find out. 

If you were handed a red marble, you would be born into the gospel.  Of course you would still have to experience you own conversion process, but with the red marble, the gospel would constantly be at your fingertips.  If you were given a blue marble, you would have to wait a bit before coming to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  You would be lucky enough to receive it still in the mortal life, but just not immediately.  A while without the truth and assurance of our Father’s plan and love would be required.  If you were given a green marble, oh everyone dreaded the green marble, you would be expected to walk the world without the complete truth - without the promises that can so fully be ours with the ordinances of baptism and the temple.  Perhaps you would be born during a great apostasy, or perhaps you would live in a far corner of the world where the messages of Christ couldn’t be spoken.  Whichever the case, the green marble was least desired.

So we patiently...anxiously...waited to see what lot we would face in life.  Two of my friends and I stood in line next to each other tightly holding hands until it came our turn to break our clasps and hold them out for a single marble to be dropped into.  My fist clasped tight around my marble before I even saw the color.  I slowly opened my hand only inches away from my face.  Red.  A never before experienced surge of relief fled over my body.  I couldn’t have been more thrilled.  I would have the companionship of the Holy Ghost to get me through whatever I would face in life.  I would have this glorious truth.  I hurriedly looked up to see my friend’s marbles, completely forgetting that theirs might be different than mine.  Neither of them spoke.  They both just looked from their hands up to me with small, faithful smiles on their faces.  One blue and one green.  Their tear-swelling eyes seemed to say to me, “what will we do?  What will you do?”  “I will find you,” I said, sealing my promise with an embrace for each of them.  “Whether it mean I walk long miles bolding testifying of the gifts I will be given, or it mean I spend hours searching for your name on old faded records and certificates, I will find you with the Lord as my guide. 

Each time I go to the temple or share my testimony, I can’t help but think of my brothers and sisters I quite possibly knew, loved, and promised to help receive the fullness of the gospel. 

This is the responsibility each of us have.  This is the promise of which Elijah has spoken.  May our hearts turn to our fathers...and our mothers and brothers and sisters.  May we ever give because we have been given much.  

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!  

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.  :)

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!!

#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.

Fashion Show!

Each semester the Dress and Humanities classes put on a fashion show at USU.  I am in that class, so I got to participate!  At first I thought it was kinda a dumb assignment, but I ended up loving it.  We were required to make an item of clothing out of recycled material.  The theme for the fashion show this year was "re-tell" so the categories were book genres.  My friend Taylor and I worked hard to design and make a little dress for the Western genre category.  This is how it went:

Draw out the design

Gather materials...we used gunnysacks (burlap), bandanas, and lace!

Draw out a few patterns here and there....

Sew our little hearts out - love my new sewing machine from Christmas!
 I was excited to have something to use it for.

Some details...

I think these details made the dress!  Cute lace and burlap flowers on the bandana belt.

Kellie-jo being awesome and modeling our "gunnysack prom" dress.

Guess what!  Our dress won for the Western category!  That was exciting!

This is what we won.  A Long Way Gone.  I'm excited to read it.
I've heard it's way good. 

 So this was just a fun, unique opportunity.  I was surprised at how legit it was.  Lights, a catwalk, music, etc etc.  A lot of people came too!  The TSC ballroom was packed!  So there ya have it!  If you get the chance, go to the next one!  So fun. :)

YOU are enough

 It was something I had been thinking about for a bit, but honestly, I was quite discouraged with my inability to get an answer.  I wanted to make sure that I was listening and doing the Lord's will above anything else.  It wasn't something that I was confident in because it was kind of against my plans.  Don't we all have plans for ourselves?!  However, one night during Savior of the World, I got my answer.  It was during Zacharias' and Elizabeth's song.  "We must leave it in the Lord's hands and not worry."  It was then that I decided to not sit in my fear, but to let the Lord lift me up out of it - that I could truly give this to Him.  So I did, and that's when I got my answer.  During the next scene of the show, I had absolute clarity of mind.  I was overwhelmed with peace that I knew could only be from the Lord.  I can count on one hand how many times I have had such clear direction in my life - absolutely knowing that something was what the Lord wanted me to do.  Auditioning for the core cast of the Nauvoo Pageant was one of them.  
There were times before auditioning, that I would get scared and want to back out, but I was quickly and gently reminded of the feelings that I had that night during Savior of the World, and there was no way I could or would go against that. 
The audition process was such a sweet experience.  I went in there feeling scared and intimidated and tiny and came out feeling loved and strengthened and empowered through the teachings of our Savior.  Before going in, Cami kept reminding me, "Hannah, you are enough."  There was no need for the feeling of inadequacy because what we each had to offer at the audition was all that was needed.  Our testimonies that we could share through the process was what would make the difference.  They had us sing and read lines from the show, and every time we would get done with a scene we would all talk about the principles taught in the lines and about the testimonies shared through them.  The lines from the show are absolutely inspired.  We were in there representing people who were trying to build Zion, and it felt like a little mini Zion right then and there - complete strangers were connected through the gospel.   The people I was surrounded by are my brothers and sisters and I could feel that!  

My favorite part was when I got to read as Emma Smith.  We were telling the story about how the Relief Society began and I loved getting to share my testimony.  Even though I was reading lines for Emma, I was still able to share MY testimony through the words.  I also got to read the line, “to know what it is to lose one you love and bare a sorrow.”  It’s the line of a lady who had lost her baby boy and found peace through the promises of the temple.  When I read that line, it hit me so powerfully that not only do we lose ones we love physically, but we lose loved ones spiritually as well, and indeed, we do bare that sorrow.  I was overwhelmed with the feeling that we can’t afford to lose any more of our dear brothers and sisters, and that we truly need to be a part of the rescue.   It was a humbling experience, reminding me of the work I need to do!  I felt vulnerable and see-through and open and happy.  Truly happy!  Walls were broken down, and my heart was softened.  By the end of the audition/call back process I was exhausted.  I went through such a range of powerful emotions and feelings and I would do it again and again and again in a heart beat.  To be able to give in that way was a blessing to me.
I have no idea whether I'll make it or not.  For this kind of thing, it is not just about the amount of talent your have, or the hours of experience you've accumulated...it is about what the Lord knows is best.  I was definitely NOT one of the more polished performers there, and I was honored to work with such people, but I felt that what I had to offer was ME.  It was Hannah and it was honest.  And I can feel good about that.  Whatever happens, something that was reassured to me through this experience is that I know the Lord has a plan for me.  Through His enabling power, I was given the strength to do something that was out of my comfort zone and to do something that has changed my life.  
I end my post with this:   Sometimes the gifts the Lord gives us are eternal, and some are for a short durations.  Whatever the case may be, we need to use those gifts as much as we can now and measure our worth not by the gifts we possess, but by the knowledge that we are sons and daughters of a divine being...that He loves us...
and that we ARE enough. 

Turning Stones.

     A lot of people have asked me why I am going in to social work. Ha, sometimes they look at me like I am going to be one of those weird Psychologist eccentrics that gets all uppity trying to find answers to everything through the scholarly theories of man. That's not who I want to be.  I want to help people.  Particularly the little ones.  So, I figure now is as good of a time as ever to tell why I love social work so much, and the development of that love.   I applaud you if you read this whole thing.   A little personal (and it is very personal) history (part of my application essay):

      When I was seven years old I started seeing a family therapist for various reasons.  I didn’t really understand all of it at the time; I just knew that it was supposed to help me not feel my “scared bugs” as my dad would affectionately call them.  Some of my “scared bugs,” or anxieties, included being obsessed with the idea that I was suddenly dying of heart attack, getting extremely sick from germs, or being taken out of my room at night.  I would constantly be checking my fingernails to see if they were turning purple.  If I felt any sort of pain in my left arm, I rushed to tell my mom so she would know what to do.  I washed my hands so frequently that they dried, cracked, and bled.  When I would make my bed in the morning, it was a little makeshift bed on the floor of my parent’s room because I refused to sleep alone.  It wasn’t always like this, but it was like this frequently enough that my parents decided it would be a good idea to get me to a therapist.  I would go for phases at a time, depending on my progress, then stop for a while to see how I did on my own.  I was put on medication at ten years old; that helped too.  It wasn’t until about ninth grade that we finally got my medication, and the skills necessary to control my anxiety, figured out.  It was also around that time that I started being personal and open and I would share, hoping that others would share with me in return.  I wouldn’t mind telling people about the troubles that I had faced, and sometimes still continued to, because in a way, it allowed for walls to be broken down and we were able to learn from each other.  Because of the things I had been through as a troubled seven year old, I understood the possible vulnerabilities that others might be facing as well.  Because of what I had been through, I learned to have a sensitivity to people and an insight to the unexpressed.  

Dr. Calloway-Graham said that she was fifteen years old when she realized that social work is a calling and that it was what she knew she wanted to do with her life.  July 1, 2007 was that day for me.  I was also fifteen years old.  I wept.  It was a sacred experience to me. I remember talking about it with my parents, and having a sort of empowered feeling knowing that so often the best kind of help can come from someone who has experienced, even in some small way, similar difficulties and that my life is not my own.  I need to serve.   I wanted to use the hardship I had experienced, and turn it into strengths that could help others.  July 1, 2007 was the day I knew I wanted to be a children’s therapist.  I wanted to do what my therapist had done for me and so many other little ones.  Ever since then, I have had no question of what I wanted to do with my life.   Ever since then I have only tried to amplify the qualities that I began to develop in my childhood and early teens - qualities of empathy, insight, sensitivity, openness, the desire to learn, the desire to teach, and especially the desire to empower and encourage.

     I recently finished reading a book for my SW 2400 class called Turning Stones.  It's the story of a man who was a caseworker for a children's welfare service in NYC.  Heavy read.  Super heavy read.  Not for the faint of heart by any means.  In fact, the first night I started reading this, I had a bit of a panic attack:  "Can I really do this?! Can I really be exposed to this kind of tragedy and live MY life happily too?  Will I be able to make any sort of impact on kids who have experienced these kinds of things?"  After a quick prayer and an email from my inspired dad (remember THIS miracle post?), I was overwhelmed with a resounding "YES."  While the stories that Marc Parent tells in this book are absolutely horrific, it is brilliantly written and inspiring.  In the last few chapters he tells a story about how a group of nuns went on a field trip of sorts.  They would drive all over their state, and stop at beautiful sights, and then they would climb right back on to the bus to go to the next one.  At each stop, one of the nuns - an old, fragile lady - would go off a ways, and simply turn over some random rock.  Soon all the other nuns started noticing, so they asked her why she did this strange ritual.  Confidently the old woman responded, "I turn a stone so that the place is different because I have been there."  At the next stop the other nuns, reflecting on her words, couldn't help but do the same.  Without letting each other see, they quickly flipped one over with their toe, or discretely turned one over while bending down to tie their shoe.  In the next few bus stops, they no longer worried about discretion, but were flipping rocks openly!  They began to challenge and encourage one another to move bigger stones!  They worked together to push over the heavier ones, and indeed, left every place "different" because they had been there.  

     Why do you think Marc Parent told this story after experiencing some of the darkest nights of his life?  Because it is what Social Workers do.  It is what I want, so badly, to do.  He said, after he learned the very hard way, that you can't measure change.  "I'd been quantifying my actions with the families I visited.  The lives I encountered were so thoroughly stained with hopelessness and despair that I saw nothing I could do in a single evening to turn things around - and if I couldn't make it all right, if I couldn't split the earth in half, then what was the use?"  The opportunity is to "touch a life at a critical moment and make it better - [maybe] not for a lifetime - but for a moment.  One moment - not to talk, but to act - not to change the world, but to make it better."  To me, that is in fact changing the world.  Small can be great.  Thinking systematically is hard and sometimes quite ineffective.  Thinking individually first,  and then working together to turn over even the biggest stones is better.  Micro, then Mezzo, then Macro.  Kinda that "pay it forward" concept, I guess.  Individuals matter.  

     I love the talk given in this last conference, "Protect the Children" by Dalin H. Oaks.  Beautiful.  Inspiring.  Encouraging beyond measure.  "We are all under the Savior's command to love and care for each other and especially for the weak and defenseless.  Children are highly vulnerable.  They have little or no power to protect or provide for themselves...Children need others to speak for them, and they need decision makers who put their well-being ahead of selfish adult interests."  

Doesn't all of this make you want to stand up, march right up to any child you know and give him or her the biggest, love-transferring hug you can can possibly give?!  Oh, I love the little ones.  I admire them immensely.  They are the ones changing the world!   I'm so excited to be able to give little ones any sort of light in these ever-darkening times.  I'm so excited to be enabled through the Savior and to learn to love them in the most Christ-like way my human self possibly can.  I can't wait to have my own - to teach them and give them everything I can. 

      It is a process, and accepting that we aren't going to "split the earth in half" doesn't mean tolerating big problems, it means giving encouraging words, kissing ouchies better, gently teaching a principle, allowing the sky to be the limit.  It means real change that we can do every single day.....

THAT is why I want to be a social worker.  

Dreams Do Come True!

Welp, I have officially lived in Logan for two weeks now, and I can honestly tell you all that...

I LOVE IT!  I love where I live, I love my roommates, I love my ward (as far as I know' I've only been twice), I love the school, I love my classes, I love my professors, I love making new friends, I love being an Aggie, and I love that I am the only one in my family to be one.  You may call me the black sheep.  As you may know, coming to USU has been my goal for a long time now.  And whadoyaknow?  It was right for me to be here.  Even on the one day I was moving here, it all felt so right and good.  As cliche as it sounds, it's where I belong for right now.  I have had that confirmed to me several times since being here, and that is such a tremendous blessing to know that I am in the right place.  My roommates were kind of making fun of me the other day because I bought a sweatshirt from the bookstore and was so excited to wear it just because I can!  Because this is MY school!  I go here!  I am an Aggie!!  It's where my heart and school pride are, and I couldn't be happier to be here.  My goal was to get involved and I am already in ASL club, and in the National Association of Social Work.  I might be doing a Best Buddies thing with my roommate as well - where I would get to just hang out with a foreign exchange student!  I am registered for the 'Women of Faith' institute class, and am excited to learn more about how I can become a better one of those as well.  I'm hoping I'll get a calling here pretty soon, and that I'll get to know my ward a bit better.
*sighhhhh*
The Lord does have a plan for each of us.  He'll take care of us, ya know?  He just loves us!  I'm so grateful.  So, so grateful.

More Halloween!

More celebrations!!  I love Halloween!

For my second Halloween party, I was a pirate.  My trusty "parrot" came along with me and was a hit!

Then I got arrested in our Human Clue game for attempted murder.  Bishop Cottle wouldn't let me date his son, because I was knownas the "black widow" of the ward - many ex's. Who wrote this script?! haha  So, naturally, I tried to murder him - "Miss Snow in the lobby with the necktie."

So shameful.

Cheese!!!  I looooove gutting pumpkins!  Hazzzaaah!!

Tink's Halloween getaway!  Pretty simple, but the little girls loved it!  The door even open and closes, thanks to a couple of tooth-pick hinges!

So Adam went all out and did stuff like shading and stuff.  Pretty impressive, eh?

For my 3rd party/actual Halloween night, I was Black Widow!  I know, I know, it would have been more fitting for me to be her for my ward party seeing as that was what my character's nick name was.  However, I didn't quite process that in time.  Plus I wanted to take Gilly. 

Adam, some of my wardie friends, and I went to Davies' annual Halloween party where we ate yummy soup, homemade donuts, candy, and played Mormon Mouthful.  Haha fun game.  Kinda like MadGab, only with Mormon terms.  We laughed al lot!

Avengers together again.  Well, at least 2 of them.  I don't even know who's child this is, but he's cute!

  I hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween!

Happy Birthday to ME!

So I know it's a little late, but I just barely realized that I never posted about my awesome birthday.  I remember thinking about it, but I just never did it.  I know.  Astounding, seeing as how much I looooove my birthday!  Anyway, my parents, Matt and Stacy, and Adam and me went to California/Disneyland in February and that was kind of a joint celebration for Adam and me, then my mom and I went to St. George for my spring break.  I love that spring break usually falls right on my birthday.  So convenient.  Anyway, when I got back from vacationing, there was still more celebrating to do!  I am so lucky. :) 

Traditional pic with the birthday bear.  Poor little guy - when you push his tummy, the little birthday tune he sings is quite out of key and quite un'BEAR'able {haha} to listen to these days.  Maybe it's time for a new bear. 

One of the most beautiful sights to see.  The whole fam-dam-ily!  (Except the Troy Russons who are always greatly missed).

Little girls helping me unwrap presents.

I got some super fun clothes!

What is iiiiit?????

A new swimming suit!!  One-piecers comin' back, baby!

We partiers at our hiz-ouse!!

Pretty curls, Lyndee!  She likes to go up to people and say, "look at my hair!  My mom did it!"  And then she just stares at you waiting for a compliment or 8.  Haha cracks me up. 

That's not all!  My more than generous friends threw me THEEEE coolest, real-life American girl tea party.   China set and tea from Paris!  Whoa!  It was such a fun way to celebrate.

OOooooo...Aaaahhhhh....say it with me now....Ooooo...Aaaaahhhh

Vintage attire and red lipstick required. 

I'm not braggin' or nothin,' but let's talk about this cool picture which I took...It's cool.  Okay we can be done talking about it now.

That's not all!  I got a way sweet birthday letter from this guy...

and a rockin' birthday package....

...with lots of Icelandic goodies....

...from this guy!  Who else would I get Icelandic goodies from?  Come on.

Well,  as you can see, this year proved to be a great one to turn 20 in!!  I am so blessed with amazing friends and family who so willingly share their love with me.  This year will be a great one, I know it!!

Oh.  And just because I like this picture...

Sending off 'Tangled' lanterns at the Wilk.
 If the lantern didn't go very far before the flame blew out the whole thing pummeled to the ground, does that mean that the wish I made whilst sending it up is not going to come true?  Umm please bless that's not the case....

Have a good day!