Overheard at the Moons': Jump in the Shower

Brandon: "Okay, I'm going to go jump in the shower."
Me: "Honey, you don't have to jump. You can just walk."
Brandon: "No, it's really much better if I jump."

He then proceeds to hop all the way to the bathroom and into the shower.

This is why I absolutely adore that man.

The Miracle of Forgiveness

Brian Kershisnik, But Ruth Clave Unto Her, 2006, Found here

It's been a rough week. As I wrote earlier, I've been struggling with forgiving someone who has rejected my efforts of kindness and hurt me badly. Ephesians 6:12 kept popping into my mind, for I have been wrestling with the forces of darkness.


I spent several days engulfed in these dark feelings, nursing my wounds at the bottom of that pit and fighting to let go of my pain. I felt justified in my anger, and wanted everyone to know how I had been wronged. But at the same time, I knew that revenge would only continue the cycle of unkindness; it would not make anything better. I also knew that I wanted to escape from these angry feelings and feel the peace of God again.


I found hope in Corrie Ten Boom's The Hiding Place, an account of her experiences helping Jews in World War II and, as a result, being sent to a concentration camp. She also discusses the way God helped her to forgive and show love during that cold, dark time. My favorite story in the book occurs after the war when Corrie was speaking of her experiences across Europe. At one event, she was approached by a guard she had known in the concentration camp; he recognized her and asked for her forgiveness. She writes,

I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give Your forgiveness.


As I took his hand the most incredible thing happpened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand, a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.


And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.

So many times I have uttered that same prayer - Lord, I can't forgive this person. Give me Your forgiveness. And like Corrie, I have been aided by my Father in Heaven. The more I feel His compassion for my offender, the more my heart softens and is able to love. But it is His charity and forgiveness, not mine, that has made the difference.


My husband has been a great help as well. He has listened to me rant and complain and cry. He has even sympathized with the person who hurt me and helped me to understand their point of view. He has helped me connect to God when I was too hurt to reach Him on my own.


"You have tried so hard honey," Brandon said as he stroked my hair. "You did nothing wrong." It was at that moment that I began to sob because that was what I had wanted to hear all along - that someone acknowledged my sorrow and my efforts to do the right thing.


It was at that moment that I began to heal. God surely knew what He was doing when He asked us to "mourn with those that mourn." (See Mosiah 18:8-10)


We often speak of "the miracle of forgiveness" in the context of the Atonement, of Christ forgiving us for the vilest of our transgressions. After my struggle to forgive one person of a small offense, I am amazed at the Savior's ability to forgive me so readily, and even more so at the fact that I can someday become like Him.


But this experience has also taught me about another miracle of forgiveness - the freedom and healing we receive as we let go of our anger and let Jesus teach us how to forgive. I was in bondage, and none could deliver me but the Lord my God. (See Mosiah 24:21) He has made my burden light.


I still feel hurt when I think of what my offender did, and I suspect that the pain will always be there. I know that my journey is not over, for forgiveness is not a single event but a lifelong decision. But I know I have the help of my Father in Heaven, and that with Him, I can be victorious. 

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8:35, 37-39

I finally feel like an aunt.

When we first got engaged, one of the things I was excited about was becoming an aunt. As the oldest kid in my family, I had no nieces or nephews, and when I married Brandon I suddenly got 10 1/2 (the eleventh was born about a month after our wedding day). It's been a bit of a challenge learning how to relate to that many kids and how to show them love. For the most part, I've felt like I've just been pretending, but this weekend at our family reunion, I finally felt like an aunt.


We had a blast driving up with Benson, Adi, and their dad Nephi. When we pulled up in the driveway, they were all ready with their backpacks, sleeping bags, water bottles, and aviators. "Bwandon and Dasha! We going camping!" Benson cried. They were pretty excited.

Who can resist Bensie?

Our reunion was in gorgeous Cottonwood Canyon at Brighton Girls' Camp, which has been run by the LDS church for 90 years. I love going up into the mountains and being surrounded my streams, trees, rocks, and dirt. Something about it awakens a part of my soul that is left dormant by suburban life. When I'm in the mountains, I feel like I'm truly myself.

From our hike around Silver Lake

But my favorite part of the reunion was seeing the love everyone had for each other. I didn't know the extended family very well, but they all treated me with such kindness and welcomed me with open arms. There were no cliques, no fighting, no put-downs, nobody left out. Everyone took care of each other, from the grandparents right down to the little kids. It was heaven on earth.


I had so much fun making bracelets, tie-dying t-shirts, hiking, and sitting around the campfire with my sweet nieces and nephews. I loved getting to help the kids with their crafts and the conversations we had as we worked side by side. Something about working together really helps you bond. Even little Ezra, who has always been shy around me before, opened up as we painted rocks together. I feel like I know the temperament of each child in the family now - Lauryn is bubbly and outgoing, Adri is graceful and introverted, Benson and Adi are sweet and easygoing. I feel like I am finding my place in the family, and that I really belong. I feel loved and accepted - and isn't that what family is all about?

Little Pierce, or "Baby Bierce" as he's been dubbed by Benson

Adri's face when Brandon claimed the bunk next to mine

Benson putting on sunscreen

My new favorite photo of us

I'm so glad that I found sweet Brandon who added me to this sweet family who loves me as much as my own. I feel so blessed to belong to 3 wonderful families - mine, my husband's and the one we will create together. I don't think that I could be any luckier. 

First conversation of the day

(7:15 AM)

Me: "Last night I dreamed that we went to a restaurant and you wouldn't let me order any food, so I got really mad at you."

Brandon: (with a funny little smile) "Are you ready to hear my dream?"

Me: "Yeah..."

Brandon: "I dreamed that I found an old VHS tape titled 'Rebecca Black: Prophets Tell of Future Media.'"

Me: "What prophet was it?"

Brandon: "Joseph Smith."

Why didn't he warn us if he knew?!

found here. 

Today, I am grateful.

I've been sick and grumpy for the past few days, wallowing in my hardships and making myself miserable. I'm tired of feeling that way. Today, I want to be more happy and grateful.

I'm grateful that I get to spend my summer on BYU's beautiful campus, learning new things and relaxing under shady trees.

I'm grateful for my sewing  class that has inspired me and brought me new friends.

I'm grateful for my job and the fun I have with my beautiful, cheerful co-workers. They are truly angels. (EFY kids, treat them well.)

I'm grateful for my wonderful group of family and friends who love me no matter what.

I'm grateful for my sweet husband, whose love I'll never deserve. He takes such good care of me and helps me to be my best self.

I'm grateful for my temple covenants and the chance I have to renew them often. The temple is the best place on earth.

I'm grateful for my opportunities to know my Savior better. His grace continually astounds me.

I'm grateful for gratitude. I feel so much calmer, happier, and more peaceful after writing that. We are all so very, very blessed.

One Year Ago Today...

I know he isn't in this picture, but he took it, and that's the best that I've got.

...I met my sweetie pie. 

A bunch of us went on a hike for FHE. Somehow we ended up kickin' in the backseat together, and as everyone else in the car was being loud and rowdy, I caught some of the funny little comments he made under his breath. "Hey," I thought to myself, "this guy may be quiet, but he's hilarious!" 

Ahh, my sweet little introverted husband. 

On that drive, I had no idea that that cute, quiet guy with the squinty eyes was my perfect match, my best-friend-to-be, my eternal companion. I'm so glad that God led us to each other. 

Thanks for improving my life the minute you walked into it, Brandon! I love you so dearly.

Ex Voto

The image I inspired, painted by Cassandra Barney

Do you remember how I submitted a writing sample to the "What Saved Me" project by Cassandra Barney? I didn't expect her to pick my piece for one of her paintings, but she did. 


She said it was one of her favorites; It's one of mine too. Every time I look at it, I get teary-eyed thinking about my wonderful husband who raises me up. 


PS- If you want to see it on display, visit Salt Lake's Kayo Gallery from June 17th to July 13th. 

My husband is cute.

Brandon: "Where did you get that beautiful face, my dear?"

Me: (pointing upwards)

Brandon: (singing and looking towards the heavens) "Thank yooooou!"

Just before entering Disneyland for the first time

I love you, honey :)

We might be runners

Image found here.

I just signed my husband and I up to run the Lavender 5k in Mona on July 9th. I've never run a 5k before. My last race was the Dr. Seuss Magic Mile when I was about 6 - I walked most of the way. Hopefully this time, I'll do better. 


Though, my husband talks about the one time he spontaneously ran a 5k while he had a cold and was wearing jeans. If he survived that, I'm sure I can manage this race. 


And with views like this, it's sure to be an amazing experience.

Image found here.

Image found here.

Image found here.

If you'll be in Utah during the summer, you should run the race too!

What Saved Me

Artist Cassandra Barney is working on a project called "What Saved Me," based on submissions from blog readers. This is my submission. 

Yes, he's wearing a grape soda pin from the movie "Up"

e.e. cummings once wrote, "We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit." 

I did not believe in myself until my husband believed in me. 

I grew up a shy and introverted girl. I struggled with self-esteem throughout high school and my first few years of college. I felt that I was never talented enough, pretty enough, smart enough. People told me that they thought I was amazing, but I never really believed them. I was convinced that I would never measure up, and that I would have to get used to living a life of mediocrity. 

But when I began dating Brandon, things started to change. He never gave me eloquent compliments, but quietly and sincerely showed that he loved me. He was always gentle and considerate with me. He expressed appreciation for my virtues and my morals. He recognized my strengths and told me how they had blessed his life. He told me I was beautiful, not just because of how I looked, but mostly because of who I was. He served me, and thereby showed me that he adored me. Day by day, he encouraged me and uplifted me. 

Slowly, gradually, his love changed me and helped me to believe in myself. Because I had someone that honored me, I learned to honor myself. He saw me as my Heavenly Father saw me, and helped me to focus on my divine gifts instead of my natural weaknesses. One day, I realized that I did not struggle with my self-worth anymore. I had truly learned to love myself, because of the love that Brandon had for me. That selfless, Christlike love has helped me to be happier and better than I've ever been before. I am grateful for this wonderful man who helped me discover my self-worth. My husband's love is what saved me from living in ignorance of my divinity. 

A Season of Joy

On my wedding day - pure joy.

I feel that God has given me this time in my life as a season of joy and rest. I still have challenges - including 10-page papers and trying keeping the dishes clean while working 4 nights a week - but I also have deeper joy and satisfaction than ever before.

Marriage is so wonderful. I love living with my best friend, sharing my meals and my messes and my laundry with him. I love reading the scriptures with him each night, praying with him multiple times each day, and seeing his sweet face when I wake up each morning. He makes me laugh, serves me, and tells me that he loves me every single day. He is so good at serving me and lifting me up when I fall. He allows me to be my best self. Marrying Brandon is the best decision I ever made.

Marriage has also helped me to refocus on what truly matters most. When you form an eternal family, you realize that so many things are temporary and worthless. We live a slower, simpler life these days, putting our efforts into strengthening our relationships with each other, our families, and our God. We have learned to value people over possessions, and have discovered that, as Ben Behunin put it, "Joy, in all its glory, can only be obtained through unselfishness."

by artist Ben Behunin

And while, of course, I have been abundantly blessed, I believe that this truth is the key to my happiness. I found that the more I serve my husband, the more I serve in the temple, and the more I forget myself in working to center my life on Christ, the more joy I have. And let me tell you, it has been glorious indeed.

I wish that everyone could find the happiness that I have - but that is not up to me. You each have to find it for yourselves. I would recommend that you start by reading some of the talks from this past weekend's General Conference, picking up a copy of Remembering Isaac (a book that changed my heart and my life), and then getting to work! There are so many in this world who need your goodness, your talents, and your love. You cannot imagine the blessings that God has waiting for you.

Friday, Bob Dylan, a Baby, and some Anniversaries

If you haven't heard about this ridiculous song and music video yet, you must watch. It is absolutely horrible, and absolutely hilarious. I can't decide if my favorite part is how she agonizes over choosing between the front seat and the back seat, the random Usher-like rap in the middle of the song, her horrible vowels and intonation, or that relevatory line, "Yesterday was Thursday, Today it is Friday, Tomorrow will be Saturday and afterwards is Sunday!" But Rebecca, what comes after Sunday? Now we'll never know.





And if that wasn't good enough, someone decided to cover the song in the style of Bob Dylan. It's a strange mix, soothing and amusing at the same time. My husband just loves it.





After waiting 6 days, we finally got our new nephew last night! Pierce Montgomery Moon was born on March 17, 2011 at 8:15 pm. He is 8 lbs 15 oz and 21 inches long. We were hoping that he would be born on the 15th so we would have 3 nephews named Ezra, Taft, and Benson all born on the same day - but we're just glad he is here. Maybe Brandon and I will just have to have Taft...

Isn't he beautiful? I can't wait to hold him! Being an aunt is so fun.

Today is a special day for the Hintons and the Moons. My parents were married 22 years ago 
today, and Brandon and I have been married 1 month today. I'm grateful that I am part of this amazing, wonderful, loving family for all eternity. 

When we were dating, I remember feeling absolutely terrified at the thought of losing Brandon. I knew that I would be so lost without him in my life. I'm so glad that I never have to worry about that again, and that I get to be with him for all eternity. This last month as his wife as been the best of my life - and I feel so blessed to share many more months to come with this sweet, steadfast, tender man. I love you honey :)

Someone is having a birthday...

I'm so lucky to wake up to this face every morning!
(Well, he's usually not this exuberant or this scruffy...
but you know what I mean.)

Today is my sweetheart's birthday. Yes - my darlin', my honey pie, my pickle breath - he is 27 today. 

To celebrate, we are going to the temple, snuggling up together in front of a movie, and I am going to attempt to make him an apple pie. (Thankfully, his sister Melinda will be helping me, so I shouldn't set anything on fire this time.)


I will spare you another mushy post listing all of the reasons why I love him, because heaven knows you have all had to read far too many of those in the past couple of months. I'll just give you a picture instead.

I love you, honey. Like, a whole stinkin' lot. I'm so glad we get to be together forever. 

What I've Learned in my Two Weeks of Being Married

 

Since I am now so wise in the ways of matrimony, I decided to bless you all with my wisdom.

(Please tell me that you caught the sarcasm in that).

But seriously, there are a couple things I wish someone would've told me when I was engaged, and I'm hoping my experience can help some of you out there. 

1. If possible, make sure you have about a week for a honeymoon. 2 1/2 days is NOT enough. 

2. Your wedding day is very exhausting. Unless you are superwoman, you should schedule some time for a nap in between the wedding and the reception, or even hold the reception the night before the wedding. We arrived at the temple at 9 am and didn't leave until about 3:30 pm. By the end of the day, we were wiped out.

3. You may be called upon to give a little speech at your wedding luncheon, so be prepared. I had no notice and gave a short, flimsy, sniffley, sorry little tribute to my wonderful husband that certainly did not do him justice. If you prepare some eloquent words in advance, your guests will not leave wondering how you ever graduated from high school with such poor rhetoric.

4. I highly recommend the Premarital Health Class at the BYU health center. It taught me everything I needed to know in an uplifting, non-intimidating way. It prepared us to talk about intimacy and helped me overcome my fears and anxieties. It's just one more reason why I love BYU soooooo much. 

5. Make sure you get pictures of the guests in candid moments. The day goes by so quickly, and it's so sweet to look through our pictures and see the little moments we didn't catch. I love seeing photos of our family and friends showing such love and devotion for each other and feeling the overwhelming love of that day all over again.

6. It's very likely that you will receive 3 or more crock pots as wedding presents, even if you do create a registry. Be prepared to return them/regift them/sell them on ebay.

6 1/2.  If you like camping and the outdoors, you should register at REI. You won't regret it.

7. From the beginning, make family prayer and scripture study a habit. It helps unite you as a couple with each other and the Lord. I think this quote says it best:

“I know of no other practice that will have so salutary an effect upon your lives as will the practice of kneeling together in prayer....The little storms that seem to afflict every marriage become of small consequence while kneeling before the Lord and addressing him as a suppliant son and daughter. Your daily conversations with him will bring peace into your hearts and a joy into your lives that can come from no other source. Your companionship will sweeten through the years. Your love will strengthen. Your appreciation one for another will grow.Your children will be blessed with a sense of security that comes of living in a home where dwells the Spirit of God. They will know and love parents who respect one another, and a spirit of respect will grow in their own hearts. They will experience the security of kind words quietly spoken. They will be sheltered by a father and mother who, living honestly with God, live honestly with one another and with their fellowmen. They will mature with a sense of appreciation, having heard their parents in prayer express gratitude for blessings great and small. They will grow with faith in the living God.” -President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Cornerstones of a Happy Home" 

8. Be patient with yourselves in the first couple weeks of marriage. It's tiring to adjust to a new way of life (not to mention sleeping with someone else in your bed). Don't try to take on too much. Make sure to put each other first. The piles of boxes can wait; your spouse really is more important than unpacking.

9. Focus the day on the temple. It is really the highlight of your wedding day, and in many ways the highlight of your lives. Commit to return often so you can learn. It's impossible to soak it all in at once, and even sweeter with the experience time and repetition gives you.

10. Marriage really is so wonderful. It's beautiful to be so united with your best friend and sweetheart, and to work with them towards building an eternal family. If you work at it, your love will grow stronger every day, and you will find the greatest joy you can experience in this life. 

 

"Marriage can be more an exultant ecstasy than the human mind can conceive. This is within the reach of every couple, every person." -President Spencer W. Kimball  

Why I'm Getting Married in the Temple: The Doctrine of Eternal Marriage

Image found here.

It is difficult for those outside the Mormon faith to understand our marriage customs - why we are so anxious to get married and start our families, why our marriage ceremony takes place inside a temple that only authorized members of the Church may enter. I hope to help explain why we do these things and share the beautiful truths I have learned about the covenant of marriage. 


The temple is a place where very special, sacred ordinances take place. In order to enter, one must be willing to make very big promises, commitments to change one's lifestyle and fully dedicate oneself to the Lord. The temple is not a secret - we want everyone to attend, but we do not want anyone to promise to keep these big commitments unless they are truly ready to consecrate themselves to God. 


The most important and sacred of these promises is the marriage covenant. We believe that this ordinance is necessary to enter into the highest degree of glory in the Celestial Kingdom. Most people view marriage as a contract - an agreement between two or more parties for the doing or not doing of something specified. 
Marriages that take place in the temple are covenants, or promises between the individuals and God. The terms are specified by Heavenly Father, and if we keep our commitments, He has promised to pour out blessings upon us. This means that when challenges arise, we cannot run away because we do not like the contract any more, but we are accountable to keep our promises to God and our spouse. One of the blessings promised in the marriage covenant is being sealed to our spouses and our children for time and all eternity. This means that death is not the end of family life, but that our relationships can continue forever.

LDS marriage is very focused on the family. We believe that the commandment to multiply and replenish the earth still applies, and when we enter into the sacred marriage covenant we commit to bear children and raise families unto the Lord. We believe that having children is a sacred privilege, and that family relationships teach us how to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. We believe that families are essential to God's plan, and that they have the potential to bring us a fullness of joy. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides us not only with the ordinances that allow our families to be together forever, but teaches how to treat each other so that we actually want to spend eternity together. (The Family: A Proclamation to the World goes into more detail about this.)


We believe that temple ordinances, especially the temple sealing, are necessary for exaltation. Through the ratification of sacred ordinances and the sanctification of keeping our covenants with God, we can someday be perfected through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and live with Heavenly Father again, enjoying all the blessings He has. 


Can you see now why I have always dreamed of getting married in the temple? The promise of being sealed to the man I love the most for time and all eternity, of having our future children sealed to us as well, of having God directly involved in our marriage, of someday being able to return home to Him and receive all of the joy and goodness that He has - these promises are so, so beautiful. I still feel like I can barely comprehend them, and I am so amazed that Heavenly Father would offer such blessings to me. 


One of my friends remarked that my fiancé and I seem to have reached "fairy-tale levels of happiness," and I would have to agree. Our parents, church leaders, and prophets have taught us how to serve and love one another, and on Friday we will enter the Holy Temple and be sealed to one another forever and ever. The best part is that because we are committing to love one another as perfectly and unselfishly as God loves us, the joy and love that we feel now will continually grow through all eternity. There is nothing greater than knowing that as wonderful as it is right now, the best is still yet to be.  

"Some think of happiness as a glamorous life of ease, luxury, and constant thrills; but true marriage is based on a happiness which is more than that, one which comes from giving, serving, sharing, sacrificing, and selflessness." - President Spencer W. Kimball


“The whole subject of the marriage relation is not in my reach, nor in any other man’s reach on this earth. It is without beginning of days or end of years; it is a hard matter to reach. We can tell some things with regard to it; it lays the foundation for worlds, for angels, and for the Gods; for intelligent beings to be crowned with glory, immortality, and eternal lives. In fact, it is the thread which runs from the beginning to the end of the holy Gospel of Salvation—of the Gospel of the Son of God; it is from eternity to eternity.” -Brigham Young

How grateful I am to be able to embark on this wonderful journey with a wonderful man who loves me so sweetly and is my very best friend - and how even more grateful I am for my Savior, Jesus Christ, who has made this joy possible.

My Valentine

10 reasons why I am so glad I get to have Brandon Moon as my valentine today and forevermore:

1. He makes me laugh every day.

2. He loves me despite my ridiculousness and even joins in!

3. He makes these cute little faces:

4.  He likes hiking and camping.

5. He's not afraid to get sassy.

6. He can jump really high. I mean, look at that! He's so awesome!

7. He reads me stories.

8. He plays Bey-blades with my brother and is such an attentive uncle. He is so sweet with children.

Us with his niece Adri who asked for a new aunt and helped bring us together. Read the full story here.

9. He fits in so well with my family and loves them as if they were his own. 

10. He loves me so sweetly, unconditionally, and unselfishly. He is constantly looking for ways to serve me and lift me up. He enables me to be my best self and brings me the greatest joy I've ever known.

Happy Valentine's Day, Sweetheart! I am so excited to spend time and all eternity with you.

Love Languages

A friend posted this on her blog today, and I thought it would be fun to compare my results to Brandon's - plus, I always like knowing how I can better show my appreciation for my sweetie pie. 

Brandon's results:

5 Words of Affirmation
11 Quality Time
0 Receiving Gifts
8 Acts of Service
6 Physical Touch

My results:

9 Words of Affirmation
10 Quality Time
0 Receiving Gifts
6 Acts of Service
5 Physical Touch

How interesting is that? We so similarly, and for both of us quality time is crazy high (12 is the highest score possible). We also found it interesting that we both scored 0 on receiving gifts. My mom is really good at leaving little notes and presents to make us feel special, and from her example I have gained a love of doing the same. So why is it that neither of us feel that it is important for us? Maybe it's just that after all of our influences, it's really up to us to define our own love language. It's a fun journey that I love taking with my wonderful almost-husband.

Enjoy the quiz and have a happy Valentine's day!

My eternal family

"The proclamation teaches that 'successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.' In other words, the Lord measures the success of a family by the quality of its relationships. In a home where faith, love, and forgiveness are dominant, members find joy and satisfaction in being together. Ideally the father presides in love and righteousness, provides the necessities of life, and protects the family while the mother is primarily responsible for the nurturing of the children. In contrast, the world often measures family success by the accumulation of worldly things and the size of the estate that is passed on to the children." - Elder Merrill J. Bateman, "The Eternal Family"

How grateful I am for my quality family relationships. They bring me the greatest joy I've ever known.

happiness

is easing into my chair at the end of a long, hard day
to read posts on my favorite website.
it's breathing out a long sigh,
and hearing my honey sneak up behind me
to gently place a bowl of my favorite pasta on the desk.
but mostly
it's the smile that creeps across my face
when I realize that he gave me the bowl that's my favorite color
just because he knew I would like it.

Find your own here.

happiness
is watching the snow gently fall
with a cup of peppermint hot chocolate
and gentle piano music in the background.
it's soaking in the beautiful stillness of winter
and learning to be still myself.

Found here.

happiness
is the moment
after I've cried out to the Lord,
when He encircles me in His arms
and lets me know
that I am unconditionally,
irrevocably,
inescapably,
perfectly,
and eternally loved.


happiness 
is the object and design of our existence; 
and will be the end thereof, 
if we pursue the path that leads to it; 
and this path is virtue, 
uprightness, 
faithfulness, 
holiness, 
and keeping all the commandments of God.
- Joseph Smith

Guess what's finally in the mail?

These little beauties. 

My favorite part is that my fiancé designed them himself. Who would've thought that a computer scientist and an art historian would make such a good match? We have fun discussions about technology, art, and all the social implications - plus his ability to fix my gadgets is pretty darn attractive. I consider myself a very lucky girl. 


Look for yours in the mail very soon!