Draper Temple Openhouse

This week I had the opportunity to attend the Draper Utah Temple Open house. It was a wonderful experience! And the temple is gorgeous, they sure haven't spared anything in the construction. We had the chance to have a guided tour by a good friend of our family, he has been a part of the public affairs committee and offered to take us. It was nice to hear details about the temple that you wouldn't get just walking through the tour with everyone else--what a great sport he was to share his vast knowledge with us! What a blessing the temple is in my life, it is a place that brings great peace and comfort and in our world today that is very much needed! If you haven't had the chance to go and you live in or around the SLC valley you need to go! The open house goes through March 14th.

I closed......

Well it is official....I am a homeowner! I closed this week on my condo! There certainly were a lot of papers to sign, they aren't kidding when they tell you that!!! I am super excited to get things painted and moved in! This is something that I have looked forward to for a long time and I have taken a LONG time to find the perfect place for me and I finally did. The kitchen is my favorite part----nice and open! As soon as I get the place painted I am moved in! I can't wait! But boy is it hard to choose paint colors!!!! I am excited to put my stuff away and leave it there for awhile! I have spent far too much time in my life lately moving around from place to place, I am ready for some stability.

I feel really good about what the next few years of my life may bring---I am venturing into many new experiences that are really helping me to grow. It can only get better right???? I know that there is much uncertainty in the world today, especially with the economy, but I feel a great sense of peace in making this huge decision in my life and moving forward with my life in the way the Lord would have me do.

As soon as I get some of the walls painted I will post a few pictures!

Meeting my favorite artist.....

This past weekend my stake had our women's conference. The guest was Hilary Weeks!!!! Being that she is my all time favorite artist I was super excited to go and hear her! I have all of her Cd's and her book, and have truly been blessed by hearing her music. I first came to know of her while on my mission. I had a difficult time with one of my companions and it was during this time that one of the other sister missionaries introduced me to her music. I gained strength and wisdom from these songs that I needed. I have enjoyed as she has written more music and I am right there to buy her new Cd's when they come out. My sister Sarah is also a huge fan, and I knew that she had to come along! We had an awesome experience!!! It was super fun to listen to her and to feel of her testimony of those things that she has written music about.

When we first arrived she (Hilary) was walking to the drinking fountain--perfect we could talk to her!! We told her that we were her biggest fans, she was super kind and asked us where we had been hiding all this time! We chatted for a few minutes and told her of the influence that her music has had on us- it was fun to connect with her and chat to a very down to earth person- and then we headed to the conference. We sat right in front so that we could have a good view and hear well. She shared some songs as well as words with us that were perfect for me! She has such a way of conveying the spirit and it was awesome to be there. After the conference was over we headed up to the stand to tell her once again of our appreciation, we had a little token of thanks along with a card that we had written for her. We expressed our thanks and handed the gift to her. She was surprised, but shouldn't be as she is amazing, and said you guys really do like me!!! We told her we weren't kidding we really are her biggest fans!!!

What a great experience to be with her. As we left we talked about how humble she is and the great influence she has had on our lives. I am ever thankful that she has used the talents that she has been given from Our Father in Heaven to bless so many peoples lives. As I think of her I am reminded that we all have something that we have been given from God. We might not be a singer who sings beautiful songs, a skilled physician who heals people, or an artist who paints masterpieces. But each of us have something that we have be given to bless others lives. A sister, mother, brother, father, teacher, friend, or any other role we may have is no less important or makes no less of an impact on others lives.

I have been truly blessed by so many who have been given talents that they use to bless my life. I am a better person because of so many great people! If you have never heard her music I encourage you to do so, I promise that you will not be disappointed! www.hilaryweeks.com

25 Random Things.....

1-I have been tagged about 25 times for this thing! And wasn't going to give in but alas I am :)

2-I love oreos, I always try to branch out in getting something different but it doesn't ever happen!

3-I hate driving with a passion!!! Especially downtown, do the buses think they own the road???

4-Growing up we spent many a summer boating and camping...I think that my dad sometimes wished he had some sons to do guy stuff with!

5-My nieces and nephews call me Rae Rae and now so do my friends, I guess they can!!!

6-I will shortly be closing on my first place---YEA for adulthood!!!

7-I LOVE watching Hockey!!!

8-I am a bit OCD.....though in my older years I have gotten better, I at least let people sit on my bed without getting mad now! My sisters helped me with that while I was on my mission!

9-In the last 5 years I have moved 7 times, soon to be 8....but that will be it for awhile!!!

10-While on my mission I was chased by a bull...thank goodness I had the pitch fork!!

11-I am currently addicted to ALIAS---I think that I have a new hollywood crush!! Only 1 1/2 sessions left!!!

12-I love baking!!! I can't wait for my big kitchen!!

13-I have an obsession with shoes and handbags.....I have a ton, though I hate shoes that tie so that collect is rather small.

14-I enjoy playing rock band---I guess I better buy one instead of using everyone elses!

15-My family means the world to me and I would do anything for any of them.....spending time with them makes me very happy, especially my nieces and nephews.

16-I want to visit Africa. Ghana to be exact.

17-I love to read....I could sit and read all day and night if time would allow.

18-Cleaning is one of my favorite things to do, a clean house also makes me happy!!

19-I have always worked for great companies. Never have I been treated poorly at my workplace....although there might be hard times, I have enjoyed all of my jobs as well as had GREAT bosses!!

20-One day I will have a Grand Piano in my front room.

21-My Grandma Ann was one of my best friends, in my adulthood we really bonded, the day she died was one of the hardest for me. I still miss talking with her, especially about boys!!

22-People love to tease me! I don't like it so much, but I am getting better about letting it slide instead of getting upset.

23-I enjoy sending notes in the mail to people, whether it is to thank them for something or just to tell them how much I appreciate them and think they are awesome!

24-I have 2 metal plates and about 10-15 screws in my right arm---that accident was not fun!

25-I have met some incredible people in my life, who have taught me many thing. I have had great friends all along the way and am very thankful for that!

Happy Birthday Poppy!!!

I have decided this year that I will put a shout out to all of my family members on their birthdays here on my blog, including my grandparents who have all passed on. Today is Grandpa Emerson's birthday! I have a long and extensive list of memories and good times that were shared with him, but I won't share them all today.

Grandpa was an early riser and when I say early I mean early! Like 4am!! This came from living on the farm growing up and he continued it through out his life. I wasn't uncommon for us to get a call or even knock on the door early in the morning as we were heading someone he was ready to go before we even thought about getting out of bed! He also learned how to work on the farm and he was always doing some project in his yard growing things or constructing something to make it work better. He worked hard through his entire life. One job that he had that I loved was that he worked at Alta Ski Resort. This meant that we got a discount on the lift! We spent a good numbers of Saturdays on the slopes with dad and grandpa learning how to ski and it was always fun to get to the lift and see that grandpa was the one operating it! We also called him Poppy instead of Grandpa, if I remember correctly that name came form Sarah.


If I were to say 3 things that Poppy stood for it was family, religion, and education. I was able to benefit first hand from his love of these things. From these three things stem many more things but these were the basics. He cared much about his family and did anything that he needed to help them. Family was first, and I learned this in conversation and action. He often told stories about his family (okay, always he was a HUGE story teller) and he showed that he cared by all he did. He and Nana got a time share at Snowbird and we spent a week in the summer there every year. We had numerous sleepovers and lunch at McDonald's while growing up. He made us yummy eggs, that now would be considered bad for your heart with so much mayo, but boy were they good!!! I had the opportunity to help him as he got older and couldn't drive to take him to the store once a week and run a few errands for him. While it was difficult at times, I cherish those memories. He taught me what was important as we walked down the aisles of Albertson's. I also helped him in the yard and he taught me how to mow the lawn the right way!



Grandpa had a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He lived it, he loved it and he helped to further the work here on earth and I know that he is also doing it on the other side. He supported numerous missionaries through temporal means and wrote faithfully to me while on mine sharing stories from his own mission. What a blessing that was, I cherish those letters and am thankful for his support. He served dilligently in every calling that was given, he always went above and beyond and did what wasn't asked but needed to be done. He served faithfully in the temple with Nana as well. I don't know that I heard him formally bear his testimony of the gospel but I knew he had one because of the way he lived his life, it bore witness to me every day and still does of his testimony and knowledge of what he knew was true!


Education, education, eduation!!! He was a huge support of getting more education! He always wanted us to be learning and made sure we were current on our studies and learning so that we could get degrees. He was a huge support for me while I finished my degree at USU. He was so happy for me to finish, and one of the best memories that I have is the day that I graduated. He had not been doing well but was adimit that he come to Logan for the graduation. It was great to have him there because he had been one of my biggest cheerleaders and I was there because of him. Not too long after that he really got worse and I count that day among my blessings because he was there and I felt his love and support.



On this day of your birth I honor you, salute you and thank you for all that you taught me. For many memories that I hold dear, for the legacy that you have left. We will never be the same. Happy Birthday Poppy, I love you!!!!!!!!

Exciting times in my life.....

Nothing much has been going on in the last couple of weeks except for the fact that I have been rather busy looking for a place to buy! I finally found one that I liked, felt good about, and made an offer on! The offer was accepted and I will be closing on my new condo at the end of February!! So for the next few weeks I will be busy with the details that go into buying a home!!! Picking out paint (my own choice!!!), painting, signing my name a million times, getting organized, and many more things! I am super excited but at the same time this is a bit nerve racking.....I mean 30 years is a long time to commit to something!!! But I mustn't look at it that way----I mean I won't live here for the rest of my life right??? As soon as I have things taken care of, painted my way, and decorated with my stuff I will post a few photos!

I also went to Logan this past weekend....it was a lot of fun to get away for a few days, spend some time with old friends, and ate way too much!!! I had great visits with many people and felt like it was time well spent! I did however get my first parking citation!! :( That stinks!!!! And to think that I was getting dirt on a friend while it was given, how rude!!!! Didn't they know that I was getting some material to blackmail someone in the future??? I guess I learned my lesson, never again will I seek material to blackmail someone!

Precious Moments....

I babysat for my sister Sarah on Saturday. Audrie has a personality all her own and it is super fun to spend time with her. I love tending her (and all of my nieces and nephews for that matter) because she reminds me of important things in life. She is named after my paternal grandmother and has a lot of the same personality traits! This past week I sure needed a reminder! While I was tending she needed a nap and so we read a few stories and then I told her that I would rock her and rub her back so that she could fall asleep. I began singing to her softly. As I did I was taken back in time. My sister lives in my grandparents old house and each time I visit there I am reminded of so many good memories of my own childhood. And this day one of them. As I rocked her to sleep I was reminded of times when we slept over at Nana's house and she sang primary songs to us before bed or as we spent time with her. I could feel her presence there with us and know that she still loves me dearly. Having sweet Audrie in my arms also reminded me that I am loved by people here on earth. What a precious moment to remind me of what is important, to take a step back and be filled with love and joy! She has been a huge blessing in my life in so many ways and I am thankful to Sarah and John for letting me steal her away at times! Her smiling face means the world to me!