June Roses and January Raspberries

So I got a June Rose on January 19th!!

(Or rather a January Raspberry.) It was so so exciting!

I was working, very diligently, I am certain, when my co-worker called me to get up and "Come and Look!" I figured she was going to show me some guy she thought was cute

so I got up with a "Really, Brenda?" look on my face...

When what to my wondering eyes should appear???

President Monson came to the hospital to visit a patient! (No, it wasn't a widow. But it was a man to whom President Monson had been Bishop so many years ago.) It was so so exciting. Everyone was excited. All work pretty much stopped while he was here because we didn't want to miss the chance to shake his hand when he left. And when he left, he stopped and shook our hands and spoke with us and was so so kind. A son of another patient stopped President Monson and asked him to come in and visit his father and President Monson said, "Well, I'd love to say a word to your father." So kind.

It changed the whole day. Really.

I kept thinking, if this were the time of Nephi, he'd be Nephi! If this were Alma's era, he'd be Alma! So exciting. And the truth is - He is Christ's representative on the earth... You could feel that while he was here. I wished a little that it had been Jesus here, but President Monson was really dang close. (Should I use dang in the same paragraph with Jesus and President Monson?)

I'm so grateful for the Prophet. I'm so grateful that he showed up to my work. I wanted so badly to just run to him and say, "Everything will be fine right? Could you just tell me what Heavenly Father wants for me right now?" And then I realized that is exactly what he tells us every six months in General Conference. And through the Spirit we can know those things for ourselves all the days in between those blessed 4 days out of the year.

C'mon. So lucky. So blessed. So happy.

How Do You Say Happy Birthday In German?

Well -- Happy Birthday to Hilda today.

She would be 96. Isn't that amazing?

I miss her a lot.

It's amazing to me that one person can mean so much to you in such a short time. But she did.

You can read some happy memories of her here...

I remember just two days before she died we were talking about death.

She said, "When I die, you can be happy. It's what I want. I'm ready."
I told her, "I will be happy because I believe you'll be with your family again."
She said, "Ach (waving her hand in front of her face). I don't believe that."
I said, "Well, one of us is wrong and one of us is right and I think you're going to be very surprised."

She laughed with me.

I used to dream about her occasionally but not anymore.

I hope that even though she's busy somewhere she remembers me.

Did you ever know someone that you were absolutely sure you knew before you came to earth?

It was like that with Hilda. I think she was the whole reason I went to Seattle.

There were other wonderful things for me there - but she was the real reason.

I'm pretty sure Ryn got to meet her already.
Lots of times I'll tell Heavenly Father to tell them both Hello and I miss them.
I'm sure they get the message.
It'll be so good to see her again someday.
Thinking about the miracle of Hilda makes me miss her and at the same time,
So Happy.

I Believe In Santa Claus

And look at the first gift he brought me this season!!!

"Congratulations! You were selected to receive tickets for this event:.

• Number of Tickets: 4
• Event: Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Christmas Concerts
• Performance: Thu, Dec 11 at 08:00PM"

Needless to say, getting to go to this concert for the third year in a row makes me SOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY!

9 to 5

Remember how I knew I'd get a miracle even when I wasn't sure how the miracle would come?

Once upon a time, I needed a car. I wanted a car that had 4 doors and a sunroof. And I only had $5500 to spend.

So I gave my list to Heavenly Father and you know what? I got EXACTLY what I prayed for.

EXACTLY.


My former roommate, Katesta, reminded me of this when she used our praying experience from the yellow/red brick house move to help her find a new apartment. We had some very specific criteria for the new place we were moving all those years ago. There were 5 of us and we wanted to all room together. We wanted to pay less rent, live closer to campus and stay in our same ward.

And you know what? We got EXACTLY what we prayed for.

EXACTLY.

So. I tried it again. And I was RIGHT! I got my miracle.

EXACTLY.

And boy am I glad! I started my new job today! And it is WONDERFUL!!!!

My favorite scripture - well you know me and favorites - but still My favorite scripture:

"And now behold, Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and Himni, and their brethren did rejoice exceedingly, for the success which they had had among the Lamanites, seeing that the Lord had granted unto them according to their prayers, and that he had also verified his word unto them IN EVERY PARTICULAR." (Alma 25:17)

Ammon and his brethren prayed a lot of prayers. But they were answered in every particular.

When we pray specifically and get specific answers, we MUST give thanks to Heavenly Father.
Well, I suppose we don't have to, but if we don't when it is SO easy to give credit where credit is due... not maybe the best choice.

I know that Heavenly Father wants to bless us.

He wants us to know that He loves us.

And that doesn't change even when we haven't yet gotten the blessings we think are best for us.

Like Sister Johnson always said, "Thanks for the next. I'm sure of this." can not be our attitude if we want to give credit where credit is due.

So I say, Thank You for now. Right now today.


It was a glorious first day of work. The hospital where I got a job is three miles from my home, I already knew one of the ladies I work with and she is fantastic, I was offered more money with this job than any of the others I was offered and it's EXACTLY the kind of work I hoped for.

And the way I got this job that was NEVER POSTED?

A miracle.

First, this lovely woman was called to be the General Relief Society President.
(Isn't that 55 cent dress phenomenal?)

Then, she called this lovely woman to work on the General Board.

Then she became the General Relief Society President too.

I love the Relief Society.

Then there was the miracle of our becoming friends.


Then the College of Social Work had a commemorative birthday party for
Sister Spafford (because you're right, Maria) and Sister Jack took me with her to the party.

While at the party, I talked to the Dean of the College of Social Work who knew there would be a job opening at the hospital.

I called about it and two weeks later, I got the job.
The job that really wasn't and certainly wasn't posted.

And that came JUST in the nick of time

It is definitely my job.

It is an absolute miracle.

So Grateful. So Happy.

Real Love

Aren't you ever just blown away by how much you're blessed by the lovely and loving lives of others?

You've seen those signs that say, "All because two people fell in love."

When two people fall in love, they really do change the world.

Certainly my world has been blessed by so many faithful, loving, happy marriages.

My parents marriage has blessed my life in so many ways. Not just by giving me life either. But by being faithful to one another they have blessed me with security which is not to be undervalued in our society! That's just the very start!

I remember thinking on my mission how grateful I was that my Mission President and his wife had a solid marriage. They spent their time focusing on us and not on their own issues. They were probably not issue-free (although I'm pretty sure they were) but they were solid and the world was blessed.

50 years have made so very many people So Happy.

Just Because I'm a Woman

Last Saturday was filled with my favorite women!
And at least one miracle occurred!

My dear, dear friend, Linda Johnson, came to Salt Lake City!

She and 4 of her friends from Seattle came down to Wendover and then took a little roadtrip so they could visit Temple Square!
So So Happy!!! All-Week-Long-Waiting-For-Them-To-Come-Happy!

Linda has been my dear friend since I moved up to Seattle.
She is one of the kindest, sweetest, most faithful and thoughtful people I have ever known.

I miss walking around Green Lake with her!

(Isn't that a phenomenal picture? I took that! It's so watercolory! I love it!!!)

I have lots of angels in my home that remind me of her.


Last Saturday we got together on Temple Square and unfortunately, because of Relief Society Conference, the Conference Center and the RS building were closed. But we spent time looking at the Temple, walking around the gorgeous grounds, touring the Joseph Smith Building where we ate Fried Pickles! (they are so good!),

peeking in the Tabernacle and hearing a pin drop, finding Linda's friend's lost eyeglasses (what an answer to prayer and thank you sister missionaries!), and touring the North Visitor's Center where we walked up into heaven and heard the Christus statue talk to us.


It was absolutely blissful.

I love talking about the Church.
I love thinking about the Gospel and explaining how perfect it is.
I love talking to other people about their beliefs and connecting on common ground.
I love the Gospel.
I love the Church!
I love looking at the statues of Joseph and Hyrum and thinking of all they sacrificed for us.
I love thinking about the blessings that I have in my life because of their lives.

(This pic and the Christus are not ones I took...)

I love looking at the statues of John the Baptist and Peter, James and John and knowing that they really did return to the earth and restore the Priesthood.
I love looking at the Temple.
I loved talking about the Angel Moroni and explaining that Moroni was a man who had a father named Mormon. Mormon reviewed the records kept by all the ancient prophets and gave us the "Readers Digest version" known as the Book of Mormon.
How fantastic!
How perfect!

My happiness didn't end there last Saturday!
It was the Relief Society Meeting!

(Hahaha!
This is my best effort at a pic of Sister Beck, Sister Allred and Sister Dalton!)

Oh that day is so happy for me
(as previously noted in the Sister Beck post).
But this time it was happy too because of all the
friends that came with me!
I think Baley deserves her own post because
she is so incredibly happy!

I mean, how happy is that face?

My friends Katesta, Karen and Charlene also came to
Relief Society Conference.

Karen always "keep[s] it real smooth!" Love her!!!

We had the best seats in the World!
We were like 4 rows from the front!
(Well, from the front section that's all cordoned off for the VIP's.)


So, it was a miracle that Linda Johnson came to Temple Square.
And it was a miracle that we got to be so close at the RS Meeting.
So close that I got to talk to Sister Beck before the meeting and give her her birthday card. :)

Don't you just love favorite people?

Then... I learned a good lesson.
When you go to the parking garage and you're on the BYU Women's Conference Committee maybe don't act like Marilyn Monroe in front of the GINORMOUS fan.


(So fierce.)

Because someone else on the committee is sure to see you.

But Baley is adorable!

(Darn that we're not better in focus!)
Oh well -
everyone got a good laugh at committee meeting last Friday.

Linda Johnson, Temple Square, Baley and Relief Society Conference make me OH SO Happy!

Calm on the Water

Monday I was disappointed. It's ok. It happens.

But I decided that it's important for me to express my faith before the blessings come.

I mean - I want Heavenly Father to know (if He reads my blog... :)) that I trust Him now. Before a miracle happens.
Not just after I get the blessings.

I believe in miracles. They've happened in my life and in lives of others I know.

So today I made a list of miracles that I can readily bring to memory. I started with scriptural miracles - but quickly moved on to personal miracles and they've just kept coming to memory
all day long.

**Moses parted the Red Sea.
**Moses was found by Pharoh's daughter - of all the women by the river - and what a huge river!
**Crickets and Seagulls.
**Nephi. He built a boat. He shocked his brothers. The Lord made their raw meat sweet. He kept forgiving. Nephi is a miracle.
**Getting UT residency for tuition right in the nick of time.

**Finding $500 after my young woman Ali told me the story of our meeting 15 years ago on a plane when she was 5.
**Calling Carolyn to my presidency before I even had seen her and she was PERFECT.
**Getting a job at the Social Research Institute which paid a huge chunk of my tuition. I saw the flyer for it the day the application was due but I still got the job. Amazing Blessing.
**Becoming friends with the Disneyland Girls.

**Being at the intersection in the right moment to see my young woman need me.
**Being able to go to Europe with Catheryn.

**Meeting Anastasia in Germany.

**Aidan.

{That kid is a genius and I'm not kidding or exaggerating!!
He knows his opposites which we were practicing here while he played my favorite exercise game of up and down (which consists of him riding on my leg while I move his like 20 lb body up and down. I can go about 4 times before my leg dies.)}

**Finding my condo (on craigslist!) And it didn't sell before I bought it. MIRACLE.


**Being called as YW President on the very day I was going to change to the single's ward.

**Being inspired to do the project for Sister Beck.
**The project worked!
**Running into Sister Beck on Temple Square with all the YW.
**Colleen's family waited long enough to have her FUNeral that I could come during my fall break.
**Going to see Luella after Women's Conference 2006, even though she was already a pumpkin, and that was the last time I saw her. If I wouldn't have gone I wouldn't have seen her the whole time I lived in Salt Lake.
**Linda Johnson came to Temple Square. (Pictures soon to come!)
**Getting called to the BYU Women's Conference Planning Committee.
**The Turkeys. Connecting with them initially. Reconnecting with them recently. Totally worth more than $5000. (So glad Cora made it into the pic with us!)

**Working on the Thursday night shift at the Temple. It was perfect. Those were my people.
**Getting my job at Life Care at Home so I could move to Utah.
**Feeling inspired to move to Utah.
**My money that should've run out in January of 2008 has lasted until now (with a little left still).
**Getting my first job at ManorCare.
**Meeting Hilda.

**Making the connection from Hilda to Jan Conger.
**Getting to do Hilda's (and her family's) Temple Work - and the Burnham's were there for it all!
**Being in the Temple with Elder Scott.
**Getting to introduce Sister Kapp and her husband in Seattle at a conference. To the conference participants - not each other. ;)

**Sister Kapp sitting in front of ELJ and me at the concert two weeks ago.
**Visiting teaching assignment that let me be friends with Maria.

**Maria and I deciding not to move to that FANTASTIC apartment because we didn't know I'd be moving here. Then I moved here.
**Sitting by Elder Wirthlin on the plane on the way home from Ricks College.
**They found Catheryn and Steve.

**Seeing Dolly in the park. What a miracle.

**The Blue Notebook.
**The Antipas recipe.
**My mission president and his wife being here for dinner with ELJ, EJR and their husbands.

**Getting to be in the Solemn Assembly session for President Hinckley and President Monson.
**Picking the very right songs for Stake Conference May 2006. Wow.
**Being in the foyer of the Temple so I could see my friend Sister Chris when she visited Seattle.
**Being called to the Argentina Neuquen Mission.

**Totally embarrassing myself on the phone with President Monson - the miracle is I didn't lose my membership in the church after calling him a liar. Ask me sometime.
**Getting to be with President Hinckley in the Salt Lake Temple for a devotional.
**Being friends with ELJ. Of all the people she knows, I get to be one of her friends. (One that gets to sit at her kitchen counter a lot and eat ice cream and one that calls me when I have blind dates to see if I need rescuing and takes me with her to the symphony - oh how I love her.)

**Being friends with EJR. Of all the people she knows, I get to be one of her friends. (one that she shares jokes with and buys dresses for and watches The Golden Girls with and lets read her manuscripts and plays dominoes with even when it's hard - oh how I love her.)

**I was born! Into my family at the very time I needed to be born.

(Come on that is an awesome picture.)

**I was born into a family that embraces and lives the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ!

**So many Luella miracles.

**Luella herself was a miracle.

**Thinking to call the American Cancer Society about the job posting and finding out about the other available job.
**Just deciding to send my resume to Caresource even though there were no job openings.
**Passing the Social Work Licensure Exam.

My dad always says, "The Lord loves a coincidence."

I think it's true because you can choose to see His hand in all things or not. He never forces. So I want to be a part of the righteous generation - not seeking a sign like the wicked generation - but seeing the signs of His Love everywhere.

I doubt not the Lord nor His goodness.
I've proved Him in days that are past.

So while waiting, I will not doubt. I will be patient. I will be hopeful and I will live my belief that if I have to wait until eternity for some blessings, the blessing of the Atonement is enough until then. More than enough. And the amazing thing is - that's not the only blessing He has given me. See above list for proof.

What miracles are you most grateful for?

Past, Present and the Promise of Future Blessings make me,
So Happy.