Ah memories :)

I have been taking lovely strolls down memory lane recently. It is the little things that trigger it. The flowers are blooming and the... I don't know what type of trees they are ACTUALLY called... The popcorn trees though, they bring back some good times. Picking them off of the tree in the back yard, picking them on Mothers Day, then walking down the road and getting lilacs to go with them to give to my mommy and Nana.

Then there are things like the smell of Jack Daniels BBQ sauce. I LOVE THAT SMELL! No, it is not the same as flowers, but divine all the same. Brings back memories of midnight meals with Nat, where we I made the chicken or steak, she made the mashed potatoes, and we would dip the meat into the Jack Daniels. Yum!

I am currently melting chocolate, which reminds me of the time where Frieda and I melted chocolate on a plate, and since it was hot we did the only thing sensible to two kids. We threw it around like a frisbee. I don't remember eating it (Since we kept dropping it and putting our fingers in it. It was a frisbee after all), but Fred is convinced we did.

Each and every time I go shopping and try on something new, I just about leave the dressing room to ask my sisters/friends who are like sisters, what they think about it. Then I hear the people next to me chattering along in German and I remember that they are not out there.

Right now I am in the process of making chocolate chip cookies, which always reminds me of cooking with Jenn. I remember making them all the time at her house, and ever remember the time I made it with a tablespoon of salt instead of a teaspoon. I threw it out before Jenn got back (I think this was one of the times I kicked her out of the house and told her to go have a date while I watched the kids).

The song 'Low' just came on, and while it is not the best song, it still brings up memories. It is the song that they were playing on the boat the first time I really went wake boarding. Apparently it was the perfect song. I got up my very fist time. I still feel rather proud of that fact.

And it seems that the song "Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy" has been coming on my ipod more often recently. This song will ALWAYS remind me of riding around in the jeep. My brother would drive me to school sometimes, and when this song would come on, we would crank it up and sing along. And when he was on his honeymoon and I was watching his jeep for him, I always would make sure to play this song at least once. It was just what you did in the jeep. That song and Incubus's "Warning". Perfect song for that sound system!

There are just so many tiny little things that remind me of people. Things that they probably don't remember and if I explained what that little thing meant to me, it would probably shock them. So just remember, it is really about the little things and that you never know what effect something small you do can do to a person. Make it something good :)

Easter Sunday and what it means to me.

Recently I have been very reminiscent, and with it being Easter and Conference weekend I decided to do something I don't normally do. Generally I have a decently strict rule of not sharing too much of my emotions or my life on my blog. I usually try and stick to things about my trip and what I want to make sure to remember. Today I am going to share more of me here. It is Easter, and today means more to me than colored eggs and candy (don't get me wrong, I LOVE those, but there is more.)

The last few weeks I have been struggling with homesickness. I have come to realize even more how much I love my family. All of them. From my sisters (and a cousin who is like a sister to me) who laugh with me at all hours of the night, my parents who always love and support me. My niece who now can say my name and anytime she sees the computer says it. Brothers who, once you have gotten comfortable on the couch after Thanksgiving dinner, will pounce on top of you. A little brother who is easily my favorite punching bag of all time :) My family in Washington, I still remember making Isaak's Birthday cake on the grill and cuddling up together cause the power was knocked out for days. My Grandparents are some of the most amazing people you will ever meet. The things they have done and been through never fails to amaze me. Along with my biological family, I miss my friends who are like family to me. You all know who you are, you are the ones that are there for me when I am happy or grumpy. Smiling or crying. Just like my biological family is. So remember, no matter where I am in the world, I love you.

As I mentioned it is conference weekend. One of my favorite times of the year. Not only do I get to be spiritually uplifted by the words of a living prophet, I have lasting memories from this. I still remember growing up and watching this at Nana's house in Cedar Fort. No idea why, but they let me, D.Jay, Jace, ShaNeil, and Cale watch conference alone in the basement. One of the years we got candy from the Country Store and were watching it while playing a game of poker with the candy. Yes, I see the irony behind it all. Another year, we played hiding-go-seek with the volume on the TV really loud. Granted I probably didn't learn a whole lot these times from conference, but I have some lasting memories with me little brother and cousins that make me laugh when I think about it.

On this lovely Easter Sunday, I also want to reflect on all my Savior has done for me. While I may not have memories with him in them exactly like the ones I have mentioned above, I have felt him in my life. There have been times when I felt like everything was falling apart and I didn't know what I was going to do. He was there for me. There were times where I just needed extra love, He sent it to me. There is no doubt in my mind that Christ lives. He is there for us, and he loves us.

I know that there are probably some people out there laughing at this. Or think that there must me something wrong with me. It makes me sad to see when people don't have the love of Christ in their lives. I don't know what I would do without it. It is the most amazing thing, and I want to shout it out to everyone! For now I will just have to settle for whoever reads this blog. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I love it. I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and know that they love me as well. I hope you all have an amazing Easter and that you remember what we are celebrating. Mathew 28:6- He is not here, He is risen.