Doing It Anyway

So a couple of weeks ago I wanted to try something new. And since I always thought cheesecake to be a challenging recipe I decided to give it a whirl. It was a lot easier than I had anticipated. It is interesting how so often the fear of doing something is always worse than actually doing it. Once you get down to it, you realize it isn't nearly as bad as you thought it would be. I suppose that is why they always say you should do the thing you fear, just like the book I read not long ago, "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway". So, I felt the fear and made the turtle cheesecake anyway...

And I didn't even use a Springfoam Pan. I simply sprayed the pan and

hoped it would work! I'm so proud of myself =]

Unforgettable Past, Exciting Future

My brother, being the amazing photographer that he is, touched up some of our wedding pictures for us. These are my top favorites so far...

But I still absolutely love...

I love looking at pictures. Such good memories. I can only imagine

how great the ones to come will be =]

Rising of the Sun

There has been a significant turning point for me lately as my wall is getting higher and higher. I learned a valuable lesson that I did not really expect: the wall is never completely finished. I can never remember who said it, but it has been said that if you are not moving forward then you are moving backwards. I was reminded of an alcoholic in remission. Despite the great strides the person has gone through and the many changes they have made in their strength and mental health, in the wrong situation at a moment of weakness could be disastrous and a possible relapse underway. So, the wall, just like our spirituality, must constantly be tended to because forgotten or ignored could put you right back at the beginning - devastated, lost, and hopeless.

I have felt a great deal of satisfaction and happiness as of just recently - a quite refreshing feeling from the unbelievably difficult trials that, hopefully, now lie behind me. The promise is almost kept and the wall is getting bigger. A sense of peace and comfort has replaced the stress, confusion, and sorrow and I find myself on a new stage. What an exciting opportunity. Listening to a song from an old EFY these words come to mind

"Let Him Heal your heart. Remember every promise He has made. Reach into your soul and forsake a life of sin and He will shine that light inside again. Let Him help you start to live again and feel His endless love. Let Him hold and teach you-- love and reach you. Let Him heal your heart. There's no simple challenge. Never doubt His goodness. Don't believe that it's too late. He sees your every struggle and he knows the trials you face. Follow and believe Him. Put your trust in Him again. Change your heart forever. Let the miracle begin."

The miracle has already begun...

Mama's good ol' home cooking

I find it quite humerous that men really do find their mom's way of cooking the best way.

Me: Do you like the way I made the chicken?

David: Yeah, it's good.

Me: How would you prefer it?

David: The way my mom made it.

Me: How did your mom make it?

David: I don't know, but it was goooood. She made

everything good. Next time we're there, try it. You'll agree.

So this is Mom Holladay's Shepherd's Pie recipe in use:

Boys... gotta love 'em!

Delicious Worm-Infested Dirt

Oh what fun it is to enjoy the little things from when you were a kid =]

A Cross-Stitch In Time

Over Christmas break I decided I wanted to work on a craft this semester, something that could keep my hands from being too idle during all my spare time. So of course I turned to the always dependable cross-stitching. When I walked into Michael's I new exactly what I wanted, something that would last; something that would be useful. So I picked my package from the shelf and took it home with me to begin the exciting adventure of creating beauty.


At the beginning it seemed it would take me eternity to complete the project, but once I really dove into it I started to think I was going to fast because once it is finished.... what do I do? When I first made a mistake I panicked that I had ruined the beautiful blanket and thought it would stand out like a stain. But then I realized something profound - each glitch I may make according to the original pattern makes the blanket more and more personalized as every stitch is made with love.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said "What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned? Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside... The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty—and I am not talking about the process of cleaning the rooms of your teenage children. You might say, “I’m not the creative type. When I sing, I’m always half a tone above or below the note. I cannot draw a line without a ruler. And the only practical use for my homemade bread is as a paperweight or as a doorstop." If that is how you feel, think again, and remember that you are spirit daughters of the most creative Being in the universe. Isn’t it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God? Think about it—your spirit body is a masterpiece, created with a beauty, function, and capacity beyond imagination."

We All Need Saving

Last night was a great night with another amazing Vocal Point concert. Although I have only been to two, both have brought me to tears at some point as the music touched my heart. One song in particular stood out to me unlike the others, "We All Need Saving".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0TyhU80kv0

Considering all I am working on and trials placed before me, this beautiful song reminded me of one incredibly important fact: I am not alone. As everyone gives me advice as to how I should handle my struggles there is a great deal of truth in that I will do what I will do, even if it could be perceived as detrimental. But the truth that goes above and beyond that is I have the most amazing support system, one that I could never have imagined or deserve. Someone that makes me smile and laugh when all I want to do is frown. Someone that wipes away my tears before they can hit the pillow. Someone that encourages and lifts when I feel all hope is lost and I have no more strength to carry on. Someone that really is saving me. We all need saving, so don't tell yourself you can't lean on someone else.