Simple Joys

One of the highlights of my day today was taking Kesslyn with me to go visiting teaching.

I held her on my lap and drove a steady 4mph down the street and over one...

We snuggled and smiled and she helped me turn the steering wheel.

We pulled over and watched a whole flock of ducks huddled together on the sidewalk pecking at little bits of food. Kesslyn got soooo excited and pointed and tried to say words in her baby talk...it was so simple and yet so sweet. I truly enjoy the simple things in life...simple gifts like these. :)

"If I Loved You More, Would You Hurt Less?"

 "Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel was in the hospital recovering from open heart surgery when he was visited by his 5 year old grandson. As the little boy looked into his grandfather's eyes, he saw his pain"

."Grandpa," he asked, "If I loved you more, would you hurt less?" 

Today, I ask a similar question of each of us:

"If we love the Savior more, will we suffer less?"

~Elder Robert D. Hales 

Oct. 2016 General Conference

 This was the topic of our relief society lesson yesterday and it touched my heart so much.

I believe that this is so true...If we will love the Savior more, we really will suffer less. Not that pain and trial will not exist, but that as we experience pain and trial, our suffering and burdens can be lifted through our Savior Jesus Christ. I also believe that if we will love EACH OTHER more, we will hurt less as well...

for where there is so much love in a heart, there simply cannot be room for hate.

I love my Savior Jesus Christ and my eternal family. 

What great blessings they are to me!

Breakfast Date With Dallin, Breakfast With the Missionaries

 Fridays at OHMS is a late start day when school doesn't start until 9:50, soooo...

I took advantage of the opportunity and took my sweet buddy Dallin on a breakfast date after we dropped all the other kids off at school.

We went to the "Egg and I" and had fun just talking over breakfast. Dallin is such a good boy and I love him so much! He is always so considerate, thoughtful, and loving...he has SUCH a good good heart and loves helping me out so much. He is constantly smiling at me, telling me how much he loves me, volunteering to do chores for me WITHOUT being asked, giving me massages because he wants to serve me...the list goes on and on and I know one day he will be an amazing missionary, then husband, then father.

Also, today is Saturday and my sweet husband has the missionaries over EVERY Saturday morning to feed them breakfast, correlate with them on the work they have to do, and tries to teach them, testify to them, and build them up. Clint serves on the High Counsel and loves doing it. He works with some amazing men who strengthen him  and build him up too. I LOVE that Clint is so happy all the time. I don't know how someone who is so busy, has a very high stress job, and so many demands on him can ALWAYS be so happy??

Oh WAIT...Yes I do... :)

He lives the gospel fully and keeps the commandments. He puts God first and his wife and family.

He serves others, has a genuine heart, reads his scriptures EVERYDAY, and just makes life happy!

No wonder where Dallin gets it from!!! :)

(P.S. This is Elder Tokais and Elder Lund. Elder Tokais goes home in 3 days!)

Also, yesterday my friend Amanda was able to come home from the hospital, but I also learned that it was also her baby girl Gemma's 1st birthday! I was happy to take them dinner and a little baby doll and cake and got to squeeze her chubby little hands and thighs... :) 

Grateful heart!!!

Helping Amanda

 Last week Clint and I were at the JAZZ game when over the arena they began to announce the names of the little tiny contenders of the "Baby Races!"

When they said the name "Gemma" I thought to myself, "I know a Gemma!!!" :)

Sure enough! 

My friend in my ward Amanda Daley and her little baby Gemma popped up on the Jumbo Tron!

I quickly snapped these photos and sent them to her which she was VERY happy to have! Gemma crossed the finish line in 2nd place, but actually ended up taking home the 1st place prize because the winner was "in" with the JAZZ so it wouldn't have been fair...it was so fun to see them!

Then, just yesterday I learned that Amanda had taken a slip on the ice and broken her foot...

REALLY bad! :(

She went to the hospital and had surgery with plates and pins and all of that metal stuff.

I tried checking in on her last night but got no response.

Today my goal is to figure out what we can do to help. I'm sure she will need some help with her little baby and we will bring in meals for sure...I'm so thankful for the organization of the Lord's church here on the earth and for the Relief Society. What would us sisters do without each other???

I'm thankful to be in a calling where it is such a privilege to get to love and lift and serve my sisters that I love so much. Service is a blessing and I'm grateful to get to be a part of it. :)

Also, I was stopped at a red light the other day and saw this...

I might try to stop by this today just to get some ideas!!! :)

Happy Weekend! :)

Siblings and Friends

 While Clint was gone to the JAZZ game with Gavin and Kambriella was at her dance class, I decided to take Dallin, Carew, and Kesslyn to Chik~fil~A for dinner.

More than the food, I loved being with the kids and watching how happy they were just being together.

 I have some good kids who a lot of the time love to tease each other and push each others buttons, but also really and truly genuinely love each other and have so much fun being together.

Many times throughout the day I will hear multiple little Tricketts say, 

"I sure love this amazing family," or "Mom, did you know that we have the best family on the planet?" or

"Mom, how did you get to be so pretty?"  :)

They are sweet and they are happy and they make me smile. :)

 After we finished eating I ordered some chicken to-go for Kambriella and got an ice~dream for all of us to share. This little sweetie loved it like I knew she would. :)

Then we stopped at the store for a couple of things and the boys had fun placing their baby~doll sister among the giant stuffed animals. 

She fit right in. :)

I would pick her because she is the cutest. :)

These busy days of life are fleeting so quickly...will EVERYONE PLEASE stop growing up???

Thank you.

:)

Move Mountains

This past weekend we were blessed to be able to have a visiting General Authority Elder Kim B.Clark visit our stake and teach us important gospel truths. 

This is some of my very favorite time spent learning and receiving inspiration from the Holy Ghost. 

It directs my thoughts and how I lead and raise my family and also how I serve in my calling.

Some days I feel like I am able to move mountains...

 ...and some days I just need to be STILL.

D&C 123:17 says

"...let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for His arm to be revealed.

 I felt the power of this scripture come to life for me so much over this past week as I listened to the counsel we received, and also as I have been searching for guidance and answers from Heavenly Father in what He would have me do...

1) I need to be grateful for the gospel everyday and NOT take it for granted.

2) I need to NOT contend with the Spirit, but just GO and DO.

3) I need to increase my personal commitments and testimony because what I have today will NOT be enough to sustain me for what lies ahead in the days to come.

4) I need to PRAY for  angels to come and be with my children.

5) I need to honor more fully the Sabbath Day and feel of it's importance in my life each day.

6) I need to read the Book of Mormon EVERYDAY.

7) I need to be IN the temple.

8) I need to be a missionary and share the gospel.

9) I need to not just MAINTAIN, but MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

These are all things that I already know, but have learned more through the Spirit of HOW I can be successful and go about doing the good that my Father needs me to do...the good that it may take some days to move those mountains.

THIS is Happening!

 So THIS is happening!!!

Kierra and I went to Avenia Bridal on Saturday and had so much fun together trying on wedding dresses!!!
I stood back in awe and almost had to pinch myself as I watched her actually DOING what I thought seemed like forever before it would actually come...and now it's HERE.

 Kierra chose about 5 or 6 dresses to try on...

 ...and made each one look amazing!!!

 ~but how can you not when you are just THIS CUTE??? :)

~Different colors and styles...

...different necklines...

 When they added a veil, it really made her feel like a bride :)

 ...and she confirmed her discovery that her dress needs to be made of BOTH sparkles AND lace. :)

~Belt? ...No belt???~

I think she is beautiful EVERY way! :)

And although we knew that we did not find "THE dress" that day...we LOVED the experience and can't wait for our next dress shopping date! This is what dreams are made of!!! :)

 After all of her hard work we really worked up an appetite!!! ;)

(Actually it was mostly because it was 2:00 in the afternoon and neither of us had eaten a bite...)

So, we went to Chili's which was right across the street and enjoyed visiting and having a late lunch together.

I just LOVE the time that I get to spend with this sweet girl. She is so happy and positive and a pure JOY to be around. PLUS, all of this wedding planning is really every girl's dream, and to get to do it with your best friend makes it THAT MUCH BETTER. :)

I love you sweet girl, my Kierra Nicole....Trickett... for not much longer! ;)

Kambriella's Scripture Corner

 Ever since Kambriella went to her baptismal preview last week she has been sooooo excited for her baptism! She can hardly wait for the day when it will finally be her turn to be baptized a member of the 

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

She came to me and said, 

"Mom, will you help me make a scripture corner in my room so that I have my very own place to read my scriptures everyday?" She also asked me to buy her a calendar so that she could cross off every day that she reads...Hmmmm...whose child is this?? :)

How can a mom say no to that??? :)

So, on Friday we spent about 3 hours cleaning out, organizing, and rearranging her room so that she could have a beautiful , peaceful, little scripture corner.

She helped me choose all of the things that she wanted there, like her little treasure box, and nutcracker, and a few things that belonged to her big sissy like a prayer block and a picture quote...she also insisted that her crown go on the top of the lamp because it would remind her that she is a Child of God, a Heavenly King!

She of course had to have a picture of the temple...:)

 ...and a picture of "her and Jesus." :)

 ...a tiny little Christus statue...

 ...and drawers full of scriptures, bookmarks, tissues, and chapstick...

 ...her Baptism book, Friend magazines, a journal, colored pencils, crayons, gel pens, and gum...

~and with all of the excitement that a little 7 year old girl can have, she set her very own alarm (that she found while we were cleaning out her room that used to be Kierra's) and woke up at 7 a.m. on a SATURDAY morning JUST so that she could go and sit in her scripture corner and read her scriptures.

I heard the alarm and went to see what she was doing and this is what I found...

A sweet little angel girl...

Kambriella Noel Trickett...

I promise you that if you stay committed to Jesus Christ, spending some time reading the Book of Mormon EVERYDAY, and staying close to Heavenly Father through prayer, then you will be THE HAPPIEST person you can possibly be!

You will gain a very strong testimony of WHO you are and WHOSE you are...

a daughter of God with so much worth...

Thank you for being such a blessing in my life! You are such a good example to everyone in our family, and you have the BEST heart!!! You know how to recognize light and truth and you are drawn to it...and I love it! You are amazing and I am so glad that you LOVE your scripture corner!!!

I love YOU!!!

Senior Tribute to Carew

This hunk of squishy love is my little Carew when he was a baby, and THIS photograph is the one that is going in the yearbook at RHS  in the "Tribute to Seniors" section!

Carew will be graduating here in a few months with the rest of his 2017 class and I am still in shock as to where the time has gone...

I remember very vividly the simplistic days that consisted mainly of meal time, nap time, "naky time" (getting to be free of clothes and diaper for a little while :) and bed time...Cuddling with all of that squishiness and just loving the carefree happy days was absolutely THE BEST!!!

My Dear Carew, 

You are about to embark on a journey that will shape the rest of your life!

Your recent days of running, friends, eagle project, GIRLS, seminary counsel, mission prep, and graduation ahead, are the prelude to the mission that you have waited your whole life for...and now it's RIGHT around the corner?!!!?

You are destined to do GREAT things and I am SOOOO proud of you!!! I love you!!!

Watch out world!!! HERE HE COMES!!!

:)

A Healthy Body

It's January, and also the time of year when resolutions are set.

Working out and exercising are a goal of mine that are never hard for me to keep because I love it and it makes me feel good and strong and healthy. 

Eating healthy on the other hand is a hard thing to do...(curse those darned chocolate Dunford doughnuts!! ;)

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, a bunch of girls in our stake meet over at the church and exercise together from 5:30 to 6:30 am and we ROCK the house!!! :)

We do step aerobics, weight training, interval workouts, and different variations of floor routines...sometimes we even play a mean game of dodge ball!!! No matter what we do, I always go home feeling happy and like I am beginning my day by doing my body a favor. I also love to go running on the days that we don't do aerobics, and that is a perfect time for my body and my spirit to feel fresh and rejuvenated...I just love it.

I want to stay physically strong and healthy for many reasons, but one reason that stands out to me the most is because when my body is strong, I feel like I can accomplish the work that Heavenly Father needs me to do. One time I was so sick that I was in bed for almost 2 weeks straight. I remember it well because it was when my parents were in town visiting and they were always checking in on me to see what they could do to help. I remember laying there and thinking how grateful I was for my healthy body because I literally could not do ANYTHING to take care of myself at that time, let alone my children and family. ..and as for people outside of my home that I may have needed to serve...I for sure couldn't even THINK about that because I was so very sick.

After that experience, I gained a new appreciation for this body of mine.

I want to always do my part to take care of my body since it's the only one I get!!! AND because when I can serve others, I feel like my life is in balance.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy Birthday Daddy :)

You would have been 75 today... 

I love you more than ever and I'm so grateful that you watch over our family every single day...

You are our strong and gentle guardian angel. :)

I love you forever!

Time and All Eternity

 As I count my many blessings...this one is at the very top of my list.

My eternal family.

Being sealed for time and all eternity in the house of the Lord has been one of the single most greatest blessings that has affected and continues to affect my life for good.

Clint, thank you for loving me with everything that you have and for hugging me and kissing me and for ALWAYS being my best friend.

I love you! Can't wait for our temple date on Friday! :)

June 30, 2017

 3 Sisters  :)

3 Beauties  :)

3 Angels  :)

3 Best Friends  :)

(This sweet picture was taken at the end of the day and a very GRAND adventure...:)

Yesterday was one of the funnest days EVER.

WHY???

Because my Kierra and I had an adventure together and visited this BEAUTIFUL castle!

It's in Lindon at Wadley Farms and it's the place where Kierra and Riley will be having their wedding reception in June!!! Yes, that's right I said WEDDING RECEPTION IN JUNE!!!

(This is not official yet, other than Kierra and Riley talking about it together...but when it comes to weddings, there are SOME things that CANNOT wait...like booking the temple AND the venue...Check and Check!

 After spending some time with Kierra on Saturday looking on the computer at different venues, there became no question in her mind that THIS would be her dream choice.

I spent a lot of time thinking and talking to Kierra about it on Sunday, and with one of my best friends Susan (who just did a wedding for her daughter last June...) and decided that if we wanted this venue, we needed to hustle along or it would be gone.

So, I woke up early on Monday morning and was uncertain of the possibility of getting an appointment that day, since it was a holiday AND I wasn't sure how far in advance they needed to book the showing appointment...but I went ahead and sent out an email in hopes that SOMEONE would see it early and be able to get us in since it was a holiday and Kierra had no school...AND we just REALLY REALLY REALLY didn't want it to get booked and become unavailable!!!

Sooo... after waiting about 3 hours and not hearing back from anyone I decided to call a cell number that I had seen on their web site and sure enough a lady ~Alisha~ answered the phone.

I asked her about the appointment to which she told me that I could make an appointment for NEXT week...which I was kind of bummed about since we REALLY wanted to get in TODAY...

BUT...then she said...

"Actually, if you can make it down between 12 and 1 I will be there for a short time with another couple that I had promised earlier last week but really wasn't planning on...my husband is getting deployed and will be finishing up some things at Camp Williams and so I am meeting with this other couple that I had promised earlier that they could come. If you can meet me down there then, then you can look around."

PERFECT! WE WILL BE THERE!!!! :)

Kierra met me down there (since it's halfway between where her and I live) and we ooed and awed and had to pick our jaws up off of the floor beside us...:)

Then we called Clint to confirm that it was EXACTLY what she had hoped it would be AND it was available!!! Being the supportive and loving father and husband that he is, he said,

 "Go for it! I trust your judgement. :) "

He has always been such a good daddy and has always wanted to give good gifts to his grateful and gracious daughter, and any kids who act that way... Kierra had even said to me earlier, 

"Mom, if this place is too expensive we don't have to use it. ANY place that we have my reception at will be PERFECT. " I knew she felt this way because she just has the most positive and BEST perspective and outlook on life. I told her that I already knew that she felt that way, but that if it was reasonable, that we wanted to give her her dreams. :)

 Sooo...after finishing up our conversation with Clint, we walked into the office and found Alisha and told her that we wanted to reserve the date! JUNE 30TH!!! the last Friday in June...

We sat down to her desk and began filling out the contract and giggling and chatting about girly things...when another couple came in the door. They waited patiently while we were given some instructions and then Alisha took the other couple out on a tour while we completed our paperwork. By the time they finished up and Alisha came back in, we were done and ready to give her our down payment. The other couple said thank you and then went on their way.

Alisha then proceeded to tell Kierra and I that this couple that had just left fell in love with the castle and wanted to book it immediately...for JUNE 30TH!!! the SAME DAY as Kierra and Riley!!!!!!!!!

AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! 

Alisha had to tell this poor couple that WE were currently in the process of going under contract and that she was so sorry, but it was now unavailable.

I felt SOOOOOO bad for that poor couple that saw us sitting right there booking the exact day that they wanted!!!! BUT...then I felt SOOOOOOOOOOOO happy for US!!!!!!!!!!

If we would have waited any matter of minutes longer to book the appointment we would have missed this amazing place, and Kierra's dream venue. Like Kierra said earlier, ANY place would be perfect, but THIS was her 1st choice. 

I told Kierra that I KNEW that Heavenly Father had His hand in this because He knows us so intimately and He knows our hearts. He knew that Kierra was a righteous and deserving daughter and that He wanted to bless her with EVERY GOOD GIFT...even the little details of our lives matter to Him! 

I had prayed Sunday and earlier that day too, that we would know if we should book this place or not...after all, I have never had a child get married and was a little unsure of how I would know what was right...but it just FELT right...and so we moved forward. And when we did, it was confirmed to me that our actions and timing were right because of the experience we had in actually seeing that if we would not have acted when we did, that the opportunity would have definitely been gone!

Sweet Kierra was almost brought to tears by the amount of JOY and LOVE that she had felt...and I told her

"Kierra, keep on doing all of the good that you are and keeping the commandments because when you do what is right, then the GOOD will just keep on coming back to you!!!

 You are only getting everything that you deserve!!!"

Kierra and I hugged and squealed and tried to not put off too much of a scene...but we were both so excited about what had just happened that we could hardly contain ourselves!!!

Knowing that the castle would be hers and Riley's for their special day...we walked back over and took a few pictures...

It is a spectacular place and I can't wait to see it all put together on their wedding day!!!

 The Main Hall

 Kierra and the Bride's Room

 The amazing and beautiful Bride~to~Be!!! :)

I am soooo happy to be sharing this special experience with my daughter!!!

All you ever want for your children for their whole lives, is for them to love and embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to receive all of the ordinances necessary for them to have an eternal family of their own, and to be able to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father again one day...

These choices and steps that Kierra is making are on the right path and doing just that.

Kierra, I cannot say it enough...I am so proud of you and the choices that you are making in your life. You are a valiant and special daughter and I know that because of the life that you live and the devotion that you give to your Heavenly Father, you will be blessed and happy. Things will not always be EASY...but through all of life's challenges, you can still be HAPPY by living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

NOW...this castle may be beautiful...but the Temple of God that you have chosen to be married in is the greatest castle of all!!!!I love you Kierra!!!!

JUNE 30, 2017 ~ Kierra and Riley Johnson ~

It will be here before you know it!!! :)

XOXOXO