Three Sisters, 3 BFF's

I recently took Kambriella on a date where she was insistent that one of the things that she really wanted to do, was to get Best Friend necklaces for her and her sisters!

I immediately thought to myself..."Oh boy..."

I have seen PLENTY of BFF necklaces for TWO friends, but THREE???

But oh the faith of a little child...

We went to Claire's and looked at the items they had, and sure enough, they had ONE set for THREE BFF's!!! Three sisters, three BEST FRIENDS!

Kesslyn wears the sun one, Kambriella wears the moon, and we can't wait for the day that we see Kierra next when we will give her the star!

I LOVE my daughters, (sons too of course;) love that they LOVE each other, and LOVE that they think of each other often even though we are not all together...though we certainly are in heart!

Lucky mama!!! :)

Carew Is In Italy!!!

 Carew made it to Italy!!!

I keep having to tell myself...

"No, this is NOT a dream, this picture was not photo-shopped...

YOUR SON IS ON A MISSION IN ITALY!!!!!!!!!   :)  :)  :)

I LOVE this picture of Carew (Anziano Trickett) standing with his mission president, President Pickerd and his wife. His smile is so genuine and BIG!!! :) 

...and I know that's because he is so happy!!!

When I woke up this morning I went straight to the computer and saw that I had received an email confirming that Carew had made it there safely!

As I read the words I instantly was overcome with the spirit of love that these amazing people already have for my son and for all of the missionaries that they are over.

Here is a little of what they said...

"Dear  Parents, 

We wanted to let you know your missionary arrived safely at the mission home today. We love them already and have been praying for them before they came."

That tiny little bit of information brought me so much peace, comfort, and love...my heart was overcome with emotion and tears welled up in my eyes and soooo much gratitude in my heart...

We got to talk on the phone to Carew yesterday while he was in route at the airport, and although we only had a few minutes to talk, one of the things I remember most is asking him if he was nervous..he said, "No Mom, I'm not nervous at all! I kind of feel like I've been gone to a 6 week long BYU camp and now I'm on my way home."

I told him...

"Carew, when you get there, it probably will feel a little like you ARE coming home because of the familiar feelings of love that the spirit will bring to your heart. You are gaining a new family for the next 2 years that are going to love and support you just like we would if you were here."

I KNOW this is true and that President and Sister Pickerd and the other Anziani and Sorella's will be a loving and supportive family for Carew while he is serving the Lord and the people of Italy for the next 2 years!

Carew, I love you so much and am so excited for the blessings and growth to pour over you as I know they already are! I am also extremely grateful to a kind and loving Heavenly Father for this amazing gospel of Jesus Christ! I love it and HIM with all my heart!

A Unicorn Cake!

 This past weekend was my niece Lexi's birthday and ALL she wanted for her 20th birthday was a Unicorn cake!!! So, THAT'S what I gave her! :)

 I baked vanilla cake (per Lexi's request :), gathered my supplies, and got to work!

Sparkly paper to make the horn and ears, black licorice rolled flat and cut out to make the eyes, and rainbow Twizzlers for the hair!

I also used spray glitter frosting to "two tone" the inside of the ears and horn... made some homemade buttercream frosting for the cake, and then put it all together!

Sometimes getting to be creative can be really fun! ;)

 Lexi LOVED her Unicorn cake, and everything unicorn that she ended up getting for her birthday!

Unicorn sweatshirt, unicorn slippers, unicorn night light... :)(That one was from us ;) ;)

 I seriously don't think I've EVER seen Lexi Soooo happy!!!

I think she had the BEST birthday EVER! ;)

 She was all excited and ALL smiles the entire night. :)

 But NOTHING was as awesome as the Unicorn cake... ;) ;)

 (Even though on the ride to Bountiful from Riverton the entire cake shifted in the car, even though we were holding on to it so good...I had to take off the eyes and re-frost the entire body once we got there because each layer of cake slid and put holes in the frosting! I was so mad and I almost wanted to say some "not so nice words," but instead I just made some "not so cute faces" and fixed the problem.) Thank goodness it turned out OK! 

And Thank goodness Lexi LOVED it!

Happy Birthday Lexi!

You are as rare and as beautiful as a unicorn! ;)

"Write Things Down"

This is a picture of the space above my computer, and it pretty much sums up the last year of my life...journals, scriptures, and FAMILY.

Last year I received a very clear, strong prompting from the Holy Ghost that I needed to be "writing things down." Every day I had been feeling the spirit testify to me of the goodness and gifts from God and I could literally see how they were influencing and affecting my family for good.

So, I sat down to the computer one day...September 26th 2016 to be exact...
and I began to write down something special that I noticed about my day.
I told myself that whether it was something big or small, significant or not, I would take just a minute everyday and write my blessings and experiences down. (At least every week day, and on the weekend too if I made the time for it. ;)
I had no idea then just how much of a blessing this would prove to be in my life!!!
I began feeling so much love and gratitude in my life everyday, and I began looking forward to seeing what Heavenly Father was going to bless me with that day...
I felt my testimony growing by leaps and bounds, and didn't even realize what a profound effect it was having on my family...I already felt like I LOVED my husband and children so much, but with the experience of actually writing things down that I KNEW they would get to read, it made the love and strength of our eternal relationships blossom and grow even deeper than they already were...
Not only was I FEELING more gratitude, but I was feeling HAPPIER in my life each day because of the love that was coming from Heavenly Father!
My children began reading my entries because they were mostly about the family...and THEY began looking forward to reading about the good things that I would see in them and the good that was going on in our lives. It made them feel SPECIAL and VALUABLE and IMPORTANT. It has bonded each individual to feeling the importance of being a happy and contributing member of the family, and helping to create a happy home where the spirit can reside.
It began blessing my daughter's life as she moved away for college...she would read my entry each day and feel connected to the family and like she was still aware of what was going on each day even though she wasn't living with us to experience it herself, it made her feel a part of it and completed that BOND that was being formed in the family.
I would LOVE to find my children saying things like, "Mom, can I just read your blog for my reading minutes today?? I LOVE reading OUR blog!"
I have been able to record thoughts, impressions, and feelings that have come to me as a relief society president trying hard to serve the sisters in my ward...and the funny thing is, when I was set apart in this calling of relief society president just ONE WEEK after my impression to begin writing things down, I was also told in that blessing to "record things daily for the benefit of my family and my testimony." When I heard those words with hands laid upon my head I KNEW why the spirit had prompted me so strongly just one week earlier to begin this journaling. I had already begun to do the thing that Heavenly Father could so plainly see that I needed to strengthen my testimony, strengthen my family, and to motivate me through all of the difficult times that either I would face, or that I would have to be strong enough spiritually to help others face...and believe me, there have been some tough ones...
But one year later I can look back and CLEARLY see how listening to the prompting that I received has blessed my life and the lives of each of my family members immensely!!!
Not only has my testimony been strengthened and my relationship with my Savior become stronger, but I have a written record of some of the most happy, exciting, and monumental moments of my children's lives that we have experienced thus far...
All in the summer of 2017 we experienced as a family:
 One high school graduate, a successful 1st year BYU student, a son being ordained to the office of teacher, a baptism, 2 children receiving their temple endowments, a daughter sealed for time and all eternity in the temple to her very best friend, a son receiving the Melchizedek priesthood and being ordained an elder, sending a full time missionary out into the mission field for 2 years, a son receiving the Aaronic priesthood and going to the temple for the very first time...and that's just the beginning!!!
It has been a year of joy and miracles and dreams fulfilled...and GUESS WHAT??
It's all written down.
I'm so grateful for the Gift of the Holy Ghost and for personal revelation and for how good our loving Heavenly Father is for blessing us with all the tools we need and all that He sees fit to bless us with to help us to return to live with Him again someday...I am SOOOOO grateful, and no matter how hard I try, I don't feel like I will EVER be able to express that gratitude enough.
My heart is full...
I want to share just a few words from one of the most inspiring conference talks I have ever heard about journaling, and maybe it will move someone else to begin their own journey to "write things down."

"O Remember, Remember" by Henry B. Eyring

“...I understood the message I had heard in my mind. I was supposed to record for my children to read, someday in the future, how I had seen the hand of God blessing our family. 

...find ways to recognize and remember God’s kindness. 

Seeing such things takes the Holy Ghost. 

There is a simple cure for the terrible malady of forgetting God, His blessings, and His messages to us. Jesus Christ promised it to His disciples when He was about to be crucified, resurrected, and then taken away from them to ascend in glory to His Father. They were concerned to know how they would be able to endure when He was no longer with them...Here is the promise. It was fulfilled for them then. It can be fulfilled for all of us now: “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”⁵The key to the remembering that brings and maintains testimony is receiving the Holy Ghost as a companion. It is the Holy Ghost who helps us see what God has done for us. It is the Holy Ghost who can help those we serve to see what God has done for them. I will find a way to preserve that memory for the day that I, and those that I love, will need to remember how much God loves us and how much we need Him. I testify that He loves us and blesses us, more than most of us have yet recognized. I know that is true, and it brings me joy to remember Him. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

Her Daddy Is Her Favorite!

 After I picked Kesslyn up from her play school class, she asked for her "Daddy!"

He is her absolute favorite person on this planet and I'm sure in the entire universe. :)

So, we drove to work and picked him up for lunch and took him to Subway with us! She sat by him and leaned on his shoulder and only wanted to sit by him! But honestly...he's MY favorite person too and I don't blame her!!! ;)

After we were done with lunch, I went into Clint's office and wrapped some gifts that I needed to get in the mail...I know, they don't look too fancy, but they took me forever to wrap! (And write cards for...which I guess is part of what took so much time...)

I had a gift for Carew, one for Kierra and Riley, and one for Riley's brother Brady and fiance' Amanda who are getting married in Missouri this weekend.

 While I was busy wrapping I heard Kesslyn following around her daddy, Grandpa Trickett, and finally Amelia! I peeked out Clint's office window and saw this...:)

 Kesslyn had gone down and made herself comfy on Amelia's lap at her desk and colored beautiful swirly pictures. ;) They both enjoyed themselves! ;)

 We spent most of the rest of the day running children places that they needed to go, and fulfilling my duties in my calling...and when bedtime came, Clint and I divided and conquered as we usually do. I always let him choose if he wants to take care of Little, or clean up dinner...and he always chooses helping Kesslyn. :) They LOVE each other! I could hear his voice and her soft little music coming from her bedroom and just HAD to peek in...

...and of course what I witnessed was a little bit of heaven. 

They were reading scripture stories together (but not until after the Halloween ones of course:)

and Kesslyn was very intently listening to her daddy and studying the pictures.

These moments are my treasures and I thank Heavenly Father everyday for blessing me with people to love who love me in return, and for the spirit that fills my heart and home. It is the best!!! 

Day 36 in the MTC

Anziano Trickett has been in the MTC for 36 days now! Learning, growing, studying, and praying...

Learning and growing and studying and praying some more...

Working on building his talents and skills, learning the Italian language, having new experiences, building relationships both with other missionaries and with his elder brother Jesus Christ...

Every time I see his sweet face he just looks soooo happy!

Which makes me soooo happy!

Annnd...in just 6 short days he will be ready to get on a plane and head to Italy where the real life experiences of a full time missionary await him.

I know he will be an amazing missionary, and with his happy disposition and contagious smile, he will deliver this gospel message that is so full of hope and love.

I pray for him and love him and LOVE what he is doing, and love how he is continually reaching for his divine potential.

Ti amo Anziano Trickett!

Continue to work hard and do good things!

XOXOXOXO

Dallin at Aerobics and Kesslyn In the Scriptures :)

Some awesome highlights from my day yesterday were...

 Dallin joining me at my aerobics class!!! (That boy has some confidence!;)

He had asked me if I would come to his school and teach the kids in his gym class how to do step aerobics because his teacher said they were looking for any parents that had things that they could teach and share...

Him knowing that I had taught them before and that I do them each week must have made him feel like he could ask me and that I MUST be qualified to teach them! "Well".....I told him, "Dallin, are you SURE you know what you are asking me to do?? Why don't you come with me in the morning and see what it's really like and THEN decide if you really want me to come and teach or not."

He came. He did amazing. And he thought it was fun and that his mom was awesome. :)

But, lucky for me, he told his teacher about it, they thought it sounded great, but they don't have any steps at the school so it wouldn't really work. Darn! Dodged THAT bullet! ;)

 Then I spent quite a bit of time researching gift ideas for Christmas gifts for the sisters in our ward...

They make BOOK OF MORMON charms!!! Can you believe it??? THIS is exciting!!!

And sweet little Kesslyn...always carrying around and "reading" her little blue Book of Mormon scriptures...:) I found her in the front room "reading" them while Kambriella was in there reading for her homework.

Can I just say that I LOVE my family, and I LOVE being a mom??!!

Thank you Heavenly Father for this plan of happiness and for all of the precious little moments that add up to all of the amazing experiences here in this life!

Happy Tuesday! :)