Girls Night Out

Right before Thanksgiving I was lucky enough to have a late night shopping spree with 2 of my favorite people...my daughter Kierra, and my sister Tiffany!

We shopped Gardener Village's early black Friday sale with all kinds of Christmas decorations everywhere and we giggled and laughed and had SO much fun!

I LOVE these girls SO much and it was such a fun way to begin the holiday week! :)

 

So Many Reasons to #givethanks

Recently our sweet prophet Russell M. Nelson invited the world to experiment with using gratitude as a healing balm for so many hard things in life right now. He addressed the world with a 13 minute message full of gratitude, love, and hope and challenged all of us to use social media to flood the internet with good, and then to pray to God in gratitude daily. 

I have always known this gift of gratitude to be true and to work miracles in our lives. I believe that people who are truly grateful to God for the good in their lives, are really the truly happy people in the world.

I feel so blessed for so many wonderful gifts in my life, and I thank Heavenly Father every day for these good gifts, and recognize that everything good in my life is from Him.

After all, how can you wake up to a morning sky like this and not see the hand of God?

He is generous, kind, and fully aware of us and what we are experiencing in life.

Then there is this boy right here.

So full of love and gratitude.

He came home from school the other day and told me how when he pulled up in front of our house he saw our neighbor Renae outside raking her leaves and he felt like he wanted to go and help her, and so he did.

Without being asked, just wanting to do good. And when he came in the house he looked so happy.

The next day he found this little card and package on his truck. 

It was from Renae, and she was so grateful.

The morning after Bernice passed away, I decided I wanted to run to the temple.

I really miss that place, and even just being outside and looking at how beautiful it is I can feel the peace of that heavenly place.

I ran there, but then walked slowly around the outside of the building with my camera taking pictures of every beautiful angle...

Since we cannot go into the temple right now because of the pandemic, I enjoy just thinking about times when I have been there before, pondering on thoughts that come to me, and promises that I have made...

..I think about the spirits that are here on earth that we cannot see, and how they are some of our guardian angels, just like Bernice now.

I feel so grateful that I live in a place that I lovingly refer to as "the land of temples."

Where else on earth can you go for a morning run and see 3 different beautiful temples?

No where.

As I walked around the temple that morning my heart was full of gratitude for so many things...

..and as I sat on the bench in the front of the temple I felt that same familiar peace that I do when I go inside too.

And lucky for me (and anyone who is blessed to have a little glimpse of heavenly love in their home) it is the same feeling that I can also feel at home when I pray or read my scriptures, or ponder on my blessings...it's anywhere the spirit dwells...

..and for me this morning, it is right here where I see the hand of God and count my many many blessings.

 

Goodbye to the Queen

I was at the store when I received a phone call that there were emergency vehicles at Bernice's house, and somehow I immediately knew that it was time for our sweet friend to go home.

I believe the Comforter immediately accompanied me that night as I drove to Bernice's home with quite a mix of emotions. After all, it had only been a few months prior that I had a very real dream about Bernice singing to me that she was "going to her home," and after being awoken from my sleep in hearing my name called out loud 3 times, I rushed to her house to find her sleeping peacefully, and knew that this must be a soft prompting and preparation for saying goodbye. Every interaction with Bernice became a special celebration because I never knew if it would be my last one with her in this life.

During the pandemic visits were impossible, but I counted myself lucky because in September I was able to care for her for a week while her granddaughter went to visit family. What a precious and treasured week of my life, to spend with "the queen."

So, on Friday November 13th, I pulled up to Bernice's home to find emergency responders in her home along with her granddaughter Kelly, and I went right in and listened carefully to what was being said. Her heart was failing and it was time. Time to get ready to say one last goodbye.

A little over an hour after I left Bernice's house, Kelly texted me that Bernice had passed away. We both agreed that it would have been so sweet to witness the amazing reunion in heaven that night!

After years of wondering when this sweet girl would head home (because not too many people live to be 102!) I was so extremely grateful for the circumstances in which Bernice left us...she was at home, in her bed, with Kelly and other loved ones by her side...and the circumstances could not have been more compassionate or optimal...what a blessed tender mercy.

After I left Bernice's home I went directly into my car and said a prayer to Heavenly Father thanking Him for these favorable circumstances in which our sweet grandma could leave this life. I was so happy for Bernice and Kelly that they could have this tender experience with hand held in hand, and the opportunity to give thanks, express love, and have the opportunity to say goodbye,  or maybe I should say "until we meet again..."

The following Thursday, November 19th (also my mom's birthday) I attended the viewing and funeral services for Bernice. It was a beautiful and happy celebration of her life, and the stories and memories filled my soul with even more love for my sweet sweet friend.

I loved visiting with Kelly and watching her tenderly come to an acceptance of the circumstances that she was facing. Feelings of joy and sadness, gratitude and loss, and beginning the journey of finding her new path in life after so many selfless years dedicated to serving her sweet grandmother Bernice. Now, she can look forward to new experiences that she will have, and enjoy the added wisdom and watchful care of her guardian angel grandma...what will the future bring? Many more years of selflessness and dedication to her family, no doubt.

After the funeral was over and it was time to go, I walked outside to see the most elegant coach awaiting the queen...just look at Bernice in her pink casket in the most fitting ride...fit for a queen!

The smile on my face reflected the smile in my heart as I drove away from Bernice one last time...

..and then as I noticed the literal crown on the molding of the window above  Bernice, I could hardly believe my eyes. This truly was a ride fit for a Queen! :)

I will forever cherish all of the memories I have with Bernice, and will be forever grateful for the love and confidence she instilled into my children who affectionately call Bernice "Grandma" as well.

We love you and will miss seeing your smile and hearing your laugh Bernice!

Until we meet again...XOXOXOXO

The Heart On the Mountain

The other day Kesslyn and I were driving in the car when she said, 

"Mom! Look at the heart on that mountain!"

I had my eyes glued to the road, and just as I looked at the mountain I saw it. A PERFECT heart shaped out of perfectly beautiful trees sent to Kesslyn and me, and anyone else who happened to be fortunate enough to have eyes to see the gift from our perfectly loving Heavenly Father.

That is one reason I love my little ones SO much...their hearts are pure and innocent and they truly do see the good and the love in everything!

 

Kesslyn's Tea Party

A tea party with 2 of my favorite little people today. :)

Kesslyn prepared it all by herself and invited us to join...sliced apples, fruit snacks, water, and graham crackers with frosting. 

Kesslyn said that the frosting is the best part of any tea party! ;) 

School Pictures

Gavin Ryker Trickett - 9th grade - October 2020

Kambriella Noel Trickett - 6th grade - October 2020

Kesslyn Natalia Trickett - Kindergarten - October 2020

 

A Girls Weekend & Some Awesome Boys

Over the weekend my sister and I went on a little road trip to St. George to visit our mom. it was so good to have a little girl time together...we did a little shopping and fixing up of a few things for my mom at her house (light bulbs, batteries, an ironing board, picture frame, bedspread...) and we were sure to laugh and talk and eat yummy food. :) Like Kneaders fruit tarts and raspberry pie...:)

We are going to try and make a few more visits more regularly throughout the year.

 I think it will be good for all of us!

We also had church yesterday, and I caught these boys doing their duties and washing and sanitizing the sacrament trays after church. These boys are so so good and I feel so happy and proud as a mother to see them so willingly and happily doing these sweet services and fulfilling their priesthood responsibilities.

I love them so much!

Also, after church we drove up to our cabin to check on things to get ready for Thanksgiving! 

It was beautiful and snowy and it felt like the holidays, which is always a happy time for me. :)

I hope that the pandemic can subside soon..our state just got put on a 2 week shut down from any social gatherings, which would really ruin our Thanksgiving plans with the family...

We will pray for the best, and move forward with faith, like we always do!