A Holiday in Holladay, Utah: Easter 2012 Part 2

These are the last of the Temple Square pictures!!

This is the Assembly Hall for the overflow of the Tabernacle.

I just love the Star of David in several of the windows.  We don't know why the pioneers chose to put them there, because they didn't write it down.  So, I'm just going to enjoy the fact they're there. :)

I've loved the Star of David since I was eight.  My Sunday School teacher at that time was a Jewish convert to the Church (LDS), yet still wore her Star of David.  She explained to us that it is two triangles: one pointing up to God and one pointing down to the individual.  The Star is representative of one's relationship with Heavenly Father.

Don't you just love that?!

Ever since then, I have loved the Star of David.

And the gardens around Temple Square...

Aunt Barbara + Me

Me + Mommy

The Salt Lake City Temple

Me + December (my sister)

Sisters

Beautiful flowers...

P52 Week #15: Sacrifice/ Easter in Utah 2012 Part 1

This year we were able to make it to Utah for Easter!! So exciting! We fly stand-by, so I may be super spoiled, but it can be difficult to see my family in Utah for holidays.

Anyhoo, my family lives in Holladay, a suburb of Salt Lake City, so we were able to go to Temple Square! I LOVE Temple Square.  It is just so peaceful and refreshing and beautiful and full of testaments of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, our Savior.  It testifies of the sacrifice of Christ.  It testifies of the LDS pioneers', my ancestors, sacrifices.  All of these sacrifices were made for you.  They were made for me.

Here are some photos from Temple Square...

I sure hope the prophet, President Monson, wasn't looking out his window at us crazy folk...

Cousin Colette, Cousin Danielle, Sister December, Cousin Andrew, Me!

The pioneers worked for 40 years to create this beautiful temple dedicated to the work of the Lord.

 

Here are some snip-its of the testimony of the three witnesses of The Book of Mormon.

In one of the visitor centers, there are several paintings of Christ during His ministry displayed.

And the spiral walkway from the paintings leads to the grand finale, The Cristus statue.

I know through the Atonement, I can be healed of all my afflictions: sin, grief, pain, sickness.

I only need to rely on the Lord.  I must go to Him to seek repentance and relief.

Through His mercy and grace, I can be saved.

Although His sacrifice was for everyone,

 I must do my part to follow His commandments and endure to the end.

Jesus the Christ loves me and I love my elder brother. :)

What I Wore: I Never Seem to Match...

For some strange reason, I never really found the desire to match. Ever.

I mean, I don't ever do the CRAZY stuff, but ya.  My mother, the matchy-matchy

queen, feels like she has failed, haha.  You have no idea how

excited I was when "colorblocking" came in style, because

I was already doing it!!!

Cardigan: Old Navy

Skirt: some store in Utah a million years ago, sorry

Shoes: Charming Charlie

P52 Week #13: Details- Adventure At the Duck Pond

My roommates and I went to go feed the ducks on Sunday!! The "duck pond" park is always a fun place to rid yourself of the pile of stale bread on your kitchen counter. haha


 Rachel being difficult! Silly girl wouldn't let me take her picture!  Well take that! :)





And is Carissa, Rachel, and some random kid (haha) feeding the duckies.

Hey, squirrels need to eat too! :)

We decided these birds are creepy... I mean look at those mohawks! haha.  And a perched Carissa.

 And this is the hippie duck, doing yoga and stuff. haha!

 So about three weeks ago, my super old and crappy camera FINALLY keeled over and died. haha

It took about a week to buy a new one... and I love it!!

Can't you tell? I mean look at these pictures!! They look soooo much better!!

Just look at that light!

And my absolute favorite to play around with is the macro setting. It's just so much fun!! haha.

Okay, I may be a little too excited...

A tree.

But wait!

Look there!

Just let me get a little macro action on...

Weird! Yet interesting, haha.

And oh! These roses!

Nicky-Picky people like me? We obsess with the DETAILS. :)

And here is some wonderful goodness!

This duck was just CRACKING ME UP!

It was just so excited to get bread!

Wag, wag your tail feathers. Wag, wag your tail feathers...

P52 Week 11 A Little Late: The "Eyes" of March

I spy with my little eye...

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It's still March, so I can still milk St. Patrick Day staples!!  I declare it!!

P52 Week #10: Be Still

Last Saturday, my Relief Society walked to the Houston Texas LDS Temple. 

(Relief Society is a society for women in the LDS church. 

 For more information click here.)

 

For nearly two hours, we walked together along wooded paths, holding devotionals and participating in activities.  We helped and encouraged

each other along the way.

It was a truly inspiring and spiritual experience.  The main theme

was that we need to stay on the path of righteous and endure to the end 

in order to reach that eternal destination. 

"Let the Lord be your light.

Let Him prepare the way before you to your promised land...

Trust Him. Keep your eyes riveted on your goal across the field and walk

in the straight and narrow path of the Son- the Son of God."

-Sharon Larsen

Walking along...

"Our covenants will strengthen us to resist temptation.

Keeping our covenants will steady us on the path of virtue.

As we keep the covenants we make at baptism,

we will remain in the center of the path."

-Elaine S. Dalton

We made it!!

"Be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the

blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours."

-Doctrine & Covenants 78:18

In front of the beautiful Spring flowers on the temple grounds.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

-Proverbs 3:3-6

And the beautiful temple with its beautiful reflection...

The temple is a place of learning, worship, and peace.  Reverence and holiness is found there.  Whenever I go to the temple, I rest in its stillness.

And it is so beautiful.

The world can't hurt me there.  The rush, the evil, the hurt, the worry.

So reminiscent of the hymn: Peace,peace, be still.

The Spirit fills me and makes me feel whole.

There are 136 temples scattered around the world.

And there is one an hour from my apartment.  I am so grateful for this blessing.

(For more information about temples, click here and here.)

Isn't it beautiful?

P52 Week #9- A Great Leap

My First Race

 The Houston Rodeo Run 10K

Our time: 59:20

Our places:

95/96 out of 249 females ages 20-24

878/881 out of 3216 females

The total number of people in both the 5k and 10k was 15,000!!

Preparation for this race started about 3 or 4 months ago, and I am so glad I participated. :)

It took a great leap a faith to know I could do this.

It took leaps and bounds to run without stopping.

It took a leap of faith to keep running through the cramps.

I made that leap.

Now to train for the BlueBell Fun Run!