Freinds share what they LOVE

I had a great conversation with a friend the other day.

It's rare when spiritual topics come up, i love it when they do!

My friend had seen a movie called, Heaven is for Real, and she was telling me about it.

It's a true story about a 4 year old boy who almost dies from his appendix bursting.

After, when things are back to normal this boy relates his experiences during that period.

Things like: he sat on Jesus's lap, he met a sister who was miscarried, he met a great grandpa, it looked like earth but a lot more beautiful.

My friend is Catholic and I'm not sure what the doctrine is exactly about life after death but she acted as though these were new ideas and something to think about.

Nothing sounded odd to me. In fact, it went along with everything that I believe.

 

Alma 40:11-12 says:

 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

 

We were having this conversation at Happy Hollow, an amusement park for little children. Her 16 month old daughter and Charlie were wandering in separate directions with swarms of other children around. The setting for this conversation was not ideal. We tried with little success.

 This friend likes to talk about things that matter and she is sincere. I have loved getting to know her here in California.

There was SO much i wanted to share with her at that moment but couldn't because of the circumstances.

 

If i had had the perfect setting these are the things i would have shared.

1. I believe that God is a physical being who is glorified and immortal. His son Jesus Christ also has a physical body. He was resurrected 3 days after his death on the cross.  

2. I know this because God spoke to a young boy in the 1800's who was seeking truth. Joseph Smith was confused by all the confounding doctrine. After much study and prayer he decided to specifically ask God what church to join. God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him to reveal truth!

3. Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet in this modern day.

4. New scripture was revealed to add a second witness to the Bible and to clear up the confounding doctrines, its called The Book of Mormon.

5. There is a Prophet and 12 apostles today who work under the direction of Jesus Christ. This is His church.

 

My heart is just pounding thinking about it. And this is just skimming the surface!

Well the circumstances weren't right but later we were talking about the missionaries. She also served a couple humanitarian missions for her church. We shared our separate experiences with our service. I asked if the sisters in her area could come visit with her. She was interested.

 

I always thought that sharing my beliefs was hard.

I am starting to get a better picture that its all about love and friendship.

When you are friends with someone you share what you love and you be who you are.

Making these friendships is so much more important than i ever thought it would be!   

 

Summer Catch Up

I have been doing a pretty lousy job recording our summer.

I have started quite a few entries but have never completed any.

This will be a very brief and incomplete catch up and review.

 

It seems obvious but I will say it anyway. We are having a great time.  

 

Sunset Beach.

We spent the late afternoon and evening at Sunset beach. We ate dinner,  s'mores, and played with the Skelton Family. A great family from the MBA program we have gotten to know really well while being here.

 I was happy to take this picture. Its very reminiscent of the night we were engaged minus the little figure that is between us. 

I loved that Luke was photo bombing our pictures.

 

Alicia and I were tough and got in the water to do some boogie boarding. I felt like a kid again! It was so fun.

Charlie had fun playing with the Skelton's two boys: Levi and Luke.

I love this picture of Levi jumping around in the water.

 

A Trip down Highway 1

Bean Hollow and Pigeon Point

I love Charlie. We have so much fun with him. I love discovering who he is and enjoying his lively personality.

This was a great place for exploring tide pools. We saw a ton of crabs!

I love Olive. Her sweetness just radiates and I love having her around.

We found this lighthouse the first week we were here. Andy had been dying to go back ever since. Walking around here i felt like i had stepped back in time and i sort of wish i really could.



 



 

Charlie and Olive continue to grow. I feel like when we get back to Utah they will be completely new kids.

Santa Clara

It's nice to settle in to a somewhat normal lifestyle. Up until this point being in California has felt like a vacation. But now that we have a more permanent place i feel myself relaxing and enjoying the kids. I want to give an update  because they have been doing the funniest and cutest things.

 

Charlie



•  Every day, morning, afternoon, or night he will say, "It's a nice day!"
•  He's been saying, " I love you (pause) very much mommy (or) daddy"
• He cherishes his sleep. And now sleeps in a big boy bed! I was nursing Olive and told Charlie to find a book to read before nap. As he went looking he stubbed his toe and had a medium melt down. I was unable to help him. After he recovered he said to himself, "I need a nap". He went off to his room and climbed into bed. 10 minutes later i enter and sure enough he was sound asleep.  
• We brought one small box of toys. In it are his Legos, two dinosaurs, and a couple cars. I am learning Charlie doesn't need much to be entertained.
• A conversation with Charlie, "Mom, can i ask you a question?"
• Me  "Of coarse!"
• Charlie "Grandma and grandpa friends."
• Me "is that a questions?"
• Charlie "yes"
• Me "Then yes, grandma and grandpa are friends. Who are your friends Charlie?"
• Charlie "Grandpa and Gwyneth"



 

Olive

• Olive is officially crawling. She is a very curious wiggly little girl.
• She loves eating finger foods. And as much as she seemed to love her applesauce, she refuses any type of soft pureed baby food now. She eats beans, rice, scrambled eggs, and really anything we are eating that's soft and easy to cut up small.
• She enjoys the park. She laughs going down the slide and smiles big on the swings.
• She loves her brother and gets excited when he is getting up from a nap or when they are sitting on the floor together.
• She is currently trying to learn how to pull herself up to stand.
• She still has a a gummy mouth- no teeth
• She's 9 months old



Andy

• Andy likes his job. He enjoys free lunches at work and meeting his co-workers. He feels like Adobe is a GREAT company to work for.
• Andy also loves the weekends. His feet have a nice chaco tan line which he is proud of. He loves the coast especially, and if our camera wasn't out of batteries, he would be taking millions of pictures. So maybe its a blessing in disguise :)
• Andy is so good to me. As busy as he is, he lightens my load wherever he can. He gives me quality time. He listens to my concerns. I am very grateful for him!

Los Gatos

I just got back from the grocery store. I don't know what it is but I love this place. I feel peaceful here. I feel safe. I feel a new level of friendliness. I feel a comfortable climate. I feel happy. 

Maybe a part of it is that it's summer. Maybe it's because it's new. Maybe it's because Los Gatos is just plain wonderful! 

It's less than an hour to the beach, the redwood forests, and the big city.

We are within walking distance to shopping stores, the grocery store, a beautiful big park, an ice cream shop and restaurants. There is a little fountain water area for kids to play in. Charlie loved it! 

The scenery is amazing. Big flower plants line the highways. Fruit trees scatter the neighborhood. It feels clean and fresh.

People are so friendly! Everywhere we go we have real conversations. They talk to us like we are a new friend. We met a mom with her two sons at the park, Melanie is from the UK, we exchanged numbers and I have a new friend. The ward surrounded us like a family. It all feels like it's too good to be true. 

And it is in a way. Because we leave at the end of the month to a new place, but I am hoping with all my heart that maybe someday we can live here again, permanently. 

We will enjoy our short 3 week stay here. 

Happy girl with her daddy! Sitting in the Los Gatos plaza. 

Charlie enjoying the fountains. 

A visit to the beach. 

Pigeon Point along highway 1. 

Tide pools at Pigeon Point. 

Letting my toes touch the cold water. 

Lombard Street in San Francisco. It's a crazy zig zag road. 

Redwood Forest. 

Traveling West

My pioneer ancestors really travelled west. It's a dream they could've never imagined how we do it today. I am grateful for their faith and willingness to do hard things. In this area I know I have it much easier then they do (and that's still an understatement)! 

We travelled west, in our car, 12 hours, over the span of two days, stopping at a comfortable hotel in Reno. We are in Los Gatos in a small 2 bedroom furnished apartment. The neighborhood we are in is ideal! Cute, clean homes surround us. We are in walking distance to great parks, historic downtown, the library, and our church. 

California is beautiful! It's green. Beautiful flowers line the freeways. Orange trees across the street. 

We visited the Redwood forest today and plan to go again. We had dinner in Santa Cruz and did a drive by the ocean. Charlie was very disappointed not to go onto the beach but it was already getting late. 

We'll be here all summer so we have plenty of time to play at the beach. 

Olive is a happy girl! She has been pleasant through all the traveling. Her personality is showing more everyday.

                        Redwood trees are awesome! I felt so small. 

Charlie was great on the drive too! I felt so grateful! 

A unique trunk we saw.