Tradition!

The opening song to one of my favorite musicals, "Fiddler on the Roof", is,"Traditions." In fact the musical is really about a Jewish family and how their traditions are changing because of a changing world. I come from a family filled with traditions. My father was Mexican. Because of  his heritage one of my favorite traditions is Christmas Eve. We would gather together at my Aunt Sandra's on Christmas Eve and eat homemade Mexican cuisine. Posole, tamales, chili verde, Mexican rice, even homemade tortillas. As I got older my world began to change. I moved away and started a family of my own. I missed not being able to go to my aunt's house. I missed that during that time of year I was really able to embrace my Mexican heritage and be a part of the world my father grew up in. I wished there was a way to share the tradition with my own family. My wish came true. I moved close to my sister Angela. She loves traditions has much as I do. Extra bonus...She LOVES to cook. Because I live by her my children get to go to their aunt's house on Christmas Eve. They get to partake in Mexican cuisine. They get to embrace my Mexican heritage and be a part of the world my father grew up in. Thank you Ang. I love you. Feliz Navidad!

Truth from Elijah

"We as the children can seek out our loved ones. Preserving their names and their memories." These words are found in one of my favorite Primary songs,"Truth from Elijah". I love the simple melody of this beautiful song. Tho the melody may be simple the message is profound. It is one of the most wonderful of all blessings given to us. That the hearts of the children will turn to their fathers. I have found that my heart has turned to my father and to my grandfathers. Most recently my heart has been very tender towards my husbands grandfather. Charles Addison Reed. I was only able to personally meet Grandpa Reed once in person while he was still living. But much like my own father I have gotten to know more about him now that he has died. He was in the military during WWII. Ryan and I have been so blessed to get some of his uniforms that he wore during that time. We also have some of his other belongings that Ryan's mom has sent to us. I love looking through the things that belonged to Grandpa Reed.  I love listening to Ryan's memories of his wonderful grandpa. He was always a great example to Ryan. I  wanted to make sure the uniforms, pictures and other belongings were kept safe and stored properly until I could display them in a more proper manner. So I began the task of the dreaded organizing of the storage room. I began de-junking and as I did so I was able to find the perfect spot for Grandpa Reed's belongings. As I got out his jackets and his hats worn while on his "missions" I was so overwhelmed with a feeling of great love for this man that had raised my  mother-in-law that in turn raised my husband.I knew he was aware of me and Ryan and even our children. I could feel how pleased he was that his daughter cared so much for him that she would follow the promptings to pass  on these belongings to a grandson and granddaughter that truly loved and cherished having a part of his history. I remembered the prophesy of Malachi. My heart had turned to my grandfather, My Grandpa Reed. He is my grandfather as well as Ryan's. Because we have been sealed to each other and Ryan is sealed to his mother . And just like one of my favorite Primary songs says,"We can strive to be worthy to kneel in the temple and bind them to us for eternity."

I've Seen That Smile Somewhere Before...

Thirteen years ago today I was in Orlando, Florida. I was a nervous wreck. My entire family was there with me. We were going to Midevil Times for dinner that night. But before I could go watch the knights sword fight, give roses to the fair maidens, and eat with my hands, I was going to get married.

It was May and I had been home from my mission almost a year. I was living in Northern Florida with my mom. I was getting ready to move back to Utah to live with my sister. I was a return missionary and wasn't dating anyone with "eternity potential." I loved being in Florida. I loved hanging out and with my little sister. We would go get smoothies and spend our afternoons at the beach. Sometimes her little "boyfriends" would come along. I will admit it was a bit of an ego booster when she would inform me of how HOT they thought I was. But even compliments like this from fourteen year old surfer boys can only sustain you for so long. And you certainly cannot date them! I was saying my prayers quiet fervantly and wondering what I should do.

 I was at work. I bagged groceries at the commissary (military grocery store) on Eglin AFB. This young airman with the cutest smile came walking in the door. He had cute wavy hair and just looked so happy. I could not stop looking at him. I watched as he went through each of the aisles. Trying to catch glances of him as I bagged. (All those years of Tetris had paid off, I could make groceries fit perfectly in bags with my eyes closed!) "Please come through my line, please come through my line." I thought. This way I could see if there was a ring and I could bag his groceries and walk with him to his car. He only bought a few things and went through the Express lane. Darn! Well, airman come and go through here all the time and I was sure I would see others that I could watch down the aisles. Very disappointed I walked my customer out to their car, loaded their groceries and began walking back to the store. Little did I know the Heavens were about to open and a light would shine down on a little blue Mazda truck. It was him! The cute wavy haired, smiling, so happy airman. And on the back of his truck window for all the world and for me to see was a Pantera sticker and a sticker in the corner with three letters LDS.

In June my mom moved to a new house that just happened to be in the same ward as cute wavy haired airman. I could look at him every sunday. Not talk to him, just look. I later found out he felt the same as me. Just look don't talk. We both knew the outcome if we talked. We knew we were going to marry each other. And well that is just weird to know that before you even talk to that person. That is what you see happen in 70's church musicals like "Saturday's Warriors". Not in real life. Especially not MY life. Because people that do that are wierd. And I was not one of  "those" people.

Thirteen years later I have come to terms with the fact that I was indeed one of  "those" people. I had him over for his birthday. My family had a little a party for him. That was June 30th. On the 4th of July we were discussing what kind of ring I wanted. On October 23, 1996 I found myself smiling outside the Orlando Temple surrounded by my family taking pictures of me and cute, smiley, wavy haired airman. My husband.

Primary Miracle

This Sunday is our annual Primary program. I love teaching the kids new songs and then directing them while they sing in the Primary program. This year the theme is, " My Eternal Family". I guess it is only fitting that I keep having a certain memory pop into my mind as I prepare for this Sunday. When we lived in Missouri I was the chorister at that time. It was two weeks before our program. I became very sick and I had to miss quite a few of the practices. My dear friend, who was the president at that time, was very concerned about who would lead the kids if I did not get better. She asked the children the Sunday before if they would all say their prayers that I would get better and be able to lead them in their songs. That Sunday morning I was able to get up, get ready, and lead them in the program. I was sweating bullets, exhausted, and went home and back to bed right after. But, I did it and the program was wonderful. My friend went to Primary and shared with them all that there was truly a miracle in the ward that day. She then shared how their prayers were answered and I was able to be there. I am sure that no one else realizes there was another miracle that was beginning to happen for me that day. I didn't realize it until 5:00 am this morning. There was a sister at that time in the ward that had recently found out her breast cancer had returned. She was going through the treatments and was feeling just well enought to come to church that week. I will never forget her face or her big hug after the program. As she hugged me she let me know of the fine job she thought I did. She was so grateful she was able to be there for that Sunday. Beacause that was the meeting she looked forward to all year. She loved watching those children bear testimony through word and song. Fast forward quite a few months and I found myself in the hospital delivering my little baby girl. She came a week early. Just like her mother she works in her own time frame. While holding my new baby girl I recieved a call that this sweet sister with cancer had passed away. I couldn't help but reflected on life and how it all works together. As one spirit moves on to it's new journey, another spirit begins it's own here on earth. That is a miracle. Fast forward quite a few years. I found out one of my sweet little sisters from this same ward was fighting her own battle with cancer. At the same time I learned my brother and sister-in-law were expecting. How would their journey's turn out? In August, in the same week, my new nephew was born. He began his journey on earth;and my sweet little sister began her new journey as well. She began it on the the exact same day my dear friend with breast cancer had began hers so many years ago. They both left the exact same home, surrounded by some of the same people who loved them so dearly. But more importantly than that, at the start of their new journeys, they were both greeted by someone that loves them even more than any of us here on earth. Now THAT is a Miracle.

Just a peek

Sometimes I wish I could have just a little peek into Heaven. What do they wear up there? Do they have houses they go to at night? Or do they have so much to do they never sleep. How often do they get to see us? Sometimes I think they are around us alot. Other times I wish I could feel them around more. I know quite a few people that have made their residence in Heaven already. I sure miss them and I believe they miss us too. One day I will get more than a peek, for now I will just image what it must be like.

I love Fall

I love the changing of the seasons. But I think my favorite seasonal transistion is Summer to Fall. I love the colors of the earth. I love the smell in the air. I love the crisp air when you open your door to send your kids off to school. I love that it means that it is getting close to the time of year where we all can slow down a little and hunker in for the winter months. Our family has been living in Illinios for 3 years now. We are literally surrounded by cornfields. I have learned to love these cornfields. Although, my allergies disagree. You can look out your window and see why planting and harvesting is used so often in the scriptures. I am so grateful to live on this "beautiful world Heavenly Father created for me."