a white handkerchief

how lucky are faithful and worthy members to have experienced the dedication of the brigham city temple on this glorious sabbath! words cannot describe, nor will ever be sufficient, to execute the feeling that was felt during the beautiful dedication. to know that our closing song, "the spirit of God", was the same song the saints in ohio sang when the kirtland temple was dedicated in 1836 touched my heart and increased my testimony of the transcending power of the spirit! each talk, hymn and prayer were all divinely inspired; bringing us closer to the unequivable power of our Father in Heaven. i am eternally grateful for the presence of the temple in my life and not a day passes that i do not think about that sacred and momentous day when i will be able to go through its glorious halls! 

"At the temple the dust of distraction seems to settle out, the fog and the haze seem to lift, and we can 'see' things that we were not able to see before and find a way through our troubles that we had not previously known."

- President Boyd K. Packer

happy thursday! {ed.5}

Let's set the record straight here, folks. I am beginning this post 3 minutes until the clock strikes midnight and Thursday flees to the calendar pages until it comes out to play next week...

I would try and finish this post in these 3, fleeting minutes but you know as well as I that my humorous words cannot be condensed in such a time constraint! I'M SORRY BUT I HAVE NEEDS, OKAY?!?!?!

Goodness people! Now I know how J.LO feels when she requests only blue M&M's in her trailer and they accidentally leave in the green. Gosh, let me and my girl J.LO breath! Our talents need to be upheld, not rushed or trodden! (Or in her case, don't expect her to share her talents with you if you screw up her chocolatley goodness order...)

Thankfully I am not J.LO and will not burst out of the door shouting, "WHEN I ASK FOR BLUE M&M'S I WANT BLU M&M'S! NOT GREEN!" rather, I will write this post simply because I do not have an excuse to not write it... I mean I am home for the summer with not much to do; and that's what this edition of Happy Thursday! is for...

YOU. Yes, you with the eyes. 

YOU should do something that causes you to tap into something you didn't know you were capable of doing. Try something new. Read a book on the New York Times' Best Sellers list. Paint a picture. Sit outside and tan. Turn off your phone. Log out of Facebook (don't just put offline people, actually log out! YOU CAN DO IT!) Listen to music that moves you, music that radiates to your soul. Write in your journal. Help someone. 

As for me, this Thursday started out as just another day.

But I decided I didn't want it to be just another day.....

So I made it an excellent Thursday by doing Temple Baptisms with some ward buddies. My mere words cannot even begin to explain how magical it was.

So here is to days where you refuse to settle to label it as "just another day." Every day is a gift... Treat it like one!

Happy Thursday!

Spring Brings General Conference :)

I generally am very fond of weekends. But out of the 52 weekends we get a year, there are only two that make time slow down, make you feel so peaceful, so spiritually full and when Heaven seems to open up to us.

That's right ya'll. I speak of General Conference.

Since my simple, mere words do not have the right to even try to explain what happened this weekend I decided you all can live through it with me through the pictures taken this weekend. Get your scrolling fingers ready lady and gents, there is a lot to catch up on in the life of Em-Dawg (psst, me! That's my hoodrat name, yo.)

 Julie, Shanlee, Sydney and myself started off the weekend right with temple baptisms at the Quirrh (yes, that is it's actual name!) Mountain temple. Which is the gorgeous temple below for those of you who are, how do I put this....... Slow to catch on? KIDDING! kind of....

It's a beaut, huh?

 While we were taking this photo there was a couple who had just gotten married taking pictures! I am so sorry to that happy couple that we stole their thunder with this hot picture! very funny, emily... very funny!

 Friends walking off into eternity? Sure felt like it.

 Looking at the angel Moroni always seems to put it all in perspective.

 Julie and Shanlee sure look good at 6 in the morning. I need pointers... AND FAST!

 It is kind of hard to have a "natural smile" at 6 in the morning when you are so hungry that your stomach begins eating itself... But I think we pulled it off quite nicely. Dontcha think? (you are obligated to say yes because we are friends and if you say no i will roundhouse kick you in the ear. mmkay? thanks!)

 "GUYS! YOU CAN SEE OUR REFLECTIONS IN THE WINDOW! GET THE CAMERA, GET THE CAMERA! HURRY!" Not that we were going anywhere or anything...

 I was reeeeeeaaaaaallllly excited for conference, if you couldn't tell. Do not confuse that face with my scared face... They are oh so similar, yet oh so different.

 I love seeing the temple, even if it is in a reflection... That is just how happy it makes me :)

 Gorgeous Julie just effortlessly strolling whilst I try to photobomb her picture....

 Look at that sacred house. My oh my.... My oh my.

 There is my bud, Moroni again. He always seems to lead me the right way, truly.

 Holiness to the Lord. The House of the Lord.

                           

 Oh you know, just sitting by the reflection pool pondering all of life's many wonders. Wait, is that a camera? Oh hello there dear friend, go on a snap a natural picture of me!

 If you know anything about this spot you would completely understand what I was trying to do.  If you don't then I am sorry for making you uncomfortable by looking at me kiss my invisible, future eternal companion.

 "Oh honey-cakes-sugar-plum-snuckhums-boo-bear , I am so glad that we are together for time and all eternity!" (Me to my future husband)

 GUYS! I am going there, yes there, through there, SOMEDAY!!!!

 "Sydney, would you mind kneeling on the cold floor while you are in a dress and taking a picture of us peacefully looking at the temple? No, take another I don't like this one. ANOTHER ONE! DO IT, NOW!" 

 After the Saturday afternoon session! Tears shed away my makeup... Enjoy the au-natural look inspired by the spirit, dear friends.

 A dream come true, truly.

 Such good friends bring such good weather.

 We bumped into our dear friends from our ward! Aren't they soooooo handsome?!? Devon (left) is going to Mexico on his mission and Paul (right) is going to Argentina! They are going to be superb  missionaries, I just know it :)

 Who the heck is that freak in the middle!?!? Oh wait....

Great friends, great weekend!

The next conference is in 6 months. LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN! 

My oh my, how I love to hear divinely-inspired words.