{memorial day}

How grateful we are for all those who serve our country, who have served our country, and for those who have died serving our country; we are so grateful for the freedoms we enjoy here in America! 

And we are so grateful for our little girl. "Celestial babies anchor eternal families"

{miracles}

I feel like all I hear of lately are stories about terrible, sad, heartbreaking, unthinkable things happening. It's all around us. I found myself yesterday asking, "where are the miracles?"

After watching the somber face President Thomas S. Monson displayed at his wife Frances' funeral yesterday, reading of the tragedy of a two year old girl who died choking on apples in the car on her family's way to church a few years ago, the bombs at the Boston Marathon, the explosion in West, Texas, the tornados in Oklahamo, and the news of a 36 year old mother who died while giving birth to her sixth child here in Orem at the beginning of this month, my heart aches. It almost makes me scared to wake up the next day, wondering which terrible tragedy will strike someone next.

Why do these people have to endure this? I watched with tear-filled eyes as Sister Monson's casket was taken in the hearse while President Monson looked on, and I reflected back to the beginning of this year when Travis and I sat in the back of a hearse with our child's casket.

I think of all these things---so many sad things going on in this world we live in---and have the initial thought, "this isn't fair!" Aren't we here that "we might have joy?" Things that just tear your heart up shouldn't be allowed to happen. My heart aches for the husband who is now left without his wife and six little children to raise. It's just not fair!

But then I think of how one of my past BYU religion teachers put in: instead of "why me?" the question should really be, "why not me?"

Are we not all trying to become like our Savior, Jesus Christ? He endured it all. So we can expect that to become like Him, we will have to endure our own episodes of heartbreak, sadness, despair, and grief throughout this mortal life.

"One’s life … cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free. …Therefore, how can you and I really expect to glide naivelythrough life, as if to say, ‘Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!’ …Real faith … is required to endure this necessary but painful developmental process." Neal A. Maxwell.

There is opposition in all things. So with bitter, there has to be sweet. So why don't I turn on the news and hear of happy, sweet things happening, of miracles?

So where are those miracles? 

They really are everywhere if you think about it. They are the thousands of healthy babies born every day. It's the fact they we all can breathe and our bodies stay alive with all the amazing processes that go on inside. They are the hundreds of missionaries who I see walk into the Provo temple, preparing to go spread the good news of the gospel to the world. They are worthy couples being sealed for time and for eternity. Miracles are feeling the Spirit and following its promptings. They are around us in nature, in technology, in our homes.

So, there will always be tragedies, but there will always be miracles in the world too. We really don't have a choice as to what things go on this world, but we can choose our outlook and attitude. So rather than live in fear and focus on the tragedies and sadness, my goal is focus on the miracles. To look for them every day, to live for them, and to know that they will happen.

{maxi skirt sewing project}

Over these past four months, I've been trying to learn new skills and develop talents I already have. One of the skills I've been wanting to improve is sewing. My mom is a master seamstress---she can sew literally anything and can whip it out in no-time.

Ever since I can remember, each time she would need to hem or fix, etc, anything of mine, she would have me sit next to her sewing machine and watch her. That was definitely not my favorite thing to do! But now I am grateful because the basics of sewing are in my head and the way she just confidently and easily goes about creating masterpieces gives me hope that I may be able to master this someday! My first project without her help was this maxi skirt I sewed. I'm excited to keep sewing more fun things!

{daytona beach, florida}

We just got back from spending the past week in Florida! We stayed at Daytona Beach right along the ocean. Travis' parents flew all of his siblings and their spouses out for a vacation. It was so much fun! We loved playing in the ocean, boogie boarding, surfing, eating great food, and spending time with the Dyer fam! We also got to tour the Daytona 500 Racetrack, see a fort in St. Augustine, and go to an alligator farm which was way awesome. It was such a great vacation; a big thanks to mom and dad dyer for making it all possible!

{thankful}

We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and even complete strangers during this past year. How thankful we are for all the meals, cards, desserts, calls, emails, texts, quotes, giftcards, books, willow statues, the heart-attack someone gave our front door, jewelry, pictures, money, flowers, prayers, and tender mercies that have been sent and for the kindness that has been shown to us. We now have one of the best collections of flower vases I have ever seen!

And, after re-listening to an amazing talk by Elder Holland today, we can now fully testify of what his words mean, that we are never, ever left alone:

"Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”
-Elder Holland http://bit.ly/YPjyae