Team Brylie!

 

My beautiful niece, Brylie, was born with Chiari type 2 malformation. At two years old she had brain surgery at Primary Children's Hospital to have a shunt put in her head to relieve the fluid pressure on her brain which was caused by her Chiari. She has had many struggles to overcome and still has some to get through. She is definitely one of the strongest  and bravest people I know. 

So…today. we had the opportunity to participate and honor Brylie’s courage and participate in Annual Conquer Chiari walk.  It was so much fun.  I am grateful for this little girl.  She has truly changed my life and brings so much happiness into our family.  I love you Brylie.

Hmmm...

Really needed this tonight…

Sometimes, the most important things you do each day are never even on your “to-do” list. You might worry about the things you never get done, but President Gordon B. Hinckley reminds us, “You never know how much good you do.”

There are times in life, when tender mercies come through a message in a little video.  I love those moments.

~Chelle!

Missionary Monday…

One thing that I look forward to every week is Missionary Monday. I love receiving emails and letters in the mail from some of the most treasured young women in the world. I love watching my inbox fill with emails from these precious daughters of God. They are serving the Lord all over the world and not only blessing the lives of so many that they are coming contact with but they are blessing the lives of those here in their home stake. I am so blessed to know them and so grateful that they have come into my life. They truly are precious blessings that I treasure. Would you like to know what they had to say this week? Let me share a couple of comments…

From Russia, Sister Uhl shared her love of the temple with me. She said, “The temple is truly an amazing place and I'm sad that I can't go to one out here. I really look forward to the day when these European countries can have their own temple, the blessings are really amazing!

From Louisana, Sister Black wrote, “Sometimes we have to just let it be hard and trust that whatever it is we're going through is for our good. Like the scripture that says "be still and know that I am God." (D&C 101:16) So good. :)”

From Illinois, Sister Wells, shared, “…as you continue to do the Lords work, I know you will concur to feel reassuring peace come after you face the trials. :D I love you so much!!!”

From Guatemala, Sister Flewallen wrote, “I have learned that all I need to do is listen to the spirit and pray and lean on the Lord. Thank you for your example and for all that you do for me!”

From Poland, Sister Kuchar shared, “I know that God answers prayers and I'm grateful for the understanding I have been given this week.”

From Washington, Sister Hopkins said, “We all have different strengths and weaknesses. Heavenly Father knows this and out of His love for us He places us together so that we can continue to grow and progress towards our ultimate goal, living with Him in Heaven. :) This Gospel is, oh, so true! It is for everyone! It is a perfect Gospel that can touch the lives of us all.”

From Mexico, Sister Beckstead shared, “I feel like I’m in a huge spiritual bubble down here! I love that! 

I love hearing from these missionaries. I am so proud of what they are doing. I love how I feel inside when I read their letters and how my heart is filled with the spirit. They have such powerful testimonies!!! Aw…I love them so much and blessed to know them!!

~Chelle!

Pumpkins…pumpkins…pumpkins

A few weeks ago, I was over at Mom’s and noticed three adorable pumpkins placed in the middle of her kitchen island. I asked her where she purchased them because I wanted some just like them. She said that she made them. HUZZAH!!! Do you know what that means? Well, when she says that…that means she knows to make them and she can help me too. My mom is very creative and talented. I love how she is always making something. She is incredibly talents. I know that she would argue that she isn’t but I know that she is. I have witnessed that for so many years.

Today was the day that we found some time to make some of those adorable pumpkins. I was so excited because they were so simple and It didn’t take too much creative brain power to make them. HA HA  I love how they turned out and I am excited to put them in my entrance way.  AW…I love this time of year.    Thanks Mom for sharing helping me create this cute decoration.

Remembering 9-11

 

I woke up early this morning, finished everything that I needed to do and arrived at work shortly after 7 am.  As I sat my purse underneath my desk, a memory stepped into my thought process. Tears started to fill my eyes as I reflected back on that day…

13 years ago today, I woke up early, finished everything at home and headed into the work.  I arrived shortly after 7 am and turned on my radio.  All of a sudden, the news came across the radio station, I just stared at the radio. Listening and waiting for more information. I remember tears started rolling down my face. Immediately, I called my Mom. She quickly turned on the television and confirmed what I was listening to was indeed true.

By this time, people were arriving at work. We all went to the huge conference room where they had a television on showing what had happened. After a bit, we would return to our offices and then, return to the conference room for more information. I remember going home to my parents home--in the security of their home and watching the recap of the horrific events that took place earlier in the day.

Those feelings are so tender still today as I watched the events replayed and replayed on the television and through the newspapers.  I think Rachel said it perfectly, “In time of tragedy we came together as a nation and I hope we can do that again now in remembrance of those lives lost. May we always remember what we stand for and never back down. To those lives lost, you will always be remembered. To those who have lost their lives fighting for our country, you too will never be forgotten. To those who put their lives on the line to keep us safe, thank you! I am proud to be an American and nothing and no one can tear us down too far where we can't get back up.”

Freedom makes me happy.

~Michelle

Is your life crazy?

 

Is your life crazy? Is it filled with good things and things that may not be best for you? Do you start to forget things because you have so many things in your life? You might have written them down but your daily list consists of more papers than you want to look at. That is what my life seems like lately. Hmmm…kinda like this blog. It definitely was a few crazy months filled with so many things that I kind of felt lost and a little disoriented with many aspects in my life.

A simple fleece blanket made with so much love!

I love to sew!! It is one of my passions that I do not share with hardly anyone. I keep it tucked away in my own little world. Why is this? I have no idea. I won awards in high school for various items and received the departmental award for something that I love…sewing. Then, I realized that I had a comment made about me several years ago and the feelings that I had from a simple and stupid comment made me want to hide my passion for the love of a hobby that I had been so amazing at. So…lately, I have been pondering the love that I have for sewing and decided to dust off my sewing machine and start a few projects.
**whispers** When I am brave enough to go stand up to the comment that I heard several years ago, I just might share what I have been working on. I know…I know…I just need to have the courage to share but that ugly comment rests right there in an opened file folder in my head.
Anyway, my sweet niece asked me if I would help her sew a blanket for her boyfriend who was going to be a soon-to-be-missionary. (He is now at the Mexico MTC learning the awesome language of Spanish to serve the people of Ecuador).

We cut, sewed (Mom appliqued all of the balls letters and words) and clipped this absolutely adorable fleece rag blanket. It was so much fun. We finished it just in time to have it packed in his suitcase. It was awesome!!!  I love spending time with Kaylie. She is so much fun. Love you Kaylie!!  Good luck Nik!!!  You are going to be an incredible missionary.