My Grandpa, My Hero

About a week ago, a good friend asked me, "Do you have a new man in your life?  Because we haven't seen you in weeks!!"  Actually... I have one less man in my life... for now.  Close to the time when I was born, my Grandpa Garner was diagnosed with cancer.  For the past twenty years, my family and I have seen miracle after miracle as he has been blessed with health and strength despite the cancer.  Then, on February 23, my grandpa passed away.  He was and is an amazing man!  He always took the time to talk to people.  He was genuinely concerned about others and made sure they knew it.  I can recall numerous experiences in which he would stop me and quietly tell me that he loved me or that he was proud of me.  He wanted nothing but the best for each of us and frequently gave us advice and counsel on how to find happiness.  He had a great sense of humor and always found the best in every situation.  I could go on and on about the great qualities that he possessed but there is one thing that I think of most when I think of my grandpa.  He had such a vast knowledge and love of the gospel.  His face would light up as he taught from the scriptures.  In honor of him, I want to share what I have learned this past month.  I know with greater knowledge that families can be forever.  I know like Elder Holland taught that there are "angels dispatched to bless us in time of need" -seen and unseen.  But most importantly, I learned that when we ask the Lord to help us "bear our burdens," He does not take our burdens away.  Instead He makes our burdens SEEM light.  The Savior carries us as we carry our burdens.  I am so thankful for the gospel in my life and the peace that it brings me!  I love my grandfather.  He truly is one of my greatest heroes and I will miss him!!   

I DID IT!!!!! I Ran a 1/2 Marathon!

I have always had a place in my heart for running.  Throughout high school, I ran 2 miles almost every single day!  Then college started and I got out of the habit.  Many of my aunts and uncles have always been runners, and they always talk about their races and events.  For the past few years, I have had the urge to participate in the Turkey Trot with them, but I was too afraid to try!  Well, this year, I finally just registered months in advance knowing that I wouldn't let my money go to waste!  After running the 10 k (6.2 miles), I felt so accomplished!!   I didn't stop there; my aunt and uncle convinced me to run a half-marathon.  I started training with them, but it took me much longer to commit this time as I still doubted if I could do it!  Like Nephi, sometimes we have to "go and do" before we really even know if we can do it!  It wasn't until many weeks after I committed, that I realized I could run a half-marathon!  At a weekly Saturday practice we ran 10 miles, and when I finished, I thought, "10 down, what's 3 more?!"  So last weekend, I did it!!  I RAN A HALF-MARATHON!!  I ran 13 miles in just under 2 1/2 hours!  It is amazing to think that just 3 months ago, I had never run more than 4 miles at a time!  I am so thankful for my aunt and uncle's encouragement and support! 

It has to be one of the most physically and mentally challenging things that I have ever done, but I am so glad that I did!  I learned many lessons through the entire experience!  On the very last mile of our long runs, a quote from Elaine S. Dalton's recent conference talk would run through my head: "I can do hard things, [but] in the strength of the Lord, I can do all things."  A half-marathon was a hard thing for me, but I learned that I can do hard things.  Although I can do hard things, I can't do everything!  When my best is not enough, I can rely on the Lord to make up the rest.  With Him, I can do ALL things!  I am so grateful for my Savior and for the lessons that I have learned from running!

Winter Break

It's almost over, Winter Break, and I can't believe it!!  It has flown by in a blur!  I have been blessed to spend lots of time with family and friends and I have had a blast.  Now that my family is all a little older, the spirit of sharing has really been felt in our home this past Christmas Season.  We have shared many memories, presents, time, talents, laughs, love, the flu, etc.  We had a very merry Christmas and we are so truly blessed.  Here is a lightning fast update of my life the past month.  I watched Twilight at the drive-ins with friends, spent Christmas with the extended Garner Family, both my brothers are now officially taller than me, made gingerbread houses, relaxed, went to a masquerade party for new years, sat on the floor seats at the suns game, cleaned up over 70 rolls of toilet paper after being T.P.'d (not cool), worked away the break at my new job, and spend time with G-ma and G-pa Loveland who are visiting for a few days!! 

New Year, New Dreams

I have had fun the past few weeks reminiscing on the year 2008.  It was a fun year, but I have BIG plans for the new year.  Just recently my friends and I found these cute wooden signs at the Dollar Store.  We decided to each buy one and make a night of sanding and painting them.  The sign I bought says "Dream" and I of course, painted it orange - my new favorite color!!  This is a year of dreams!!  Last week in my ward, my Bishop gave us 10 goals to work on as a ward and encouraged us to write down a list of personal goals.  As I sat and contemplated this new year, I realized I have many plans, ambitions, and DREAMS!!  I am going at this year with a running start...literally!  :) 

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!!

OH… Christmas Tree!!! So, our family couldn’t decide on a real Christmas tree this year. They were too fat, too short, too dead, too brown, too full, too open, too expensive, you name it!! So we gave in, and bought a fake tree to quickly end our search for the perfect tree. Well, that perfect tree sat in a box (actually 2 boxes) in the kitchen for a few days before I decided to tackle the project myself in order to have it up before the quickly approaching holiday passed us by. So at 11 am on reading day, I pulled out all 200 pounds of contents and began putting our perfect tree together. Well, I think I could have grown a real 10 foot Christmas tree in the time it took me to set this one up. 4 hours later, and all my Christmas Cheer depleted, it was finished!! Oh (sigh) Christmas Tree!! In the end, the only reading I did on reading day was the 1 page of useless instructions for our perfectly fake Christmas tree! My next project of the day was our outdoor Christmas lights!! Yep, once again, I tackled it on my own! Only 2 hours and one small electrical shock later, the house looked festive! It is finally… "beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!" Despite the drawbacks of the day, I ended my day making peppernuts with the family while watching Charlie Brown’s Christmas!! All in all, I still LOVE Christmas!!

Arizona Sunsets

In this season to be thankful, I thought I would share just one of the thousands of things that I am grateful for... Arizona Sunsets!!  I was walking around my neighborhood the other day and could not believe the amazing colors that were in the sky!  It was absolutely amazing!  One of the best things about living here in Arizona is the brilliant sunsets!  I have never seen one quite like ours anywhere else (that's not saying much since I haven't traveled to very many places)!  Yet, I believe that we must have some of the most colorful sunsets!  This picture does not even do the real thing justice.  I love how the pinks, purples, and oranges run through the entire sky!  It was a sight I couldn't let pass without thanking my Heavenly Father for!  In my scripture study, I recently came across this verse. D&C 59:18 "Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart."  This sunset definitely gladdened my heart!  I am so thankful for Arizona sunsets!

I Love Quotes!!

"To do well does not mean everything will always turn out well. The key is to remember that faith and obedience are still the answers, even when things go wrong, perhaps especially when things go wrong." --David E. Sorensen

"No matter what your past has been, you have a spotless future." --Hugh B Brown

"If we are in tune with the Spirit, if we are seeking the Lord and His guidance, if our direction is to return to our Father in Heaven, the sweet moments will come. And we will treasure them, for we have become instruments in the hands of God" --Bonnie D. Parkin

"We must not lose hope. Hope is an anchor to the souls of men. Satan would have us cast away that anchor. In this way he can bring discouragement and surrender. But we must not lose hope. The Lord is pleased with every effort, even the tiny, daily ones in which we strive to be more like Him. Though we may see that we have far to go on the road to perfection, we must not give up hope." --Ezra Taft Benson

"A friend is more concerned about helping people than getting credit. A friend cares. A friend loves. A friend listens. And a friend reaches out."--President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, May 2001

"There is a divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day.  They prepare, they purge, they purify, and thus they bless." --James E. Faust