My Golden Ticket

I had a chance to go to my church's woman's organization's world wide broadcast on Saturday night.  Boy did I need it!!!!  One of my all-time favorite speakers spoke!  Hurray!  Dieter F Uchtdorf!

Anyway, do you ever have those moments when you just feel totally overwhelmed with life?  Like no one likes you?  Like you are so busy trying to do all the things you need to do that you are not doing anything well?  Like you are trying to do your best, just to find out someone is offended with your best efforts?   Like you work so hard to not judge others, but just because you are trying to live your life the way you feel is best, others take that as judging them?  Or like one day when "this" happens, then I can relax or be happy?

I was kinda in that place (honestly I still am a bit) last Saturday.  The kids had been fighting/disobeying more than normal.  I had made an effort to do some extended family things with little response back.  Corry has been gone or working incredibly insane hours or doing his calling most of the time and I barely see him.  I was overwhelmed on Saturday - sitting in my car, crying and praying for help.  Well, help came in the form of Elder Uchtdorf.  He is a truly inspired servant of the Lord, because he spoke to me that night after I uttered that prayer to my Father.  The funny thing was, as I have talked to other woman, they think he spoke to them!

You can find his whole talk here, but the part that hit me the most and has helped me the most this week as other things have happened, was that we need to not forget to be happy NOW.  He talked about "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and how everyone would throw out those amazing chocolate bars just looking for their "Golden Ticket".  There are many things that have been my Golden Tickets - getting married, having a family, buying a house, the kids all in school, buying a new house, the kids all grown (then you can relax because your parenting is done - right? ;) ), financial stability, kids making right choices, extended family liking me and being close like other families I see, really the list could go on.  Some Golden Tickets have come, but they have gone and been replaced by others and although they are righteous desires, sometimes I find myself hoping for that so I can have joy, peace, and happiness.  Elder Uchtdorf said, "The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy."

This talk was beautiful!  It wasn't anything new I didn't know before, not much is new at Conferences.  It was just what I needed to remember this time.  It was what I needed to hear on that hard day, it is what I needed to carry with me throughout my week and throughout my life.  My life is good.  I need to see more of the beauty and good around me, while I am striving for those golden tickets.  The journey can be good and beautiful too, on our way to those things we desire, regardless if we achieve them in this life.  I am grateful for this reminder and grateful that every six months I get edified at General Conference.

Book Launch - "The Wednesday Letters"

Melanie and I had a chance to go to the book launch for "The Wedding Letters" sequel to the book, "The Wednesday Letters" by Jason Wright.  I loved the Wednesday Letters when I read it a few years ago.  (Jason also wrote the Christmas Jars - which I loved as well!!)  If you get a chance read all his books.  One thing I loved that he said was that he likes to write books that persuade the reader to action.  The Christmas Jars did that for me.  One year for Christmas I gave my friends the book and a Mason Jar to keep their coins in for the year.  We haven't exactly done that particular act well, but I don't think doing exactly as he did in the book is his purpose either.  I think we should figure out what works best for our families and create our own traditions based on being inspired from his books.  We love doing service at Christmas time. 

The Wednesday Letters are a bit different and more moves us to keep in touch, by whatever means we have; phone, email, letter, facebook, blogs.  But I do see a real value in real letters, hand written by the person for the person.  There is something truly exciting about going to the mailbox and getting a good letter - one that is thoughtful and just for you, not a bill or form letter.  The Wedding Letters takes it a step farther to include letters specifically for the couple with advice on life, love, marriage and happiness.  I am excited to read it, but I think I need to reread The Wednesday Letters first. 

Letters are powerful.  I have seen it with my kids.  For the past few years we have not had the kids' friends bring them birthday presents, instead we have their friends write letters to the children about why they like them, a favorite memory or a story they remember about the birthday child.  I cannot begin to express how much these have meant to the kids, and actually they seem to have meant more to Scotty and Alli than to Missy and Fuzzy.  Often I catch Scotty and Alli reading through their old letters.  They love them and cherish them.  

When my mom was in the hospital and my dad took the night watch at her bedside, he couldn't sleep.  So, instead of sleep, he wrote each of his children a letter expressing his love. I cherish that letter.  When I was born I had a lot of health problems - mostly with being able to breath.  My Grandpa Peterson wrote me a letter.  I still have it to this day and I cherish it.  

Cherish those letter you have, write letters to loved ones.  Maybe even start a new wedding tradition or birthday tradition of letter writing.  It will bless your life.  

One highlight for me was that Cheri Call was there singing!  I am a big fan of hers and it was fun to hear her perform live.

Jason Wright - the author - and me

Me and Mel!  Thanks for coming with me!

Jason Wright with the happy couple from the book - Rachel and Noah

Yummy food from the Joseph Smith Memorial building

It was a fun day!  Thanks to my cousin, Dave, for inviting me!

Go check out all Jason's books here!

***Update***

I just finished the book over Spring Break and I loved it!!!!  My only complaint was that I wanted to know more details at the end!  Great story and I gotta say, I didn't see that coming!  Read it to find out what...

What better way to start the new school year than by...

Hanging out at Deer Creek Reservoir with your friends!  Kim invited us out on her boat for some wake surfing, and provided us lunch too!  Thanks Kim you are the best!  The group was Jane, Leilani,  Charalece, Jamie, Trina, Amanda, Kim and me.  Thanks for the fun ladies!