125 in New York City.

Life as we know it has its ups and downs. There are days that are perfect, and days where some of us feel as if we can't deal with it anymore. Days when we fall on our knees pleading with God to pull us out of this trial that we are in. We are constantly faced with challenges on a daily basis, and even though some of these challenges are minute to others they seem huge! I have encountered many trials throughout my life to the point where I just wanted to give up, but I changed my whole perspective on that a long time ago. Maturity at its best especially when you reach your 40's! Knowing that I have a loving Heavenly Father to pray to gives me more hope, and increases my faith knowing that He will always be there to listen no matter what. In times of stress, and despair I just imagine myself being comforted by the savior. He wants all of us to be happy, and I want all of my friends, and family to be happy as well. Like I mentioned, we are all faced with challenges, and pain whether it's physical or emotional. It is up to us to do something about that instead of feeling sorry for ourselves to the point where we are lost again both in spirit, and testimony. The temples in this world are a place where I can go to calm my nerves, and feel the spirit even stronger. It is a place of peace where we can take our issues, and heartache to the Lord and pray. 

After enduring a week of frustration dealing with a broken down car, and just life in general, because let's face it...nobody has the perfect life, my girlfriend and I decided to attend the temple. She can see that even though our problems are different that we all have it hard. No matter how petty, or how big our issues are we realize that we are all in this thing "called life" together, and that we always should find the time to attend the temple. There are times when we go because we just love the temple, and doing work for our ancestors, and times when we go when we are faced with challenges, and need answers to our prayers. Whether I go with my husband, or my girlfriend attending the temple builds me up, makes me whole, and when I walk out of that building I feel like super woman all over again. Rejuvenated, happier, peaceful, and conquerable. Knowing that I laid out all my concerns to God in faith that everything will work out in His time gives me hope that all is going to be well. Answers come to us in His time, and luckily for me it's almost instantaneously, and for that I'm eternally grateful for a Father in Heaven who truly listens, and is always there for me.  

So when you feel like your burdens are too heavy to bear, or want to serve and do work for your kindred dead, and are a member of the church with that important piece of paper called a temple recommend, I implore you to attend the temple. No matter the distance, time (find it), or even money (somehow the Lord will provide)...find the time to go. Whether your problems are minimal, or huge, whether you're happy or sad...find the time to go. I hadn't gone since December, and man was I going through major withdrawal. 

125 Columbus Ave. in New York City is one place to go where we can escape all the hustle and bustle in this world, and leave all our burdens to the man upstairs. 

Definitely a great ending to the month of February! 

Happy Monday, and have a great week! 

Celebrating Forty Three in New York City.

Ever since I moved to Jersey six years ago Maggie & I have attempted to keep our yearly tradition of attending the temple on or around our birthday week. It took a while for us to make this goal, and even though there have been a  year or two since my moving up here that we skipped & had lunch locally instead we always got back on our feet, and reminded ourselves to just go! This year our birthdays fell on a week where the temple in our district was closed for cleaning. Well...luckily we have the Manhattan Temple (which in my opinion should be our temple district because it's a lot closer) to serve in, and have fun afterwards in this magical city we Texan gals have grown to love. 

Attending the temple in New York is always so interesting. Interesting because once you enter through the doors all the sounds of the city dissipate, and the only sound you hear are the voices of the people that are inside the temple, and the beating of your own heart....and then all you feel is peace.  

Once we stepped foot outside the temple the noise returned, and it was okay. We love this city! We walked around the upper west side, snooped inside a couple of shops, filled our stomachs with lunch at The Smith restaurant, and after walking a few more blocks down Columbus avenue we  parked ourselves on a brownstone stoop and enjoyed our delicious cookies from one of the best bakeries in town...Levain Bakery! 

Because we were enjoying the city so much I didn't take too many pictures. However, I did manage to capture the beauty of the temple from a few different angles...

^^^ Beautiful shot of the Angel Moroni at the top of the Manhattan temple ^^^

and some photos of the yummy lunch I had...

 ^^^ If you plan on ordering the hamburger make sure you come hungry because it's a good size burger! I didn't get to finish it all.  ^^^

^^^ The hot potato chips, and blue cheese dressing was soooooo good! My husband was jealous when I told him about it, because anything blue cheese is his favorite!! ^^^

Can't forget to document these delicious cookies as well...

Days like this are always at the top of my "life list". They are categorized under "the best days of my life".  Attending the temple with my one of my very best friends is the next best thing to attending it with my husband. I thought a lot about my hubby while inside the temple as well as my family members, but at the same time am grateful to have gone with my dear friend, and to have a girls day out! We all need those don't we? It was so much fun, and we both said to ourselves the next time we go we may just have to spend an entire weekend here so that we don't rush ourselves driving back to Jersey. Knowing this girl for 23 years seems surreal because on some days it feels as if I met her yesterday. I never thought that I would end up living in the same area as Maggie, and because of her I was taught of all the do's and don'ts of Jersey (I also learned a lot of them on my own too!) 

Thank you Maggie for all that you did for me on my special day, and for driving us into the city we love! You truly are a gem in my life!

Here's to 43 years, and to looking forward to many more trips like this! 

cousins reunite in nyc.

You don't realize how much we really miss our family until you see a family member for the first time in seven years. 

This is Jon's youngest cousin. Kenzie was about 16 when we moved from Utah & what a blessing it was for her to have had an audition for opera in NYC & that we live close enough to have been able to see her. She was four when we got married & I'll always picture her with that cute baby face wearing an emerald green dress. Now she is this mature young woman with big goals in becoming an opera singer. She's amazingly talented & I'm so proud of her accomplishments. One thing for sure...talent definitely runs in our families. 

a dance in manhattan.

There are days when I look at my children, and ask myself where did the time go? Especially this girl because look at her! She is absolutely gorgeous & growing up way too quickly! There are times day after day when I have to just sit back and stare...knowing that at some point I have to let go of the reigns. Let her make her own decisions. Let her learn experiences on her own. Let her practice her free agency. But because I'm a mother...her mother I have to learn control in not treating her like a little kid anymore. 

My love for her runs so deep, and I mean the deepest you'll ever know. She is my firstborn, and the one who sets the example for her brother, and sisters, and every person out there who is her friend. She is the one that they are going to look up to, and ask certain questions when it comes to her beliefs, about how she deals with life, struggles, and for her sibs...mom nagging all the time. The one that they'll turn too when they need advice about a boy, girl, school, or an issue where they feel is too personal for a parent to understand.

Hopefully that'll be different because as a mother I want all my children to be able to talk to me about anything. They know that first and foremost I am their mother & want them to know that I will put my listening ears on and without yelling using my loud voice do my best in understanding anything they want to talk to me about.

Going to the city this past weekend for Noah's birthday gave an opportunity for Sierra to go to a young single adult dance that was being held in the cultural hall inside the Manhattan temple. She invited a few friends who aren't members of the church & even though they don't share our beliefs...they are good people. You can't imagine how happy I get when she surrounds herself with goodness, and people that make her happy. True friends that won't hurt her, or put her in a position that is dangerous, and out of control. New york city may be scary for some, but in my opinion safer than Philly, and the best, most fun, and safest city this side of the island. The fact that there is a temple in the heart of Manhattan does bring a spirit of its own. One that helps the city to be more safer than usual. There are times when my family and I have taken the subway in the middle of the night, and had no harm come to us. I believe if you know the area, and the do's and dont's of the city then you'll be ok.

My trust in leaving Sierra with these gentleman she's known for five years puts me at ease. I can tell they were excited to be in the city, and for Sierra to have introduced them to an atmosphere that may be too different to comprehend. An atmosphere that is all too familiar for Sierra, but unfamiliar to them. In the end I'm glad they had fun, and even though coming home at 2:20 in the morning was a bit worrisome...I knew she was in good hands. Still...I can't help but to have morbid thoughts, and that is something that I still have to work on regardless of who her friends are. It's unfortunate, but little by little I am getting there. As long as I feel a good vibe around these guys, and see a happy smile on her face when she comes home...I know they are good, and that's all that matters.  

Besides...I know where they live. (wink)

Nostalgic Temple Trips

Yesterday the youth of our church attended the temple in D.C. to do baptisms for the dead. When my daughter returned from the temple she shared with me a spiritual experience that she had while in the temple. While in the dressing room she noticed a sister who was speaking in spanish asking questions to other sisters, and no one was helpful in understanding her. Sierra felt inspired to reach out to her, and help her through her translation, but was nervous in doing so...her spanish isn't as strong.