All You Need Is Love

So this past weekend was another fantastic one! Although hectic, it was so worth it. Friday I got off work and then drove to Salt Lake to hang out with the Thorsons (Jesse, Kathleen, Tara, and Dad) and we went out to eat. We had a total meat fest. Eating so much meat, that even now I do not need it! Then we went to the movies and watched "17 Again" which I would recommend for everyone! I know... I didn't' want to like it, but ended up loving it.

Then Saturday Cherie and I ran a 5k for victims of abuse. Neither of us were prepared or well trained, so we tried to whine to each other to get out of it... but in the end we decided to go... which I'm proud of. I ended up running it in a little over 38 minutes. That isn't a fantastic time, but I was very proud, it's the best I have ever done. And to treat ourselves for running, even when we really didn't want to, we took ourselves out to IHOP. Yummy. Then I had to work.

And then came Sunday! Such a fantastic day. Shanelle and I woke up early and drove to Salt Lake City to watch "Music and the Spoken Word" in the tabernacle. We were going to meet the Thorsons there, however they slept in, so it was just Shanelle and I. But oh my goodness it was worth getting up early. I was so emotional and so full of the Spirit. It was something so amazing. Words cannot describe. And then the Thorsons met us at the visitors center, and Dad Thorson treated us to breakfast, and then the random day commenced. And here is picture documentation of the events.


One of the highlights of the visitors center is the Christus statue. I can see it all the time and I am still in awe of the power of it. It's quite humbling. Love it!


Okay so these pictures are in no particular order, so at this point we were playing in the airport, and Jesse and Kathleen were just about to say goodbye to Shanelle, so we were getting sad, and Jesse decided to soothe Shanelle with his voice and sounds. =D

I was playing around with the camera and trying to get cool pictures of flowers and the temple. We all wanted to look at the pretty flowers, and this is one of my favorite pictures I took of the flowers.

More playing around with the flowers, and getting cute pictures of Jesse and Kathleen. I have to say I think they turned out well.

Oh, grandpa decided to join us in the airport, and then tried to get away from us.

The moment Jesse and Shanelle saw this statue they decided they needed to mimic it. Kathleen and I were laughing very hard!

Shanelle had never tried a slurpee before, and as soon as Jesse heard that we ended up at a 7-11. The short of it... slurpee's are good, especially the mutant berry kind.

This weekend just showed me how lucky I am to have my friends. They truly complete me, and I can get through anything with wonderful people like this. I just have a full heart when I think of all the wonderful friends I have. I don't get why I am so lucky to have such blessings!

Sorry for all the cheesiness, but I just want all my friends to know that even if we are far away from one another, I am always thinking of you and thanking the Lord for letting me have such awesome friends!

Best Weekend Ever!

This weekend was amazing, and I don't know how to put it into words... really I am still in shock. You dream of something for 15 years, and then to actually see it happen... it takes some getting used to.





















(And I apologize that in all of these pictures I will look all red faced... I was bawling my eyes out the whole time. From the moment she put on the white jumpsuit, to the closing prayer!)

So Kari and I left Provo at about 5:30 PM on Thursday, and arrived in the Bay Area at 4AM on Friday morning. It is a long drive. Then Friday we just relaxed and enjoyed the 80 degree weather. (I forgot how much I love California weather!) And then I starting preparing the talk I was going to give on the gift of the Holy Ghost the next day AT MY MOM'S BAPTISM! As usual I stressed about it, and studied from too many sources. But is was so much fun to talk about/study the gospel with my Mom for a few hours. Then came the big day. Saturday was the day that we took my Dad out to dinner for his 50th birthday.



















I thought this was the coolest card ever! And I knew my Dad would love it. It's the biggest singing card I have ever seen. And so I stuck family pictures in the inside. And judging by his face he loved it too!

Well from dinner we had to run to the chapel to get Mom ready for her baptism. It really didn't sink in that this was all happening until I saw my Mom dressed in her white jumpsuit.

And of course I cried the whole way through. I couldn't even sing the opening song. And then came the moment when they opened the font doors and a huge flood of emotions and memories came swarming back to me. It was the same room where Kari and I were baptised. And now it was our Mom's turn.

Witnessing her baptism was one of the greatest moments of my life.




















And we won't even go into the talk. I am not sure what I said. I know it wasn't anything I planned or wrote down. And I was crying the whole way through, so I have no idea if anyone understood anything I said. Oh well. They said it was good, and they felt the Spirit. And really that is all that matters!

And this last picture is one of my favorites. This is my amazing family! We're one step closer to the temple! Now it's just Dad's turn!

Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts in my Mom's behalf. She really felt strengthened and blessed every step of the way. The gospel is true! Christ lives! And families can and should be together forever! I love you all!

The Talented Cherie Julander!

Hello friends!

I just wanted to show you some really funny videos that my friend Cherie put together for a SAT vocab commercial contest. Thought you might enjoy them. I laughed my head off when I first saw them!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMOqAlYJz2o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPYkLnicxc4

I feel so lucky to have such talented people to be around and call my friends!

Personal Joy

Okay, so here are my amazing parents! Now the reason for this post is mainly about my Mom, but before we get to this point I need to do a little background work. And I also need to add a disclaimer. I usually do not discuss my religious views in public domains like this, unless asked first. But most of you know me, and my beliefs. But at this moment my heart and soul are full, and so I need to share with all those I love and care about.

As many of you know I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints when I was ten years old. To make a long story short, I was an overly curious little girl, who wanted to know the answers to everything; this includes religion. So when I was 9 I started wondering about those soul searching questions.... why are we here?... where do we come from?... what is the purpose of life?... and where do we go when we die? Now my parents are absolutely amazing, and they told me they didn't know the answer to those questions, but when I found out I should tell them. I then told them I was going to go to church. And I proceeded to do that... with any of my neighbors or friends who would let me tag along. Well after awhile I was burned out on that idea, and I didn't find what I was looking for. At that time a Mormon family moved in next door to me, and next thing I know I became best friends with them, and went to church with them. And three months later I was baptised; a month before my 10th birthday. And 15 years later here I am.

Now back to my parents. They have always been so opened minded; I mean they let both of their children follow their hearts and join a church, and a faith that they didn't know much about. Well I mean they have participated in a bunch of activities, and are up to date on all the Mormon lingo, however, they themselves have never felt the pull to join, or to question more.

That was until recently. When my parents came to Scotland to pick me up from my mission they were truly touched by the Spirit. They loved the latter-day saints there, and felt at home in the church there. And upon coming home my mum in particular has started asking questions. Has started having the missionaries over, and has come to church. Now I was doing all I could to not get my hopes up, or push to hard, or make this about me. I mean this is her decision, and her choice. Well over the last two months she has been telling me all about what she is learning as she is studying the gospel principles book, and the scriptures, and telling me how at home she feels in the ward, and how much she loves going to church and feeding the missionaries, and all that Mormon-y stuff. Then I get a call on Saturday right after General Conference, and she tells me that she has been so touched by the Spirit, that she knows she needs to get baptised!!!!!!!!!!

Now I was in shock... I had been wishing for this for 15 years, and now to hear those words come out of my mothers mouth..... I couldn't believe it. So she stopped smoking and has been going strong for 4 days. She relapsed for a second, and lit up one cigarette, but is now back on board. Her baptismal date is set for April 18th.

Now the reason I am sharing this other than just spreading the joy, is to ask for all of your prayers on her behalf. Her name is Cheryl Jagger. And to show my support in her quitting smoking I have given up all desserts and sweets until the day of her baptism. (I think that will be good for me because I am quite addicted to chocolate!) I can't even imagine the struggle she is going through trying to kick that habit. I just know that she is strong, and in the strength of the Lord she can make it through this hard time. To think of her dressed in white, and being cleansed of all her burdens and sins and hardships, it brings tears of joy to my eyes. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is real, and working in my life, and in the lives of all those I love. I know that it is through the atonement of Jesus Christ that we can be cleansed and healed. And it is through trying to become more like Him, and bringing out will in line with His that we find pure and everlasting joy. I am so grateful for the gospel being restored on the earth today. I know Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God, who was the instrument in the hands of the Lord in bringing the priesthood power back on the earth; that gives us the opportunity to be together as a family for eternity. I am eternally grateful for that knowledge and the peace it brings in my life. I will continue to work my hardest to be worthy to be with my family for eternity.

This Months Readins!

Okay, so I've been really enjoying the Chronicles of Narnia. I just finished "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," as well as "The Horse and His Boy". Both are fantastic. And I can't wait to read Prince Caspian, and the others of the series. I just have to find them. I bought the first three books of the series at a used book store in California. I will be back there in a few weeks, and will need to pick up the others in the series.

With those finished, and waiting for the next in the series I have started a few books, not knowing which one I would like more. I am two chapters into "The Almost Moon" by Alice Sebold, and one chapter into "The History of Joseph Smith" by His Mother, Lucy Mack Smith. I really know I am going to like the book on Joseph Smith, but I know it will take me a while to read it. I don't imagine it is one I can rush through, and I don't think I'd like to do that.

Now as for "The Almost Moon, " to be honest I find it quite disturbing, and I'm not sure I will like it, but I feel compelled to read on. So we'll see how it goes.