Another Year

Well, another year has come and gone.  With every year I get older I think of a joke about ripe bananas.  When you get to a certain age you have to start deciding whether or not to buy bananas that still need to be ripened because you may not be around when they are.  It's a pretty morbid thing to think about.  Actually you never know when you will have your last day, so maybe I should only ever buy ripe bananas?  he he. 

I've been off to a busy start to this summer and it hasn't let up yet.  Just trying to catch up on stuff that happened a week ago is getting tough to make time for. 

It is pretty rare that I am in a picture because I'm the one taking it.  When I am, It is because I've asked a member of my family to take it so that I can document my existence.  I hate those kind of pictures though.  There is too much pressure on posing and not looking stupid.  My favorite pictures are those when I've captured someone in a true moment.  

Well, I discovered that even then I don't much like the pictures.  haha, I'm hard to please when looking at myself.  My FIL took the picture of me below while we were in FL for my nephews wedding.  I believe we are in the backyard of the rental there.  You can tell he called my name and I answered "yeah or what."  He posted this pic on my fb for my birthday with the caption: " Heather who is always there to capture great shots but who rarely is on the other side of the camera is a well loved daughter-in-law. Mom and I both send our love and best wishes for a wonderful birthday!"

On a completely unrelated side-note.  I need to reevaluate my bra situation.  It looks like I've had a boob job and I can assure you, I have not.  I guess it just proves that good bras are magical.  

The next one, I didn't even know was taken of me while I was at girls camp.  I discovered the picture while looking through everyones pictures to make a slide show for our post camp party.  Had I have known, I would have sucked the belly in.  haha  We are all so fake and vein in pictures....or is it just me?  I do seriously love those awesome camo yoga pants.  I could live in them.  I love that Nate took my comfort into consideration when picking them out for me- which is surprising considering the fact that he hates -with a passion -when I try to go anywhere wearing actual yoga pants.  I guess because they are camo, he was willing to make an exception.    

Besides my awesome camp clothing, I got a great letter from Nate.  It wasn't for my birthday, but it was close enough, so I'm counting it.  The parents had to write their daughters a letter to them to be read up at camp.  The camp director asked the husbands of all the leaders to write one as well.  I would love to post the letter here - not because of what he wrote about me- but for what it says about him that he would recognize the things he did.  He wouldn't approve of it being on here and I don't blame him, but it will be placed into the hard copy of this years blog that will be printed and bound.  I will say that the theme of our ward was "superheros" so his letter was about how I was a super hero to him and our family.  He outlined "you're talents include but are not limited to:" and then listed 5 of my talents.  I will treasure it always- especially the shield on the envelope. It has also provided me with something to live up to.  

It is my goal in the next coming year to help build and lift people.  Help give them the tools to live up to their potential.  To show them their talents (or help them recognize them) so they will want to develop them.  I worked hard on developing that skill while up at camp.  I also had the opportunity to try it out when we had an investigator over for dinner on Saturday.  I seem to be getting bolder and bolder and I must say, it feels pretty amazing when you tap into the power of God. I am never disingenuous, so you've got to wait for the right moment to present itself.  I won't go into all the details of this investigator other than- to say that his life is hard, is an understatement.  He has many challenges and obstacles to overcome, but I found a moment to say something that could have only come thru divine help.  I told him that I recognized in him great faith and I knew he had faith because of....then I listed the ways.  He had made some pretty drastic changes in his life that provided the list for me.  

I like being bold, I like helping people recognize the good within themselves so they can have the strength to keep at it.  I like helping people to identify the Spirit and how God works in their lives.  I do not boast of my own glory, but of God the Eternal Fathers glory and his willingness to let me be apart of it.