...and we're back!

...Well, sort of. It has been so very long since I've posted anything here...though there has been so much to celebrate about the last many months...My goal after Saturday, is to actually complete the posts I started and never finished :)

The thought below is something that has been on my mind a lot recently, it is something I need and want to remember, and so when I saw this quote today, I wanted to share it with anyone who may possible take a glance at this page.

Day by day, minute by minute, second by second we went from where we were to where we are now. The lives of all of us, of course, go through similar alterations and changes. The difference between the changes in my life and the changes in yours is only in the details. Time never stands still; it must steadily march on, and with the marching come the changes…

I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey---now.

--President Thomas S. Monson

Monique White

White Family - Fall 2008

Monique White was born to Veronique and Roger White August 30th, 2000. Last Sunday, March 21st, 2010, she returned to her Heavenly home. As Veronique and Roger describe her, she was a miracle child, and a perfect little angel, born with so many physical disabilities and difficulties. Monique has been completely dependent upon her parents for everything. She has not been able to communicate in the way that each of us make sounds, talk and move. This said, you can't be with her and not feel of her strong, beautiful spirit. Through the experience of being with sweet Monique, especially when I returned home from my mission, I learned that we each absolutely do have a spirit inside us.

It was beautiful to be at Monique's memorial service Friday and to listen to her parents, two of my heros, speak about what they learned from Monique, that providing for all her needs taught them of our dependence on our Heavenly Father, how necessary He is in our lives. And then the focus on the Resurrection and of Easter. The spirit was so sweet in the room during the service and also afterwards as people met in the cultural hall filled with lovely pictures of the White family and especially of Monique. Veronique and Roger included Monique in everything, including dressing her up for Halloween. They loved her unconditionally. It's difficult for me to describe what I gained this weekend, when I try to verbalize it, I begin to cry.

I love what the Whites said about this difficult experience, "During this difficult time our family testifies of the reality of the resurrection which is a gift from our Savior Jesus Christ and we are filled with an overwhelming sense of love and hope. We take strength in a sure and peaceful witness that our Father in Heaven loves us and has prepared a way for our family to be together no and throughout all eternity."

I miss you Monique. I'm grateful you are free, finally able to move and dance as you'd like. Thank you for what you have given each of us who met you, thank you for sharing your beautiful spirit with us.

Home

I want to go home. What a blessing that I can.

I heard mom's voice for a moment on the phone today and was able to comprehend for a second the great gift the Lord gave me in giving me a place to truly call Home...a place where I belong, where I fit in - a place where I'm accepted, wanted, where I don't have to be understood and yet feel that I am more than anywhere else - a place of goodness, warmth, busy-ness, happiness, and where love is a work in progress...always improving and increasing.

How grateful I am to be able to go there, to return home. What a blessing that I can.

St. George Marathon

March 28, 2010

So...many many moons ago, I ran the St. George Marathon. I wanted so much to blog about it but never found the time to describe that experience. It was unlike any race I've ever participated in. No race has left me on at least a 2 week high like that one did :) and no race has made me love and believe in running like that one did. It still makes me excited when I think about that cool experience. There were so many times during the race when I felt tangible support from Heavenly Father or my family and my friends.

I was more scared before the race began than I've been doing almost anything...but right after I crossed the Start line, I felt peace and knew this was my race, that I would be able to do it, and that God was with me. The course was better than I could have imagined. It was gorgeous and the rolling hills accompanying the downhill trend was perfect for a first timer...perfect for anyone, but definitely encouraging for this little runner. At mile 17, I started to cry. Anyone whose run something like that knows there are emotions that come, specific to the experience, which are hard to really explain. I knew I would finish the race and couldn't believe I was going to be able to really run and finish a marathon. It was so encouraging seeing all the posters and signs for folks. Each one seemed to be for me, cheering me on...even the ones encouraging parents. I'd look to the sky each time I saw one and would think, "thanks kids, I know you're up there! We're going to talk about this someday!"

My friend Bret came to cheer me on at the end. He had family running the race, but he ran the last part with me...it was perfect...right when I really needed the encouragement!

Hope you enjoy this video Bret took of me at the end. I had a mile left...definitely ready to finish, but really happy to have run the race. So glad to have this memory!

Yes...I even celebrate how much I love this family!

These are two of my favorite pictures of Ben and Emily's family this year. The bottom picture is earlier this last February at Em's sister's wedding, and the top picture was this last month when Ben and Em and company came to Utah to visit. Thanks for being such a

wonderful and beautiful family!

Visiting Rach and her little ones

Wow...so, this was quite a while ago...but I must blog about it as it was such a great trip and you must have the opportunity to see more pictures of Rachel's little gang. I love her family.

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Liz and I flew down to Rio Rico, AZ for Memorial Day weekend. Actually, it was because I was buying Rach's little car...now named the Lil' Digg...and that was the only way to get it...but Rio Rico was exactly where I wanted to be. Felt so spoiled...didn't think I would be able to visit Rach for quite a while after that trip in February.

Back to the trip :) It was wonderful to be with Rachel and her little family. Lena had grown a ton and it was heaven to be around all four Delaps. Man, if I can do that a few times a year for the rest of my life...how great life would be.

Enjoy these masterfully shot videos of us playing with Caleb and Lena.

Liz was so good with the kids...seriously, that girl has a gift for playing and teaching children; it was fun to see. Sorry for the back shot starter there Liz.

As you can tell, Caleb never got tired of Ring Around the Rosie...nope, he loves that game!

This one is so funny of Lena...she really wanted all 10 fingers in her mouth!

We both really enjoyed Caleb and Lena. Lena can smile so big you question if it's really that healthy to open one's mouth so wide :)

Caleb was very interested in everything he wanted to do. I love that picture of Dean and Caleb walking out in their back yard. It just seems like a Calvin and Hobbes picture.

Our friend Rick took Liz and I to Nogales and showed us the border fence, many of the posts, and the fine dinning Nogales has to offer visitors :) Lots of cheap shopping for cheap clothes, if you're down for the trip!

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With so much time existing between myself now and when I took that trip, I can't remember all I wanted to originally say. This one thing I will add...Rachel is such a good mom. She impresses me with the effort she puts into teaching and raising her children with love. Dean is so good too. Very patient with the ever-willing-to-challenge-anyone Caleb ;).

We also sang together, of course, and there isn't much that makes me feel like that does. Yep. Very grateful for the wonderful person and blessing she is.

Liz and I drove back in the Lil' Digg and it held up great! There's quite the lovely scenery between the Rio Rico and Salt Lake City :)...though we were missing the folks we'd left in Rio Rico.

To Radiate Light

Found this on my uncle Laird's kitchen fridge :) and really loved it:

There is no end to the good we can do, to the influence we can have with others. Let us not dwell on the critical or the negative. Let us pray for strength; let us pray for capacity and desire to assist others. Let us radiate the light of the gospel at all times and all places, that the Spirit of the Redeemer may radiate from us.

-Gordon B. Hinckley