September Spotlight

I love this picture. I love it because it captures my mother-in-law's true character. When the curtain is closed and the stage lights shut down, you will undoubtedly find her in some way or form out on an errand for the Lord, or simply taking in every brushstroke of God's breathtaking murals surrounding us everyday.
She never desires to be in the limelight, and yet it is her luminous countenance that radiates so brightly, you can almost feel an electric charge standing near to her!
She inspires me everyday to be a better, more optimistic person. She is a listener and a comforter. She has wept with me many times when heartache and adversity stood at our door.
I am simply at a loss for words when it comes to my gratitude and unconditional love for the mother of my eternal sweetheart and the grandmother of our little angel. How blessed I am to have a mother who is following so faithfully in the footsteps of the Savior. She truly is a sweet and humble handmaiden of the Lord. I am so blessed to have her in my life!

The Nelson Grandchildren all flock to their Grandma Nelson!

She really does GLOW, doesn't she!!

These two are constantly at battle with who gets to sit on Grandma's lap!

We Will Stand

"Pioneers exemplified great determination and sacrifice. They had the persistence of ocean tides, which led them on; the strength of virgin forests, which braced their minds; the quiet of prairie vastness, which stilled their souls; the majesty of mountains, which gave them inspiration. These indomitable spirits faced the unknown with eyes upward, and footsteps forward. There are men in this world who are made of adobe with a thin veneer carrying a high polish; but these men of the pioneer companies were of granite through and through. They did not shrink at difficult situations...They went forth to conquer and conquer they must and would and did."-President Spencer W. Kimball


















With Faith in Every Footstep

"We cannot add to their glory. We can only look back with reverence,
appreciation, respect and resolution to build on what they have done. The time
has now come to turn about and face the future. This is a season of a thousand
opportunities. It is ours to grasp and move forward. What a wonderful time it is
for each of us to do his or her small part in moving the work of the Lord on to
its magnificent destiny."-President Gordon B. Hinckley
"I see a wonderful
future in a very uncertain world. If we will cling to our values, if we will
build on our inheritance, if we will walk in obedience before the Lord, if we
will simply live the Gospel, we will be blessed in a magnificent and wonderful
way. In essence, whichever way we are thrown, we will
stand."-President Hinckley

Monday night for Family Home Evening, we hiked Ensign Peak (a pretty leisurely, though uphill hike) with Mom and Dad Nelson and Makayla. For those of you who have not yet had the opportunity to do so, I strongly recommend it!....and if you go on a Monday night, you will most likely run into a Single's Ward at the top who are always prepared with a devotional and if you are lucky, they will share their refreshments!!...we lucked out on popsicles!

As I stood at the top of this spectacular peak, overlooking the monumental rooftops scattered across the Salt Lake Valley, I realized that just as our stalwart pioneers left behind for us a legacy of faith, hope, sacrifice and determination, so are we pioneers of Latter Day, called upon to leave behind for our posterity a firm foundation and a living legacy that will only continue to go forward from generation to generation. As Pres. Hinckley said, "We cannot add to their glory."...but we can "turn about and face the future. This is a season of a thousand opportunities. It is ours to grasp and move forward. What a wonderful time it is for each of us to do his or her small part in moving the work of the Lord on to its magnificent destiny."

So, let's start moving! :-) Onward, ever Onward!!

Family Matters

Sometimes I wonder how I would fill my summer days without my family....or any days for that matter! My family is my lifeline and I simply cannot imagine my life without them.


BTW...My picture commentaries are way off whack...I can't figure out how to fix it so have fun decoding!

Bear Lake 2008




Charlie's Angels (minus me and Kim...I was in the pool!)









Charly's music class! 2008
I consider these "family", Charly and her best friends, Easton and Gracie
Jordan and Baby Dillon

Charlie and Charlie's Angels (we went out with the girls and Dad showed up with a box of Sees Chocolates for each of us!! It was especially a fun surprise since he left that day for three weeks to the South Pacific...he is still there!)

Another Marathon! Way to Go, Jordan!! (Spanish Fork Half-Marathon)

Woah kids, give Grandma some air!!!

I also consider these girls to be "family"...two of my Young Women, Danielle and Demi

Giddyup Coalville Rodeo, here we come!!!

Reading our fave, "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!" with Grandma Nelson at Bear Lake!


Travis and Peggy

Bear Lake 2008

My adorable niece, McKaylee

First Day of Nursery!! Yippeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Our Beautiful Grandma Afton Dahlquist with the girls (Dahlquist Family Reunion 2008)
Aunt "Kimbo"....the child "charmer"!

She LOVES her "Opa" Dahlquist!!

Uncle Craig!!

I Have Never...

1. Mowed a lawn

2. Been on a cruise

3. Eaten cow tongue

4. Broken a limb

5. Read the "Twilight Series"...I know, GASP!

6. Enjoyed unpacking

7. Milked a cow

8. Understood why we can't all just get along!

9. Had a nintendo, trampoline or Barbie doll

10. Learned to play the accordian...*sigh*, someday!;-)

11. Figured out a Rubix Cube

12. Been on the roof

13. Had a professional pedicure

14. Canned peaches

15. Loved Mexican food...Exception: Cafe Rio

16. Colored my hair

17. Owned an elliptical....Santa, are you reading this?

18. Had an Ipod, Palm Pilot, or access to Texting on my phone

19. Loved any other season more than I love the Fall!

20. Learned to french braid

21. Had a root canal

22. Picked my nose and consumed the innards...I seriously will never understand that inborn tendancy in kids!! Yucka!

23. Had a pair of Doc Martins....until last month! (I bought a pair for $2 at a Garage Sale!!)

24. Needed glasses or contacts (although my astigmatism in my left eye drove me at the young age of 11 to secretly memorize the eye chart at the doctor's because I was sick of having to go in to be checked and never walking out with a classy new pair of specs!.....my roommates will attest to my obsession with glasses-In college I bought some non-prescription personality frames and would wear them like they were just part of the outfit!! I would even get them out when I needed to read something in public! HAHA!)...Never had braces either!

25. Loved life more than I do now! How could I possibly ask for more!....although an elliptical would be nice...;-)