I see a theme occurring.

I forget to take pictures ALL THE TIME GUYS.

This past weekend was no exception.

So I will give you a brief outline, and then some General Conference highlights.

Randy and I have had a rough couple of weeks. A traumatic incident with one of our close friends has left us a little jumpy, very busy, constantly dropping things to take calls and visits, and busy this week with a funeral.

General Conference couldn’t have come at a more ideal time.

So Friday night Randy and I had some April Fools shenanigans, then we did boring adult things like grocery shopping and spent the evening relaxing and unwinding.

Saturday we had breakfast with Caleb and Nanette while we watched the first session of conference, then it was off to home for the weekend to watch the rest of the sessions, and do lots of family laughing and game playing.

Here are some of my favorite thoughts from Conference this year.

Easter came and went in the blink of an eye!

Randy and I got to spend the holiday with our families which was really fun.

Saturday I headed off to a bridal shower, and Randy got to spend time with his family. The evening held dinner with my mom and sisters and then the General Women’s session, then visiting with family, and coloring Easter eggs! (and the Richards signature Egg Technicolor Show)

Easter Morning was Easter baskets, egg hunts, and some time learning about the Atonement.

In church my family sang/played with the choir which was fun to see! We then had a fantastic Easter feast with the fam.

Then it was off to the Lows for another amazing Easter dinner, some games and lots of laughs.

I can’t express enough how much the Atonement means to me. It’s the reason I can wake up in the morning. It’s the reason I can live and love and have any hope for tomorrow.

He is my best friend. He is my Savior. He is my older brother. He is the reason. And He is risen.

In other huge news, Randy and I are adding to our family! We welcomed a brand new baby car into our hearts this week, and have lovingly named him Friar Tuck (if you didn’t know, the Richards have a tradition of naming cars, computers, phones, etc. after Disney characters. Our other car is Edna Mode, my phone is Sven, we’ve had The Beast, Jasmine, all the 7 dwarfs, and the list goes on)

I’ve been a little MIA this week as some really hard things have happened to a very close friend of ours. Though it’s been very scary and hard, it has 100% strengthened my testimony of the Atonement. God is real. And there is NOTHING that we have gone through or will go through that Jesus Christ doesn’t perfectly understand, or that he didn’t atone for. We are covered. We can be whole, through him

So Randy and I do that thing where we have to go to work every day, so Randy’s Spring Break from school wasn’t really a week of relaxing. It was just a week of a little less work for him.

So we decided to have a Spring Saturday instead.

Saturday we braved a one day Moab trip with our good friends Caleb and Nanette.

We started by breakfasting early in the morning before the 3.5 hour drive, which was GORGEOUS. It was pretty warm, sunny, and so exciting. We got to Arches and then proceeded to EXHAUST ourselves with a million hikes. It was absolutely beautiful.

We went and saw Delicate Arch (which is fantastic PS) the Windows, Broken Arch, and more.

It was a day full of walking and talking, treats and pictures.

We then drove into Moab to meet up with Alexon and Sean for a dinner. And then it was the 3.5 hour drive back (which was surprisingly more difficult than the drive there. probably because of exhaustion and the fact that it was dark)

It was a really fantastic trip, one that made me excited for summer!

Sunday was the Provo Temple Dedication which was absolutely wonderful (more thoughts on this to come) and my mom’s birthday celebration.

We talked about Palm Sunday and my mom gave us all books called “The Holy Week For LDS Families” which is absolutely amazing. Randy and I are loving reading about each of the days of this very special week, and doing little activities to remind us of our Savior.

We had a delicious meal after a fun crisis with my aunt (neighbor was babysitting some kids so their parents could go to the dedication, her husband needed to go to the hospital, so my aunt had six kids plus her four to take care of while her neighbor went with her husband in the ambulance. hence we went over and got to babysit some cute kids for a little while. don’t worry – everyone is OK!)

We went on a nature walk, had cake, and celebrated my angel mother.

This week has been busy like all the rest. And a week full of discoveries, lessons to be learned, and understanding each other a little better.

I’m very excited for the upcoming Easter and General Conference celebrations we will get to have.

We are so blessed.

Happy birthday to the woman who has completely shaped my life. I have no idea what I would do without her.

My mom taught me everything, from drinking out of a cup to love the Gospel, to the difference between Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, to how to write a five paragraph essay, to baking, serving, and loving.

My mom is seriously my best friend. I call her pretty much every day to chat, catch up, hear about her crazy busy schedule, tell her about my crazy busy schedule, and everything in between.

My mom raised me to be a thinker, to value culture, art, and music, to love the Gospel, to serve others. I can only hope that someday to be half the woman she is.

She is a hard worker, she is one of the smartest people that I know, and I am so lucky to be her daughter.

She didn’t miss a single ballet performance, she taught me to play the piano, she has worked for me doing laundry, driving, cooking, and loving. I can’t even say enough about how wonderful she is!

Mom, happy birthday. I love you and I hope this year is one of the best years ever!

Holy cow how the time flies. Another weekend come and gone. But thank GOODNESS for warmer weather! What would I do without it!

Check out the weekend vibes:)

Friday we spent time with our friends Rachel and Steve. We got to go see a concert that Rachel’s sister was in, and grab some Crown Burger with them after listening to some beautiful music. It was SUCH a fun night; we always love seeing our Provo friends!

Saturday started early with my cousin Emily’s baptism in Kaysville. It was so incredibly fun to be with all our family, and to be with Emily on her special day.

Saturday after the baptism we celebrated my Dad’s birthday! The day was spent at Maddox for some DELICIOUS steak, eating cake, opening presents, playing games, and going for a walk. We reminisced on parts of my Dad’s life and it is always so fun to hear the stories.

My mom made my dad a Black Forest cake – isn’t it so beautiful?? It was also SO delicious!

Sunday Randy and I headed off to Church, I taught Sunday School to my favorite kids who made it so meaningful and awesome, and then had dinner with Caleb and Nanette, which is becoming a Sunday tradition! Sundays are my favorite days of the week, Randy and I get to go to Church, do our family scripture and gospel study, and we get lots of time with each other to talk, go for walks, and spend time together.

I am seriously so lucky, and I feel so blessed for my life every day.

Happy Monday everyone!

Happy birthday to the best dad in the entire world.

He taught me about love, the gospel, kindness, and more. He sat with me explaining math until I stopped crying because it was too hard. He introduced me to classic music and movies. I felt his love for the Gospel through lessons and testimonies. He is the king of jokes and goofing off, is one of the hardest workers that I have known, and I’m truly amazed at the person he is.

Thank you so much for everything you are and everything you mean Daddy.

I can’t believe you’re finally 25!

But really, happy birthday:)

Dear You,

Things are hard right now. You’ve been beaten up, you’ve been beaten down. You’ve been pushed, pulled, dropped, dragged, and more. You’re done fighting. You just want to give up, give in, and give yourself an out. Sometimes it’s easier to sink, sit, stay.

Nobody understands why you’re making the choices you’re making.

Nobody knows what it feels like.

They don’t get it.

They don’t, won’t, can’t, and never, ever will.

You have to make the choices you’re making. The good ones and the bad ones. You know better. But you don’t really have a choice.

You didn’t want to end up here. You weren’t supposed to. You had plans, dreams, goals.

You didn’t get to choose what brought you here.

Life happened.

And now they judge. And they don’t get it.

It’s pain of loss. Loneliness. Uncertainty. Anxiety. Despair. Fear.

It eats you up. And you are done fighting it off.

But there is light. There is hope. There is a future. A tomorrow. A perfect ending.

And today, there is someone who understands.Who knows every thought, every shard of your heart, every piece of your struggling soul.

You are in your own personal Hell. Your own dark Gethsemane.

And Jesus Christ walked through that very spot. To save you.

He knows what it looks like, feels like, sounds like. He knows the consuming emptiness and fear.

Jesus Christ can, and will carry you through. He will fix you. He will heal you.

Jesus Christ chose to live, so that He could understand what you are feeling.

He knows that pain. Familiarly. Closely. Perfectly.

He does know how it feels. He’s the only one who could. Who can. Who does.

So don’t quit. Just reach out. Just ask. Just pray.

You will know, that He knows.

Sincerely,

Someone who has had to reach for Jesus too

So after a great day of birthday celebrations, we entered into birthday weekend! Unfortunately like a fool, I forgot to take ANY pictures of the weekend. #ashamed

If you saw my Snap story you saw Randy jamming out and having a great time. Too bad I didn’t snap any ACTUAL pictures or videos. i know, I’m the worst. So here’s a picture of Randy cuz he’s a cutie.

Friday after work, Randy got to grab some In N Out for dinner, and then all of our friends came over for games, cake, chips, and Alexon brought some wings that were TO DIE FOR. We talked and played and laughed until 2 AM, #whitesquad style. It was such a blast and I love love love our friends.

Saturday was full of sleeping in and then a little bit of homework but then we went to Chili’s and Guitar Center with Caleb and Nanette and Randy got to play every single instrument (because he’s that talented) to his heart’s content. It blows me away how he can sit down at literally every guitar, bass, piano, drum set, and even the DJ equipment, and make it sound amazing. He’s truly gifted and I love getting to see that side of him regularly.

Saturday evening we watched Casino Royale which is one of Randy’s favorite movies.

Sunday we went to church which is always fun, and then went to Kaysville for a roast beef dinner with my family, also one of Randy’s favorite meals. We played games and planted Easter grass (another Easter tradition for another post) and had a great time.

All in all, I think it was a really successful birthday weekend.

Also, what do you think of our new header, and the About Us page? Comment below if you can’t read it, if you like it, love it, think my explanation of who Randy and I are is good…all the things.

XOXO

Happy Tuesday everyone!

In memory of the wonderfully talented Harper Lee. The thoughts she shared have truly changed me.

When I found out about the passing of Harper Lee, this quote immediately came to my mind. It’s one of my very favorites from To Kill A Mockingbird. And funnily enough, it had been running through my mind quite a lot as of late, for a few reasons.

Let me start this out by saying I’m not angry, upset, frustrated, or feeling any ill will towards anyone. I think people need to make their own decisions and do what is best for them. I think religion especially is a personal journey and finding God is a personal endeavor.

That all being sad, I have had many friends, neighbors, etc. recently decide to distance or disassociate themselves from the LDS Church. The reasons why vary from person to person, but generally people inform me their motivations stem from disbelief in either policy, or doctrines, or both.

 I have been thinking about this a lot. Searching my own feelings and understandings and testimony. And what I have come to is this quote.

People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.

If you are looking to be upset, offended, and if you are looking for the Church NOT to be true, chances are you’ll find it.

If you’re looking to understand, gain God’s perspective, and if you’re looking for ways to strengthen your testimony of the Church, chances are you’ll find it.

It has made me pause and ask myself what I am looking for, and listening for, in regards to my religious beliefs and my testimony. What am I actively searching for? Who am I listening to? Am I opening my ears to hear the still small voice, or am I wanting to hear the words of the world around me about how our Church is wrong? Am I listening to the voice of the men chosen by God to lead this Church, or am I listening to the voice of people who say those men don’t know what they are doing?

I want to look and listen for God. And I know that He directs this Church.