Friday: Listened to my gorgeous sister sing the National Anthem at the last LAX game of the season, went to the wedding of some good friends, had movie night with some other good friends. A very spectacular evening all together.

Saturday: Randy studied, Maddy worked and cleaned. We went to the store to pick up a few things and then to another wedding, then to dinner with some awesome friends. Then Matt and Liv stopped by for a fun night.

Sunday: Church, teaching, and then some great friends over for dinner.

Monday: Randy KILLS his first final and then does all the studying, then we have movie night for FHE.

And this is the only picture I took. But how cute is he?!?

I’ve been going back and listening to conference talks, and today I listened to Elder Hallstrom’s talk. There was a part of it that stuck out to me and made my heart ponder and ask myself some serious questions. Here’s what he said:

When difficult things occur in our lives, what is our immediate response? Is it confusion or doubt or spiritual withdrawal? Is it a blow to our faith? Do we blame God or others for our circumstances? Or is our first response to remember who we are—that we are children of a loving God? Is that coupled with an absolute trust that He allows some earthly suffering because He knows it will bless us, like a refiner’s fire, to become like Him and to gain our eternal inheritance?

I have had hard things happen to me. I have had things happen in my life and in the world around me that I don’t understand. Some things I have a hard time agreeing with. Some things I have a hard time understanding. Some things I question and doubt.

I am now recognizing that these hard things don’t need to be an utter blow to my faith. That if I understand WHO I am, and who my Heavenly Father is, I don’t need to doubt.

I am a child of God.

There are some things we tell children to do or not do that they don’t, and can’t understand. There are rules we enforce that may not make sense to them. There are hard things that they have to go through so they can be stronger. It may include making their bed, doing their own homework, having a curfew, not being allowed to touch a hot stove, and other things.

God is our father and His rules are the same for us, as the rules we give to little children. We don’t understand them all now, but as we learn and grow we will understand them. We trust our parents to help us make good decisions. We can absolutely trust our Heavenly Father as well.

I am a child of God.

And so are you.

Today is graduation at BYU and I must say, it’s got me a bit nostalgic.

It’s so strange to me that one year ago, I was taking pictures with Randy, wearing my little cap and gown, huddled in the back of the de Jong Concert Hall waiting for my turn to walk.

I didn’t trip. I smiled at the Dean and other professors, giving big grins to my favorite ones, and it was done. I opened the folder with a faux diploma inside (the real one is mailed a few days later), snapped a couple pictures, and that was it. Three intense years of college, fast tracked and stressful, and I was done.

I’ve had lots of people ask me how I got done so fast, so here’s the short answer: lots of AP credit, consolidating generals and other classes whenever and however possible, staying for the summer, taking full class loads, and a lot of work.

I wouldn’t change a thing.

So now I’ve been out in the real world for a year.

So here’s a little note to my dear friends who are graduating today, or next week, or next month.

The learning hasn’t stopped.

There were quite a few things that college didn’t prepare me for. The routine of an every day job, the aspects of my job that I’ve spent many late nights researching and getting better at, purchasing a car, applying for another credit card, going over my taxes with my accountant, preparing to open an LLC, researching graduate schools (that’s still in process, I haven’t settled on anything yet), coming home after a ten hour work day to an absolute mess of a house and knowing that I have to wake up and do it all again in just a few hours, no changing of the schedule after just a few months, no summers of sleeping in until 11:00 or taking off Friday at 2:00 for an early weekend, the long hours of meetings when I have SO much work to do at my desk, making small talk with the CEO in the elevator as we watch the numbers go by, adjusting to added job responsibilities, taking on more work as people leave the company, being in on job interviews for a new person who I’ll spend most of my day with, finding the balance of when to stop bringing work home, learning to say no to another freelance opportunity because I’m already too busy, deciding if I NEED that or WANT it, going over stock and retirement options, immersing myself in an unfamiliar industry and really learning every aspect of it, learning the proper way to tell a vendor that they are absolutely out of line, teaching new employee orientation once a month, negotiating salaries, popping back into KSL to do some on-call work when I haven’t been in there in months – and having to do it correctly right then, deadlines of a product that doesn’t just mean a grade but means losing lots of money for the company if it doesn’t work right, switching managers and having to readjust to someone else’s management style…I could go on even longer.

The point is this: graduation is a huge step, but it’s not a last step. It’s a first step. A first step into the rest of your life. The life where you can’t stay up until 2:00 AM every night because you can’t skip work like you could class. The life where your group projects aren’t just a three week thing. The life where cramming for a presentation the night before doesn’t really cut it. The life of 9-5 work instead of shifts whenever they need you,

It’s so rewarding and wonderful. And I’m SO lucky that I’ve been able to spend the last year at a company that I love, doing a job that challenges me every single day. A job where the people are so wonderful, and make me enjoy coming to work (most days).

So my friends that are graduating, congratulations! This is a major day in your life, and I hope you remember it forever. I hope you always want to keep learning, and are so excited for the road ahead. The door is open and the possibilities are right in front of you!

Happy Graduation!

Again, here’s a lil’ update on what’s been up with the Lows lately:

Friday, Randy and I took off to Sixth and Pine for dinner to celebrate him doing FANTASTIC on a math test. Guys, he’s so smart it’s ridiculous.

Saturday was for sleeping in and then driving to Provo where I shopped with my mom and sisters, which was a blast. It’s SO much fun to spend time with those lovely ladies!

Sunday was another day of teaching and a Sunday walk, catching up on reading and spending time together.

So the world keeps on just rushing by and sometimes you can’t really catch your breath because there are too many things to fill your lungs and brain and heart.

I want to do so many things and don’t have the time but then I catch myself spending time on the things I don’t need to do, but also I should do, and the cycle goes on and on.

The point is that sometimes we all need to take a breath.

A to-do list doesn’t mean you have a full life.

Saying no is a viable and important option.

Spending time doing things that you want to do is just as important as manning up, and doing the things you don’t want to do.

Also, take a look at Mother Nature here. Throwing confetti to celebrate the start of spring, just like the rest of us.

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:)