A Forever Kind of Love

Last week sitting at my desk I realized I had not seen my "couple friends" in a while.

This was unusual.

 

My Couple Friends are the sweetest old couple I've ever met in my life. I happen to meet them as two people just passing by at my work a few years ago. We got talking and I immediately felt drawn to them. My love for the elderly had a play in this, I'm sure.

After the first time I met My Couple Friends I immediately called my mom to tell her how much I adored these two people & didn't even know their names.

 

We actually got to know each other very well over the years. They have been with me through many large ups and downs & offered encouragement and advice. I have seen them thrilled and overjoyed about grandchildren and great grandchildren. I often treat them to lunch and their favorite cookies- white chocolate macadamia nut and snicker doodle.

When my Couple friends found out I was engaged they were both so excited. They immediately fell in love with my fiance whom they had never met, merely because I loved him. They have offered me wonderful marriage advice, and after stories of their life together 60+ years, they are still in love. They still hold hands & they still laugh with each other.

They have a forever kind of love.

My Couple Friends asked to get a wedding invite.

Months down the road, I carefully and lovingly wrote on their envelope...

Dale and Mava Russon.

 

A few weeks later my sweet sweet Couple Friends Dale and Mava came to visit me in my office. We talked and made a crazy connection.
When they saw my maiden name on their wedding invite, they realized they were my dad's Mission Presidents in California MANY years ago..

This was the first of many too-good-to-be-true connections I've had with the Russon's.

 

The Russon's were one of the first couples to show up at our wedding reception. Having them there meant more than words could express. They hugged and kissed me and let me know how proud they were of me. Dale and Mava are just like loving grandparents.

 

I've seen them twice since the wedding which has not been nearly enough.

Last week I had thought about them many, many times. Wondering where they've been. They have so many grandchildren and great grandchildren they must be busy with summer and family activities. Friday afternoon I felt like I should call them and check on them. I looked up their phone number, but decided not to dial.

 

{Last week sitting at my desk I realized I had not seen my "couple friends" in a while.

This was unusual.}

 

....

 

Yesterday I saw Dale's obituary in the newspaper and sobbed at my desk.

He died on Saturday, the day after I thought I should call... and didn't.

Yesterday I lost an unofficial grandpa. I loved him just like I love my own.

 

The advice and wise words I heard from sweet Dale mean more to me than ever.

I'm so so sad for his sweet wife Mava and for his family.

At 87 years old, he lived a beautiful fulfilling, happy life.

 

I'm so thankful for Eternal Families

and for a Forever Kind of Love.

 



Peach Cobbler

I like to cook. I really do.

Spencer wouldn't say so.. BUT. I would.

With Spencer previously working at Halliburton and not being home very often, when he WAS home our schedules were usually jam-packed with plans. Family, friends, date nights..

A home cooked meal was NEVER on our menu.

Now that he's home and going to school I've been trying harder to cook..

We are never at home for breakfast or lunch, and two days a week we aren't home together for dinner either.

SO whether I'm making cookies, dinners, side dishes.. whatever.. I'm attempting.

[Spencer, by the way, is a fabulous cook.]

Last night I decided to make Peach Cobbler. with FRESH peaches.

We love this time of year- peach season.

I invited my mom over to have some of our cobbler.
My recipe was passed down for who knows how long, but I know that my pink grandma, mom, and Aunt Diane used to make it together. Every time I make Peach Cobbler I can't help but think of the three of them in the kitchen enjoying their treat together.

Unfortunately mom wasn't able to make it down to our place SO

we each ate a bowl of heaven just the two of us.

[Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of the cobbler after. I was too busy eating it!]

I decided to take the almost empty garbage out only because there were peach skins in it and we've had a problem with those pesky little fruit flies.

[The very thought of them makes me cringe!]

Just as I opened our front door the missionaries were talking to our neighbor across the hall!
PERFECT TIMING!

We invited the Elders in for Peach Cobbler but it was 9:00pm already so we loaded up two paper plates and sent them on their way. As they left they turned around and said, "WE OWE YOU!"

Sharing my Peach Cobbler with the missionaries was my good deed for the day.

XOXO

My Own Button

SOOO.....
I've been really excited about getting my own

"I'm a Mormon" profile on Mormon.org

Not to mention I get my own nifty button to put right on the blog!
I created my profile just days before conference, and had to wait until everything was approved. Now it's all set up and ready to read.

Click the yellow "I'm a Mormon" button on the LEFT of the blog
(The Button above won't link you to anything. It just looks pretty)
OR
click HERE to check it out!

XOXO!

 

Awesome Video!

(I took this picture of my mom's apricot tree before it snowed..)

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!
Conference weekend, I love you!!
WE:

-Went to Spencer's Missionary Reunion with Josh and Kiki

-Stopped by for a quick looky at City Creek- MUST GO BACK SOON!

-Slept in Saturday morning

-Got all of our kitchen stuff put AWAY! soo nice..

-Made Breakfast together

-Spencer surprised me and made me a delicious lunch! Fajita PRO!

-Spencer went to Priesthood session, I went to Pier one

-Purchased the headboard I've been DYING to have

-Purchased our first vacuum.

-Purchased a swiffer mopper. I'm so excited about this.. 

-Ate Lorenas with my family

-Watched Conference

-Ate dinner with my family.

This was a beautiful weekend.

..p.s. what was up with the weather..??

If any of you didn't watch in-between conference sessions

(I usually do not..)
You missed out on such an amazing video!

I've posted it below so you can watch it, many of us were in tears.

See the video Dayton's Legs here!

If this doesn't start your Monday off right, I don't know what will 

Charity Never Faileth

I absolutely LOVE this video!

This came from President Monson's talk "Charity Never Faileth" from the October 2010 session of General Conference. You can read the full talk Here. What an amazing Prophet, and an amazing talk!

Judging others is a touchy topic. At school one day I saw a quote that said..

"Just remember- Everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something."

Immediately I pulled out my notebook and wrote it down. How often are we quick to judge, or think things about someone before we get to know them? When in reality everyone has a family, just like we do. Everyone has gone through rough times, just like we have. Everyone has something they love, just like we do. We need to stay away from judging others or stereotyping before we get to know them. Ask them questions! Find out who they are. 

Some of the people I have not liked at one time or another have ended up being my closest, very best friends.

 And I love them dearly..

Stereotyping:

-You have blonde hair? You MUST be high maintenance.

-You are quiet? You MUST think you're better than everyone.

-You worked at Victoria's Secret? You MUST not have standards.

-You've been in bad relationships? You MUST be damaged.

No people. No.

I have blonde hair because I'm comfortable with blonde hair. I'm okay going out with no make up on, and my hair thrown into a messy bun. I know who I am, and I'm happy with me.

Sometimes I AM quiet. (crazy I know..) But I do NOT think I'm better than you. We all have our own story to tell. Maybe sometimes it just feels nice to observe, listen, and be content.

I did work at Victoria's Secret. And I can sell a tube of lipstick, bottle of lotion and liquid foundation primer like you wouldn't believe. I worked late hours, and I worked hard. I worked two, almost-full-time jobs, and I made it work. I didn't NEED two jobs, I wanted two jobs.

I HAVE been in bad relationships. But because of them, I know exactly what I want in life, and in a Husband. I am not damaged. I have been taught hard lessons, and I came out of those situations a much better person. Those bad relationships have taught me to love myself for who I am.

I have found Spencer and know my Heavenly Father was looking out for me. I have been so blessed to have Spencer in my life.

Life and the people in it are, at some time or another, going to give you labels. Whether you accept those labels or not is up to you. Just like the children's book You Are Special about the Wemwick's that receive gray dots. We can let those gray dots stick to us, or we can let them gracefully fall to the ground. A while back Spencer bought that book for me and I realized reading through the pages that there is a much bigger lesson than just being a children's book.  

Take a minute and think about some of the things YOU have been through, and have learned along the way. Be loving, understanding and Charitable.

And before you look at others, make sure to clean your dirty windows.
Charity Never Faileth.

xoxo

What are some stereotypes/labels YOU have overcome?