2024 in Review

It was a great year with a lot of time spent at work, serving in Church callings and at the temple, visiting with family and friends, hiking, and exploring some new places! I could have been more focused in my study and learning this year and need to work on my goals for this year better in the coming year, but I'm grateful for all the opportunities and experiences of 2024.

Service

I finished my service as ward Relief Society president in July.  It was a wonderful learning experience that opened my eyes to needs and situations I wouldn't have known, and expanded my heart in multiple ways.  It has also helped me look for those that might need a visit or someone to sit by them or talk to them.  I'm enjoying continued visits with neighbors without the stress of planning for events and all that a Relief Society president worries about.

I also helped with a couple of Christmas events.  I love hosting at the Festival of Trees each year and this year I helped to coordinate part of our stake/community nativity event.  I learned a lot and am grateful for the chance to celebrate the true meaning of the season.

Temples

I attended 13 new temples this year:  Orem Utah, Fort Lauderdale Florida, Orlando Florida, Red Cliffs Utah, Feather River California, Sacramento California, Taylorsville Utah, Layton Utah, Raleigh North Carolina, Richmond Virginia, Hartford Connecticut, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, and Deseret Peak Utah.  I've decided to make a goal to attend 100 different temples before I turn 50 (that's a little less than 5 years to get to 31 more).  It's an amazing time to be alive when more and more temples are being dedicated and available for so many more people all across the world to make covenants, receive ordinances, serve ancestors, and worship God!  I also visited a few temples I hadn't been to for a while and love (St. George Utah, Washington D.C., Portland Oregon, Mount Timpanogos, and Bountiful), which was wonderful!  

I had the unique and wonderful privilege of attending the Orem Utah Temple dedication and the Manti Utah Temple rededication.  These were special occasions. 

I love working as an ordinance worker again.  I started again in February at the Draper Utah Temple and it's a blessing to spend Saturday nights helping people to receive eternal blessings and joy.  

I personally performed 200 ordinances this year for 120 different ancestors.  I'm grateful for the blessings of the temple in my life and the opportunity it provides to serve others in a meaningful way.  

Traveling

I'm really grateful for opportunities to travel!  I learn so much when I can explore a new place, and I had some really wonderful adventures this year, some with family, one trip with a friend, and three solo trips that I really quite enjoyed.  Here were some highlights this year:

• Florida -- In January, I flew to Fort Lauderdale to attend the Fort Lauderdale Florida Temple.  I haven't spent much time in Florida, so it was fun to drive up the coast and explore a little bit on my way to the Orlando Florida Temple.  I drove out to Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Station before flying home.  My way home consisted of a missed flight and overnight in Denver before about 12 hours in St. George to spend time with my parents and go to the Red Cliffs Utah Temple open house.  It was nice to take the shuttle home and enjoy a book on the way back.
• St. George -- In March, for Easter, I made one more trip to St. George, via Manti to see the Manti Utah Temple open house.  While in St. George I attended the newly renovated St. George Utah Temple and the Red Cliffs Utah Temple with mom.  It was so nice to enjoy time there and with my parents.  Luckily, the weather was good enough to make another trip to St. George for Thanksgiving.  It was nice to spend time with Mom and Dad and Cari's family for the holiday.
• California -- In May, I flew to Sacramento with a friend for a couple of days to attend the Feather River California Temple and the Sacramento California Temple.  We also drove down to Modesto to see the play "Come From Away" that was playing there that weekend.  We also drove by the Modesto California Temple site.  
• North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C. -- In July, it was fun to spend a couple of days in Washington, D.C.  I walked around the Mall and the city twice, after having attended the renovated Washington, D.C. Temple which was so nice!  I love that special place and city!  I started the trip in Raleigh, North Carolina where I attended the temple and then drove up to the Richmond Virginia Temple.  They were both so wonderful!  Such peaceful and beautiful places!  And it's a lovely drive through the trees the whole way.  This is a wonderful part of the country!
• Oregon -- In August, I spent my birthday and Labor Day weekend in Portland with Josh, Kirsten, Lia, and got to meet baby Miles.  He's darling!!  Highlight!  We drove out to the coast, visited Oceanside and Tunnel Beach, had dinner at Tillamook, and I even got to go to the Portland Oregon Temple again.  Love that place!
• Colorado -- In September, I spent a few days with my parents in Snowmass Village and Aspen, Colorado.  It was BEAUTIFUL!  The fall colors were perfect!  Dad and I hiked to Buckskin Pass a couple miles past Maroon Bells and Crater Lake.  It was amazing!!!  The next day we drove up to Ashcroft (an old ghost town) and took some pictures and then rode e-bikes up to Maroon Bells again.  Amazing!  Saturday morning (before the afternoon rains and exciting BYU football game), Dad and I drove up to Independence Pass and hiked most of the way to Independence Lake before it started to flurry.  It was a BEAUTIFUL fall scene!  We also walked through the ghost town of Independence, hiked to Weller Lake, and walked around the Grottos.  We attended sacrament meeting in the Aspen Branch and then drove home via Moab, with a quick stop at Double Arch and Dead Horse Point State Park.
• Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio -- In October, I spent a beautiful fall weekend driving across Pennsylvania.  I flew into Hartford and attended the Hartford Connecticut Temple, and stopped at the Wilford Woodruff birthplace, before driving to Ricketts Glen State Park to explore some of the waterfalls, and then drive on to Williamsport where I spent the night.  I stopped to see the Little League World Series Complex and then drove on to the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple, and then to the Kirtland Temple.  I toured the Joseph and Emma Smith home, walked around the temple grounds and Kirtland town area, as well as the Morley Farm.  I went to see the sunset over Lake Erie.  I went to church at the Hiram Ward and then toured the Johnson Farm in Hiram before going back to the temple for a tour there and at the Whitney store.  On a rainy Sunday afternoon, it was sweet to explore these areas and think of the sacrifices and growth and blessings the Lord poured out and continues to send.  I was struck by the faith and goodness of Joseph Smith and others who unequivocally put the Lord first and followed His direction without question and hesitation.  We can continue today to choose Him and follow where He leads.
• Hawaii -- It was another lovely week leading up to Christmas in Kailua.  This time I got to see Matt's family for a few days, and spend time with Mom and Dad and Josh's family who were also in town then.  The highlight was the daily sunrise beach walks, Christmas caroling with family to friends, Church, being with family.  What a dream!

Hiking

I think my favorite hike this year was with Dad to Buckskin Pass in Aspen, Colorado, on a beautiful fall day!  Desolation Lake the next week with Cari was also a highlight and gorgeous!  I loved Lake Blanche with some co-workers on Juneteenth.  And Albion Basin is always a highlight all of July!  I made it to Cecret Lake a couple of times and Lake Catherine a couple of times, too.  Willow Heights Lake and Bell Canyon Reservoir are beautiful in all seasons.

Reading

I read too much this year--122 books (including several children's books and 16 audio books, which aren't my favorite--I can't remember or follow quite as well when I'm listening; I like to hold an actual book in my hand--but it is nice when you're driving a ways).  Here are some of my favorites:

• The Joy of Movement
• Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West
• Establishing Zion: Foundations for a Millennial Society
• Faith: A Journey for All
• The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt
• Saints #4: Sounded in Every Ear (1955-2020)
• The Rock of Our Redeemer: Facing the Future with Faith, Hope, and Power
• Habits of a Peacemaker: 10 Habits to Change Our Potentially Toxic Conversations into Healthy Dialogues
• Both Things Are True
• Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith
• May You Love and Be Loved: Wishes for Your Life
• Crucial Influence: Leadership Skills to Create Lasting Behavior Change
• The Paris Daughter
• Filled with His Love: Strengthening Our Attachment to God and to Others
• Just Add Water: My Swimming Life
• The Secret Life of Flora Lea
• Jane of Lantern Hill
• The Last Love Note
• To Always Have His Spirit
• Four Thousand Weeks
• Tree. Table. Book.
• The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness
• Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection
• Raising Critical Thinkers: A Parent's Guide to Growing Wise Kids in the Digital Age
• Mostly What God Does
• The Amen Affect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World
• Book of Mormon Insights: Letting God Prevail in Your Lives
• Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ
• The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11
• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
• Restorations: Scholars in Dialogue: from Community of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• The Women
• Where Courage Calls
• Leading with Dignity: How to Create a Culture That Brings Out the Best in People
• The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming-of-Age-Crisis--and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance
• The Second Coming of the Lord
• Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World
• Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning
• The Unexpected Deliverer
• Enough
• When Tomorrow Comes
• Outlive
• The Wish
• The Warsaw Orphan (I listened to this one, but need to go back and read it--my favorite audio book this year)
• Spells for Lost Things
• The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times
• Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again
• Forty Autumns: A Family's Story of Courage and Survival on Both Sides of the Berlin Wall
• How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen
• Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President
• All the World

Of course, the best and most important book I'm always reading, and with a little more focus and study this year, is the Book of Mormon.  I read it twice.  Once focusing on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Disciples of Jesus Christ:

• recognize God's hand in their life and know He is with them
• pray always, speak with the Lord
• obediently follow God's directions
• offer sacrifice and thanks to God
• keep the commandments with steadfastness
• desire to know and diligently seek to understand the mysteries of God
• trust God and do as He commands
• encourage others to be faithful and obedient and come to Jesus Christ
• follow the Spirit, not always knowing beforehand what they'll do
• receive strength and courage from the Lord
• are filled with joy and hope and trust in God's promises
• forgive
• press forward continually holding fast to the iron rod
• heed not the wicked
• hearken to voice of the Lord and His prophets
• look unto God and praise Him, even in afflictions
• read, teach, testify of Christ
• have faith in Jesus Christ
• are determined and persevere
• seek the glory of God and welfare of others
• invite others to look to and come to Jesus
• know Who they trust and wait for the Lord
• know the covenants of the Lord and His wisdom, mercy, goodness, power
• abhor sin, seek righteousness
• remember the words of God
• delight in the Lord and His covenants
• counsel together
• sanctify the Lord
• believe in Christ
• labor diligently to persuade others to believe in Christ and look forward to Him
• talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, prophesy of Christ, write according to prophecies
• have charity
• invite all to come
• believe in a God of miracles
• be meek, have joy in the Lord
• repent
• humbly follow Christ
• receive the Holy Ghost
• think of brethren like selves, serve fellow beings
• seek the kingdom of God
• look to God with firmness of mind and pure hearts
• lift up heads and feast on His love
• love families
• seek not to counsel the Lord but are reconciled to Him
• nourish their own faith and the vineyard
• labor with diligence
• enter at straight gate and continue in the way
• offer whole souls to Christ, fasting, praying, enduring to the end
• receive His words
• beware of contention and pride
• yield to Spirit and put off the natural man, becoming a saint through Christ--as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to Father
• know goodness of God
• believe and do--repent and retain a remission of sins by calling on His name in faith
• live peaceably, walking in truth and loving and serving others
• administer of substance
• remember to retain Jesus's name written in heart
• are steadfast and immovable, abounding in good works
• turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart
• apply hearts to understanding
• believe words of prophets and flee wickedness
• repent, are baptized, and filled with grace of God
• look forward with one eye and hearts knit together in love one towards another
• observe the Sabbath
• give thanks
• labor with own hands
• impart of substance
• establish peace
• bear His name
• are instruments in hands of God
• walk in the ways of the Lord
• establish the Church
• remember the captivity of fathers
• are spiritually born of God and have His image in countenance
• exercise faith in redemption of Christ and look forward with faith
• come to Him, fearing not and laying aside every sin
• labor in the Spirit
• stand with boldness
• remember words of the prophets
• prepare to meet God
• teach His commandments
• preach repentance
• humble selves and call on His holy name
• have all things equal
• have courage
• expound plan of redemption
• call on name of the Lord
• rejoice and praise God, glory in the Lord
• observe commandments and ordinances
• desire to believe, plant word in hearts
• have faith, are humble and patient and charitable
• improve time while in this life
• remember Jesus
• are diligent in fulfilling His words
• abhor wickedness
• counsel with the Lord in all doings
• prepare strongholds
• are valiant and true
• stand fast in liberty
• trust God will deliver them
• seek not for power
• gather together
• build upon rock of Redeemer, Jesus Christ
• preach with power and authority
• declare His word that people may have eternal life
• open ears, listen, hearken, seek to understand
• come and see and feel Him, are healed and saved
• hold up His light
• don't judge
• beware of false prophets
• watch and pray always
• pray for Holy Ghost
• search scriptures
• teach and minister
• love God
• hearken to words of the Lord
• are wise
• ask, believe
• do good
• commend selves unto God
• walk humbly before the Lord
• have faith in Christ
• seek Jesus
• meet together, fast, pray, speak concerning welfare of souls
• have faith, hope, and charity
• search diligently in light of Christ
• labor diligently to conquer enemy of all righteousness
• are faithful in Christ
• remember how merciful the Lord has been, receive His words and know truth by Holy Ghost
• deny not the gifts of God and lay hold upon every good thing which comes of God
• awake and arise
• come unto Christ and be perfected in Him denying yourself of all ungodliness
• love God with all your might, mind, and strength

2022 in Review

I must admit that I started and ended the year pretty stressed, but I also gratefully realize that this year has been a time to grow and stretch and learn.  (New Year's Eve on Saturday has helped me focus and regroup and prepare as I prepare for the Sabbath--it's kind of my favorite way to celebrate.) 

I began the year conducting Primary (for some reason this terrified me) and also teaching a physical geography class at Ensign College (this was overwhelming, but so great).  These were wonderful chances to learn.  I was blessed by the children's and students' desire to learn and ability to teach.  These experiences helped me remember the simple and beautiful truths of the gospel in the Old Testament and in geography!  

I'm grateful to be reminded how much I love geography!  It forced me to study the specifics of a number of things that I'd forgotten, ;)  It made me even more grateful for the beauty and wonder of this world and our Heavenly Father's creations.  Just as President Nelson has found beauty in understanding the divine laws that govern the body, I found again great beauty in understanding the divine laws that govern the physical geography of our world.  It's incredible!  There is order and purpose and majesty, even amidst challenges and disasters.

It was great to spend time with humble children and to be in a classroom with students eager to learn, and also increase their faith in God and their understanding of His creations.  It was a lot of work, but quite rewarding.  I'm grateful for the wonderful opportunity to learn new knowledge and skills, gain confidence, and practice thinking and teaching and helping others learn, as well as having the chance to bear my testimony often of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the goodness of God.  "All things denote there is a God!"

I also enjoyed working at the Draper Temple on Saturdays.  I saw miracles and blessings and felt a lot of joy in serving and spending so much time in this sacred place of peace.  With these commitments, it was harder to find time to hike and travel, but I did keep up on walks and study groups with friends and phone calls and some great visits with family!  

I had a sweet experience in August where answers to prayers and fasting for direction were answered unexpectedly with an invitation to serve and grow in a new way.  I've stopped working at the temple and teaching for now to focus on getting to know the remarkable women in my neighborhood.  I have a lot to learn, but I have been uplifted by their goodness.  A few weeks later, I was asked to be part of a writing committee that should be another challenging but strengthening opportunity.  I hope to get back to working at the temple and teaching again someday, but for now I'm grateful for new chances to grow.

I'm still working on finding the right balance and boundaries.  Life is busy and hard, but purposeful.  I'm grateful for chances to forget myself and to rely on the Lord.

Here are a few other highlights from 2022:

Things I Learned

• some Spanish (Duolingo is great; in about 45 hours, I learned over 3000 words!)
• the importance of the scientific method, good information and sources, latitude/longitude, map projections, point of view, plate tectonics, the rock cycle, volcanoes and earthquakes, weathering and mass wasting, water and coastlines and ocean basins, atmosphere and weather, climate and climate change, and the effects of physical geography on ancient civilizations
• the importance of awe and wonder and appreciation for the world that testifies of God's goodness
• be sure to see the flowers of Snow Canyon in April
• hike, walk, move, get outside
• read, study, think, learn, try to understand new things, seek truth, and share the good
• enjoy flowers, clouds, rainbows, leaves
• go to the temple
• take vacation days
• find a new trail and do all the old favorites, too (maybe a couple of times)
• spend time with family
• focus on people and relationships
• be patient
• be there
• serve
• enjoy each season
• hike in the rain
• keep friendships
• appreciate and take opportunities
• notice progress
• listen
• get to know someone new
• think of what someone else might need
• ask for help
• be humble
• be kind
• learn from children
• walk on the beach, listen to the waves, relax
• remember where you're from
• appreciate others and express gratitude
• follow the Spirit
• do something fun
• trust in the Lord; He will be with you and help you
• when you're willing, the Lord will magnify your abilities and multiply your time
• we grow and are blessed and find joy when we serve
• make sacrifices
• don't be too hard on yourself or others
• work hard, do your best
• rest and take care of yourself

Family / Relationships
I'm still the obnoxious sister that calls too much, but I'm grateful for each family member and all that they teach me and enjoy any chance I have to talk to or be with my family.  I'm glad I got to see most of them this year.  I missed one sister-in-law and four nephews, but I'm grateful that we've got a date on the calendar in 2023 that we'll all be together!  Walks and hikes with friends and family, as well as Come, Follow Me study groups and sealing sessions continue to be a blessing.  Relationships are important and I want to work harder at making the most important relationships a bigger part of my life.

Traveling
I was grateful to do a little bit of traveling this year.  Here are some of the highlights:

• The office - Construction continues right outside my windows on Temple Square this year.  It has been fun to observe the progress, but I can't wait to see the tulips again someday and be able to walk around the block without having to walk around three!  I was grateful to be back on Trax some to avoid traffic, save on gas, and read more books. ;)
• The mountains - I love the mountains and enjoyed time at some favorite spots and a few new ones: Albion Basin, Cecret Lake, Catherine Pass, Gloria Falls, Lake Blanche, Dog Lake, Desolation Lake, Willow Heights Lake, Lake Mary, Ensign Peak, the Suspension Bridge, the Draper trails, the Lanikai Bunker, the Ehukai pillbox, Laniakea and Ke'Iki and Banzai and Ehukai and Sunset beaches, Johnson Canyon, the Petrified Dunes and Lava Tube areas of Snow Canyon, the Vortex, Red Cliffs, Paradise Rim, Kolob Canyon, White Pine Lake (near Tony Grove), Taggart Lake, Bradley Lake, String Lake, Table Mountain, Skyline Trail (at Mount Rainier), Silver Falls (at the Ohanapecosh River), Silver Falls State Park near Salem, Oregon, Mount Hood, Trilium Lake, Indian Beach and Hug Point.
• Hawaii - It was really fun to be in Hawaii for a week in May with my parents and siblings and their spouses (- Megan + Lia) to celebrate Cari's 40th birthday!  I got to know the North Shore a little bit better and loved time in the old familiar spots to relax.  There is something so rejuvenating about island life. ;)
• Wyoming - I love the Tetons!  It was nice to spend a couple of days at the end of July hiking with my dad, first in Tony Grove (to White Pine Lake) and then the Tetons (Taggart, Bradley, and String Lakes) and halfway to Table Mountain before a stop at the new Pocatello Idaho Temple on the way home.
• Washington / Oregon - It was so nice to spend Labor Day weekend in Washington and Oregon with my parents and Josh's family.  We hiked the Skyline trail at Mount Rainier, Silver Falls State Park in Oregon, Mount Hood area near Trilium Lake, Indian Beach and Hug Point.  It was nice to see Josh and Kirsten's cute neighborhood and be in the Pacific Northwest again.  
• St. George - I enjoyed three trips to St. George this year for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  I loved seeing the flowers blooming in Snow Canyon in April, the fall leaves near Johnson Canyon in November, and finding the Vortex in December.  It was mostly just nice to spend time with my parents! :)

Reading
This year I loved reading and studying the Old Testament.  It was such a blessing to learn about God's love for His children since the very beginning.  He has a plan.  We are His children.  This earth was created for us as a place to learn and grow and prove ourselves so that we can return to Him.  Our covenants with Him bind us to Him forever.  

I also read the Book of Mormon one and a half times this year.  I love this book and how it helps me feel the Spirit and understand our Heavenly Father's constant love and His plan for His children.  

• The first time through I studied about God's handiwork and creations.  It's beautiful to see how important the earth is to our Heavenly Father's work--the wilderness, the heavens, precious lands, waters and waves, manna, deserts, rocks, beasts, fowls, seasons, bodies, nations, kindreds, tongues, mountains, fruit, vineyards, thorns, islands, stars, whirlwinds, lightning, fire, branches, roots, pruning, digging, ball or director, interpreters, hills, flocks, seeds, plates, grain, ground, every creature, fields, herds, famine, flood, disease, glory, noise, shaking, works, animals, seashore, planets, trees, life, rivers, clouds, signs and wonders, dust, movement, quaking, great lights, sun, valleys, light, dark, storm and tempests, wind, lilies, elements, heat, change, fish, rain, sheep, ore, tilling the land, plains, gifts.  "All things denote there is a God... [and] witness that there is a Supreme Creator" (Alma 30:44).  The "dust of the earth moveth... at the command of our great and everlasting God" (Helaman 12:8).  While He commands the elements, He sends wind to blow to the promised land, provides directors, sends manna, tells us to look for the fruit and teaches us how to make it grow.  There are so many beautiful lessons in studying the handiwork of God.
• The second time through I spent time studying all that the Book of Mormon teaches about leadership.  I'm still working on this one, but there are so many wonderful lessons to learn directly from the Lord and His prophets and other righteous leaders and individuals, as well as bad examples from others.

I also loved studying many articles about physical geography and having a renewed appreciation for the majesty of our Heavenly Father's creations.  All things testify of His Son, the Creator. 

In addition to this study, I read 95 books. Here are some of my favorites (in no particular order, but roughly most to least recent):

• Spiritually Anchored in Unsettled Times by Bruce C. Hafen
• Of One Heart by Neal A. Maxwell
• Let's Talk about Religion and Mental Health by Daniel K. Judd
• He Will Give You Rest by Gaye Strathearn
• The Washington D.C. Temple by Dale Van Atta
• Let Your Light Shine by Bonnie H. Cordon
• A Woman's Place by Lynn Austin
• Learning to Love Isaiah by Kerry Muhlstein
• Code Talker by Chester Nez
• Original Grace by Adam S. Miller
• From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks
• Exploring the Apocrypha by Jared Ludlow
• The Law of Love by Steve Young
• Boldly, Nobly, and Independent: Saints, Volume 3
• The Strength of His Hand by Lynn Austin
• To Cheer and To Bless by Deseret Book
• Far Above Rubies by Tammy U. Hall
• Ascending the Mountain of the Lord by David R. Seely
• The Holy Covenants by Anthony Sweat
• Song of Redemption by Lynn Austin
• I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
• Trust and Inspire by Stephen M. R. Covey
• The Genius Under the Table by Eugene Yelchin
• Grace To Become by Emily Freeman
• The Golden Son by Shilpi S. Gowda
• Old Testament Insights: The Sacrifice of a Broken Heart by Mary Jane Woodger
• Approaching Holiness by David R. Seely
• Everyday Disciples by Taylor Ricks
• Covenant of Compassion by Sperry Symposium
• Longitude by Dava Sobel
• Finding Christ in the Covenant Path by Jennifer C. Lane
• All the Way to Heaven by David Grandy
• Lighten Up by Chieko Okazaki
• The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman
• The Sense of Wonder by Rachel Carson
• Impact Players by Liz Wiseman
• Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin
• Come Unto Me by Brad Wilcox

Service
I've had some unique and stretching service opportunities this year. 

• Temples - I served as an ordinance worker at the Draper Temple from January through August, most of that time serving as an assistant coordinator, which was a sweet opportunity to get to know the sisters on my shift and learn and teach and testify of the blessings of the temple and its ordinances and covenants.  It gave me a new appreciation for all that's involved in keeping a temple running, the importance of training, and the special privilege of serving in the temple.  I don't think there's a better calling in the church or place where you can see more miracles happen, large and small.  There are so many blessings and so much power in our covenants that bind us to Jesus Christ.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to spend so much time there.  I miss the consistent extended hours there, but still enjoy my weekly appointments to serve, especially doing sealings monthly with friends.  I added one new temple to the list this year (Pocatello Idaho) and returned to a few that I love (especially Laie Hawaii).
• Church - I started the year serving in the Primary presidency which was a sweet blessing.  I learned to know and love the children.  They helped me gain some confidence and focus on the simple and joyful truths of the gospel.  Their spontaneous testimonies in word and action were such a blessing to me!  I also got to attend baptisms and enjoy time with them on the temple grounds learning of the importance of the blessings of the temple.  We also got to figure out how to combine our Primary with a neighboring ward's, which was an interesting opportunity and a great blessing to our children so that they have more friends to support them.  In September, I received a new calling serving in Relief Society and have already been blessed as I've tried to get to know many of the sisters.  We have a unique demographic in our ward and I'm grateful for each sister who adds so much to our community and ward family.

I'm grateful for all that I've learned this year and look forward to figuring out a better balance and finding and sharing more joy in 2023!

2021 in Review

It was another interesting year.  While life hasn't returned to normal yet (whatever that is), I'm grateful for opportunities to learn and grow and I've never been more grateful for a vaccine (actually three of them)! ;)  Highlight!  I think due in part to the loneliness and quiet of last year, as soon as I had the chance and things started to turn around, I found opportunities to get outside my house, spend time with people, and serve.  I felt inspired in April to make a few changes and have been grateful for the blessings that have come because of them.  

• I've had the chance to get to know my neighbors better as I returned to a neighborhood congregation at Church (after too many years in a variety of singles wards).  It's been a great blessing to get to know new people and to spend time with the children!  I'm inspired by their goodness and the simplicity and beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ they can learn from such a young age.  
• I have also had the wonderful opportunity of serving as an ordinance worker in the Draper Temple.  What a blessing it is to be in the temple again and serving and learning and feeling the peace of our Heavenly Father's plan and truth and power of His gospel on a regular basis!  
• I have also had the unique and enjoyable opportunity of teaching as an adjunct professor at Ensign College.  I just finished teaching an Interpersonal Communications class.  It was a lot of work, but it was wonderful!  I learned so much and am grateful for the chance to help students in their quest to become capable and trusted disciples of Jesus Christ.  I'm looking forward to teaching a Physical Geography class next semester. 

In addition to my full-time job, these things have filled up much of my time and I'm grateful.  It's been a blessing to be involved in meaningful work and service.  With so much that is confusing or contentious or discouraging in the world, it's nice to have things keeping me busy that I know will bring ultimate joy and peace for me and others.  I also recognize that I might need a little less busyness and stress in my life again.  It's the pendulum swing of life balance and I'm learning and working on finding that.

Here are a few other highlights from 2021:

Things I Learned

This year I've been reminded of the need to:

• come unto Christ, listen to His words, follow His Spirit, trust Him, and move forward in faith
• learn, explore, use and expand your talents, communicate, and love everyone
• be still and quiet (my pace up a hiking trail qualifies), and look for beauty and goodness
• do what you enjoy, help where you can, make sacrifices, and don't be too hard on yourself
• work hard, do your best, rest, relax, and take care of yourself

Family / Relationships
We've continued our almost weekly family Zoom calls, which has been a blessing this year!  I'm grateful for family and especially a new niece (who's darling and who I finally got to meet at Thanksgiving)!  We actually had two chances to be all together as a family this year.  We spent a week together in Sun River and Otter Rock, Oregon in July.  Highlight!  Then we were also able to get together for a few days at Thanksgiving in Highland, Utah.  I also really love my Christmas break tradition of spending time with my parents in St. George.  I'm really grateful for a loving and supportive family and chances to be together or talk to any of them any time I can.  My sister might disagree, but for me, on a stressful day, one of the best things I can do is spend some time with her kids who help put life into perspective and make me smile and laugh.

Walks and hikes with friends and family, as well as Come, Follow Me study groups via Zoom continue to be a blessing.  It was nice to get to know some people at Ensign College, particularly the students.  I was inspired by their goodness, their desire to learn, their testimonies, and their hope for the future.

Traveling
I was grateful to be back at church, the temple, and on a college campus again.  I loved getting away to Oregon and California for a couple of weeks.  And I'm still so grateful for the peace of the mountains and outdoors.  Here are some of the highlights:

• The office - Construction continues right outside my windows on Temple Square this year.  It has been fun to observe the progress, but I can't wait to see the tulips again someday!
• The mountains - I love the mountains and enjoyed time at some favorite spots and a few new ones--Willow Heights Lake, Alien Tower, Ensign Peak, Horsetail Falls, Three Falls Trail, Mount Olympus section of the Bonneville Trail, Tibble Fork, Gloria Falls, Albion Basin, Catherine Pass, Lake Mary, Dog Lake, Primrose Overlook, Snowbird Tram, Lofty Lakes Loop, Causey Reservoir, Lake Blanche, the Suspension Bridge, and the Draper trails.
• Oregon - Oregon is beautiful!  It was so much fun to explore Sun River!  What a fun little town with more bikes than cars.  It was fun to bike and hike around with the family.  Then we spent another few days on the coast at Otter Rock (driving via Sahalie Falls which was really pretty!), searching the tide pools and exploring the beaches.  It was nice to have some time to slowly drive home along the coast--Cape Kiwanda Dunes, Yachats, Heceta Lighthouse, Bandon, Gold Beach, Secret Beach, and the Samuel Boardman Scenic Area.
• California - The Redwoods are AMAZING!  This was a real highlight to see and wander through and ponder and explore these huge, awe-inspiring trees.  We went to several forests (Stout Grove, Boy Scout Tree, Fern Canyon, Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Tall Trees, Avenue of the Giants, Rockefeller Grove, and the Founders Grove) and also enjoyed the sunsets and views and vineyards of Cresent City, Fort Bragg, Caspar, Mendocino Headlands, Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, the Jedediah Smith Memorial bike trail near Sacramento, and a view of Lake Tahoe and the Salt Flats while driving home.
• St. George - St. George has become the perfect place to relax and regroup between Christmas and the New Year.  I'm grateful for my parents, books, puzzles, hiking trails, and no alarm clock!

I am hoping that next year will include a little bit more traveling... hopefully a trip to Hawaii, and maybe a visit to Washington and Iceland?  We'll see.  Here's to hoping. :)

Reading
This year I loved reading and studying the Doctrine and Covenants.  It was such a blessing to be immersed in the words of God and His revelations and teachings!  These words are just as important for us as for those who wrote and lived them and preserved them for us.  I was inspired again by Joseph Smith and others who sacrificed much and had great faith in the Lord through great challenges.  They are an inspiration and I'm grateful for their important efforts to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ in this dispensation.   The blessings of the temple seemed to be an important focus of the early Saints and the Lord's teachings to them and to us.  I'm grateful for the blessings of the temple in my life and the added light and truth and peace that come from continued study.

I also read the Book of Mormon twice this year.  I love this book and how it helps me feel the Spirit and understand our Heavenly Father's constant love and His plan for His children.  

• The first time through I studied and made notes of all the invitations of the Lord to "come unto me."  Jesus Christ is constantly inviting us to come to Him.  He is there and helps and lifts and shows us the way.  What a message of comfort and peace in our day.  It's not always easy to come to Him and it requires action on our part, but it is very much an open invitation!  I think one of the most oft-repeated words in the Book of Mormon teaching us how to come to Him is repent.  The Book of Mormon is full of that invitation and it is possible because of Him.  What a hopeful and joyful reminder!  Other invitations include: pray, keep the commandments, follow the prophet, listen to His voice, believe, give thanks, remember the things He has done, forgive, rely on Him, have faith, be humble and patient and full of love, harden not our hearts, heed, feel His words, gather, see, plant, be baptized, declare truth, be obedient, endure to the end, serve God, stand steadfast, praise Him, delight in Him, choose Him, worship Him, lay aside our sins, seek Him, look forward, be meek, feast upon His love, awake, rejoice, trust, continue in diligence, ask, give, serve, wait upon Him, walk in His ways, know Him, publish peace, labor, pour out our hearts, covenant, stand as witnesses, be led by the Spirit, fast, nourish seeds with care, exercise faith, minister, look to God, take upon us His name, don’t doubt, unite strength, do good continually, fortify, cleave unto Him, turn unto Him, stop, don’t go home, return and declare His word, bury weapons of war, build on His rock, have an eye single to His glory, be one, sing praises to Him, have hope, be faithful, and be sanctified through Him.  There are just as many instances in the same scriptures of the Lord giving examples of how he's reaching out to us to show that he really means... COME!  ;)  One of my favorite verses this year was the Lord's invitation in 3 Nephi 9:14: "if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me."
• The second time through I spent time studying how our Heavenly Father communicates with us (coinciding with my communications class).  It reminded me of how much He wants to communicate with us!  Heavenly Father truly wants to communicate with us.  He speaks constantly… directly to His children, inviting us to pray, introducing His Son and our Savior to minister and teach and heal, sending His Spirit to guide us, speaking to His prophets, asking them to teach and testify and record His words, sending angels, controlling the elements, sharing His gifts and power, and making and keeping promises.  We can choose to hear and heed His loving words and recognize His mercy in our lives. 

I also loved reading a number of articles about intrapersonal and interpersonal communications.  It was good to be reminded of the importance of communication in every aspect of our lives.  I learned more about perception, self-esteem, strengths, spiritual communication, listening, digital communication, emotional intelligence, nonverbal communication, relationships, communication with family, conflict resolution, and problem solving.

In addition to this study, I read 106 books. Here are some of my favorites (in no particular order, but roughly most recent read to least recent):

• Whole in Christ by Robert L. Millet
• We Cross the Bridge and It Trembled by Wendy Pearlman
• Anxiously Engaged: A Biography of M. Russell Ballard by Susan Easton Black
• Real vs. Rumor by Keith A. Erekson
• The Savior in Kirtland by Karl R. Anderson
• The Spirit of Revelation by David A. Bednar
• What the Scriptures Teach Us about Raising a Child by S. Michael Wilcox
• Beyond the Shade of the Mango Tree by Edward Dube
• A Walk in My Shoes by Ben Schilaty
• First: The Life and Faith of Emma Smith by Jennifer Reeder
• Caste: The Origins of our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson
• The Spiritual Physics of Light by Aaron D. Franklin
• Remembering Joseph by Mark L. McConkie
• Reaching for the Savior by Reyna I. Aburto
• Know Brother Joseph
• Drawing on the Powers of Heaven by Grant Von Harrison
• I Think You're Wrong, But I'm Listening by Sarah Holland
• God Will Prevail by Kery Muhlestein
• How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie
• Wilford Woodruff's Witness: The Development of Temple Doctrine by Jennifer Mackley
• The Rabbit Effect by Kelly Harding
• The Sweetness of Forgetting by Kristin Harmel
• Leaves from My Journal by Wilford Woodruff
• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
• Restoration by Patrick Mason
• The Book of Lost Names by Kristen Harmel
• The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
• In the Hands of the Lord: The Life of Dallin H. Oaks by Richard E. Turley, Jr.
• The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
• Everything Beautiful in My Time by Jenna Bush Hager
• Legacy of Mercy #2 by Lynn Austin
• No Time Like the Future by Michael J. Fox
• I'm Still Here by Austin Brown
• Silence and Walking by Erling Kagge

Learning / Service
I'm grateful for new opportunities to learn and serve this year, and want to be more aware and intentional in focusing outward in order to help meet others' needs and give where I can. 

• Family History - During the first half of the year, when I couldn't be in the temple, I increased my indexing efforts, which was a great blessing.  I also spent time learning about and compiling some information about my ancestors, particularly learning about the first ancestors in each of my family lines who joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (all of them between 1831 in Ohio and 1883 in Switzerland).  I'm grateful for their legacy and examples and faith!  
• Temples - I have loved being back in the temple and have tried to be there as consistently as I can find an appointment available.  My weekly service as a temple worker has been a great reminder of the power and blessing of temple ordinances and covenants.
• Church - I enjoyed teaching Sunday School for the first few months of the year (all on Zoom), and then I had the chance to get to know some sweet new Relief Society sisters on the activities committee for a few months, before being called to serve in the Primary.  I haven't spent time in Primary since I was there as a kid, thirty years ago, so it's been a learning experience, but a great joy, too.  Children have a way of gladdening the heart, believing, seeing the good, and making you smile. :)
• Fitness / Nature - I walked more steps this year than last year, and explored some great new hiking trails and nature highlights, especially in the Redwoods, but otherwise I need to work on diversifying my exercise.

I'm grateful for all that I've learned this year and am looking forward to a brand new year to keep learning and growing and hopefully progressing and helping others, too.

2020 in Review

Well... I didn't make any goals for the year... mostly I just tried to survive, with the rest of the world. ;)  I never could have imagined all that the year would bring.  It wasn't easy, but I was blessed and learned a lot.  It's been interesting to go through a global challenge, but realize that it (and other concerns) created different problems for each of us.  While I'm more grateful than ever for health, a home, a supportive family, food to eat, work to do, good friends, peaceful retreats to the mountains, technology that's helped us stay connected, and the direction of the Spirit, 2020 was kind of a lonely year.  I have a new appreciation for many of the simple and most important blessings in my life.  Here are a few highlights....

Things I Learned

During this unique year, I've been reminded of the importance of:

• recognizing the tender mercies of the Lord 
• being humble
• listening to the voice of the Lord and His Spirit
• studying His words
• listening to others
• seeing people
• being kind
• caring
• looking to God
• praying and fasting
• being patient
• continuing on, pressing forward with faith
• coming unto Jesus Christ and believing in Him
• remembering and trusting that we are in the Lord's hands
• remembering Him (and that He has not forgotten us)
• expressing gratitude 
• giving compliments
• praising God
• being still and quiet
• learning from the journey and any challenges that come
• seeing the good and being the good
• appreciating and feeling connected to generations gone before
• working and waiting
• being united even when we're different and far away
• building and maintaining relationships
• reading good books
• having good conversations and discussions
• visiting beautiful and peaceful places

Family / Relationships
Grandma Kunzler passed away on January 9.  It was a real blessing (more than we knew at the time) to be able to be together with all of her posterity in January to celebrate her life and goodness and remember the things she taught us--love the Lord, love each other, love truth.  Beginning in March, I was grateful for weekly family Zoom calls, as well as outdoor adventures scattered throughout the year.  Even the drive-by visits were nice.  I got to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with my parents in St. George which was rejuvenating.  I was grateful for regular walks and some hiking trips with friends, as well as a weekly Come, Follow Me study group via Zoom.

Traveling
I missed traveling this year, but luckily I didn't have any plans to go anywhere when the year started, so there was a little less disappointment.  I did get my passport renewed in January, so I'm ready to go when I can again! ;)  Even for an introvert, it was a little claustrophobic to be home so much, but I'm more grateful than ever for my warm and comfortable home, as well as good books and hiking trails.  I'm grateful to have traveled so much last year and look forward to seeing some new places someday (maybe Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Croatia, Thailand, Patagonia, Machu Picchu, and Mt. Kilimanjaro).  

This year, getting out of the house consisted of:

• The office - I was still there in person almost every weekday.  I shifted from Trax to driving to work in March and was grateful for more time in the mornings and less traffic.  I was grateful for chances to observe the construction progress at the Salt Lake Temple.  It really has been a unique year on Temple Square.
• The mountains - I love the mountains.  Even with more people on the trails, I found beautiful places of solitude and peace in some favorite spots--Albion Basin, Willow Heights Lake, Mill D, Lake Solitude, Dog Lake, Timpanogos, the Suspension Bridge, and the Draper trails.
• St. George - I made it to St. George three times this year--Father's Day weekend, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I'm grateful for a place to get away and relax and be with family.

Reading
This year I read the Book of Mormon three times.  It was such a blessing to study this incredible book this year!  I can't think of anything better to help put life into perspective and deal with the daily challenges.  This year, I was particularly looking for "the great things the Lord hath done... the covenants of the Lord... and Jesus--the Christ, the Eternal God."  I found that and more!  

The Lord is mindful of all of His children--from Lehi, Nephi, Laman, Lemuel, Jacob, Enos, King Benjamin, Zeniff, Abinadi, Alma, Alma the Younger, Amulek, the sons of Mosiah, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies and their sons, Helaman, Mormon, the Brother of Jared, Ether, Moroni, Joseph Smith, to each one of us.  He guided them in the wilderness.  He guides us.  He provides commandments, prophets, His Spirit, light, peace, strength.  We can believe Him and trust Him and follow Him.  He keeps His promises.  He is with us.  If we will listen, see, open our hearts, give place, seek diligently, choose Him, wait for Him... He will be there.  All things testify of Christ.  All that is good comes from Him.  Jesus Christ is THE way, the truth, and the life.

One of my big takeaways and something I look forward to studying further next year is the constant invitation to "come unto Christ."  What does that mean?  How do we do that?

In addition to this study, I read 95 books. Here are some of my favorites (in no particular order):

• Saints, Volume 2
• The Divine Gift of Forgiveness by Neil L. Andersen
• The Millennial Messiah by Bruce R. McConkie
• The Gateway We Call Death by Russell M. Nelson
• Eve and Adam by Melinda Wheelwright Brown
• Finding Christ Through the Book of Mormon by Susan Easton Black
• What the Scriptures Teach Us About Adversity by S. Michael Wilcox
• What Seek Ye? by S. Michael Wilcox
• The Founder of Our Peace by John Hilton III
• The Power of Stillness by Jacob Hess, Carrie Skarda, Kyle Anderson, Ty Mansfield
• I Saw a Pillar of Light by Robert L. Millet
• Almighty, Redeemer, and Spirit by David Butler
• Morality: Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times by Jonathan Sacks
• The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
• You're Not Listening by Kate Murphy
• Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
• The Great Influenza by John M. Barry
• Real Change by Sharon Salzberg
• Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
• The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King
• The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner
• While We're Far Apart by Lynn Austin
• If I Were You by Lynn Austin
• A Light to My Path by Lynn Austin
• What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon
• The Other Side of the Bridge by Camron Wright
• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
• Mustaches for Maddie by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

I was also grateful for those who recognized and shared goodness this year.  With so much that was negative and discouraging, there were many that shared hope in large and small ways.  Those examples in word and deed were inspiring and encouraging to me.

Learning / Service
I learned a lot this year and have a new appreciation for challenges others face.  I found that I needed to be more intentional with service this year.  I could have done more, but I found meaningful one-on-one opportunities to reach out to neighbors and friends and family members, as well as spending time learning about others' trials and giving where I could.  

• Temples - This year I attended the temple regularly in January, February, and March. Since then I have really missed attending the temple, but I appreciate its blessings and peace even more. 
• Service - While I couldn't be at the temple, I made an effort to index more and participate in family history work, part of which was helping to type up some of my Dad's harvested memories, which was really fun.  I have a renewed commitment to consistently write in my journal.  I spent time listening to friends.  I spent time reading and learning about people and organizations that need help.  I'd like to do more next year.  I recognized even more the sacrifices and generosity of others and the small things that people do to lift and inspire others.  I'm grateful for these examples and hope to better express my gratitude next year.
• Church - I enjoyed teaching Sunday School again this year--two classes in person and three classes via Zoom.  My testimony of and love for the The Book of Mormon has grown.  I know this book is the word of God, it brings us closer to Him, and was written for our day.
• Fitness and Nature - Hiking and walking were lifesavers this year.  I tried to avoid weekend hiking crowds, but long summer nights were a great time to explore and find peace.  I worked hard to try to keep myself and others around me healthy.  I hope to work on being even healthier next year.

I'm grateful for all that I've learned this year and am looking forward to a brand new year to keep learning and growing.

2019 in Review

2019 was pretty great! I accomplished some goals, learned some things, grew a bit, had some fun, and also found new opportunities and direction along the way. Here are a few highlights....

Family / Relationships
I loved spending time with family this year and had quite a few chances.  

• Although I missed the spontaneous family trip to Disneyland in April, I did get to spend a weekend in Carlsbad in March with Matt's family.  
• I made a weekend trip up to Washington at the end of April to see Josh and Kirsten and the Skagit Valley tulips.  
• Many of us gathered together in Utah at the beginning of May to celebrate Grandma Morgan who passed away at the end of April.  She was and is such a blessing in my life.  I learned so much from her and will always remember her happiness, kindness, and love for everyone.  I'm glad I had so many opportunities to spend meaningful time with her in the mountains and beyond.  I miss her, but am grateful for so many happy memories together.
• The same weekend in May we celebrated Mason's baptism.  
• Cari and I (and usually Mason or any of the rest of her family that was willing) spent time hiking together in all the seasons.  Josh and Kirsten stopped by for a few days too and we went to Lake Blanche mostly together (when I could keep up).  Dad is always a willing and encouraging hiking companion when he's in town.
• Matt and Josh surprised me for my birthday and came to hike the Tetons with me and Cari and Mom and Dad.  It was a really sweet weekend.  
• I made another trip to Washington in September for Noah's baptism and Harry's blessing.  It was fun to meet the newest nephew (who is darling!!!) and spend time together in Washington (it's a great place to have two brothers). ;)  
• We all got to be together in St. George and Lehi for Thanksgiving this year.  It was really nice to all be together for a few days.  

I tried to spend a little more one-on-one time with the nieces and nephews this year.  Kayla and I went to In-N-Out to celebrate her elementary school graduation!  Kai and I had fun learning quite a few spelling words together.  Mason and I enjoyed hiking together to Lake Desolation (8 miles... he's a good little hiker!).  Hailey and I have fun doing whatever Hailey's doing.  ;)  She always makes me smile.  Noah inspired me with his football knowledge and catching.  Henri and I wrote notes together at Thanksgiving and he was my best helper with the Thanksgiving puzzle.  Charlie (or Captain America, that day) and I hiked up Rattlesnake Ridge (it was kind of a highlight to see how he'd make everyone smile).  Harry is the sweetest thing--love him!  I need to spend more time with him and am grateful for Marco Polo. ;)

I enjoyed catching up with old friends and roommates who came to town, traveling or hiking or celebrating Chinese new year with other friends, and building meaningful relationships with friends in my neighborhood that I met with regularly to study the scriptures and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I've learned and grown much at work this year and am grateful for dear friends and mentors and leaders there.  I celebrated weddings and new babies with some friends and mourned with another who lost her father suddenly.  I was grateful to be able to get together with our "Loto Taha family" in December.  Relationships truly are such a blessing and purpose of life!

Traveling 

2019 was a good year for travel!  Here are some of the adventures...

• Australia / New Zealand - This year's travel highlight was Australia and New Zealand in February. It was WONDERFUL! My friend Kat and I visited Sydney where we walked across the harbor bridge and around the harbor, including the Opera House. We took a ferry to Manly and walked around the beaches there, too. We went to church at a Tongan ward and then flew to Queenstown, New Zealand (South Island). We stayed in a great little airbnb and explored the city for a couple of days. Then we spent a couple of nights in Te Auna where we did part of the Kepler Track, and the Routeburn Track, and cruised the Milford Sound. We saw lots of sheep, waterfalls, and gorgeous landscapes. Then we flew to Melbourne where we did a temple session and drove the Great Ocean Road. We stayed in Lorne near the beginning of the road for two nights. The Twelve Apostles were quite impressive. It was a fantastic trip! I'd love to spend a lot more time in New Zealand some day.
• Carlsbad, California - I spent a nice weekend in Carlsbad while Matt's family was living there in March. It was lovely! We could walk to the beach from their house. We spent time in the tide pools, seeing the La Jolla sea lions, and walking around Torrey Pines.
• Kirkland and Snoqualmie, Washington - I made it to Washington twice this year, once at the end of April to visit Josh and Kirsten and see the tulips in Skagit Valley (BEAUTIFUL! Highlight! Must see!); and once in September for Noah's baptism and Harry's baby blessing (wonderful!).
• NORTH DAKOTA - I made it to my fiftieth state, North Dakota, over Memorial Day. It was actually very nice. My friend Melanie and I flew to Bismarck, did a temple session, looked around the state capital, and then drove to Dickinson. We walked around a little bit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and then went on to visit Devil's Tower. We attended church in Casper, Wyoming before stopping along the pioneer trail sites on the drive home--Independence Rock, Martin's Cove, 6th Crossing of the Sweetwater, and Rock Creek Hollow. These were special places I was grateful to see!
• Driggs to Jenny Lake - I celebrate my fortieth birthday hiking 23 miles from Driggs to Jenny Lake with Dad, Cari, Matt, and Josh. One of my very favorite hikes and one of the most beautiful places in the world! I've now done it four times and hope to do it again sometime in my life. Mom was a patient driver and supporter. It was a really fun day (expect for the last three miles of blisters). It was nice to spend a long weekend with my parents and siblings. I'm grateful for their support and encouragement throughout life.
• St. George - I made it to St. George twice this year, for Thanksgiving (with the whole family) and for Christmas (with Mom and Dad). It's a great place to get away to when there's time.

Reading
This year I read the Book of Mormon and the New Testament. This has been my most important reading and study this year. I've loved learning about the Savior! It has changed me. I feel like I know Him better. I want to continue to learn and focus on Him. I know He lives and loves us. I've had the chance to study with family and friends throughout the year which has helped me learn and apply even more.  

In addition to this study, I read 102 books. Here are some of my favorites (in no particular order):

• A Republic, If You Can Keep It by Neil Gorsuch
• Free to Believe: The Battle Over Religious Freedom in America by Luke Goodrich
• Witness for His Names by Jeffrey R. Holland
• His Holy Name by Dallin H. Oaks
• The Priesthood Power of Women by Barbara Morgan Gardner
• L. Tom Perry: An Uncommon Life, Vol. 2 by Lee Tom Perry
• The Second Mountain by David Brooks
• Candle in the Darkness by Lynn Austin
• From Heart to Heart by Russell M. Nelson
• The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede
• This is Where You Belong by Melody Warnick
• The Divine Center by Steven R. Covey
• Listening is An Act of Love by Dave Isay
• The Mortal Messiah, Book 4 by Bruce R, McConkie
• Crossings by Melissa Inouye
• The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
• Insights from a Prophet's Life: Russell M. Nelson by Sheri Dew
• Follow Me to Zion: Stories from the Willie Handcart Pioneers by Andrew D. Olsen
• Love Your Enemies by Arthur C. Brooks
• Daughter of Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
• The Prosperity Paradox by Clayton M. Christensen
• Learning in the Light of Faith by Henry B. Eyring
• Grace Works by Robert Millet
• Where We Belong by Lynn Austin
• Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin
• Blessed by Lloyd D. Newell
• Faith is Not Blind by Bruce C. Hafen
• An Early Resurrection by Adam S. Miller
• First Principles and Ordinances by Samuel Morris Brown
• The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
• What a Friend We Have in Jesus by Chieko Okazaki
• A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner
• Handcarts to Zion by Leroy R. Hafen
• Silent Souls Weeping by Jane Clayson Johnson
• Soulful Simplicity by Courtney Carver
• Wishtree by Kathrine Applegate

Service / Learning / Other Exploring

• Temples - This year I attended three new temples - Melbourne Australia, Bismarck North Dakota, and Las Vegas Nevada. I'm grateful for the blessings of the temple in my life!
• Service - I was a hostess again at the Festival of Trees in December. I found a few causes to support for Christmas and want to be more involved in the community in 2020.
• Church - I have loved teaching Sunday School this year and learning about the Savior's life and teachings in the New Testament. One of the greatest blessings of my life this year has been a consistent Come, Follow Me study group.
• Fitness and Nature - I was a little more social with my fitness goals this year. For about six months of the year I was pretty consistent working out at my gym before work with a friend. I also found friends and family to take hiking quite a bit this year which was nice. I made it to Desolation Lake, the Snowbird Tram, Albion Basin, Lake Blanche, Willow Heights Lake, Driggs to Jenny Lake via Alaska Basin and Cascade Canyon, and lots of the Draper trails.

I'm grateful for another year. Life is great!

2017 Highlights

2017 was a great year!  I worked towards some of my goals - I tried to simplify, pray, express gratitude, build relationships, learn, travel, serve, read, hike/exercise, and I think there was a little more purpose and light.  Here are a few more specifics and highlights of the year....

Traveling

• St. George - I made it to St. George twice this year - President's Day weekend and Thanksgiving.  It was nice to relax and spend time with my parents.  This year included hiking in and around Snow Canyon; biking the river trail and into Zion's National Park on Thanksgiving - really fun; putting up Christmas decorations and watching Hallmark movies (two of my favorite things); and the temple.
• Phoenix - Cari and I went on a first ever sisters' trip.  It was really fun!  We spent Easter weekend in Phoenix attending the three temples in that city (Mesa, Phoenix, and Gilbert), watching the Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant, and hiking most of Camelback Mountain.  It was a great weekend and fun new tradition (I hope)!
• Kansas City to St. Louis - I spent a long weekend meeting up with Mom and Dad on part of their cross country trip.  I got to drive across Missouri with them.  I flew into Kansas City and we attended the Kansas City Temple, visited the Independence Visitors' Center and the Harry Truman Library.  Then we got to visit Sedalia and head on to Jefferson City for a couple of nights.  We stayed near the state capitol building and explored that as well as the path along the Missouri River (which was extremely high and muddy this May) and the MKT Trail in Columbia.  We watched a few tornado clouds along the way, too, which was kind of exciting!  (We're not in Kansas anymore.)  Then we made our way to St. Louis.  We biked part of the Katy Trail in St. Charles, attended the St. Louis Temple, saw the St. Louis Arch, and walked across part of the famous Eads Bridge.  It was really fun to explore Missouri and spend time with my parents.
• San Diego, Oahu, and The Big Island - The big trip this year was to Hawaii and it was wonderful!  We met as an immediate family and spouses on the Big Island for a week.  Some of the highlights included Waipio Valley, our own private beach (with manta rays and sea urchins), Pu'uhonua O'Hanaunau, swimming/kayaking with the dolphins at Kealakekua Bay, sunset at Kahaluu Beach and Makalawena Beach, Punaluu Black Sand Beach with the turtles, Volcanoes National Park, waterfalls of Hilo, Saddle Road, the Waikaloa, Pololu Valley, Kailua-Kona town walking, and the Kona Hawaii Temple.  I left a few days early to stop in San Diego where I visited the San Diego Temple and the Mormon Battalion Historic Site and the sea lions at La Jolla.  Then I got to visit Oahu for a couple of days to do all my favorite things - sunrise at Lanikai, hike to the bunker, run the beach from the boat ramp to the rock, swim at Kalama Beach, Kailua pool, Makapuu, hike to the lighthouse, Kokohead Stairs, and friends at church in the Keolu Ward.  It was a wonderful trip!
• New York City - It was a real highlight to spend Christmas weekend with Matt and Megan and their family in New York City.  It was rainy and freezing but wonderful!  I walked nearly 50 miles while I was there from Times Square, to the Upper West Side and all the "You've Got Mail" sites, to Riverside Church and Columbia University, to Central Park (and the Columbus Circle Holiday Market), to the Brooklyn Bridge, Battery Park, Wall Street, the Freedom Tower, Washington Square Park, Soho, Greenwich, the Flatiron Building, to Bryant Park, the Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall (and the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular), the High Line, Chelsea Market, Christmas Eve Children's Nativity Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Church, the Lincoln Center and to Church/the Temple.  It was fun to see the city all decorated for Christmas and to explore, but the best part was spending time with Matt's family.  Some of my favorite things - scootering around town and the Bryant Park "race track" (even in the cold and rain), learning about all the subways, finding all the best parks and bagels and books, watching and singing Star Wars, racing cars, putting together puzzles, acting out the nativity, eating chocolate and all of Megan's delicious dishes, praying, playing, and just talking and being together. :)

Reading
I read 90 books this year, plus the Book of Mormon twice.  The first time through I studied about love and charity - and it's FULL of love!  ;)  The second time through I studied about Jesus Christ, his names/titles, his words, his characteristics, and his mission - I learned a lot about our Heavenly Father, as well, and our Savior's mission and love.  Truly the Book of Mormon is a testament of Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation, our purpose here on earth.  I'm grateful for it and know it's the word of God.  This was a wonderful experience and I hope to continue this focus as I read the Old Testament next year!  I also read much of the Doctrine and Covenants, and about 1,100 General Conference talks (from 1983 to 2001).  I'm grateful for chances to learn and study.  

Here were some of my favorites books of 2017: 

• Seek This Jesus by Neill F. Marriott
• That We May Be One: A Gay Mormon's Perspective on Faith & Family by Tom Christofferson
• One by One by David A. Bednar
• Be Thou An Example by Gordon B. Hinckley
• Changed Through His Grace by Brad Wilcox
• Worth the Wrestle by Sheri Dew
• Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt by Patrick Q. Mason
• Love Kindness: Discover the Power of a Forgotten Christian Virtue by Barry H. Corey
• Let God Love You: why we don't, how we can by Wendy Ulrich
• Loveable: Embracing What Is Truest About You, So You Can Truly Embrace Your Life by Kelly Flanagan
• Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist
• Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
• Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson by Gordon S. Wood
• Joseph Smith: The Prophet and Seer by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel
• How We Got the Book of Mormon by Richard E. Turley, Jr.
• The Inevitable Apostasy and the Promised Restoration by Tad R. Callister
• The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-Day Saint Women's History by Jill Mulvay Derr
• At the Pulpit: 185 Years of Discourses by Latter-day Saint Women by Jennifer Reeder
• The Witness of Women: Firsthand Experiences and Testimonies from the Restoration by Janiece Johnson
• QB: My Life Behind the Spiral by Steve Young
• An Unseen Angel: A Mother's Story of Faith, Hope and Healing after Sandy Hook by Alissa Parker
• Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry
• Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan
• The Girl With Seven Names: A North Korean Defector's Story by Hyeonseo Lee
• A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea: One Refugee's Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival by Melissa Fleming
• The Lightless Sky: A Twelve-Year-Old Refugee's Harrowing Escape from Afghanistan and His Extraordinary Journey Across Half the World by Gulwali Passarlay
• The Boy Who Spoke to the Earth by Chris Burkard

Service / Learning / Other Exploring

• Temples - This year (in addition to the weekly temple visits here in the Salt Lake valley) I attended six new temples - Mesa Arizona, Phoenix Arizona, Gilbert Arizona, Kansas City Missouri, St. Louis Missouri, and San Diego California.  I'm grateful for the blessings of the temple in my life!
• Service - I finished my weekly teaching at the ESLC in May, but have filled in as a sub a few times and still enjoy being a part of the community and learning with the sweet refugees.  I also helped at a Mother's Day event for homeless women in May, and was a hostess again at the Festival of Trees in November.  I also started to develop a giving strategy, setting aside some money that I'd like to give each year to worthy causes to help make a difference for good in the world and community.
• Church - I was involved in my ward this year and got to know a lot of people, mostly through visiting teaching and missionary outreach - we had two baptism this year.  I also enjoyed our ward choir and a chance to sing in an interfaith concert in April.
• Fitness and Nature - I ran the American Fork Half Marathon in June (my new favorite half - I might have to do it again).  I also spent a good amount of time hiking and in nature - my happy place!  I tried to bring along friends and family a few more times this year, which was fun.  Some of the highlights include Lake Blanche, Red Pine Lake, White Pine Lake, the Snowbird Tram, Willow Heights Lake, Dog Lake, Cecret Lake, Albion Basin, Lakes Mary, Martha, and Catherine, Bell Canyon, The Living Room, and lots of other adventures in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons and the Draper trails.  I'm grateful for our Heavenly Father's beautiful creations and how being out in them helps me feel close to Him!  
• Relationships - This year I tried to focus more on individual relationships with family, friends, and everyone around me.  I don't know that I made it to my goal of 365 thank you notes, but I was more conscious of goodness and blessings around me and tried to express that any chance I got to friends and strangers.
• Other Events - I finished up as our BYU MPA class rep this year, but not before I had the chance to help out with some presentation reviews for the EMPA graduating class, and attend our yearly board meeting.  I also attended our yearly picnic and an Education Week fireside which was nice.  The best MPA related news this year though, was a Loto Taha reunion - it was so fun to spend time with my first team of great friends!  A couple of other fun events - I don't see many movies, but this year I did really enjoy La La Land (by myself on Valentine's Day - kind of great!) and Wonder.  I also loved seeing the Nutcracker, hearing the Christmas concert at the Cathedral of Madeline, and taking a tour of the Provo MTC's new addition - brought back so many sweet memories!  

Life is great!