In the words of Jennifer Suzanne Mabray..

I just got a letter from Jenn. Man, I love that girl. She wrote some truly profound words about the Sisterhood and asked me to post them so y'all know how much she loves you. So, here's to Jenn. And here's to the Sisterhood... .

"So, I've been thinking about the Sisterhood and how really we are a Sisterhood. There isn't anything we wouldn't do for each other. The more our lives go on, the older we get (if you will), the more experiences we have, the more growing up we do, the more I realize how precious our time was together. I'm so glad we decided to play Rummikub instead of studying for finals. I'm so glad we had so many girl's nights. I'm glad we made time to have seances (did we ever figure out how to spell that?!). I wish we could do it more, but life does have to move on. We all have to experience hard things. We may never know what the other has to go through, but if there is someone who will try to know it is each other, right? We have a bond through thick and thin, we are in this thing called life together. There is nothing I wouldn't do for you girls. I just have so much love in my heart for all of you!!!! You are some of my most precious friends. You all have my most precious memories."

And there you have it folks. Amen to that. I love y'all too. And I'm so not pregnant :)

I've been tagged.. And I liked it!

Mardee tagged me.. She's so good to me :) I don't want Alicia to be the only one who feels like Pinky the Posting Pig, so I've returned. Y'all don't know what hit you..

5 Things on my to-do list..

1. Finish working on our cute house, so we can have visitors!!
2. Start working out regularly in the mornings.. I'm getting there.
3. Buy some cute summer clothes--find some clothes that don't look "awkward" on me. That story is to come.
4. Make Tyler the best birthday dinner/Boston Creme pie he's ever had.
5. Catch up on laundry. I never thought I could hate laundry any more than I already did.. Until I got to start doing it for two instead of just one :)

5 Snacks I love..

1. Smoothies
2. Shaved Ice/Slushies
3. Poop Ice (thanks to Alicia for the name)
4. Chips
5. Ice Cream

5 Things I'd do if I suddenly became a millionaire..

1. Ask my husband what the heck I should do, let him invest much of it, but be specific about my spending rights. (Mard is so wise)
2. Take my husband somewhere exotic for the rest of the summer so we can dance on the beach and ride horses. And be tan.
3. Get a new car for myself, and everyone I love.
4. Donate to the Christmas Box House-- spent mostly on new clothes and shoes for the kids, along with a wicked awesome new playground. And passes to cool places.
5. Have babies. Lots of them.

5 Places I've lived..

1. Mesa, Arizona
2. Toms River, New Jersey
3. Meridian, Idaho
4. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
5. Salt Lake City, Utah

5 Jobs I've had..

1. Floral Designer/Delivery Girl-- best job
2. ID Center Girl-- best job ever
3. Recreation Therapy Intern-- other best job ever
4. Community Outreach Representative-- also other best job ever
5. Wife-- most best job ever

5 Things people don't know about me..

1. I won best actress in the Anoka Stake Road Shows 1998.
2. I wish I could break dance.. I'm kind of learning. Also? I loved Step Up 2.
3. I want to have at least one set of twins. Preferrably with the first pregnancy.
4. I hate sleeping in a bedroom alone. I'd rather sleep on the couch.
5. I had to have a blood transfusion 2 days before my wedding.

Okay, now for the hardest part. I tag.. Tiff, Alicia, Crystal, Shannon and Mama Mabray :) Oh, and here's a little hint for my next post. I FINALLY have my wedding pictures..

Meet Justin

This is Justin. I like him. He is nice. We have fun. To be continued...

Konnichiwa!

Hey Everyone!

Thanks so much for your comments - y'all are the best! (That was in honor of all you Texans out there.) If you want to listen to all or just parts of the funeral, just click here. You'll have to type in Lindsey's name, but it should work for a couple more weeks. (No obligation. Just to warn you, it's amazing, and if you listen you'll probably cry. That is all.)

I love Japan and working on my "Oriental Fling" while I'm out here (a cute marine my brother in law set me up with). Can I live here forever? I'll post pics soon. And can someone else blog about something here? I feel like Pinky the Posting Pig. :)

Ministering Angels

Beloved Roommates (I mean Sisters)-
So a few weeks ago (well, I guess it was more than a few weeks ago, but my concept of time has completely gone away) sorry - back to a "a few weeks ago" my dad gave a talk in church on ministering angels. I'll be honest, I wasn't there to hear it, nor have I read it, but I thought it an interesting topic for a Sacrament meeting talk. In light of recent events, I have had many things running through my mind, and have obviously thought much about the next life. While my knowledge of the next life is extremely limited, I have learned through experiences too sacred to share that we DO have ministering "angels" (or whatever you want to call them) on the other side who are very aware of us and our situation in life.

While it is neat to think that our deceased family members are keeping on eye on us, they have assignments and work they must do, and often the Lord relies on living "ministering angels." Thank you for being my ministering angels the past few weeks.

My testimony of just about every aspect of the gospel has grown in ways I never knew it could, and I hope you don't mind if I share parts of it here. I KNOW there is a power to prayer that is much greater than we could ever imagine, and is available to all. I know this because I have felt your prayers. There have been times when the pain is so strong that I am ready to give up, but guess what? I can't. The prayers of good friends (and people I don't even know) keep me from dropping too low. It's an incredible feeling and words truly cannot describe it.

I am forever grateful for the Gift of the Holy Ghost and for the Priesthood power that bestows it on us. I have recognized how tender that Gift is, and how easily the Spirit can be offended. He truly is the Comforter, and I am grateful for peace and calmness that come during times of storm.

I have recently fell in love with the hymn, "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go." (My uncles and cousins sang an incredible version of it at the funeral.)
"But if by a still, small voice He calls to paths I do not know,
I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in Thine,
I’ll go where You want me to go."
These have been "paths I do not know" but I know the Lord is molding me to become who He would have me become, rather than who I would have me become.

Ok - now I'm rambling and you all are bored. I have pages and pages of miracles and tender mercies I could share with you, but I guess that will have to be another day. Just know that Lindsey and Greg's influence has gone far beyond the reaches of their missions and people all over the world are being touched by their faith and examples. I personally have been happier, more dedicated to what truly matters, more observant of others, more willing to share the gospel . . . the list goes on and on. And there's lots more I'm still working on, all because of Linz.

I read "The Gateway We Call Death" by Elder Nelson (thank you, Tina - btw, it's an amazing book and I highly recommend it). There is a chapter about mourning, and Elder Nelson talks about those who are able to help with people in mourning and quotes from Mosiah 18 (mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort . . .) and then he says this, "Moreover, any who provide comfort to those in mourning will receive their own reward." I hope you will all receive your reward soon, if you haven't already, because I'm praying that you will be blessed for your kindness.

Today I received something that brought me to tears (which isn't all that hard these days). You will NEVER EVER know how much your gift means to me. It is something I will cherish forever and is so completely perfect. I'm sure some of you haven't seen it, so I've posted a few pictures here. I can't say much because just typing this has made me start crying again. I love you all so so so so so much. I wish we could all be together and give each other hugs right now (oh yeah, remember my bubble? Pretty sure I've given and received enough hugs to last 27 years and I've loved every minute of it). I also wish I could send you all your own "thank you" notes, but I'm pretty sure I have no one's addresses. (Abbey, I will send one to your mom - please tell her it is the most beautiful and perfect thing I've ever been given.) Lately I have been praying for the help to not forget. I don't want to forget Lindsey-her smile, her laugh, her funny quirks, and her amazingness. I also don't want to forget the feelings I had at both the viewing and the funeral and during the past few weeks. Your gift will help me to remember - how can I not remember every time I look at it? Thank you thank you thank you - I love you all! (and I'm so sorry this is so long!) (And fyi I'm on my way to Japan early Friday morning, so if you try to call and I don't call you back, that's why!)

Tribute: A Sister and A Friend

I'm really not quite sure how to even start or what to say. How do you memorialize someone who grew up with you, every step of the way? Lindsey was my bosom sister. My mom said it best earlier today when she said Linz and I had the "Hyrum and Joseph" relationship of the family. (Does that make sense? I hope.) We were just about as opposite as two sisters could be. She the daring, fun, outspoken tom-boy, and I the quiet nerd. :) We were friends when we were younger, but sometimes our differences clashed. Our relationship truly grew into what it is now as we became older and realized we needed each other. Where I was weak, she was strong. When she needed a practical side, she turned to me. When I needed to lighten up and relax, I turned to her. She was my best friend and has left a hole in my heart that I'm not sure can ever be filled. Here's to the sister I had pillow talk with every night for who knows how many years of my life. Here's to the sister who knew my every weakness, but chose to only point out my strengths. Here's to a little sister who I looked up to more than she will ever know. Here's to the bond of sisterhood that cannot be broken by death. Here's to Linz. My llama loving, "woof" speaking sister who is completing her mission on the other side of the veil. How will we survive? I know not, except I DO know the Lord. I know the comforter probably more than I should. I know that through the atonement, Christ can and will heal my broken heart. I know that while Lindsey and I are bound by sisterhood, we are also bound eternal covenants, and those will never be severed. If I can hope to carry on Lindsey's legacy I can hope to see her again. I must try harder, I must do better. I know where she is right now, and if I have any chance of seeing her again I'm going to need a lot of work. These words don't do justice, nor will words ever pay the appropriate tribute to someone who figured out life a lot quicker than the rest of us. Lindsey, I love you - your memory will never be forgotten, and your legacy will live on.



"Have you ever imagined life beyond today? I have, and you know something? Its a wonderful image. Believe in the greater cause that is this life, and remember God will always take care of you, as I have seen Him take care of me. Regardless of my many inadequacies."
-Lindsey Spjute

Ode to Eric

So right after I got home from my mission so did this kid Eric. He came home early though because of an unknown illness that was sucking the life out of him. Long story short, he and I have become best buds. Then he got better, got cleared to go back on a mission, and flew out of my life this morning at 6:00 AM. He is now in Dallas, Texas spreading the restored truth in Spanish (he went to Honduras the first time around). So this is an ode to Eric and to everyone else who does whatever it takes to do the Lord's will. I salute you, even if you do leave me friendless in Hesperia.

Thursday night movie night, compliments of Netflix and Celeste (that's my computer).