she glows.

So...I have this boyfriend.

And this boyfriend and I have a private online journal since we live so far apart.

We can share pictures, videos, funny things, whatever...with each other.

It helps us feel closer than the 4 hours that separate us physically.

I made it for us for Valentine's Day and for the last 6 months has proven to be quite the fun thing.

(no, you may not know the site. :)

Alex left the cutest post the other day.

But it also got me thinking about a lot of things.

For about 30 seconds I had a ton of thoughts swimming through my brain that came after reading his latest post.

It basically was about glowing when you're happy.

He watched the movie "Stardust," which is about a poor shopkeeper that is a prince, but he doesn't know he's a prince. He falls in love with a girl and to prove his love to her he says he will catch the shooting star they just saw fall through the sky. The shooting star happens to be this amazing girl and long story short...the two of them end up falling in love.

The part Alex liked was that whenever the star and the prince were together (walking together, talk together, dance together, etc.) the star gives away her true emotion...happiness. And since she's a star, she glows when she's at her happiest.

Then Alex said, "How cool would it be if girls really did glow when they were around the boy they liked?" Haha...I'm sure cool for the boy, not so cool for the girl.

Then he tied the movie into the gospel:

"So the boy, who really is a prince, becomes a king. But a king can't live forever...unless he has the heart of a star. Well, since she falls in love with him, she gives her whole heart to him, and they live together happily ever after...forever."

I love that. I love when we can find doctrine within the world.

It is another testimony of just how true the gospel is.

As I was thinking about that, I was thinking about the times in my life when people say that i'm "glowing." Obviously I'm not literally illuminating, but people for sure give off a "glow."

Those times would include: right after I get home from things such as EFY, Youth Conference, & Girl's Camp. When I fall in love. When I get a good grade. When I am home on the island.

And most importantly...those times when I am reassured of my Savior's love for me.

I bet He glows. I bet He glows when we recognize His love and reciprocate that love.

We all have the Light of Christ within us and that Light shines when we are at our happiest.

I hope I can glow all the time and not get so bogged down with everything I have going on.

I love my boyfriend.

I love that he posted that.

I'm grateful for him wanting us to glow because we're in love.

And I'm grateful for his insights.

They gave me lots to think about.

And now I shall close with my bestie, Leah's, quote.

"I wish I were a glow worm, a glow worm's never glum. For how can you be grumpy when the sun shines out your bum?"

Shine On!

eternal love.

Let's rewind. Say, 5 years.

September something, 2005.
I was a Freshman at BYU and my Freshman ward had their opening social.
I was in a wheelchair due to an unfortunate event which resulted in me tumbling down a mountain and breaking my foot. [Don't go hiking at night in flip flops. Been there, done that...not a good idea.]
Anyways, much to my dismay I had to meet my Freshman ward in a boot and wheelchair/crutches...whichever I was feeling. Don't you worry...my friends and I made MUCH use of those toys.Anyways...back to the social. That was the first time I met the majority of my ward (that I grew to love with all my heart) and my Bishopric.
Bishop Hatch.
Brother Mott.
Brother Shepherd.
What incredible men!
Brittany and I instantly connected with Brother Shepherd, but I still remember Bishop Hatch coming up to me and shaking my hand and asking about my foot.
From there on I had the best Freshman year.
Our ward was awesome! We had THE best activities every month and everyone became so tight. Some of my most fond memories from my time here at BYU were during that year.

I saw Bishop Hatch from time to time after Freshman year ended.
He and his wife, AnneMarie, would come into Magleby's every so often, so we would chat.
Or I would see him walking across campus. (He was a Professor in the English Department.)
I always loved seeing him and his wife together though.
They had so much love for each other.
Every testimony meeting when he was my Bishop, he always said how he was grateful for AnneMarie and that he loved her.

It had been awhile since the last time I'd seen Bishop Hatch, but in the beginning of May, I picked up the BYU newspaper and read something I did not expect.
Bishop had passed away unexpectedly on May 1, 2010.
I did not believe it at first.
I thought, "There must be another Gary Hatch."
But as I kept on reading, it was him.
I started crying right there in the middle of the Wilk.
How could this happen?
What about his family?
I didn't know what to think anymore.

Shortly after that I was at the new Magleby's in Lindon when the wives of my Freshman Bishopric walked in, including AnneMarie Hatch.
I got super nervous.
I knew who they were, but I did not expect them to know me...it had been over 4 years since the last time I'd seen all of them.
As they came up to order I was thinking, "Do I say hi? Do I say who I am? Do I ask if she's alright?"
As they all ordered I just acted normal, but once the last one went through I told her who I was and that I didn't know what to say earlier because of the passing of Bishop Hatch.
She got SO excited and was SO glad I had said something.
She said that today was Bishop's wedding anniversary, so that's why they were with AnneMarie.
I about crumbled up in a ball of tears right there.
She said I HAD to go say hi to AnneMarie.
So towards the end of their meal I went up to their table and said hi.
She was so sweet and gracious.
She was grateful to hear that her husband had made a difference in my life.
As I walked back behind the counter I just started thinking about what a mess I would be if such a thing happened in my life.
How do you get up in the morning?
How do you keep on living?
How do you get through the day?

Just tonight, 2 months later, AnneMarie came back into work. This time with her circle of friends from THEIR Freshman year at BYU. SO FUN! They were all so funny and you could tell were so happy to be around each other.
AnneMarie was very sweet, said hi, and remembered my name. She looked better than last time I saw her. She still had her wedding ring on. (I would've too if I were her.)
They sat at the big, round table and were there for three hours!
They were having a grand time!
I hope someday I can do that same thing with my dear friends from college.
AnneMarie came up and asked if I would take a picture of them, which of course I did.
They left shortly after that, but not without another smile from her as she looked back to say thank you.
Gosh...I was such a sap.
My eyes welled up with tears as soon as they walked out the doors.
How does she do it?
How is she still able to get up, do her hair, put on makeup, get dressed, and get out there every day?
But then for the rest of my shift tonight I thought about how she does it.
Knowledge.
That's how she does it.
She knows that Bishop is on the other side waiting for her.
She knows that they are still married.
She knows that they will live together forever.
She believes in her temple covenants.
She believes in the concept of eternal love.
She loves him more today than she did yesterday, and he does too.

I was so grateful for the time I had to reflect on the temple and eternal marriage.
I am seriously SO grateful for the gospel and the peace it brings to our lives.
I am grateful for endless love and I am so excited to have that as my own one day.
I am grateful for parents who have an eternal marriage, who keep their temple covenants, and raised us girls to know they love each other no matter what...for eternity.
Bishop Hatch, Thank you.
Thank you for being an example in my life and in the lives of all you touched while being a Bishop of the BYU 14th Ward.
Your wife is alright. She's as beautiful as always.
We all miss you and love you.

Happy Birthday, Daddio!

Well...being on vacation kinda makes blogging go to the back burner.
While I was in South Carolina for 2 weeks, my daddy had his birthday!
And he is most certainly deserving of a post!
So here goes!

My daddy is one who never was big in to celebrating his own birthday. Whenever we ask him what he wants, he can rarely tell us something so it usually results in the popular Zebra Cakes & Cap'n Crunch. I had the brilliant idea of getting him the Andy Griffith seasons...I figured it would last me awhile. I'm all out now. Time to figure out something new for this daddio of mine.

My father is an amazing musician. He always amazes me with how much he knows and how talented he is. Ok check this...he has composed trios for oboe, flute, & clarinet, piano solos, and piano accompaniments and he can't even play them. Who does that? Who can just hear the part in their head and write it down. My daddy, that's who. He has written some pretty cool stuff and I've only heard a few of them. I'm glad I got some of my parent's musical genes.I really love my daddy's lap. It has always been a safe place. I still climb up in the chair with him...and I'm 23. He always goes, "What do you want?" and groans...but I know he likes it. What dad doesn't want their little girls still wanting to cuddle with them? I know my daughters will love it just as much as I do.I've always loved my daddy's sense of humor. He can make us laugh whether it's from his jokes, dancing in the living room, or the same one-liners he has in his repetoire. I won't lie, his dance moves are pretty sweet. I'm almost positive that's how he got my mother to marry him. haha. If you've seen Bill Cosby dance, that's just about how Mark Maurer cuts the rug. Dance parties in our house are always pretty funny.I've always known that our family is his first priority. He has worked so hard since he got married to make sure my mama and his girls were taken care of. We had everything we needed and most of what we wanted. I learned the value of hard work from him and that attribute has certainly paid off as I've gone out on my own. Lastly, I just love how my daddy gets more tender with every year. He's always been a loving father, but I love that he becomes more of a softy with every birthday. You can tell the difference it makes with my mom, with his church responsibilities, and with his children. It's always a great day when a card pops in the mail from him that just let me know he's thinking about me. Happy Birthday, Mr. Daddy. You certainly are my hero. I hope I have been able to enrich your life, as you have mine. Thank you for always being able to provide for our family. Thank you for being the Priesthood leader in our home. Thank you for loving mama. And thank you for loving us girls. If you can't tell, I adore you and think you're pretty great. I wish you many happy birthdays to come. I love you, Papa Bear!