Snow Day!

I want you to think back on a happy memory, maybe even the happiest of memories, now times that by a million. That is how I felt getting the text stating that the heavens had opened up and dumped enough snow on the ground for Granite District to call a snow day. I was so happy I couldn’t fall back asleep, which was frustrating because I was so excited to sleep in…I attempted to sleep for a couple more hours and then we decided to do what Trent and Eliza would do on a snow day, go snowmobiling!

Its been a weird winter, meaning that I haven’t been able to go snowmobiling with T as much as I would have like to, so this snow day was a happy miracle. Not to mention I’ve been run ragged this year and I really needed a day with T. Tender mercies are REAL people.

We grabbed breakfast and drove up to Midway. It was still stormy down in Salt Lake, but it was blue skies and perfect up there. We bundled up and hit the mountain. It was absolutely incredible! The snow was fresh, we were cutting trails the entire way. No one was around and it felt like we owned the mountain. At one point we saw a Mama moose with her baby only a couple yards away. (Trent wanted to take a picture and I wanted to get the heck out of there….) Everything was perfect. I’m still quite inexperienced when it comes to these scary big machines but I’m so grateful for a patient husband who slowly leads the way as I follow along.

I’m reminded of the people in life who lead the way. They guide and direct us in so many aspects of our lives, creating the path for us to carefully follow. Other times, we’re the ones cutting the trail and guiding others to success. I’m so grateful for the leaders in my life that have set the example for me to follow. My hope is to continue to find them as well as be them.

The day was perfect, even with bumps and bruises and snowmobiles stuck in the snow. I woke up sore and exhausted the next day as I returned to work but it was 100% worth it.

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Beginnings

2019 is already a month shorter and I can’t believe it! Time seems to be flying by quicker than I can manage and I’m always so shocked by how quickly it slips away. Life, as usual, has been a tad crazy but we have learned so much and I’m already excited for the changes that are coming up. 2019 is going to be a wonderful year for the Ward family!

 

We began this year full of time with family and I hope the rest of the year will be no different. I feel like just within the past  2 months I’ve heard story after story of families being separated by tragedy and loved ones lost. It makes me want to hug my loved ones a little tighter and remind myself just how fragile life is.

This year, I hope for a couple things. I hope to be present. Whether it be in conversation with my coworkers, family or with Trent, I want to be present and involved. There is so much distraction in this world and I want others to make sure they feel listened to and loved when they are around me.

Second, I hope to choose what’s best for me. This may sound odd, but I have a tendency to put all others feelings and wants before whats best for me and my family. This has often led to unnecessary feelings of guilt and mixed up priorities. This year, I hope to make decisions based on what I feel is best for me and my little family unit.

Lastly, I hope to be sharer of light and goodness. This little space has been so fun for me to put my thoughts and feelings down. I hope to continue to be a reminder that there is goodness and light in the world.

May your year be full of wonderful beginnings and hope fulfilled.

Winter Day

Since the snow looks like it MIGHT be officially gone for good, I thought it was about time I blogged this wintery day with my family. Trent’s family has a farm up in Midway and it is always a good time up there. I have countless stories and memories from this beautiful place and we’re so lucky to be able to go there so often. In the summer it’s perfect for four-wheeling and exploring and in the winter, nothing beats the sledding and snowmobiling. They have a lane that runs right through the middle of the fields which makes a perfect slope for sleds. Nothing beats flying down the lane at crazy speeds, until you crash…We love having a place to go to adventure and create wonderful memories.

Our family had a free Saturday in February (which never happens) and decided to spend the day up at the farm. I am so lucky to have all of my siblings still living in Utah. We’re not sure how long that will last so we soak up all the family time we can!

We spent the day adventuring around, getting cold and wet, and simply enjoying each others company. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people and be able to call them family. We were missing Grace and Ben who were traveling this weekend. I’m so grateful for this incredible family of mine! Dad drove the suburban up and down the lane packed with people and sleds. We rallied the snowmobiles, had snowball fights and talked endlessly.

 

I don’t know what my parents did to ensure that us siblings would be the best of friends, but it worked. My siblings are my greatest examples, lights, companions and cheerleaders. I definitely scored in the family department! Now on to more adventures and memories in the making!

To Mom:

All our lives our mom has supported us sisters with our instruments. She spent endless hours practicing with us at the piano, weekly early morning drives to lessons and countless performances to attend. There were tears and bouts of defiance, all handled with love, summer camps, different competitions and family events. I don’t know how she did it. She continued to encourage us even when she probably wanted to quit herself. So when she asked for a music video for her birthday this year, how in the world could we say no?

We planned, plotted and picked a song. Practiced, recorded and filmed. With the help of Dan Allen and his willingness to share is recording talents as well as Sam Featherstone and his amazing video skills, it all came together perfectly. It was an incredible experience and a video we will cherish forever.

Happy Birthday Mama. Thank you for everything.

Dancing through Life

Saturday Thoughts

I truly am reminded every single day what an adventure life is! Each day holds endless opportunities, endless amounts of goodness as well as endless amounts of uncertainty. Every day I go to school wondering what crazy, funny, awesome thing is going to happen today. (Those 5th graders are full of surprises and I’m also sick for the 10th time this year thanks to them…) Some days are more eventful than others but every day changes us, helps us learn and helps us grow.

This week has been a week of trying to figure out what we are going to do with our lives. What should Trent get his degree in? How long will we live where we live? Where should I work next year? So many questions! Often Trent and I forget how young we are and start to stress about making big life decisions now.  It can become quite overwhelming really quickly but it was also a good week of reflection and discussion.

As we talked this week, we reminded ourselves that we have time. Trent doesn’t need to know what he wants his profession to be right now, I don’t need to stress about the future right now. Yes, we understand that we need to be actively engaged in finding answers to these questions but we don’t need to let them cause anxiety and stress. We reminded ourselves that as we continue down the right roads, we will be lead to where we are supposed to be. My Mission President always told us that the Lord can’t steer a parked car. You’ve got to be moving and He will direct you and guide you along the way. So much peace comes from knowing that we have someone so much greater than us watching out for us.

Until then, we’re just going to keep moving, keep learning and continue dancing through life.