{Love is Sweet}

My beautiful, sweet friend, Stefanie, was married and sealed to her best friend yesterday in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Stef has been one of my dear friends who I shared many of my single years with and who has loved me and commiserated with, laughed with, shared happy times and sad times with. I love her dearly and this day was one that has been a long time time prayed for and dreamed of.

Stef opened up the world of country music radio to me years ago. We traveled to Nashville together and I think God knew I needed someone who had that same love and big dreams of music with. Our adventures have been many and I will cherish those forever.

She and I have many parallel paths which allowed us to bond in ways I haven't with many people. Her love, compassion and selflessness taught me so much and I want to be like her :)

Happy Wedding Day my dear Stefanie. I couldn't be happier for you and Jared. You are a wonderful couple and I wish you many long years of love and eternal happiness!

You were the loveliest of all brides <3

{Still 35}

I sat down to write a new post many times since my last one, but for various reason it never got finished. We shall see if this one makes it to a glorious end or not...

I have a few updates that are noteworthy to myself:

• I started a new job last month working part-time as an admin at the Church Office Building (COB) downtown Salt Lake City. I've loved it and I love serving the international areas of the church, learning more about their needs and the way Heavenly Father has control over everything in His church. During my third week, we had a special training for 10 of our new employees and they came from different parts of the world, Japan, Russia, Mexico, Guatemala, Germany, Caribbean, South Africa, Ghana, etc. During that training I listened to their testimonies and the desires they had to help spread the gospel in their homelands. One afternoon, unexpectedly (to us, not our boss) Elder Uchtdorf came and visited with our small group and shared his love and the Saviour's love for all of His children. It was a fast 10 minutes, but the Spirit is a quick talker. I felt what he was saying. I just love the Gospel.  I have more news on this topic, but I'll save that for another post next week.
• Ben and I were able to be at the sealing ceremony of our friends Jazmyn and Jeffery yesterday in the Salt Lake Temple. I absolutely love attending these because I can't help but reflect on my own wedding and the covenants we made and the beautiful blessings we can have in our future. 
• My friend Stef got engaged to her sweet Jared. He makes her so happy and I love seeing another wonderful girlfriend of mine making the choice to be married for eternity in the temple. That is a decision I will never ever regret.
• Sheridan, one of my dearest friends, will be here for what feels like forever (Hooray!) during the month of December and part of January. She currently lives in Alaska and she needs to be here closer to me. Best friends are not supposed to be separated for years at a time. Its just not right. I am going to smother her. I hope she is ready. Poor thing.
• I hired a personal trainer who has now become a wonderful friend. She's been helping me for the last three weeks learn a new lifestyle regarding food and workout strategies. I absolutely love it. I hate junk food, although there has been a day here or there I "needed" it/didn't need it but ate it anyway and thought how pointless it was. It did nothing for me. Nutrition for myself and my family will be falling on me from here on out. Besides the education, Kristy is awesome. I love have spiritual conversations with her as well. I prayed her into my life. I have no doubt she was an answer to that specific prayer.
• My Grandma Lyon had a birthday last Sunday. I called her and we talked for quite awhile. She and Grandpa are already in Yuma, AZ for the Winter. It was so nice to chat with her and hear about things that she is interested in and how her health is and just express love to each other. I need to call her more. 
• I get to have another birthday in two days. Wow. I just realized how close it is. When I turned 30 it was kind of rotten, but then I realized, "Eh, 30 ain't so bad Shuga". Then 31 was still alright, because it was still on this side of 30. Darnit. Friday I turn 36. Is life on its way to being over?????
• Next month Ben and I are going to Louisiana for a few days. We are actually flying into San Antonio to visit Beth, one of his best friends growing up. We were going for her graduation art show, but after we'd already bought plane tickets the show got postponed until January. Nevertheless, to San Antonio we go and then we'll drive to Lake Charlies, LA for Ben's brother's wedding. The fact that we were invited and are going are several miracles in itself. All I'm going to say in this post is---AVOID PRIDE my people!!! Time is short here on earth. Just love each other, okay???

Life is good. I feel blessed. I am getting back to the core of who I want to be.

Everyday I walk into my office building and marvel how lucky we all are to have so many blessings. They are there if we just try to recognize them.

Love ya'll...whoever ya'll are, that is!