Okay girls. I know that "sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven" and I have truly seen that coming to pass as Beth has been serving in Florida, but I have really been missing and needing my sister so badly the last little while. I am profoundly grateful for my dear roommates and for the three of you; you really are pillars of strength and sanity in my life. :)
Chelsea, I couldn't do this without your understanding and support.
Kate, your love-notes via text mean the world to me and seem to come when I need them the most.
Franny, your spiritual intuition and depth is truly a gift that blesses my life in ways you don't realize. I could go on with each of you, but let me just say from the bottom of a sincerely grateful heart, thank you.
Please, I know we're busy, but let's stay close. I need my sisters so much. I wish I could convey how much I love you. Thank you for your goodness and selfless service. Know that I think of you often and I'm praying for you in all you do. Let us go forward and not backward. Courage, sisters; and on, on to the victory!
Your forever sister,
Annie
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
19 Reasons I love Chelsea Ann Clark!
Happy Birthday, Chelsea! Here are 19 reasons why I love you, (in no particular order)...
1. She's always the voice of reason I need gently encouraging me to calm down, chill out, lighten up, hang loose, run free, or be wild, depending on what the situation warrants.
2. She knows the benefits of angrily snarfing down carrots.
3. Chelsea is truly a gifted listener. I feel like she intuitively knows when to listen, when to advise, when to lighten the mood, and when to just sit and cry along with me.
4. I love Chelsea's facial expressions- they never fail to elicit a "wheezer" laugh out of me.
5. I always appreciated Chelsea's willingness to lead out with me in the flute section in band. She knows how to lead and how to follow; the truest and finest leader can do both.
6. Chelsea is a person who embraces challenges. That is so amazing to me! Chelsea has been a shining example to me that you should never shy away from something just because there's a chance you might fail. You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
7. I will always revere Chelsea for having gone through basic training. What an example of strength and willpower!
8. Chelsea has a way of gently quieting the rebellious, angry, defiant part of me that sometimes rears its head when I let it.
9. Having been the youngest, I love watching Chelsea be the "cool big sister." People who aren't the youngest don't ever really understand how big of a deal that is.
10. Chelsea knows who she is, and her actions reflect that.
11. She can relate to all the reasons I love Mr. Wayman, when so many other people wouldn't see passed the strictness or the intimidation factor.
12. She understands why I love Bulgy the Whale.
13. She's a red-high-heel struttin', combat-boot wearin', flip-flop chillin', wake-up-at-five-thirty-in-my-tennis-shoes runnin' kind of girl. :)
14. Chelsea dares to dream. And she doesn't just watch them float by in her mind. She has the grit and spunk to realize her dreams.
15. She knows how to be boy-crazy, and how to be a man-hater. (Or maybe I should say she knows how to be man-crazy, and how to be a boy-hater...) :D
16. She has a testimony that is shared in the way she lives and treats other people. I heard a quote in seminary once that I feel like applies to all three of you: "You may be the only scriptures a person you meet ever reads." You live your lives in ways that others see the light of the gospel through you.
17. Her positivity. What a gift she has developed! Who doesn't ever feel better after being around Chelsea??
18. I love her similarities to her mom. It makes me smile. :)
19. Chelsea Ann Clark, I love who I am because of knowing you. Thank you for the impact you have had on my life!
Here's to you and the last 19 years, Chelsea! The best is yet to be!
I can speak for all of us in saying that we love you!
Happy Birthday!!
1. She's always the voice of reason I need gently encouraging me to calm down, chill out, lighten up, hang loose, run free, or be wild, depending on what the situation warrants.
2. She knows the benefits of angrily snarfing down carrots.
3. Chelsea is truly a gifted listener. I feel like she intuitively knows when to listen, when to advise, when to lighten the mood, and when to just sit and cry along with me.
4. I love Chelsea's facial expressions- they never fail to elicit a "wheezer" laugh out of me.
5. I always appreciated Chelsea's willingness to lead out with me in the flute section in band. She knows how to lead and how to follow; the truest and finest leader can do both.
6. Chelsea is a person who embraces challenges. That is so amazing to me! Chelsea has been a shining example to me that you should never shy away from something just because there's a chance you might fail. You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
7. I will always revere Chelsea for having gone through basic training. What an example of strength and willpower!
8. Chelsea has a way of gently quieting the rebellious, angry, defiant part of me that sometimes rears its head when I let it.
9. Having been the youngest, I love watching Chelsea be the "cool big sister." People who aren't the youngest don't ever really understand how big of a deal that is.
10. Chelsea knows who she is, and her actions reflect that.
11. She can relate to all the reasons I love Mr. Wayman, when so many other people wouldn't see passed the strictness or the intimidation factor.
12. She understands why I love Bulgy the Whale.
13. She's a red-high-heel struttin', combat-boot wearin', flip-flop chillin', wake-up-at-five-thirty-in-my-tennis-shoes runnin' kind of girl. :)
14. Chelsea dares to dream. And she doesn't just watch them float by in her mind. She has the grit and spunk to realize her dreams.
15. She knows how to be boy-crazy, and how to be a man-hater. (Or maybe I should say she knows how to be man-crazy, and how to be a boy-hater...) :D
16. She has a testimony that is shared in the way she lives and treats other people. I heard a quote in seminary once that I feel like applies to all three of you: "You may be the only scriptures a person you meet ever reads." You live your lives in ways that others see the light of the gospel through you.
17. Her positivity. What a gift she has developed! Who doesn't ever feel better after being around Chelsea??
18. I love her similarities to her mom. It makes me smile. :)
19. Chelsea Ann Clark, I love who I am because of knowing you. Thank you for the impact you have had on my life!
Here's to you and the last 19 years, Chelsea! The best is yet to be!
I can speak for all of us in saying that we love you!
Happy Birthday!!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Life is a Many Splendored Thing
Isn't that the truth? Life is truly wonderful. We're so blessed, girls!
I don't really know why I'm posting. I just got on to see updates from you girls (exciting, wonderful things happening, by the way!) and I just wanted to write, so I am. Feel free to quit reading if you'd like. :)
May I just say how wonderful Conference was?? My favorite session hands-down was Saturday morning. Elder Holland's talk embodied so much the love that heavenly Father has for us. The pure, complete, unconditional love I felt was overwhelming and humbling and so healing for a mortal soul in a mortal world! The grace and mercy of heavenly Father is truly a miraculous gift. We have so much to be thankful for.
I also noticed a huge overlying theme of "trust the prophet, he is called of God, obey his counsel, do not let pride rob you of faith"... Did anyone else feel that way? I couldn't BELIEVE that two of the brethren quoted from the SAME talk by President Benson! Talk about inspiration! We really must need to hear that, and have increased faith in, and obedience to, the words of the prophet. Time to express more gratitude. :) I'm very interested to see what happens in the next 6 months. We're living in the last days and things are heating up in this world at breakneck speed. What a privilege to be able to live here and now at a time when we can use our AGENCY to strengthen Zion and be a soldier in the army of the Lord! "Who's on the Lord's side, who?? NOW IS THE TIME TO SHOW!" :)
There are a million more things I'd like to talk about with Conference, but I'll wrap up this post for now. I'm so grateful for the knowledge of the restored gospel! Sometimes I feel so confused about life--can you imagine what it'd be like without the gospel?! What a blessing in our lives!
Well girls, thanks for listening. I hope Conference blessed you with a peace and with the knowledge that "we're doing better than we think we are, but we CAN be doing better." (Julie Beck said that in my regional stake conference a few weeks ago.) Pick a goal from conference and let's go for it. Courage girls, and on, on to the victory! :) I love you three so much!
I don't really know why I'm posting. I just got on to see updates from you girls (exciting, wonderful things happening, by the way!) and I just wanted to write, so I am. Feel free to quit reading if you'd like. :)
May I just say how wonderful Conference was?? My favorite session hands-down was Saturday morning. Elder Holland's talk embodied so much the love that heavenly Father has for us. The pure, complete, unconditional love I felt was overwhelming and humbling and so healing for a mortal soul in a mortal world! The grace and mercy of heavenly Father is truly a miraculous gift. We have so much to be thankful for.
I also noticed a huge overlying theme of "trust the prophet, he is called of God, obey his counsel, do not let pride rob you of faith"... Did anyone else feel that way? I couldn't BELIEVE that two of the brethren quoted from the SAME talk by President Benson! Talk about inspiration! We really must need to hear that, and have increased faith in, and obedience to, the words of the prophet. Time to express more gratitude. :) I'm very interested to see what happens in the next 6 months. We're living in the last days and things are heating up in this world at breakneck speed. What a privilege to be able to live here and now at a time when we can use our AGENCY to strengthen Zion and be a soldier in the army of the Lord! "Who's on the Lord's side, who?? NOW IS THE TIME TO SHOW!" :)
There are a million more things I'd like to talk about with Conference, but I'll wrap up this post for now. I'm so grateful for the knowledge of the restored gospel! Sometimes I feel so confused about life--can you imagine what it'd be like without the gospel?! What a blessing in our lives!
Well girls, thanks for listening. I hope Conference blessed you with a peace and with the knowledge that "we're doing better than we think we are, but we CAN be doing better." (Julie Beck said that in my regional stake conference a few weeks ago.) Pick a goal from conference and let's go for it. Courage girls, and on, on to the victory! :) I love you three so much!
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