The Cold Never Bothered Us Anyway

I am so overwhelmed with emotions of gratitude and love, I just feel I need to write.  This weekend I had the opportunity to take a weekend with my family and go to St. George to watch Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat as well as go do our favorite family activity one more time for the year boating.

We all crammed into the crowded car, 7 full adults, 3 with extra long legs in the squishy back, and took the long trek (shouldn't be that long but we had a boat and my dad was driving) to St. George.  As we woke up Saturday morning we all put on our swim suits to the sound of rolling thunder and were greeted with the loud long beeps of the flood and tornado warning message on T.V. At first we were sad, but if any of you know my dad, you know that tornado or not, if he got the boat out, we WILL go boating.

We ate our mini waffles from the HUGE hotel breakfast (and by huge I mean the waffles were the only thing they had) in our 5 star hotel.  5 stars to maybe the drug addicts and prostitutes that were sleeping in the rooms nearby lol.  We then went to Walmart to get food when Grandma King asked the Polygamists if they had come from a pioneer parade! She also bought 4 cases of Pepsi, they were on sale of course! lol... We then all piled in the car and went to Sand Hollow.  The sun was not shining, it was raining, and it was cold, but the water was as warm as a hot tub and we launched the Mastercraft.  The best part about it was due to the rain, we were the ONLY ones on the lake! By only I mean really, only there was no one else! It was awesome! We didn't even have to worry about putting up the orange flag because we knew there would be no one else to run over us! We wakeboarded, skiied, double surfed, double kneeboarded, and jumped the wake, and did 360's till we couldn't hold on anymore.  I also got an ab workout from laughing so hard at Calli being stuck bouncing on the waves catching air because her life jacket got stuck to the velcro of the kneeboard and she couldn't get up.  I also had fun going 30 miles an hour on the kneeboard with my dad literally skidding the water and catching air off the wake, and of course, my favorite, double surfing by my best friend Buddy! 

~Splash fight while double surfing~

We were warmer in the water than the air and so far none of us got swimmers itch that was supposedly in the lake.  How can you beat an entire day on the lake making memories with the ones you love with no one else on the lake! It was an absolute blast full of giggles and wipeouts.  

~Sure love this cute Grandma of Mine~ 

We also had an amazing time at Joseph and the Technicolor dream coat! The play was AMAZING and had a great energy about it that put a smile on everyone's face.  The highlight of the show for me was when they brought out a camel and had it portray the Hump day commercial! On the way home we got pulled over for lack of trailer lights, but we were greeted back at our scary hotel by the famous Ice cream from my mom and aunt! Today we were lucky enough to go to church, listen to an awesome primary program, and then walk around the beautiful St. George Temple.  It was impossible not to feel the spirit.

~Don't we make a cute Joseph and Jacob?~

As I come home this evening I listened to President Uchtdorf's talk from the womens' conference.  I was so overwhelmed with the spirit and felt he was speaking right to me through my headphones on my twin size bed in my little apartment.  I wanted to share my thoughts from that.  My favorite quote was when he said, "God is CONSTANTLY Raining down blessings to us, but it is our FEAR, SIN, AND DOUBT, that like an umbrella block those blessings from us."  This really hit home for me.  I am always doubting.  That is what Satan wants us to do, because if we doubt enough, we will believe it! And we may pass up a direct blessing that was sent to us from God to help us grow and progress.  If we would have put up umbrellas and just stayed in the hotel because we were scared of getting wet, we would have missed out on all the fun memories at the lake! 

~Love the Temple, Appreciate the Temple, Attend the Temple~ 

happiest place with my favorite people

When we choose to take a leap of faith, it can be scary, and sometimes we will get wet.  But remember, YOU are loved.  You are a child of God, and God is watching out for you.  He knows you better than anyone.  He knows your successes and all the great things you are involved in and doing.  Uchtdorf said, "God is not waiting until you overcome your struggles to bless you and love you, He loves you fully RIGHT NOW!"  We should be living the Gospel JOYFULLY! If we do so, we will discover our true self, and our REAL SELF that God wants us to be.  Now that is a pretty cool blessing if you ask me! Happy Sunday. :) 

~Kenna 

Crownless

Wearing a crown around has its perks.  Despite the struggle to make it straight and stay without wobbling, having some extra bling attracts a lot of attention.  When I was crowned I got the pep talk of making sure to always be on my best when I was wearing the crown because I was a role model to young children and youth around our community.  People were watching my every move to see what I would say and how I would act, but how about now when I no longer have the crown?

The Night I gave up my crown I didn't think I would cry. However, when my final video played and I saw all of the memories and events that I had been a part of this past year, I could not control my emotions and tears streamed down my face like a literal waterfall.  Wasatch County has become such a part of my heart as well as all the youth in it that I felt that I was losing a part of my heart. I didn't want it to be over.  As silly as it sounds, I wanted to be Miss Wasatch forever.

(During my final walk my dad escorted me.  My mom was there to embrace me before walking up the stairs and crowning the next Miss Wasatch County, her eyes also filled with tears which made me cry even more)

After much pondering and talks with my amazing mom and many others, I realized something.  It didn't have to be over.  My mom asked me what was my favorite part of being Miss Wasatch.  I told her that my favorite part was the interaction I had with the youth in our community, being a role model to young girls and boys, and being able to implement my platform throughout the whole year.  Yes, the parades were a blast, Miss Utah was incredible, but my favorite part was the influence I had in our community. What I realized, was I didn't need to crown to continue influencing our community.  I didn't need the sash to make a difference in someone's life. I may not be wearing the title, but I carry the crown with me wherever I go! (figuratively of course)

This principle applies the same with the Gospel.  One of my favorite talks "Let your faith show" written by Russel M. Nelson said, "Day after day, on your path toward your eternal destiny, increase your faith, proclaim your faith! Let your faith show!" This quote doesn't say proclaim your faith only at church, or only when you are with your family, or just when we feel like it, it is all the time! 100% of the time in any situation and any environment! 

You don't get to choose when someone is looking to you for an example, an answer to a prayer or question, or a guiding figure in their life.  You have to be ready, because even though you may not be wearing the "crown and sash" you never know who is watching. 

Be your best self.  Be positive and uplifting, and LET YOUR FAITH SHOW!