Waterton and Temple Day!

Last weekend we took my parents up on a full day babysitting offer! We went back to the Cardston temple for the first time since we were married there for allllllllll (is that enough L's?) eternity. We very much enjoyed spending our family day in the temple and even got to see some old friends there. After the temple we continued onto Waterton. We met up with my cousin Matt and went on a quick snowshoeing hike to Crandel Lake. After, the owners of the famous "Weiners of Waterton" cooked us up a feast. Then we left Waterton only to run into a white out. Our vision was completely fogged by snow. We couldn't tell if we were on the road or off in a ditch. We couldn't stop because that would be dangerous for other travelers. We couldn't turn around because we were surrounded by the storm. A million prayers later, the storm cleared and we made it home safely! Minus the storm scare, we thoroughly enjoyed our day together and are extra thankful to have such fabulous babysitters. 

I also would just like to add an explanation for those of you who don't know a whole lot about my church's temples. The tithing that we pay to the church all is for our benefit. In return, we get beautiful temples and meeting houses that we are able to retreat to and worship in. The money or tithing we give, I like to think of as an investment. We don't make much as a young couple, that much is obvious. So the little money we do give is turned into something much more beautiful than we ever could have turned it into on our own. I would also like to say that the temple is not SECRET, it's SACRED and all are welcome to go there. It isn't put up on a high shelf, so only a few can access it. In fact we want absolutely everyone to come and join us! There are however some steps you must take to attend. And if you meet them, you are able to enter. I can't think of a better place in the entire world. I always leave the temple with the motivation to better my life and pure happiness written across my face. 

Old friends reunited.

Lately I have met up with a lot of old friends. It has been great fun to see where life has taken them! 

We love hanging with Keith and Steph!

I haven't talked to Robin in FOREVER but was able to meet for lunch with her and Steph. It's nice to see people not change. This means they were true to themselves all along. Don't get me wrong, she has changed but her core values, personality and bubbly nature has remained. I hope to catch up again soon. 

What can I say about Carly Caixiero. Uhm...she is perfection. Most people lose their "shine" once you know everything about them. Not Carly, she only gets better. We know each other so well it's probably weird haha. 

Kenzie has wandered over to see me a couple times too! I honestly love this girl. She ignores my lame excuses and shows up to make me party with her. It's exactly what I need. Someone to be like, "Tiff, I don't care you haven't showered in a week, get your butt out here and do cartwheels with me." K, she has never said that but it is a likely statement to escape her mouth. 

Nothing like meeting up with old high school friends to make you realize how much you have changed in the past couple years. I graduated in 2010. NOT THAT LONG AGO. Yet...it seems like a different life ago. I hated highschool. I loved highschool. Both statements are true. People always tell you that highschool friendships don't matter because once you graduate, life happens and you won't remain friends. They are right. They are wrong. Both statements are true. You won't always remain friends. True. High school friendships don't really matter. False. I have drifted from so many of my best friends who once consumed my young mind. BUT if I would have thought logically, that these friendships weren't worth cultivating, I would have missed out on having those memories or the feeling of love and happiness that I felt. Daily. My friends back then were loyal, funny, caring, compassionate and beautiful. We would have taken bullets for each other. For those of you I haven't talked to since we threw our grad caps together, I still value you. Because you created my childhood. A great one! For those of you I still talk to. Thank you for sticking with me, despite my flakey appearances and lame distance excuses. I still love you. Life happens but friends are always important, no matter how temporary they could be. 

Canada Adventures starting with STOMP

From now on I am going to start doing my blog by activity rather than a jumble of a whole months worth of activities. That way i can find old posts easier, and it's more focused and organized.

My Mom and Dad were informed of the death of my Dad's aunt and last minute drove to Utah to attend the funeral. My Mom was planning on going to the STOMP concert that weekend, so I got to use her ticket in her place. Stomp was unblievable. Making songs from wacking ordinary objects at incredible speeds. I couldn't blink the whole time. I was in great company too! :)

After this concert and with the olympics going on, I can't help but think about MY talents and all the talents I have left on the shelf to get dusty. Guitar, singing, flute, drawing, reading, piano, basketball, running...the list goes on. Motherhood has shifted my priorities. For a second, I let myself feel bad about it. Then I took the next couple days to slap myself in the face. Motherhood is my most important talent that I will always be working on.  An intricate talent to say the least. A talent you can never just put on the shelf and forget about. It's too important.  Every day I find myself grasping more and more balance in my life. This week, Jade and I ventured over to the public library. We both picked out books to read. For the first time in a while, I find my nose in a good old fashioned book. Refreshing. Balance. Joy. Love. Happiness. Everyday I find more time in my day that months previous I didn't feel I had. Mothering Jade is starting to feel...easy. Yes, knowing Jade inside and out has taken me almost a year...but i'm okay with that. I guess that's how motherhood works, just when you master a child, you add another, take on a new project, school or all of the above and then more adjusting has to be made. But for now, I'm happy with the peaceful months ahead before guilt sets in and exciting yet scary family addition decisions need to be made. Then, I will bask in the phenomenon that my heart can expand even more without bursting. I love motherhood. I love my family. And I love that it can only get better (bigger)!!!