What Matters Most

Easter was full of the all the usual suspects this year.

There was egg dying, egg hunting, and baskets filled with springtime goodies.

There were matching dresses, a delicious feast, and, lucky for us, a whole lot of family on the side.  Well, most of the family at least, our dear old dad and husband was again left behind in Ohio where he was doing his best to move ever closer to graduation.  He joined us for a quick four days at the end of our trip to attend the real reason for our little getaway- his baby sister's wedding.

The girls and I, however; decided to head west a little earlier and soak up some extra time with our favorite folks.

My kids dry up the moment we step off the plane in Utah.

I'm the thinking the Montana climate might take some getting used to.

At least the rosy, chapped cheeks just add to the cuteness!

Stella loves pictures.

And while guiding my toddler to colorful eggs hidden in bushes is pretty great, the part of Easter that matters most can't be found in the pictures or bought at the store.

Because what matters most, and what really is the only thing that matters in the end, is that my Savior, Jesus Christ, lives.

He died for me and He lives for me.

His sacrifice will always be the ultimate gift.

Play time with cousins and grandma snuggles are some of the best things that life has to offer, and we love getting to enjoy all of it when we go home to visit.

We also quite enjoy the laughs, the baby announcements, the shopping, and the nights spent staying up late watching home movies.

Fun is always in order when we are with our great families. 

Food, too.  Food is always part of the plan.

But what matters most, when it comes to family, is that they are there.
 And lucky for me, they always will be.

They are there when you need a babysitter so you can go get last minute pedicures with your mom and sisters.

They are there when your baby gets sick and has to be hospitalized and you are on a boat in the middle of the ocean.

They are there to applaud your successes and to grieve your sorrows.

They are what really count in this life.



Weddings are pretty magical things.

A pretty girl in a pretty dress gets to live out her fairytale and begin a new life with the boy of her dreams.

Ashlie and John's wedding was one of those perfect days.

The dress was perfect (and hello, have you seen a more beautiful bride than Ashlie?), the company was superb, and even the weather cooperated after giving us a few scares.

Yes, the day was beautiful and magical and all of those lovely things, but it was also our first big family wedding with little ones to care for and keep happy.

And by the end of the day Stella was more than ready to be done and we were all happy to go jump in our beds and not emerge for another three days.

Even with the perfect weather, the pefect pictures, and the dresses that matched the boquet which matched the tableclothes just right; the most important part of it all was the promises made inside the Temple and the eternal blessings of which I was reminded.

My family is forever. 

No matter what happens in this life- cancer, accidents, tragedies- I get to live with my family forever.

I get to see my dad again.  My step-sisters will see their mom again.  My friends will get to raise their sweet babies who spent far too little time on this earth.

Later that evening at the reception Stella needed a little break outside.

We were walking around the grounds of the Riter Mansion when I looked eastward to find the most perfect view of the temple.

I lifted Stella up to get a look and she remembered that it was "John and Ashlie's temple."

I told her that mom and dad got married there, too; and she smiled like she knew all along.

She said "Mom, dad, Stella, and Eliza's temple."

And it touched my heart.

Because five minutes earlier I was frustrated and tired and feeling like being a mom was just so hard.

But then my sweet, sweet girl reminded me that even though life has tough moments and sometimes, really hard moments, if we do our best to endure to the end we have such glorious blessings to receive.

And that is what matters most.

Amid wedding festivities and baseball Hall of Fame ceremonies, we somehow fit in a little trip to Bear Lake with the Hansen/Short crew.

Hunter showed off his culinary skills, our kids got smothered with love from their cousins, and we even fit in a few rides on the 4-wheeler.

It was a fun and relaxing less-than-twenty-four hours spent at the cabin.

This was pretty much my third time actually hanging out with my new family.

It is still new and differen,t and at times it is still a little hard.

But what matters is that we are trying.

We are all doing our best to make this new life not just work, but also be enjoyed along the way.

I am grateful that everyone is willing to put in a little bit of effort to make things comfortable as we get used to this new normal.

Life is full of lots of things.

Hard things, happy things, trivial things.

Now more than ever I feel like my life is consumed with stuff.

Some of it is important, most of it is not; but all too often I find myself letting all of that stuff, all of those trivial things, get ahead of what matters most in life.

And what matters most is my Savior, my family, and the sweet blessings that they bring me.