January

It is the end of January! January 31. I wanted to post a re-cap of the month. Seems like I should document the months as they pass, right?

January has been COLD and SNOWY and ICY and INVERSIONY. The inversion has been the worst. Today for the first time in I feel over a month, I can see the sky and the mountains. It feels so nice to not feel like I’m in a fog all the time. The ice and snow has been an adventure. Lots of slick roads and some getting stuck, but Tim has been such a trooper! I’m very impressed with my cute little RAV4.

I am reminded constantly how much I love the snow. The snow makes everything more beautiful. A winter wonderland. Even when there is so much snow I can’t make it out my front door, and nearly slide down the stairs, it’s worth it. I especially love driving home later at night, when it’s dark outside except for the street lights, and the world is covered in snow, and not many people are outside, and I slide a little bit in the snow – a rush of beauty and exhilaration. For some reason that just makes me happy.

Ward Conference was last week – and it was incredible. I felt lucky to be there, and so grateful that my choices thus far in life lead me there, to partake of that moment.

I’ve learned new things this month, hopefully become a better person. I’ve made mistakes and repented and been overly happy. I’ve met new people and received golden advice.

Mostly I’ve realized that even though life seems incredibly daunting at times, I’ve got far more working for me than not. One of the most overwhelming thoughts I had during ward conference was this,

“With all these people rooting for me, how can I fail?”

I’ll make mistakes and fall and sometimes my attitude will be sour (sorry, world!) but I have a divinely instituted support system around me. Family, Bishop, Stake President, Visiting Teachers/Companions, Relief Society President, Stake Relief Society President, friends, Home Teachers. Each and every person would be willing to take time to talk to me, to give up their time to help me, if I asked for it.

For right now at least, that gives me enough hope to get me till February :)

Love,

Brittney

....Bringing the World His Truth

I was in a meeting yesterday, and one of the managers was discussing a program that we’re implementing that will increase the number of missionary contacts dramatically. Everyone was excitedly discussing this, and talking about the financial end, etc.

And it hit me. All of this money spent, all of this excitement, all this time and dedication – is not resulting in an increase of money, of profit. It is bringing the world the message of Jesus Christ in a way that has never been attainable before.

None of what that we do here every day in ICS is for wealth or monetary gain. All of it is in order to give people a chance to learn about God and Jesus Christ.

How incredible is it, that the Church has thousands of employees that work tirelessly for one goal – to bring the message of Jesus Christ to the world.

I feel blessed and grateful to be a part of it.

Ever since I was in high school, it’s been my dream to work for the LDS Church. And here I am today, working for the Church in the Missionary Department, none the less. Sometimes I lose sight of the fact that I am living a dream of mine. I have the most incredible co-workers I could ever dream to have. My boss is so good to me and understanding.

This was such a good reminder to me of why I am here, working every day for the Church.

Love,

Brittney



Ice Fishing

June and Jer took Trev and I ice fishing. I should have taken more pictures of my first time ice fishing, but didn't. Whoops.

It was so cold!!! But pretty fun, even though we didn't catch anything.

I sat in the tent next to the heater the whole time. Everyone else stayed warm. Either my coat sucks or something is wrong with me.

The ice was something like 10 inches deep. In the tent, without the glare of the sun, you could see all the way to the bottom of the lake.

POPTARTS

June bought me these Poptarts on the way back from St. George.

Ill eat Poptarts but not desserts, which apparently they are the same thing to everyone but me. I'll never live it down though.

Soap Carving Date

Winter Wonderland

It's been a very snowy winter! It's been cold, snowy and icy. I've never experienced snow and ice like this, not even in my time in Rexburg (I'm sure I did in Alaska, but I was not a driver and too young to really remember).

The cave has been especially treacherous. The stairs have been so snowed in over night, you can't even see where one stair starts and the next begins. Then once the snow stopped - the ice began. Those stairs are steep and narow and ICY. A death trap. The ice has been getting so thick you have to take an ax to them to get the ice off. I worry very much for Trevor coming down those - his feet are so big, half his foot hangs off the step, add ice onto it and they are truly dangerous. Luckily for me he's a sweetheart and cleans them off for me.

These are pictures from just one of the many snow storms we've gotten this year (note - all this snow happened over night!! Crazy!).

I LOVE SNOW!!! 

Kissing Stool

For Christmas, my co-worker and cube mate Jeff bought me this stool. So Trevor wouldn't have to bend down to kiss me. He thought he was so funny.

We use it all the time. Best gift ever!

And it is even collapsible for our travelling convenience. With the stool we are the same height.

And just because they're both green, here's a picture of Trevor - aka - The Hulk