February-The Month of LOVE.

Ah February, the month of love...it just cries out for a list 

and so here goes: 

I love this newly nineteen year-old boy.

YEP.

I definitely loved his birthday cake.

Remember the Chocolate Wasted Cake I made for Cameron?

This is an off-shoot using white chocolate and Cadbury Eggs.

And I also love that photo-bomber :)

 I love that I got to spend a HUGE chunk of time with these two.

I seriously went through withdrawals when they left...

 I love that Valentines Day is smack dab in the middle of the 

month as a helpful little push to get you through the rest of it.

I love that I have my very own awesome valentine. ;)

I love that these two just announced that they are 

expecting a little boy in August!!! 

Yay for more babies after a 13-year dry spell!!!

I love that God always sends me the right messages at the right time.

 I love that two nights a week I get to walk to my class and pass  pictures

 of the three heavenly months I spent in Jerusalem.

Literally.

We had good hair.

And about those religion classes-

I still LOVE them. 

And finally, February might be the very best month to see this love story...

Thank you Trilby- I LOVED it!!!

And so, though February wasn't perfect 

 #rain #grayfordays #snowformiles 

It was definitely LOVELY.

Joy.

Last Tuesday I worked my temple shift-
(and I hate saying "worked" and "shift" 
when I talk about the temple because it's sooo not work)-

however, I was there and it felt good to be back.
It's not shocking to know that I have been praying a lot 
about joy lately.
About finding it, and giving it.
I definitely had a week of joy in Texas with the little family.
And I don't mean just happiness, I mean joy.
The kind of joy that comes from wanting to do everything you can to help and love and create happiness.
 And it is always so hard to leave.
As I flew back, I felt the ever looming clouds of my own problems and concerns returning to my mind...I tried to banish them with positive thinking, Korean music (not joking), 
uplifting podcasts and talks. 
I fought them hard.
In Texas, after my scripture study,  
I read my patriarchal blessing every night.
I picked and pulled at it. I rewrote it. I categorized it. I did everything I could to try and comprehend it's overarching message that I was struggling to believe.
The message that told me that joy and happiness would reign supreme in my life. Supreme.
At this time in my life that almost seems laughable.
 But because I believe and trust God with my whole soul, 
I know that it is truth.
With that promise of joy he also gave me ways to feel it and share it.
So I am on a mission. 
A mission to find and feel and give joy.
And in the temple last Tuesday, as I was walking back from the bride's room after having dropped off an elated grandmother to be with her almost married grand-daughter, 
I had the biggest smile on my face and in my heart.
The spirit whispered "This is joy Brenda. True joy."
IT WAS.
God is good.