Once Upon a Time

I've been thinking about...fairytales.


Fairytales
like Rapunzel, where she has a grand adventure (you know you love Tangled as much as I do. :) )


Fairytales
like Beauty and the Beast, where Belle, who values books and knowledge, proves the power of love in healing


Fairytales
like the Princess and the Frog, where a girl who works hard learns the importance of balance between duty and strengthening relationships.



President Uchtdorf gave a talk in 2010. You should know that Uchtdorf is one of my favorite speakers. His words hold so much power, and they touch the hearts of all who listen. This particular talk was to the young women, entitled, "Your Happily Ever After." (http://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/05/your-happily-ever-after?lang=eng )

From the beginning of the talk,

Aren’t those wonderful words to begin a story? “Once upon a time” promises something: a story of adventure and romance, a story of princesses and princes. It may include tales of courage, hope, and everlasting love. In many of these stories, nice overcomes mean and good overcomes evil. But perhaps most of all, I love it when we turn to the last page and our eyes reach the final lines and we see the enchanting words “And they lived happily ever after.”

Isn’t that what we all desire: to be the heroes and heroines of our own stories; to triumph over adversity; to experience life in all its beauty; and, in the end, to live happily ever after?

His talk very beautifully lays out the fairytale our lives can be. Every tale has triumphant moments, but also times of hardship, as is the same with our lives. We will have to face some treacherous trials, but with the help of our Heavenly Father, we can reach our HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

...which brings me to the point where I put in a word for General Conference. :)

I am *beyond* excited for the words we will have the chance to hear this weekend.

On Monday, for family home evening, I challenged my family to write down a question they had, or a problem they were facing, and then to pray about this question every night. Then they were to read their scriptures daily that they might prepare for conference, so that they might be ready to hear the answer from the conference, or even in their scripture reading.

General Conference gives us guidance, answers, and comfort. It helps us find our happily ever after if we are prepared to put the effort in to follow the words from the prophet, for those words are inspired, and given to us for our benefit.

This is the castle I'll go to soon

Where will the road to your happily ever after take you?

I'm Grateful for...

...family
who add color to my life, encourage me, challenge me, and are wonderful examples of how I want to live.
My dad has shown me the importance of faith and dedication,
Mom has taught me that laughter is necessary,
Jonathan has inspired me to be ever diligent in serving others,
Merinda has--no, rather, she is--teaching me patience,
Mikaela has proven that imagination is something to be treasured.

(why, yes. That is a fruit roll-up and oatmeal box on our heads. :) )

...friends
who brought me popsicles and ice cream while I was recovering from my surgery (because 'surgery' sounds serious and tense) that eliminated my wisdom teeth.

(A special thanks to Trent, Angel, and Anne! :) )

...kids I babysit
who are so young, and yet have such unique personalities.

Yesterday, while playing with Bryce, he was swinging from a tree, and we heard a noise from the bushes.

Bryce: "Was that a cat?"
Me: "I don't know. Maybe."
Bryce: "There's a cat named Pretty-Pretty that comes in our yard."
He sees the cat in the bushes.
Bryce. "That's not Pretty-Pretty. What should we call this one?"
Me: "Hmm..how about...Gustaffa!?"
Bryce: "Ew. No, let's name it Silly-Kitty."

(We decorated cupcakes on Valentine's Day, and had a treasure hunt a few weeks ago.)

...Music
The kind that catches your ear :) ...

And touches your heart...

(Hair credit to Kimmi the all-awesome cosmetologist... and I don't really play the piano, but when I do, I play with my whole heart. ;) )

...And most of all


...LOVE
that Heavenly Father has for me, which I am reminded of in every tender gesture, every smile, every prayer, every time someone lends a hand to another, and every moment I think of Christ's sacrifice that will allow me to be with those I love, despite my insufficiency.

Get THIS.

Get this.
I have been 18 for 3. whole. weeks. ...tomorrow.

And already, I have:

Voted in the state primaries (yes, I am performin' my de-mo-crat-ic duties!)

Signed my own medical papers (no parental permission required)

Sent in my application for an apartment (without parent signature)

And had my wisdom teeth removed!!!

Boo-ya! I am just adult-a-ma-fying my life here. Woot woot!
Oh, and here's a little video I put together of my wisdom teeth adventure (because I was stuck in the house during recovery, with not much to do...)

Katie Koy-vee-sto

Only a few years ago I met this...




She's a friend-making,



delicious food-baking,



'Big Bite'-taking,


joyfully earth-shaking,


marshmallow-record-breaking,



daring and risk-taking,


and ever memory-making

amazing daughter of God, wife, mother, and friend.


Happy Birthday, Katie!