To Be A Hardy

We recently had a discussion
at the dinner table

on what it means to be a
Hardy

Many things were discussed.

We told our children

"You are a Hardy.

And that means something."

So what does it mean?

they asked. 

We told them their behavior

reflects on our name.
We expect them to honor their name,
to never embarass themselves
or their family.

We told them the name
does not define the character.

The character defines the name.

I hope my children will always 

be proud to be a Hardy.

We are so proud of them.

HAR·DY

–adjective

Capable of enduring fatigue, hardship, exposure, 

sturdy; strong; requiring great physical courage,

vigor, or endurance; bold or daring; courageous;

Origin:

1175–1225; ME hardi < OF, ptp. of

*hardir to harden, make brave

—Synonyms

vigorous, robust, hale, stout, sound,

intrepid, resolute, brave.

Road Trip to the Temple

Our Young Women recently made a road trip
to the Salt Lake Temple. (It was freezing!)

To get there, we played an awesome game of
"Paths to the Temple."

To play, you divide into car teams and take turns rolling dice. 

Each number on the dice corresponds to a different direction.

Such as 1= Turn Left; 2= Go 2 blocks; 3= Make a U turn, etc. 

The object is to see who can get to the temple first.

Everone got lost.

By 8 pm, it was clear

the best path to get to the Temple...

is a direct path.

The lesson:

You need to stay on the right path to get to the Temple

and not leave it to chance.

Afterwards, we went to the Lion House Pantry...

and ate Lion House Rolls and Honey Butter...

YUMMY!!!

I decided if I were stranded on a deserted island
and could only choose one thing to eat...

LION HOUSE ROLLS AND HONEY BUTTER!

Easter & General Conference

I love when Easter and General Conference

fall on the same day.

What could be better than celebrating

the resurrection of our Savior

and spending time with our families?

Our family celebrates Easter with

many gatherings and traditions.

This year we started off our traditions with 

Family Home Evening & Easter Egg Hunt on Palm Sunday.

Alexis & the neighbor's black chickens pose for the camera.

Doug's family gets together once a month for FHE.

It's great to see his siblings and their children.

Our kids have grown up with their cousins.

Jonny had a hard time finding his eggs this year.

He had a hard time finding his Easter basket too.

Could it be he has alot on his mind?

Emily on this chilly afternoon.

At least it didn't snow this day!

Hannah loves these traditions.

She's a believer in the Easter Bunny.

I asked her if she knew

the real reason we celebrate Easter.

She used some pretty big words like

Atonement, Crucifixion, & Resurrection.

I think she gets it. :)

I love that my older children still insist

on participating in dyeing Easter Eggs.

(I liked the UofU egg)

They wouldn't miss it.

Even if we have to do it at 11:00 at night!

Some very pretty colors turned out this year!

Cute boys supsercede the festivities sometimes...

The best part of Easter this year

was watching Conference with my family.

I loved what President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said,

"On this Easter Sunday, and every day,

as we contemplate with reverence

and awe how our Savior embraces us,

comforts us and heals us,

let us commit to become his hands,

that others through us may feel his loving embrace." 

I also love cooking dinner for my family,

my parents and my brother.

Can you believe my football/wrestling/rugby son

folded these napkins for me on his own

to look like bunny ears?

He's a man of many talents...

I also liked how Elder Russell M. Nelson

spoke on "Generations Linked in Love."

In the end, isn't that what it is all about?

My favorite part of Easter...

...is family.

Three Good Men

These are three good men.

They released our Bishopric last Sunday.

It was bittersweet for my husband.

He thought this release would be wonderful.

Until a young girl handed him her tithing for the last time.

He just about lost it.

Over the pulpit he did. His wept freely and talked about how

the greatest part of serving is loving the people you serve.

Afterwards, he asked if I was embarrassed by his emotion.

How could he ask that?!

I married him because of his sensitivity.

He truly, deeply loves.

That is what I love most about him.

Besides, I told him:

Real men aren't afraid to cry.

The two most powerful words I know in the scriptures are:

Jesus wept.

It is its own verse in John 11.

And it speaks unfathomable volumes.

Compassion is defined in the dictionary

as a "human emotion."

I think it is better defined as a godly emotion.

We should never be ashamed of FEELING.

Hannah, however, is feeling great about Doug's release.

She has little memory of sitting with her father in sacrament

because Doug served in a former Bishopric

before we moved to our new home.

She is looking forward to Thumb Wars with her daddy!

What Matters Most

I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn

in this short sojourn upon the earth

are lessons that help us distinguish between

what is important and what is not.

And what is most important

almost always involves the people around us.

Often we assume that they must know

how much we love them.

But we should never assume; we should let them know.

Wrote William Shakespeare,

“They do not love that do not show their love.”

Despite the changes which come into our lives

and with gratitude in our hearts,

may we fill our days—as much as we can—

with those things which matter most.

May we cherish those we hold dear

and express our love to them in word and in deed.

Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting;

give your child a hug;

give your parents a hug;

say “I love you” more;

always express your thanks.

Never let a problem to be solved

become more important than a person to be loved.

~Thomas S. Monson

~~~~~~~~~~

I love this message from our Prophet.

It makes me realize

I need to show my love more often to you.

I love you, my family, so very much.

I love you my friends and appreciate your friendship.

You are what is most important to me.