Sunday, April 11, 2010

To Love and Be Loved

I MET NIE NIE LAST NIGHT!!!


Here's how it went down:

After going to the movies last night, Eric and I stop by Sunflower Farmer's Market to do some shopping. We're in line and I'm swiping my card, typing in the PIN, when Eric says matter-o-factly, "Hey, there's Nie."

My stomach was in my throat. I looked up. Sure, enough. There she was, with her hubby, Christian, in the bakery section.

I lost all ability to understand what I was supposed to do next in my transaction:

Cashier: "Do you want cash back?"
Me: "What? Ummmm. Oh! No!"
Cashier: "Here's your receipt."
Me: Already walked away. Who can care about a receipt at a time like this?


Anyway, after much prodding, Eric convinced me to go up and introduce myself. Which I did, and I gave her a big hug. I hope I didn't hurt her hunchie! She introduced Christian and we shook his burn gloves. Amazing. Can I just say that Nie is beautiful?! She has a countenance about her. She really just glows and you can FEEL her sweet spirit. It feels calm and full of love.

While we were talking, it hit me like a ton of bricks:

This girl doesn't feel the same way as I feel about her AT ALL!
She doesn't know me. She doesn't know the joy and strength I've found from her so many times. She doesn't know that I know her kids, husband, and family, and the way she feels about life.
Our relationship is completely one sided!!!
And it made me realize something right then and there...
How beautiful it is to have the wonderful relationships that I have; where each person is giving and receiving love, and finding joy through each other. I have my own wonderful, loving husband. He makes my life full and rich and worth living. I have my own quirky family, and when I go to their house, I feel peace and happiness. I have friends who help me see the goodness in myself and who sometimes need my help. They love me, and I love them.
Meeting Nie made me realize just how wonderful my own life is and the people who are in it. It made me realize that my life is going to be an adventure and a journey. And I get to live and experience it all with the people I love.
P.S. Go see ''Date Night". It's awesome.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Launching...

MUCH sooner than I'd planned, but oh well!! Here goes!

Mallory Kerwin Photography
http://mallorykerwin.blogspot.com

Friday, April 2, 2010

My Testimony

Tomorrow starts something we, as Latter Day Saints, refer to as General Conference. But it's not just for Latter Day Saints. People from any faith, from anywhere in the world, are able to attend, watch, listen, or read. It's the leaders of our church--from our President, to his counselors, to the apostles, and to the various worldwide area leaders--who we get to hear from. They teach us about things like the Atonement, our purpose in life, and how we can live with our families forever. Most importantly, they teach us faith in Jesus Christ.

So, it being Conference weekend and all, I figured this is a great time to share my testimony. Here it is. I'll try to keep it simple.

We are children of a loving Heavenly Father. His greatest desire for us is to have joy. That's it. So, through Christ, He created this earth and sent us here to experience lots of things: joy, sorrow, bitter, sweet, excitement, disappoinment, hunger, fatness, hot, cold, etc. All so that we could gain understanding and experience.


But, the most important reason Heavenly Father created this earth is so that we could have a chance to be tested. In order to ultimately achieve TRUE joy, we need to learn to choose the right. So He gave us commandments to live by. Some of those commandments are: not dating until you're 16, living a healthy alcohol and drug-free life, having faith, and forgiving others. There are a lot more. And they all tie together.


So here we are. On our little earth. Living our little lives. Some of us aware of the big plan of happiness, some not. But what's cool is Heavenly Father doesn't play favorites. He doesn't much care how much you know, where you come from, your culture, your career, or the color of your toothbrush. He doesn't give His blessings to just Catholics, just Mormons, just Baptists, just Atheists, or just the plain old apathetic. He loves ALL of His children equally and gives His blessings equally, provided we follow the commandments He's set forth.


One day, we will sit before Him and have an account given of how we lived our life here on earth. He will judge us with justice, but also with mercy. If we've lived according to His commandments, He will give us more than we can possibly imagine. We will be able to live with our families forever, we will be able to become like him. But most importantly, we will have pure and simple JOY. Unlike anything we've yet experienced.

And it will last forever.



"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

-Matthew 11:28-30


If you want to know more, just ask.