Joy is . . .

not a passing fancy or a fleeting moment. Joy is permanent marker on a new pair of pants. Once joy has touched you, it is imprinted on your soul. You never are the same.

Joy is fragile. Its not like pleasure. Pleasure is easy to find, temporary, and translucent. Joy is like hand blown glass. It will last longer than you do if you care for it. But if let it slip past you, it is gone. Painfully gone.

Joy comes in those moments that leave you smiling for eight days. Those moments that you can't stop thinking about. Those moments that leave you full and whole. Those moments that, if you could, you would play over and over again to fill your whole lifetime.

Joy comes from hard work, patience, virtue, and appreciation of the beautiful things in the world. Joy comes from selfless love.

Joy is irreplaceable.

Joy is mine.

February 11th . . .

One year ago today Jacob proposed to me. I can't believe its been a year. I know people say that all the time, but its true. It's been a year of joy. Everyday I am just in awe of how lucky I am to be with him. I can't believe that in all my imperfection God still blessed me with a husband that is so amazing. I don't know how I fooled him into buying me a ring and asking me to marry him, but I am just so grateful that it worked and that I have this incredible person in my life. He is an inspiration and an example to me.

I love to see the temple . . .

My friend is getting married tomorrow in the St. George temple. I am so excited to go and watch. Everything about the temple is amazing. Going through a session is amazing. Doing baptisms is amazing. Even standing outside is amazing. But there is something so delightful about sealings. It is amazing to hear my promises again. I love the temple. Even thinking about the temple makes me have a better attitude and spirit.