The Best and Worst of Living in Utah

This weekend we said goodbye to our very first home together:

When we said goodbye to the house, I cried. There were so many wonderful beautiful moments that are associated with this house. It was our first place together--so many things happened here and we fell more in love. I'm so grateful that RBH was confident/sauve/perfect enough to trick me into getting married this summer so that we had all this time in this house together.

Whenever I say goodbye to a place that is filled with these sorts of memories I think about the part in Sense and Sensibility when Marianne says goodbye to Norland and she is super over-dramatic about it:

"Dear, dear Norland!" said Marianne, as she wandered alone before the house, on the last evening of their being there; "when shall I cease to regret you?--when learn to feel a home elsewhere?--Oh happy house! could you know what I suffer in now viewing you from this spot, from whence perhaps I may view you now more!--And you, ye well-known trees!--but you will continue the same.--No leaf will decay because we are removed, nor any branch become motionless although we can observe you no longer!--No; you will continue the same; unconscious of the pleasure or the regret you occasion, and insensible of any change in those who walk under your shade!--But who will remain to enjoy you?"
- Jane Austen, Sense&Sensibility, Chapter 5

I was Oh Happy House-ing all over the place when we had to leave. We are really excited for our next adventure, though. In honor of change, hellos, and goobyes, I have compiled a list of things that I will miss about Utah and things that I will not miss about Utah...

What Yesterday REALLY Meant

I hope everybody had a lovely Easter yesterday. It is interesting that when we are in the midst of celebrating and being festive how hard it is to feel the reality of why we are celebrating. Honestly, the life, ministry, atonement, death, resurrection of Jesus Christ is really hard for me to mentally, emotionally, and spiritually fathom. I feel like there are only a couple times in my whole life that I have come close to really feeling everything that it means to me, feel the weight of what He really did and does for me.

This video comes really close to expressing all those deep and weighty feelings that I feel about Him and about yesterday. Take a chance to reflect on what yesterday really meant. It is hard for me to get my head around and even harder for me to get my heart around...





Also, my sister is shown at 2:17. See if you can spot her.

Free Live Streaming Concert Tonight

My freakishly talented Brother-in-law will be doing a Live Streaming Concert online from his home studio TONIGHT - April 15th- at 9pm EST.

He'll be playing some original songs, covers, and songs from his band Upstanding Youth. If you sign up HERE to enjoy the show, you'll have the chance to suggest the songs he plays and be in a drawing for an iTunes gift card.

A pretty cool Tuesday night.

He explains it all here:

Enjoy :)

My Favorite Weekend of The Year...and Why

This weekend is my favorite weekend of the whole year.

The first weekend of April and the first weekend of October is a special weekend in the Mormon world. We have a worldwide meeting where the prophet, apostles, and other general leaders in the church address us. The meeting is broadcast in 90+ languages in 197 different countries.

Because we believe that the prophet is God's mouthpiece, this weekend is full of receiving God's words and will for us RIGHT NOW. It is such an uplifting, invigorating, peaceful, and tender experience for me.

For a quick explanation, you can look here.



For my explanation, you can read here:

I am currently reading the Old Testament, and I am so engrossed in the way that the children of Israel treat the Lord's word as they receive it through his prophets. I am impressed by how much God loves them to keep giving them another chance again and again. They were part of His church, though, and so of course they received direct guidance from Him through His mouthpiece.

When I have read through Acts in the New Testament, I have felt such empathy for the twelve apostles that Christ left to continue to establish and guide His church. They were just men, but they were given divine guidance and direction to do the Lord's work. The people at this time that were a part of His church continued to get direction from The Lord through them.

As "Mormons" or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We believe He is not only not dead but that He still speaks. I know that God is a loving Heavenly Father and He does not intend to leave His children wandering. Just as He has since the beginning of time, I believe He directs us through prophets and apostles today.

That is why this weekend is so important to me. Think of the excitement and preparation you would feel if The Lord were coming to hold a meeting to give you specific direction for THIS day and time. The prophet and apostles, like those of the past, are just men. They have weaknesses; they make mistakes (just as those of the past). These men though are given divine guidance and direction, and we are given the opportunity to listen to those words every 6 months (at least).

That is my simple explanation for why this week is my favorite of the year. I cry every time it ends. It is a time of spiritual uplifting for me.

If you are curious, you can check it out here.
There are meetings both Saturday & Sunday at 10am & 2pm MDT. The prophet will be speaking on Sunday at the 10am meeting.



If you couldn't read all of that ^ then just check out this simple 1 minute explanation/sneak peak here:

We are planning on watching at our local chapel with the one other couple there--a pair of cute white haired 80 year olds. I can't wait to listen, feel, write, and talk about it all later with RBH over some good food.

Here's to my favorite weekend. I hope Monday never comes! ;)


PS - if you feel confused or awkward about my explanation or e-vite to watch along with me, www.normans.com has got you covered with their explanation at TED Talks With a Twist--Why You Shouldn't Be Scared of Mormon General Conference. They're pretty much right...it is just like TED talks given by all Mormons ;) haha

My First Date with a Female GA and I Lost It

This morning I was sitting with RBH in the religion building on BYU campus, and a woman approached me. She was older and adorable and asked if I would be willing to escort her out to her car. I immediately stood up with an "of course!" and we linked arms and started heading for the door.

We made small talk throughout our whole walk. I kept asking her really common questions like how long she had been teaching at BYU, if she grew up around here, etc.

As we neared her car she halted my questions with a simple explanation, "I'm Ann Madsen," as if to say, "you don't know who I am???" My brain starts buzzing: oh my I feel so stupid. I was supposed to recognize you. Crud. That name sounds so familiar but I can't place why I know you. Are you Truman's wife or daughter? or sister? Crud crud crud. Instead this comes out of my mouth, "nice to meet you! I'm Coco." She thanks me for walking her to her car, and I run off as fast as possible with my tail between my legs.

I am so embarrassed.

I run up to RBH and say, "babe babe babe I just walked Ann Madsen to her car and I was such an idiot because I kept asking her stupid questions that I SHOULD know and then after she said who she was I didn't give it any recognition and she probably thinks I'm a stupid freshman that doesn't even know General Conference is this weekend. Help me remember why I'm supposed to know her!!!!!!"

RBH reminds me: Truman G Madsen's wife. Currently on the Sunday School General Board. Professor of Ancient Scripture at BYU. Author. Has made those really smart Old Testament DVDs. THE ANCIENT SCRIPTURE SCHOLAR IN THE BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH DVD. 

I escorted a female LDS scholar to her car and I totally blew it.

What could I have said?! "Hi um. My husband and I dated long distance and listening to your husband's books on CD is what got me through all the hours of driving there and back." or "Hi. you are the smartest woman I've talked to probably...maybe in my life...now lets talk more about the weather."

No. I didn't say anything. I just ran away.

Remember when I met John Mayer and he told me I was cute and I was totally fine?!?! Then I meet this woman and I freak out haha. 

RBH's reply to my shame and misery was, "its okay, you're not supposed to know who she is."

"Me?! of all people should know who she is. People like me are supposed to be worshiping her."

I can't believe I've watched that movie 576 times, am currently studying the Old Testamant, am a self-declared obsessor over LDS female scholars, and I didn't recognize her. Biggest fail of 2014.

I'm never going to be asked to pray in General Women's meeting now....hahahaha Truman G Madsen is looking down on me in shaaaaaaaaaame nooooooo. 

RBH is now making fun of me because I am buying her book right now because I feel like I owe it to her.

She really is an awesome lady. Read her testimony here.