That one time Harrison came home ...

It has officially been one week since Harrison returned home from his mission in Taiwan. You guuuuys ... I cannot explain in words how stinking excited I was for him to come home!

Long story short, he came was walking towards us from behind, and I was impatiently turning in circles when I saw him. (I was the first to see him!) Absolute pure, raw emotion took over me. My heart felt like it dropped and I literally could not breathe. I tried to coherently say something but all that came out of my mouth were jumbled words reflecting, "ohmygooosh" over and over and over. I ran to him, bawling like a baby and hugged him for what felt like ten minutes. It was one of rare times in my life that I had absolutely no control over myself. I was (as Chad put it) so happy I was giddy. It was unbelievable that my best little brother friend was finally standing in front of me after the longest two years ever.

He kept talking in Chinese and I just didn't care. All I wanted to do was talk to him and listen to his Chinese and cry some more because I was overcome with emotion.

I am grateful that he served diligently and honorably for the last two years. I received so many Facebook messages from his Taiwanese members who said they loved him and missed him. He is so loved by the people he served and that's apparent by all the letters, photos, Skype chats (already!!!) but also how Harry talks about Taiwan and the people he served there. He told Chad & I that coming home was extremely difficult because he loved the Taiwanese people so incredibly much.

I am glad to have him home though. An apostle once said, "The Lord judges your success during your mission by how you live the gospel once you return home." That means Harry was a fantastic missionary because he's going to continue to live what he taught.

Here's the vid and please ignore how ridiculous I sound squeaking and crying, I'm an ugly crier ...

All Mortals

Created this print today. It's from "The Screwtape Letters."

Grace of God

Ever since we moved to Richmond I have been dying to go to the temple. Unfortunately all of the elements have been combining against my wishes ...

• The closest temple is 2 hours and 15 minutes away
• Chad has class all week while I have classes all weekend
• Add up the time it takes to drive to the temple, do a session, drive back it totals about 10 hours per temple trip.
•  D.C. traffic.

Even with all of that I have been dead set on making it to the temple this month. You know what? By the grace of God Chad got out of class at 11 a.m. yesterday and we made it our goal to go to the temple. I have been praying since Sunday (when we planned on going) for it to be a great experience.

Lately I've been stressed and worked up about things that really have no eternal significance. I knew that if we went to the temple I would feel that peace I so desperately needed. 

All I can say is "wow." When we drove up and I saw Moroni on top of the spires, my heart stopped. When we got closer and I saw the entire temple I felt overwhelmed with joy. There was no other place in the entire world I would have rather been at. 

Inside was beautiful and stunning. It is easily one of the most beautiful temples I have ever been through. The entire time I was there I felt absolutely at peace. I felt a calmness and assurance that can only come from God. Sitting there with Chad, glimpsing into eternity with him was perfect.

I cannot describe how happy, joyful, ecstatic I am knowing that I have the gospel in my life, and an absolute assurance that Chad and I will be together FOREVVVVVER. How many people can say that? Needless to say, it was a fantastic trip. Well worth the 10 hours. I cannot wait until we go again when Harry gets home.

Want to learn more about LDS temples? Click here, send me an email or comment below!

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

Happy One Year Anniversary to my incredible husband Chad. This year has truly been the best year of my life, I cannot image life without Chad. There is no way for me to put into words how much I love him, it wouldn't even begin to convey my adoration for him. 

I love you Chad, more than life itself. I am extremely happy we have been married for one year. One year down, eternity to go.

Video I made of some of our memories from the first year of marriage. Enjoy.

1 Year Anniversary from Hailey Spencer on Vimeo.

God is good

Today is one of those days that I am overwhelmed by the goodness of God. I am overwhelmed at the blessings he gives me, and how kind he is towards me and my family.

Sometimes I have a hard time accepting all that he has given to me, sometimes I think, "but why?" Why am I so fortunate and lucky and blessed? Why have I been given so much, when others have so little?

I read a story about a wonderful RM who was in a car accident. He went into a coma for about a month. He finally came out of it but he has to re-learn EVERYTHING. Walking, talking, breathing. As I read the story I couldn't help but get tears in my eyes. Why was this young man given this trial, when I am so blessed to have a physical and capable body without limitations?

Then I thought to some people I know, they are in their twenties but have gotten married in the temple, then divorced. Why did they have spouses who chose different paths? Why am I given the most amazing man in the world to be my husband?

I kept thinking, why do I have an amazing job? Why do I have a wonderful family who was able to put me through college? Why do I have a car, a home, food to eat, clothes to wear?

I'm no better than anyone else, why have I been given so much?

Then I remembered some scriptures that touched my heart:

“For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

“Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall … follow after much tribulation.

“For after much tribulation come the blessings” (D&C 58:2–4).

Everyone has trials, and everyone's trials are different.

God has blessed me with more than I can ever thank him for. But that doesn't mean I won't have trials. In the foreseeable future I can see medical school being a trial. So maybe that is a trial that is tailor made for Chad and I. Where someone who is out of work, that trial is tailor made for them.

God knows us more personally and intimately than we know ourselves. That means he knows how to bless us, and how to try us. In the times of blessing I need to be grateful for all I've been given. In times of trial I need to also remember all I've been given.

Marriage

"There is nothing more important than honoring the marriage and family covenants you have made or will make in the temples of God." Henry B. Erying

"The [current] American story about marriage, as told in the law and in much popular literature, goes something like this:marriage is a relationship that exists primarily for the fulfillment of the individual spouses. If it ceases to perform this function, no one is to blame and either spouse may terminate it at will. Our Church leaders have taught that looking “upon marriage as a mere contract that may be entered into at pleasure … and severed at the first difficulty … is an evil meriting severe condemnation.There [are] three parties to our marriage — my [spouse] and I and the Lord. I told myself that if two of us could hang in there, we could hold it together.” -Elder Oaks” Dallin H. Oaks

“The most important of the Lord’s work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own homes. We have much to do to strengthen marriage in societies that increasingly trivialize its importance and purpose." D. Todd Christofferson

"The joining together of a man and a woman to be legally and lawfully wed not only is preparation for future generations to inherit the earth, but it also brings the greatest joy and satisfaction that can be found in this mortal experience. This is especially true when the powers of the priesthood proclaim a marriage to be for time and for all eternity."  Tom L. Perry

"If you are married, are you faithful to your spouse mentally as well as physically? Are you loyal to your marriage covenants by never engaging in conversation with another person that you wouldn’t want your spouse to overhear? Express gratitude for what your spouse does for you. Express that love and gratitude often. That will make life far richer and more pleasant and purposeful. Don’t withhold those natural expressions of love." Richard G. Scott

"Every man who truly loves a woman and every woman who truly loves a man hopes and dreams that their companionship will last forever. But marriage is a covenant sealed by authority. If that authority is of the state alone, it will endure only while the state has jurisdiction, and that jurisdiction ends with death." President Gordon B. Hinckley

"If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently. You shield it and protect it. You never abuse it. You don’t expose it to the elements. You don’t make it common or ordinary. If it ever becomes tarnished, you lovingly polish it until it gleams like new. It becomes special because you have made it so, and it grows more beautiful and precious as time goes by." F. Burton Howard