Season Two : Episode 2 "Cherish the Moments"

Last night my wife and I were able to spend some time to watch a movie on Netflix. Which seems pretty normal but was a treat because I am always doing homework or helping out around the house or something. (Its like now that I am grown up I have all these things called "responsibilities", weird, Right?!)  So we are skimming through our videos and we came across this Christmas movie and I love Christmas, so I was totally for hit! It started out being the day of Halloween. Kinda weird for a Christmas movie but okay, cool. As we start watching it ends up being a really sentimental movie about this family's baby that is found with a type of cancer and their process through it. And as you reach the end of the movie you find out why it starts with Halloween. It ends on a bittersweet note but there are so many positive things you get from the movie. You see the strength of his mother and how she is in shambles at the beginning of the process and then how she becomes so strong . You see how the community gets involved to help and assist through their trial. And you see others who are changed in the process and realize the true priorities in their life.

I feel like I am pretty on track with my life but there is a level of inspiration that I felt from viewing those peoples experience. It is a movie based on a true story. I felt a desire to be better, to be involved in better things, to cherish every moment that this life gives. Thinking of the blessings of our lives right now I am overwhelmed and hope that I can take time to cherish the small and simple but sometimes most important things.

This past week I have had the opportunity to feel our little daughter kick, how precious an experience to feel that. There was literally a month where Em' could feel her and I couldn't. I mean by all means she is doing all the hard work so she gets first dibs to feel our little girl. It was however still pretty neat to realize she is growing so fast. To think that she is able to move around do so much already. They say she can hear us talk so I try and start up conversations with her every once in a while to see how she is doing. She doesn't ever respond so its kinda one-sided... But hey its just one more step in my plan to make sure she is a "Daddy's Girl" ; )

We have been on the house hunt and have filtered out a lot of properties. It has been an intense process but such a blessing. It was actually the day we would have signed on a rental agreement we found out we were pre-approved to purchase a home! And the way it all happened we knew it was a blessing from our Heavenly Father.

I hope that as I continue through each day and especially this week I can see the tender blessings in in our lives. I pray that I will recognize the subtle mercies of my Heavenly Father and focus on the true purposes of this life.

- Trent D. Nielson

"Keep the Faith & Never Give Up, Never Surrender"

Season Two : Episode 1 "Twists and Turns"

Hello again! I know, I know, I failed epicly at my goal to write weekly or even monthly at that haha. It is funny how many twists and turns life can throw at us. If you would have asked me what I would be doing right now, following my mission I would have had a detailed list of plans and goals for that week the next month, quarter, year, to even  5 years out. I knew exactly what I wanted and had the perfect plan to get there... or so I thought.

Today I have a clearer idea how life has a variety of detours for us to take. That our fool proof plan with "back-up plan C or Z" can always change. Despite all the changes I have experienced since my mission I have seen that the Lord is ever aware of me and able to provide me with the blessings right when I need them. And sometimes he waits for me to accept them.

Today I am in a different spot than I imagined. Emily and I are still living in Arizona. We have two puppies, Bella a Chocolate Lab who is 8 months old and Phili (yep named after Philadelphia, and she is a girl) a Belguin Malinois Shepherd/Dutch Shepherd mix. They are lively and keep us very busy, training them not to tear into the trash or pee in the house has been quite the challenge. We made a recent triumph in discovering that Phili would not pee in her Kennel if it was smaller and closer to her size : ) You do not know how grateful we are not to be cleaning her kennel at 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.! (P.S. Thanks for the kennels Karyn!)

I am in-between jobs and continuing to run my web/graphic design business on the side and Emily is still working at the bakery. We have awesome family near and far and could not be more grateful for their love and kindness to us. Recently we traveled to Texas for a funeral and were able to spend the weekend with Emily's father. It was wonderful to have that time as our former visits to her family were only a few hours. I was able to get to know them so much better and I can remember the names and ages of all my new brothers and sisters, haha! Who are all amazing by the way!

Although I thought that this would be my final semester graduating with my bachelors at DSU, that I would be in St. George and that for some crazy reason I would already be owning a home. I don't mind that I don't, because I married to the most amazing woman in the world. I am grateful for her patience with me and all my quirks. I am thankful for her love for me which she shows every day! I am grateful for her love for the Savior His gospel and how she strives to live His teachings. I am thankful to know that we are married under sacred covenants to our Heavenly Father that make our bond ever stronger and marriage more fulfilled as we live up to those covenants. I am grateful our marriage is Eternal. Thank you, my Rose, I could never do it without you!

-Trent D. Nielson

Keep the Faith & Never give Up, Never Surrender