Barb's Day & Dorothy

First of all I must apologize for being so late in sending my message to your regarding the "leaf" necklace. Thank you Debbie, for reminding me again last week.

I was very thrilled to receive it from my dear friend, Margaret. She said such beautiful things about me - so nice to read but embarrassing as well! When I wore the necklace, I had a warm feeling of her and my many friends. I am so blessed to have such special friends!!

I decided to pass it on to another dear friend, Dorothy. I have known Dorothy a long time. The first time we met was at a BYU football Bowl game in the Los Angeles area. Bob had met Dorothy and her husband at the [Jordan River Temple] Baptistry and thought they were very special. After meeting at the game, we became close friends and we were invited to their home for Thanksgiving dinner for a few years.

Dorothy and I have more in common now because of losing our dear husbands. We know what an empty spot we have in our daily lives. I am so grateful that she is back serving in the Baptistry. I am so grateful for her friendship and love her dearly.

Amanda

This necklace was last with Kendra. She couldn't find someone to pass it on to so she just gave it back to me [the Editor]. Which is totally cool, I hope no one feels guilty or something if they do that.

I think this is a good time to explain to- or remind- people that although rules are set out, there really are no rules because no one will enforce them. From the start I just wanted to put these necklaces out there and see what would happen and I've done my best to not interfere with their journey.

Now on to Amanda...

Amanda is the wife of my husband's best friend.

When I first met Amanda I was rather rude in my assumptions. She was blond, and skinny, and cute. Which may not sound rude, but in my mind I knew enough of "those type" of girls and I was sorely disappointed in Brad's ability to choose women (all these thoughts occurred with in just a matter of seconds upon my first seeing Amanda). But then we started chatting, and she was so nice. "Ah flip!" I told myself, she's awesome!

And I think we've been pretty good friends ever since.

I admire Amanda because:

#1- She is so nice. I can't hardly think of anyone more genuinely concerned about and interested in other people. [As a girl I tend to be rather judgemental of other people (i.e., "her hair looks funny", "her blouse isn't very flattering", etc., it's embarrassing to admit that sometimes I'm so shallow, but I am. Although I'm working on it.)]

#2- She is just good. One time Amanda and I were walking around her neighborhood with our babies. And I was saying something about how its hard to not want more things all the time. Amanda replies "I know, I see my neighbors with their pretty flowers and bushes, and I'm like, 'I want that bush'".

No, Amanda, you don't know. Who covets bushes!?

#3- So Amanda is sweet and caring. She is very creative and everything around her is beautiful. She is also smart. She graduated several years ago, which I am painfully jealous of, and has been teaching Jr. High health classes for at least a couple years now. Which I'm not at all jealous of. But she says she loves it.

As with all the other women mentioned in this blog the list could continue. I am just grateful that Amanda and I have become friends (especially since our husbands are best friends). Anytime I'm with her I have fun and leave her company feeling better about myself.

Thanks for your friendship Amanda.

Kelsey

I am passing this necklace on to my niece Kelsey. She is one of my most favorite people. I was at the hospital 19 years ago when she was 30 minutes old. I knew she was special the minute I laid eyes on her. She came first and my daughter Molly, Kelsey’s cousin, was born 5 days later.

I love Kelsey because she is going through her first year at college. First year away from home, her first love has just left on a mission for 2 years and she was the first person I thought of regarding this necklace.

I selected Kelsey for the Gold Heart because the day I wore the necklace was a very special day for her boyfriend Wes at the Jordan River Temple, and I was there with him.

Kelsey is a lovely young woman who will do justice to the journey of the Five Necklaces.

Joy's Day

Wow, I have just been reading what others have said and I am so touched that I was included in this “awesome woman” project. My daughter is too kind with her praise of me, she is a wonderful example to me, I have been blessed with amazing children. My girls Anna, Brandy, Emily and Molly are the hardest working and most thoughtful daughters anyone could ask for. Although I can’t claim the privilege of raising my daughter in law Brandy, I honor her mother Debbie for a job well done!

I did not rush right out and wear the necklace, I waited about a week and thought I would try to attach it to a special event or person in my life. Such an experience happened on Friday November 20. I wore the necklace all day at work and had a very pleasant day. It was the week before Thanksgiving and I had some lovely George Winston music playing all day. I tried to remember to be a little more cheerful and a little more positive. Work has been stressful and hectic lately- lots of people wanting lots of things done before the holiday. I focused on slowing down (a real challenge for me). Wearing the necklace was a good reminder to put people first and issues second.

Joy

To my Mom:

I love you. I kept thinking of people I could give the necklace to. It had to be someone special, someone who has touched my life. Someone who I love and admire. I thought about my sisters, some cousins, my best friend, and new friends that I have made recently, but I always came back to my mom.

My mom has always been there for me through thick and thin. She has always been my best friend and advocate. We might not agree on everything, our taste is sometimes a little different, and we have different ways of doing things, but we still love each other.

My mom loves the fall, gardening, decorating, cooking, reading, being silly, helping others, drinking diet coke, watching John Wayne, drinking more diet coke, going on walks and talking, doing family history, and being with her family.

The last several years of my life have been a little different than I would have imagined. Very difficult at times really, but through it all my mom was always by my side helping me, comforting me, encouraging me. There is no way I could have made it through the last couple of years without my mom. I am so blessed to have a mother like her. I hope someday I can be the kind of mother she is to me.

I love you mom, I hope you have a great day!

-Anna

Anna's Day

[Editor's Note: Click here to read about why Anna got a necklace]

"Gold Hearted" experience.....

First off I want to tell my sister-in-law Brandy how much I love her. I too remember that first Christmas when she spent the night very well. I actually think about that almost every Christmas. I really am thankful for her in my life. She has been a good example to me of what it means to be steady, loving and enduring. And she makes the best brownies ever! I don't often enough tell her that I love her and how grateful I am for her in my life. I love you Brandy.

I couldn't decide when to wear the necklace. I had thought about it for a good two weeks. Should I pick a day that I knew was going to be hard, special or just randomly pick a day and put it on. I decided to be random and put it on one day over a pink shirt I was wearing. It was just the right touch for my outfit and my heart that day.

It seems like I have filled my life up with busy things at the moment and so life can be a little hairy for me at times. I have kept the heart necklace for almost a month now and I have picked someone to hand it off to. Before I tell you who it is though, I want to tell you how I am grateful for strong women. For the past month I have thought about all of the women in my life who have touched and strengthened me. When I wore my necklace I found myself walking a little taller as if I was filled with more determination to make it a good day.

Remembrance, I think is what I gained from this experience. Remembering that there are good women all around and to try to make my days a little better because of their examples.

Stephanie

The person I chose to pass the cool necklace onto is my oldest and only sister I have. We are 4 years apart, most people would think that we have been close as sisters are usually when growing up, but it wasn't like that for us. We didn't really bond or get to know each other as we should have. She was living her life and I was living mine.. we were so different from each other. It wasn't until she had Mckenna, her daughter, that it made me just want to be a better sister to her. I loved loved being an aunt, and Stephanie let me spoil her daughter like crazy! And to spoil her other 3 children too.

Stephanie is a really cool person, she is a mom of 4 really adorable kids, a great wife and a true friend to all who know her. She lives with the gospel close to her heart, shares her faith and testimony with others. She is a true servant of our Heavenly Father. She's been my rock when I've needed her. I admit, I never would express that I need her there or anything since I'm a stubborn gal, but she would just come and be there anyways.

How lucky am I to have her as my sister? Let me tell you, through each "drama/challenge" I've had in my life, she's been there. I will always need my sister. Recently, she held my hand through a chapter in my life that I had endured. She loves my boys like they are her own, they love Aunt Stephanie, and our kids are great cousins. Her children are so loved by her, even her youngest, when he sleeps over, all night, he cries, "I want my mommmmm"...that's how much love she has for her children.

Steph's my sister and my best friend. I remember this picture frame she made for me more than 15 years ago with a quote that said, "Sisters by Chance, Friends by Choice." It's so true. I am glad I've gotten to know her more and more over the years and I adore her.

Steph, I think you are cool..lya.