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.

Anna

Anna=Happy

Who else would I honor with my gold heart? Well, there are lots of women who I admire and who make my life better. But Anna is who I chose. Sorry, Anna. I'm not going to be as eloquent as my sisters or mom, but don't feel that has anything to do with you.

Anna is my age, and I'd say what it is, but then you'd all be jealous. Not of me, but of Anna and how amazing she is at such a tender, young, yet mature, age. Anna is named after her great grandmother, her full name is the same. How cool is that?

Anna is my sister-in-law, which right there speaks volumes for her, I am married to her brother. If you know him, you understand. Kidding, Honey. Really, I love him and he's great, but this isn't about him. I've heard stories about how he'd tease, and I'm sure they are many left untold. Anyone who lived through his childhood, and teenage years has something to be proud of.

My first memory of Anna is spending Christmas Eve bunking with her and Emily (Karl's next youngest sister) while Karl and I were dating. It was awesome, a cot in a basement room. Really, I felt somewhat uncomfortable, but it's something fun to remember now.

Anna went to school at Snow College then Utah State University where she got a bachelors degree. She is now back at school, going into nursing. Anatomy, microbiology, pathology...She's determined. She is doing this as a single mom to an incredible 6 year old boy. She keeps him involved in soccer, flag football...I've even seen golf clubs. Anna also works, providing people with their boating needs, she is active in church and institute, she is super crafty (in the best way), she's learning to to lay flooring, she camps, hikes and even runs marathons every now and then. I'm not even done yet, and who wants to be Anna already?

Anna is an awesome mom, and I feel she's shared that with me. Anna watched my boy three days a week until he was about a year and a half, I think. She is so kind, smart, funny, patient, generous, confident, thoughtful, strong...and I mean STRONG. Her picture should go along with the Young Women's theme really. She is a beautiful woman. She always looks good, even after going face first into a rock-and stay positive after. She has impeccable taste, in decorating, clothes, food, sister-in-laws....ha ha ha.

Anna is always thinking of others. I hear of service she does for others, with all her free time, and am motivated to do a little more. One of her cards will make your day and I am the recipient of many undeserving, but greatly appreciated, compliments.

Anna has shown me how to make things, cook things, throw kid parties, be more kind, be more patient, more happy, more friendly, more helpful, how to make the gospel a part of life. Even things I hope I never have to do like dating again, being a single mom, working and going to school. How does she do it?

I could go on and on. But Anna is also modest and I don't know how long she'd want me to go on. She probably thinks I'm exaggerating, but I'm not. If you don't know Anna, and ever run into her, say "Hi". It will make you feel good, important, special, happy.

Thank you for making my life better...happier. Yes, if it's okay, the title of this should be Anna=happy.


[Editor's Note: I think it's awesome that Brandy influenced my parenting, and Anna has influenced Brandy. I love seeing that chain and connection travel amongst us.

Tomorrow I will post about Heidi's day.]

Brandy's Day

My Day 10/02/09

My day started slow. No school for the kids, breakfast, laundry. Only my three kids. Not that they're "only's" but it was just us. [Editor's note: Brandy is awesome and usually tends her friend's or sister's kids too.]

Grams was 'kidnapping' the boys that afternoon to roast hot dogs and marshmallows. So, I was trying to secretly get some things together for them, along with another set of hats gloves and jackets that could be non-smokey to take to the BYU game that evening. I followed Grams up Big Cottonwood canyon (she had the boys) and it was, unexpectedly, good weather. We had a lot of fun, hot dogs are always the best over a fire.

We left just in time to get back home, and quickly showered while Karl took our baby girl to my mom's house for the evening. Now the next part may be confusing, sorry....Shane, my brother, took his daughter, and our boys to the Campbells (my sisters), where we would all meet up and go to the game.

Karl and I followed a few minutes later. As we were on our way a car crossed the road in front of us on Bacchus highway. We missed the bronco but did not miss a cement barrier. I let out several really weird "eeeee!'s". I remember what they sounded like, and it did not sound like me. But I was scared. In those two seconds so many thoughts went through my head. "Don't hit the car," along with what could happen. "We missed.", "No! Don't hit that!", "We're up in the air, this is what it's like to roll in a car!" We didn't roll, but my side was up along the barriers for several feet.

When it was done, Karl and I were both okay, just a little sore for a few days. We are so blessed. Was my necklace lucky? Possible. But was it good or bad luck? Good thing I don't believe in luck. But we were blessed. Karl says we must have had angels guarding us.

Some call me crazy, but we had tickets and our baby was with my mom, so we continued on to the the game. We even made it there with a few minutes left in the 2nd quarter. It was a good game, not the most exciting to watch. Of course, I don't usually get real excited about football. But we had fun and BYU won.

It was a long trip home. We weren't sure if we'd get out of the parking lot, or run out of gas first, but we made it out. When we were all home together, all safe and sound, it felt so good. It was a great day. I was, and am, grateful we were all safe.

thanks, this has been fun.

Check back tomorrow to see who Brandy gave her necklace to.

Brandy

Brandy: Gold Heart Necklace

When I think of my sister Brandy, I can almost imagine her as a breeze. Like a nice, soft, beach-type breeze. Although I'm absolutely sure she'd disagree with me, she seems to live her life with such ease and grace. Its like she has eternal perspective and so everything she does has more simplicity, but also more meaning to it.

My sister is incredibly awesome because while she has her own children; ages 1, 5, 7 (approx.) she also helps watch her friends two children; a newborn and a toddler, and she also takes my little girl for a few hours each Thursday. And she still has all her hair! I would have pulled mine out with a household like that. But like I said, Brandy is a breeze and after she has touched you, you feel a little calmer and a bit more at peace.

When my sister had her first child she had to work for the first several months of his life. After she was able to quit and stay at home with him she shared something with me: Being at home is better than being at work, but working is so much easier. I had never heard anyone express that. All I ever heard was moms talking about how much they loved being at home and they didn't miss work, etc. They never said how hard it was. Maybe they weren't putting as much effort into doing a good job as Brandy does, I don't know. But I appreciated her honesty and I think I was better prepared to be a mom myself after having heard that. And she's right, working is easier, but I still wish I didn't have to.

I have absolutely loved that as we've gotten older we've become friends in addition to sisters. Although Brandy really always did treat me like a friend. I remember so many times as a kid- even after Brandy became a teenager and could drive- when she would invite me to go hang out with her and her friends. I guess I could have asked her and she let me come along. But I at least felt like I was being invited. When you're a young girl watching your older sister go through all these experiences like makeup, and dating, and sleepovers, you feel left behind, like you're missing out on an exciting secret. But Brandy let me into that and I absolutely always loved her for that.

I've got to quit writing this stuff at work because it makes me get all teary-eyed and my co-workers look at me funny!

So, to my sister Brandy, thank you for being my friend. I know that lives are busy and when we see each other its usually amidst the chaos of all our kids, but I enjoy the time I do get to spend hanging out with you. Thank you for being an example of what a woman should be; someone kind and patient, always helpful and ever cheerful. I really do admire you and I think that this world, especially our little family-world, is much improved with your spirit.