An African Christmas

10 years ago I never had visiting Africa on my list of top 10 places to visit. (Sure I thought it would be great to go, but I had a plethora of other places I would have picked first). Then my dad got asked to go do some vision projects in the DR Congo and since my mom had some health issues, I got to be his companion. It was tough. The smells are almost unbearable, I always felt hungry, I got tired after long days of traveling and working, and the living conditions are heart breaking. But it was also life changing. There are so many Africans making the best of what they can and trying to help those around them. It made me want to be a better person. I guess it is one of those things you can't really describe, you just have to experience for yourself. Anyway, since that first trip to Africa back in 2006, my dad has gone back 2 or 3 times a year setting up vision projects for the LDS Church. Africa has grown to hold a special place in our family. My mom has been his primary companion on these trips and I'm proud to say she is keeping the fabric market in business. For Christmas this year she made each of her children a beautiful African quilt. Each one a little different, full of crazy colors and patterns (one of my favorite parts of Africa is the visual feast of colors and designs). I love my quilt! Thank you mom!

5 Days of Thanks

This will be my 5th Thanksgiving spent with the Mr. The first was a fabulous show with fireworks, cheers, a first kiss, and Mediterranean food disguised to taste American (it did not work) . The third was spent away from family and friends with no appearance of a Thanksgiving feast whatsoever. And even though I would love nothing more than to be back in Belgium eating frites with my man, at the time I wanted nothing more than to be at home sitting down to a feast with family. This year we are so blessed to be able to have two feasts in one day.

Happy Thanksgiving! Today I am grateful for traditions, family, and for you.

The Office

I realized I haven't posted hardly anything about where I work. I work for my dad at Excel Eye Center in American Fork (we have offices all over utah county). My dad is an Opthalmologist (eye doc) and my main title is the refractive surgery counselor and coordinator. Since my dad has retired from Lasik I really only deal with cataract surgeries for him and a few other doctors. I also help with most other stuff in the office as well though.  I love my job. It may not be very "career oriented" or sound that impressive--but I am happy to go to work everyday, and I think that says a lot. Some of these people I have known my entire life. Its funny how they know more about the details of my life than some of my best freinds. I guess that is what happens when you spend 8+ hours a day with someone. We have this imaginary circle drawn around the office that says anything said within that circle stays in that circle. I know I can go to Laura or Sandi about anything and keep their trust.
I love the patients that we see. Some of them are crazy, and some are really mean, but most of them are simply sweet. I have learned so many life lessons from observing the patients. (Including many lessons about what type of person NOT to become). I know that I am actaully making a difference when I try to help an elderly couple navigate their insurance company or console a mother who fears her child might lose their sight.
The best part about work though is my dad. We see a lot of elderly patients, which causes me to reflect on my life as they are at the end of theirs. I know I will always cherish these years spent seeing so much of my dad and learning about the man he is away from home. 

Pictures are from Halloween this year.

Pulling ourselves back up

I feel I need to follow-up on my last post and say I'm doing better. I can't claim that I'm totally comparison or envy free, but my perspective is continusouly getting better and better. I appreciate the comments to help me know I am not alone on this one. We are all struggling, and it helps me keep in perspective just how glorious it is to know that the Lord's side wins because man--Satan is smart. He knows exactly where I am weak. But I am blessed to have counsel from our living Prophets to bring me up again.

The Lovely Bethany pointed me to this gem by Elder Holland.  I would post the enitre talk here because every sentence is so profound. But I feel like this quote is pretty much how I was feeling before:

"In a world that constantly compares people, ranking them as more or less intelligent, more or less attractive, more or less successful, it is not easy to really believe in a [divine] love that does not do the same. When I hear someone praised,” he says, “it is hard not to think of myself as less praiseworthy; when I read about the goodness and kindness of other people, it is hard not to wonder whether I myself am as good and kind as they; and when I see trophies, rewards, and prizes being handed out to special people, I cannot avoid asking myself why that didn’t happen to me"

And now I'm feeling much more like this:

"Brothers and sisters, I testify that no one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other. I know that if we will be faithful, there is a perfectly tailored robe of righteousness ready and waiting for everyone, 14 “robes … made … white in the blood of the Lamb.” 15 May we encourage each other in our effort to win that prize is my earnest prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."


Thank you for not chastising me in my momment of confession. And please do not hesitate to post your successes and accomplishments--they truly give me hope and inspiration.

Stuck in a Rut

I think I need help.
Mostly I need someone to empathize with me and tell me I'm not the only one that has these feelings.

A couple months ago we had a 5th Sunday lesson about the postivies of the internet. I'm really grateful for that lesson because otherwise I might get overwhelmed with how negativly the internet can influence me.

What I mean is that I get bombarded (okay its probably my fault for reading blogs all the time and browsing facebook) with everyone's success stories and then sit back and think, "what the heck? am I not doing enough with my life?"

Does anyone else get discouraged about this? Or ask if these people are even real?

I understand that people aren't going to post about their failures and short comings for the most part. Heck--I haven't posted in a couple months because I haven't felt I have anything to "talk" (alright, I mean brag) about right now. But why is that the case? Why do we fear what others will think of us? Why have we defined success by how busy we are?

I already have answers to all these questions, and tomrrow I'm sure I'll feel my normal self again. But for now I feel like I need to take a stance against the world.

My name is Heather. I don't have the patience to sew perfect lines for quilts. I don't have a smart phone yet. My face still breaks out more than I would like it to. And that is okay!

                            --Let's be honest, I've been blessed with way more than I deserve.

3 years

Last night as the sun had already set, we walked around the high school track next to our apartment. Hand-in-hand we got carried away in a discussion about freedom of speech and the policies behind tax law (most if it I don't really get). Our voices hardly concealed the excitement as we played out future scenarios of living our dreams. What would we do if Mitch got this internship? Or what would it be like if we lived in that state (or country)?

3 years ago I married Mitch with dreams of what would come. Many of those dreams have changed but I still can't believe how much joy I have as the wife of this man. I've learned that it doesn't really matter what happens to us. Success or failure in whatever we dream--the only thing that truly matters is that I did it with him.

Love you Mitch.

life lately

Mitch starts school again tomorrow. I've been spoiled this summer having him in the evenings and going on trips. I haven't posted in a month and I know I won't get around to doing a post for each thing that happened the last half of this summer. But I did finally load pictures from my camera to Mitch's fancy new laptop. So here are some of the exciting things that happened:

Dear Liz got married. It was so beautiful.

We went to Kanosh with Tyson and Keera and other great friends. 

They have some awesome warm springs there. 

Mitch finally saw Old Faithful.

Baby Paul was born--the Hunsaker name lives on.

I spent time with friends.

Mitch and I both had birthdays.

Dad ran his first half-marathon. (and Karren dominated her second one)

We got to spend a lot of time with family.

And cute Madie got married.

This summer was great. We are curious for what this fall will bring.  (I'm sorry if I missed other things that happened this summer, these are just the ones I had photos to document)