Days 4 & 5: 100 Happiest Days

 Happiness is hard work. Happiness is providence that only the Lord can provide. My heart was opened to these truths through these verses: 

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the dayis the evil thereof.

If we take the time to truly consider the tender mercies shown daily by a loving Father in Heaven, we will realize that just as he tends to the lilies of the fields, Oh how He has a desire to provide and care for us. We need to trust in that devotion He feels, and show that same devotion in return. 

Finding joy in the journey, 

Calli

Day 3: 100 Happiest Days

Dear Journal, 
  
  Today I found another reason to be happy. Today I am happy to have a roof over my head. I am happy to have a warm place to sleep, and to live. I think there are many times in life that we take for granted the things that we have, the little knicks and knacks that we use in our homes daily, that others may not have the great fortune of having. I am always reminded of these things when I watch one of my favorite films: The Blind Side. The true story of a boy who had lost everything, and the woman who had the courage to give him everything she had; most importantly her love. There are many moments in life that knock us down flat, that attack us from our blind side. But it is imperative to remember that hope is not lost; tomorrow is another day, and it is worth fighting for. 

  Courage. I am also grateful for the moments that require the most courage. Quoted again from my favorite film, Michael Oher said: 

"Courage is a hard thing to figure. You can have courage based on a dumb idea or mistake, but you're not supposed to question adults, or your coach or your teacher, because they make the rules. Maybe they know best, but maybe they don't. It all depends on who you are, where you come from. Didn't at least one of the six hundred guys think about giving up, and joining with the other side? I mean, valley of death that's pretty salty stuff. That's why courage it's tricky. Should you always do what others tell you to do? Sometimes you might not even know why you're doing something. I mean any fool can have courage. But honor, that's the real reason for you either do something or you don't. It's who you are and maybe who you want to be. If you die trying for something important, then you have both honor and courage, and that's pretty good. I think that's what the writer was saying, that you should hope for courage and try for honor. And maybe even pray that the people telling you what to do have some, too."

Happiness is having gratitude for the simplest of things in life. Happiness is daring to have courage and honor when it matters most. Thank you for inspiring me, Michael. 

Finding joy in the Journey, 
Calli

H

Day 2: 100 Happiest Days

Dear Journal, 
   Day 2 reminded me just how truly blessed I am to live in a country where I can exercise my religious beliefs freely. I am grateful for a God in Heaven who loves me, and is always there. I l know that He is very aware of me, and that I am His daughter. I am most thankful today for the power of prayer. Life sometimes feels like there is fog or a haze on the path ahead of us, blocking our vision to where we need to go next. Many of us may feel lost or alone in these moments, but the power of faith and prayer is the answer to life's most "lost" moments. 

 On the long car ride to Rexburg, we experienced over 8 hours of constant rain and occasional fog. Most of this time, it was near to impossible to see anything ahead of you other than the small amount of road that our headlights illuminated. There were several moments where the road conditions seemed hazardous, and we questioned if we would make it to our destination in safety. How similar this scenario is to our everyday lives. Many of us are facing a heavy rain, or a fog, that is blocking our view from the road ahead, and our potential. But we need not fear. In life's hardest moments, we can pray to a loving God in Heaven. A Heavenly Father who promises to comfort us in our time of need, and promises that if we but only have faith and follow Him, we will be lead safely home. 

Happiness is a loving Heavenly Father. Happiness is the ability to commune with Him through prayer. 
Finding Joy in the Journey,
Calli

My 100 Happiest Days: Day 1

Dear Journal, 
Today was the first of my 100 Happiest days. It started out very emotional,  saying goodbye to my dad as he dropped Trent and I off in Rexburg. But as he left town he sent me a text message with some of the most profound words I've heard in a while: "Take a moment each day to enjoy what life has to offer. Time is such a thief." It hit me then and there just how fast my childhood flew by, and how quickly I have come to this point in my life. Yet, it was in that moment that I realized how truly blessed I am to be alive, and to have been raised by a family who has endlessly encouraged me to be the best that I can be, and to chase my dreams. Tonight, nothing makes me more happy than knowing how much I love my family, my husband,and the incredible family who reared him up to be the man that he is today. Happy is family. Happy is living every moment to the fullest. And happy is successfully assembling our Ikea bed frame after hours of interpreting Swedish diagrams. :) 
Finding joy in the journey, 
Calli

Life as Mr & Mrs Rasmussen

WARNING: This post is very long winded. Anyone actually sane enough to read it all..bless you!

So wow.. it's been a while since I've written. I'm not exactly sure how I'm supposed to cram this all into one post, But believe you me,I will! When last I wrote, Trent and I were still engaged and in the thick of the wedding plans. 

   Well folks.. that wedding HAPPENED! And not in any way shape or form that I imagined it, might I add! This tale was an adventure all it's own! About a week before the big day, the weather forecast predicted rain. I had a hard time believing it, since the weather every day previous was in the 90's. "I call you a bluff, weather man!" Is what I kept thinking to myself. But as well all know... when it rains.. it POURS! 

 The wedding day was filled with rain and hail, but the elements couldn't compete with the laughs, the smiles, the tears of joy, and the memories that were made. Not many brides can say that she got to rock rain boots and umbrellas with her wedding gown. Not many brides get to say that they whizzed through the Pete's Fish and Chips drive through for lunch only to be greeted by hail and endless laughter with her photo entourage and new groom! The big day, came in a way that was a complete surprise. 

  I had no way of telling that it would turn out the way it did, but I wouldn't change that day for ANYTHING. That day, I married my best friend. And every day with him has been a gift, just leading us down the path of Eternity.

Following the wedding, Trent and I got to go to California for our Honeymoon!!

We got to go to Disneyland, and also spend some time down at our favorite California spot, Balboa Island. We were very blessed to have such a great time, and enjoy spending time with each other at long last, as

Husband.and.Wife.

A lot of people will tell you that once you leave your "Honeymoon phase" that life starts to get really interesting. Now I know that Trent and I have only been married for 5 months now, and that we're not exactly "seasoned veterans" but I do know 

that no matter what life throws your way,

ANYTHING is POSSIBLE

with your eternal companion and the Lord on your side.

In marriage there are many days and nights where all you have is the chance to drop to your knees in supplication to a loving Father in Heaven, and to hold on to your sweetheart with everything that you have.

These are the moments that mold you, and bring you closer to who we strive to become. 

Cleaning, cooking, laughing, hugging, smiling, kissing, snuggling, movies, talking, growing, loving.. catching a glimpse of Heaven in someone else's eyes. 

These are the moments that take your breath away, and remind you why we are here. To live to the fullest potential and measure of 

our creation. 

In more recent news, Trent is just a week out from debuting at the Hale Theater, in Little Women, the Musical. He will be playing the role of John Brooke, and we couldn't be more excited for this opportunity!He a also just recently found out that he will begin training as a full time service adviser at the Henry Brown GMC dealership in Gilbert. He is so excited for this opportunity and we couldn't be more thankful!

As for me, I am thrilled to start working towards entrance into the Bachelor of Arts program at ASU with my emphasis in Voice. Starting up lessons again with the incredible Mr Marc Denton!


Trent and I are so grateful for the life that we are building together, and for this beautiful world that we live in. And now..full speed ahead!

All the Single ladies, All the Single ladies!

To my dear single ladies out there, I've been thinking over the past few days how Valentine's Day is coming up. For some it is an exciting day, and for others, some fear it with a sad heart. I would like to reach out to anyone who may find themselves feeling this way on the Eve of Valentines. If I may, I wish to speak freely. Regardless of who you are, where you come from, where you live, and where you are going, I believe that you as a woman have a worth that is beyond anything that this world has to offer. Today, the world would have us believe that beauty is solely based on wealth, fortune, fame, and physical attractiveness. I know that this is not so. I know that inside each and every woman is a light. A light that burns within us, and yearns for us to reveal it. This light is one that contains more power than one can really know. I believe that many women today choose not to seek this light, because they fear just how powerful it truly is. They turn to worldly fashions and notions, and seek to replace the light with something that cannot be found. I believe that this light has the ability to change lives. It has the ability to light the darkness. It has the ability to console and to bring forth miracles in a world of confusion and fear. This light.. is kindness. This light, is laughter. This light, is virtue. This light, is love. This light, is truth. When one realizes their possession within of this light, they will start to realize a change in everything. A new day will be sought as a brand new opportunity to make this flame burn brighter. Each day, will bring joy and optimism amidst a world of difficulty. This light will speak to the heart, and reminds us of the infinite worth we hold as women. I would like to reach out to anyone who may feel sad, alone, downtrodden, forgotten, or discouraged. I believe that you can do anything that you put your mind to. I believe that dreams do come true, and that you can obtain absolutely anything if you are willing to work hard to get there. I also believe that you are never truly alone. I believe that you are a daughter of a loving God in heaven, and that He is very aware of your circumstances. I believe that prayers are answered, and that there is no where that faith can't take us. I know that miracles are real, and that I have witnessed them with my own eyes. To those who are waiting for Mr right: Do NOT give up hope. The world would like to convince us that if we do not have the perfect man in our life at this very moment, that our days our futile. The world would LOVE for us to give up, and to lose sight of our goals. But I say again, DO NOT give up. DO NOT give in. There is ALWAYS hope, and hope will always find a way if we allow it to shine through. I believe in happy endings. I believe that each and every one of you are royal, a daughter of a Heavenly King, and are intended to be treated as such. My sweet sisters, I plead for you to not settle for anything less than a man who treats you like the princess. YOU are a woman of infinite worth, and the man of your dreams will be the one who will never let you forget. No matter the trials, no matter the difficulties, your dreams are always on the horizon. A quote from one of my favorite musicals says simply, "If you reach for the stars, all you get are the stars. But, if you reach for the heavens, you get the stars thrown in." Don't ever stop reaching for the heavens. One day you will be surprised to look down at your hand and see stardust falling from your fingertips. Life is a beautiful thing. As a great man once said, we cannot simply wait for life to hand us our golden ticket. Our moment, is now. Our time, is now. Let us not delay in loving life, and most of all finding love for ourselves. To my sweet friends do not forget to love. Happy Valentine's day. All my heart, Calli

Suddenly

Suddenly I see Suddenly it starts Can two anxious hearts Beat as one? Yesterday I was alone Today you walk beside me Something still unclear Something not yet here Has begun. Suddenly the world Seems a different place Somehow full of grace Full of light. How was I to know That so much hope Was held inside me? What has passed is gone Now we journey on Through the night. How was I to know at last That happiness can come so fast? Trusting me the way you do I’m so afraid of failing you Just a child who cannot know That danger follows where I go There are shadows everywhere And memories I cannot share Nevermore alone Nevermore apart You have warmed my heart Like the sun. You have brought the gift of life And love so long denied me. Suddenly I see What I could not see Something suddenly Has begun.