the one about my person

One of the greatest blessings in my life is my incredible sister, Sierra. I have looked up to, and modeled my life after hers for as long as i can remember. She is humble, intelligent, kind, beautiful, trustworthy, wise, confident, determined, adventurous, compassionate, patient, hard-working, loyal and valiant. She's been so inspiring to so many people but I don't think anyone will ever love her as much as I do. In every way she is my person. She is the one I go to for everything. She is the one I can always count on to laugh at my jokes. She makes me a better person in every way. I will never know what I did to deserve her friendship. I will never be able to explain what she means to me, but luckily I will never have to, she always has been able to interpret my thoughts anyway. 

the one about the youngest

My brother once said, Sequoia was me to the extreme. It's almost flattering having a mini version of yourself. Sequoia is a hoot. I'm cracking up typing this because I'm thinking of the little spaz. Sequoia has taught me a lot about hard work and about love. She is the most willing to put in the work and time into things she loves. She is the first willing to help Dad outside with the chores or farm work. She is the most disciplined with reaching her personal goals. She is the one that challenges herself and pushes herself because she wants to see the results of her work. It's amazing to me how she does that at her age when I would come up with excuses and ways to get out of anything. She loves nature. She loves being outside and spending time with Heavenly Father's creations. She shows her love through her time and touch. If she loves you, you will know because the chances of her climbing all over you will be very high. She thinks its necessary to be right next to you at any given moment just so you know she is present. I love the fact that she loves to show that love (most of the time that is). She's always willing to cuddle, hug, and spend a moment with you. I'm so thankful for her outgoing and sometimes unnecessary energy. I'm grateful to have a younger sister who cares so much to put forth work and to show love. I'm blessed to have her as a best friend. She strengthens and brings something to our family no one else could. She makes life interesting and I wouldn't want it any other way.

the one about my little sister

My little sister Shylo is amazing. She may be the exact opposite of me in every way I think, but I learn so much from her! 

Shylo is a passionate person. When she loves someone or something, she loves so fervently. She's a person who knows exactly what she stands for and is firm in every way to it. She's loyal to her beliefs and to her standards. She's not afraid to be different. She's not afraid to stand out and stand up for something. I'm amazed by her strength and devotion to herself. She is so true to her passions, her talents, her knowledge, and her beliefs. I hope to be more like her in that respect someday. I feel so blessed to consider her not only a sister but a best friend. I'm so lucky to have someone by my side who I know can't fake a smile or fake her feelings. It's nice to have someone where I never have to question if they are being sincere or not. With Shylo, you know she is or isn't, there is no in-between. To say I love her is of course an understatement. I wish she knew how much she is idolized. I wish she knew how absolutely incredible she is. I wish she could see how much she is cherished. I hope she feels that same fervent love of so many to her. She is someone who deserves it and so much more. 

the one about my brother

Today we got the first email from Elder Sillivan!!
My little brother is the epitome of a Christlike man; he must have gotten that from my Father, as well as my angel mother. He has become one of my heroes so let me tell you everything he continues to teach me.
He teaches me to be a peacemaker. He learned a long time ago (through being the only boy in-between four sisters) that there are few things actually worth arguing about. He is far more mature than I sometimes give him credit for. He constantly reminds our younger sisters and me the importance of peace, to which, I'm grateful for.
He teaches me to be submissive. He is always willing to serve and do what he is asked by our dear sweet parents. He rarely complains and does as he is told out of respect and duty. Above all, he constantly is seeking to do God's will. I'm absolutely amazed by his devotion to our Father in Heaven.
He teaches me to laugh. He strives to enjoy every moment he's in. He cracks poor jokes and does odd dance moves but is always making those around him smile. If you're lucky enough to be someone he feels comfortable with, you're lucky to know his sense of humor and character.
He teaches me to work. Our parents taught us the value of hard work but no one quite understands it the way Steele does. He recognizes the importance of starting and finishing a project. He knows the work it takes to accomplish anything good and he puts in the time. He works hard and gives his very best at everything he does.
He teaches me to be obedient. He has always known the importance of being obedient to our parents and to Heavenly Father's commandments. He obeys out of love and not out of obligation.
He teaches me to love. Steele has a huge heart. There has always been something deep inside him that puts his loved ones first for everything. His family is his life and he would much rather be with them than anyone else. His focus has always been for his family now and his future family someday. He loves so much and so strong and his love for our Savior and for our God is astounding.
I know I have been blessed with the very best brother I could have ever received. I'm so proud of who he is and for the man that he will continue to become. I'm so thankful for the lessons I learn from him every day and for the example he has always set for me. He will forever be a hero of mine.

the one about the stories that bind us

An important principle in my home was to always remember our name. As I think about that now I'm touched by how my parents showed their love and taught my siblings and I. My dad would remind us our last name was our heritage and a part of us. Our actions spoke for who we were and who our ancestors were. We were to always live worthy of that last name. As I think about it now I'm sure my dad meant more than just our family name. We are disciples of Christ, and as such, should always live worthy of His name as well. At baptism we covenanted to take upon us His name (Mosiah 18) with that, we covenanted to always remember Him. Our actions spoke not only of our family but also of our dear Savior. How would I reflect Him this day? Having that as one of our family themes made it easier to make choices and overcome challenges because I knew to whom I belong to, my earthly family as well as my Heavenly one.
In a research done and summarized in an article in the New York Times, called Stories That Bind Us, the study discussed how children who knew more about their family and who had a family theme of some sort performed better through difficulties and astronomical troubles. Perhaps, one of the greatest gifts we can give our families is the knowledge of unity. Through whatever may come, we are not alone. I recognize how pivotal those educational moments with my family were. We always gathered together around the table and discussed our days. We were taught how to handle adversities. We discussed important topics that I'm sure were not fun to bring up, but were necessary to learn. I'm grateful for loving parents who tried again and again to help my siblings and I know that despite any actions we would still belong to our family and to Heavenly Father's. We were to do our very best and remember who we were. I hope to be that kind of teacher to my children someday as well.

the one about my Grandma Gloria

I was only six years old when Grandma Gloria passed away, but her legacy continues to inspire me. Some of my fondest memories are walking hand in hand with my older sister to her house after school. We would climb the counter to peek into the candy cabinet and await the poached eggs with milk that would surely be our dinner. Her tiger lamp, famous spiral iron staircase, and the enchanting carousel horse are just the possessions that made grandma so unique to my cousins and me. Now I recognize the pivotal example she was to so many through her instant and permanent testimony of the Book of Mormon.

Gloria was born in a small town in central Nebraska in the year of 1928. She was an only child for most of her life. Her parents adopted her brother and sister after she was an adult. Her place of education was a one-room, country schoolhouse outside the town of Burwell. Her family was taught in the ways of the Methodist faith, but rarely attended.

 Annually, the quaint little school would bring in Catholic Nuns for a week to teach the students stories from the Bible. For days, they would read and discuss the lessons learned from Noah, Moses, David, and other prophets and people in the Old and New Testament. At the end of the week, they were each asked to stand in front of the class and recount their favorite story. At the age of seven, my grandma stood and shared her favorite story, “…when God lit the stones so the men could see in the boats.”  The teachers were puzzled. “Gloria, that’s a nice story but it is not one of the Bible stories.” With the closest LDS chapel and, likely, the closest Book of Mormon (what is the Book of Mormon? read here) as well, hundreds of miles away, her mother, the teachers, as well as herself, had no idea how she had heard this story. When asked, she had responded, “I don't know how I know it, but I know it’s true.” They asked every minister they came in contact with about the story but no one seemed to have ever heard such a tale. Gloria never forgot.

As years passed, that experience was always in the back of Gloria’s mind. But soon she met Norman Sillivan, the love of her life, and they were married in January of 1947. They had four children and adopted four, as well. Gloria and Norman raised their kids with the values of hard work, faith, and determination. They were also members of the Methodist church, although they didn’t attend but for special occasions. Still, they were known for their honesty, loyalty, values, and hard work.

In the summer of 1972, my grandparents decided to take the three kids that were still left at home on a trip to California to visit family. As fortune would have it, Salt Lake City was where they spent the night after a long day’s drive. After recognizing the tourist options within the city, they decided to at least walk around Temple Square. Not surprisingly, they were handed many brochures, as well as a Book of Mormon. After their planned 15-minute walk turned into three hours, they headed on their way.

As they drove, grandma read bits and pieces of her new literature out loud to her family.  They soon returned home and the book was placed on the shelf. Years passed and it collected dust. Finally, in the year of 1975, my grandma picked up the Book of Mormon once again. In the little village of Arcadia, Nebraska, Mormonism was hardly heard of.  And the few people, who had heard of it, knew very little about it. This included my grandma, other than the few hours spent in Salt Lake City.

My dad, the youngest of the eight children, only knows the story through his eyes. He was playing pool with his father in the basement of their little farmhouse. Suddenly, they heard a scream, along with tears, coming from just up the stairs. Upon reaching the top, they found Gloria sitting with the Book of Mormon in hand. With happiness and what must have also been shock and confusion, she shouted “I found my story!” Sure enough, out of curiosity, she had taken the book from the shelf and began reading where she had left off: Ether 3.

She was hungry for more; more knowledge about this book. She had so many questions. She did know one thing though, the story she had known all those years before as a small child, really did happen. Gloria wrote Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, asking for additional information about the church and the message of this Book of Mormon. For three years she waited, until one day two elders, missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, walked into her local business asking for a Gloria Sillivan.  She recognized who they must be immediately and responded, “What took you so long?”

Norman, Gloria, and the two youngest of the family, my aunt and my father, began meeting with these Mormon missionaries. The elders came, from the closest branch 100 miles away, to teach the family. Within just a few short months, the four were baptized on October 11, 1978 in the Middle Loup River. The recent converts were not always fortunate enough to make the drive to a newly formed branch only 70 miles away every Sunday. But members came for visits to strengthen and support their family.  Meetings were held in their home and as their testimonies increased, so did their church attendance. For years they continued to drive 140 miles round trip each Sunday and Wednesday as new callings came.

Now, 37 years later, I see the influence my courageous grandmother had on so many. Her leading example has brought dozens to the truth and to the knowledge of the gospel. She testified through the power of the Holy Ghost to all those who questioned and doubted her faith. The first daughter to be baptized brought her husband into the church and my father married a young lady from their first branch. Eventually, the church grew in our remote area and my dad was asked to help form a branch closer to home, this time only 30 miles away. The Broken Bow Branch was created in 1992.  My father was called as the first Branch President, fulfilling a statement from one of the missionaries that baptized them: “Someday this area will see a President Sillivan.”

On October 11, 2012, exactly 34 years from the day of her own baptism, two more of Gloria’s daughters were baptized. The gospel, and her example, continues to bless many of her grandchildren and great grandchildren to this day.

My grandma’s role in building the church in central Nebraska has been pivotal. My grandma’s role in building my family’s testimony has been without measure. Her unshakeable testimony of the gospel has taught me patience in learning, faith in God, and to believe that good things come to those who seek after truth. Her faith in a simple book, and even more so, within a short story, has testified to me that miracles do still occur. In Mormon 9:19 it says, “And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.”

Heavenly Father is aware of every individual. He knows their needs, their desires, and their heartaches and will always send assistance. He sent aid to my grandmother exactly when she needed it, to eventually bring her the eternal truths that would not only bless her life, but her family’s life for generations to come on both sides of the veil.

Although my testimony may have first started on the foundation of my parents, I too, now know firmly that my Heavenly Father lives and truly did send Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the World. The Book of Mormon will bring any honest seeker to truth and happiness. All the blessings He has in store for us in this life come through faithfulness to His commandments. I am so thankful for my testimony and the witness of my grandma, Gloria Sillivan. 

mormon.org

lds.org

the one where i tell Sierra and Seth's story

one of the greatest blessings in my life is my incredible sister. i have looked up to, and modeled my life after hers for as long as i can remember. she is humble, intelligent, kind, beautiful, trustworthy, wise, confident, determined, adventurous, compassionate, patient, hard-working, loyal and valiant. she's been so inspiring to so many people, and once again she sets the example of getting married in the beautiful LDS temple in Manti. Seth is an amazing young man that has always loved and protected her. he's determined, loyal, hard-working, anchored, and is always willing to serve the Lord. he'll make a great husband and father and i'm so excited to be able to call him my brother.

and now for the moment you all have been waiting for,

here is their story:

so once upon a time Seth saw Sierra at youth conference
 (a church camp) when he was 14, and he was all like,

and so he was pretty much smitten by her awesomeness. 

so he probably stalked her for the next two years, 

 that part is unclear, but when they were 16 they officially met at youth conference.

Seth was all like,

but Sierra was like,

just kidding! 

so they started talking and he asked her to his junior prom and she accepted.

they had a great time. Seth wanted to date her right then and there, 

but Sierra wanted to make sure he was boyfriend material. 

so she actually rejected him a few times first.

but the next year they went to youth conference again and 

sierra saw that he was very compassionate and that he was kinda a hero at trek.

so she finally realized what a catch he was.

oh silly me, 

Seth is a cowboy.

so then Sierra was all like,

"ask me to be your girlfriend again!"

or something like that.

so he asked and she was like,

and Seth was like, "here comes the smolder."

so they dated for a couple years, and they were a super cute couple.

then Seth prepared to leave for his mission for our church. 

so they had to say goodbye for two years.

once he left, Sierra was devastated for months and months. 

they decided it was best to just move on.

the 2 years soon passed and Seth was coming home.

lucky for her i was there telling her to go meet him.

so she arrived at the church after he had just flown home from Argentina.

and she was all like,

and it was awkward for both of them

and Kaitlyn, (seth's little sister) and i were all like,

so they didn't just fall back into place. 

but Seth felt that he needed to see where things went with her so

he started making an effort again.

and Sierra was like,

and things started working out, especially after we moved 

back home for the summer.

we were able to see the Ramsays once a week.

and things were working out between them,

and Sierra remembered how she had felt when she was with him

but Sierra was planning on going on a mission.

her papers were finished, but Seth wanted her to make sure that

was the correct decision for her, he asked her to pray more whether 

she should go on a mission or get married.

and Sierra was like,

but after praying a lot about the situation, Sierra was amazed at her answer.

she had been reassured that this relationship was something she needed.

they had both had grown so much and were both so in love. 

they both had received answers that this relationship was something Heavenly Father

was pleased with and that they should get married.

so one weekend we were in the Sandhills Seth asked my father permission

to marry my amazing sister, and us siblings sat and watched through the window

of course my dad said yes,

and Chip (seth's dad) was all like,

haha!

so after 4 years, Sierra returned to youth conference as the photographer,

Seth had surprised her at the scene where she first decided he was the one.

he proposed 

and of course she said yes!

i know right?!

so some people were like,

and others like,

but most were like,

and Kaitlyn was like,

and Sierra got home and was like, "im getting married!"

and i was like,

just kidding! i was so happy for her! and i will look like Gus Gus at their wedding.

but i was also like, my best friend/sister/roomie is leaving me.

and i was just like,

 dont worry i'll figure out how to fend for myself.

but really i'm so excited for her and Seth to make this journey together.

But just know,

for you Sierra. I love you and you're my person.

So once again congratulations to the happy couple!

Love you both a ton!