Saturday Is A Special Day...

...hum hum hum hum hum hum hum huhummm
In today's case I went to Twin Falls with the youth. We were supposed to meet at the church at quarter to so we could be on our way right on the hour. I was completely ready about an hour early and was just sitting around. Kirsten called me (YAY she had her baby!) and we got to talking and I knew we talked for a few min., but didn't think it was that long, but when I looked at the clock it was 5 min. after. "CRRRAAPP!!" (excuse my language, but being late brings out my worst side!) I run around trying to find my recommend, have to wake up my baby because it is in the bag in his room, tried calling the pres. cell number but called her home number instead "DANG wrong number" (second time this week I called her house instead of her cell) slammed my phone and hung up on their house and the TWO people that answered it, ran out the door. Whip out of my driveway and more than slightly speed (and maybe or maybe not cut off 2 cars) to the church. All the while my head is spinning..."why would they not call me to see where I was?" "I have probably 10 beehives coming today, wouldn't one of them miss me, or at least my van?" Pull into the parking lot and there is not a single car in sight..."did they leave me?"...CLICK...slap my head...I am an hour early. Meander back home, fix me some lunch, burn us a good "temple trip" CD (which ended up not working anyways, but that is alright) gather my lesson manual so I can study for tomorrow (only to find out I don't have to teach tomorrow-phew) and meander back to the church for a much more relaxed start to the trip.

We have one gal that for reasons she can't control can't do baptisms and really feels bad that she can't so we decided that she should still tag along for the conversation and food. Then after dropping everyone else off her and I went to the Family History Library (apparently I need to do some more studying on that matter, I wasn't a whole lot of help) we spent a good hour searching for her family. It was so fun to see her get excited when we found someone that most likely is her grandma and we were able to follow her line to her great great grandpa (where the line ends). We were able to talk about how finding family members is the first step to getting their temple work done and even though she is not able to do that yet, one day she will be able to and when she can she will have lots of names (hopefully, if I can learn enough to help her). Her excitement totally made my day, and totally made me so appreciative of my family and those that have spend hours upon hours searching for my ancestors.

I seriously love my calling and the fabulous ladies I get to work with and the totally awesome girls, LOVE LOVE it!!

Um Wow,

I love my family! We skipped down to Utah for the weekend for my lil' brother's "Missionary Talk" (it was easier when we called them Farewells). He did such a wonderful job on his talk, he will be an UH-MAZING missionary, I have no doubt. His topic was Of Things That Matter Most and it was a good reminder that sometimes we need to sit down with ourselves and be reminded of those things. It was a little hard to leave my parents house last night, knowing it would be 2 whole years before we will see him again. We kept reminding the kids to make sure to give him lots of loves because they wouldn't see him for 2 years (which for one of our kids is longer than a lifetime, and another kid is 1/2 a lifetime) and every time we did Jacey came back and said "Yeah I will be 10 almost 11 when he gets back!" Okay I don't think I needed that reminder, but it is true! Skye will be in Kindergarten and it will just be Colt and I at home...I know for me the time will fly by because what is a year to us old parents? I can already hear myself saying "wow, has it been 2 years already?!"

As it is we celebrated Colt's birthday a little early (not to say we won't really party until Wednesday) and I can hardly stand how fast that year went by. It hasn't been a year yet though, and I am going to hold onto these last few days of my last 0 year old baby as tight as I can. He is definitely one of those things that matters most!

I think Greg looks just as excited for the cake as Colt was.
(and on a side note I made these cup cakes with pumpkin and no one could tell...so proof that my kids just aren't used to my crazy cooking)

Landon also referenced Good, Better, Best and I think I need to sit down and read those scriptures on a more regular basis. It is just too easy to sink into "the easy way" even if there is something better out there for us. So thanks little brother for the reminder, I am going to try very hard. I promise!

Primary Shake Up...

...no not me, I am still in Young Womens and love it-except that I have to come up with a New Beginnings program next month...ideas? Oh wait this blog was not about me...

or was it...

anyways, primary...I know I haven't been in there for a few months now, but changes still effect me since my kids are there. I am so excited for these changes!

Shake up #1 they now have Skye-this is most definitely a good shake up! She LOVES it and for once I have a child that will give me a play by play of her entire primary day. She is also my first Sunbeam I was not a teacher for, and I am going to say it, I wish I were. She would be such a cute sunbeam. I can just see her up there sitting so reverently, waiting so patiently for her turn to "go fish". I can see her raising her hand to answer her teacher, or ask a question, or make a comment...I will live on my illusions. I am sad that I don't get to see her learn and sing new primary songs. The kids have already started to learn their new song for the year and I had the music playing and she started to hum along and said "hey we singed that in my primary class". She absolutely positively LOVES (now say that 100xs and you might be close to getting how much she loves it) it and is so excited every week to go. YAY!

Shake up #2 Ginger is no longer the music leader-Ginger is our friend and Skye's only class buddy, Boone's mommy. She was released last week and sustained into the RS presidency and she will do amazing things there, but I know my kids will miss her! Today they had not sustained a new chorister so she skipped Sunday School to fill in. I am sure last Sunday was about as emotionally hard for her as my last Sunday in Primary was and the kids saw a couple of her tears.

(so are you wondering why I am going on and on about this lovely lady?-We are getting there I promise)

Skye comes home from church and was giving me this said play by play and she gets this amazed look in her eyes and sound in her voice and says "Guess what mom? Boone's mommy did not cry today, she really didn't, huh Jacey, Boone's mom didn't cry." (now if you know Skye imagine her dramatics and you will get the humor in this story)
Shake up #3 the newly released Relief Society President is now a primary teacher. I love that the Lord puts us where we need to be, when we need to be there. I am sure it is a relief for her to have the weight of all the women in the ward taken off of her and to now be blessed to be with the little kids (I am not saying it will be easier-but equally rewarding for sure!)

Cry Me A River...

...then build a bridge and GET. OVER. IT! That is the title I would have given it but more lovingly it is called Make Yours A Great Life Have you read it yet? I read it last night-in hopes that it would help calm my mind and put me to sleep-insomnia is back-oops, it left me awake until almost 1:00 thinking about it. It was a real eye opener for me! I don't know about you but I am sure getting sick of everyone blaming the economy for all of our "hardships". Sure times are harder than they were a few years ago (or are they?), but (my favorite part) "Your future is not determined by the conditions around you. It is determined by your faith, your choices, and your efforts."

Here are some of my many thoughts (you may or may not agree and that is fine with me, when I say we please know I don't mean you personally, but at the same time I do mean us)
1) "These are challenging times. However, there have always been challenging times. My parents grew up during the Great Depression. They didn't have much in way of worldly goods, but they had the gospel of Jesus Christ, their bodies and their minds, and a bright future" I think it is time we stop with the "oh poor unfortunate souls" attitude. I think it is time we all find a "grandpa" to remind us about his upbringing, and then have him tell you how his parents were raised. Then let's all count our cars, our outfits, our kids toys and all of our must have trinkets...times aren't so bad now are they?
2) "I am grateful that my parents pushed forward with faith during challenging times. Their actions were instrumental in their personal development, and our family was blessed because of the type of people my parents became" what are we teaching our kids? Are we teaching them to grow up "dissing" their political leaders or to blame others for their own misfortune or are we teaching them to press forward and be better people because of the hard times?
3) "There are many historical figures with whom we are all familiar who went froward with faith in challenging times. One such person...was from humble beginnings...her espoused husband couldn't find a decent place for her to give birth to her son...people wanted to kill her baby, the young family had to flee to another country." It is so easy to read the story of Christ's birth, well really his whole life and forget that it really happened the way we read it. It is not fictional, it was not a blockbuster, his life was the epitome of hard. Plain and simply our life is a cake walk in comparison.

4) "Moroni grew up in a time when his society was crumbling. The people rejected God and were on their way to destruction. It was a time of slippery riches, great violence, sexual immorality and war." Boy does that sound familiar, notice how we don't read of Moroni or his father Mormon following suit and succumbing to the conditions around them. If they can rise above circumstances much worse than ours today, why can't we?

5) "Joseph Smith did not start out in a promising position for success as far as the world was concerned. His family was poor." Lucy Mack Smith had 11 children...have you seen the size of their house? This is a replica as the original was no longer standing when the Church bought it. I think I will take my family of 6 and live comfortably in this little old house just fine.

6) "None of these people allowed the challenges they faced or the conditions of their world determine the trajectory of their lives. They went forward with faith, and through the blessings of the Lord, they all became what they were meant to become." Makes me wonder if the hardships were all part of the big picture, part of the ultimate test. They all passed will we? We are just clay in His hands we can give to His moldings and become masterpieces or we can be stubborn and resist His will-eventually He will get us to where He wants us to be but it will require a lot more stress and molding to the clay.
7) "You don't have to be carried along in the current of the times. The Lord can and will help you set your own course. The challenges you face will serve to strengthen you as you move forward with your life. Each of you has a bright future, a future you cannot now fully comprehend." Isn't that a relief. Sometimes I think if we knew all that was in our future, all the challenges we will have to face it would scare us into staying right where we are.
8)"Some people dream about the future but don't do much to move into it with power. They don't realize that what they do-or don't do-now will profoundly affect their future. People who go to work with faith, knowing the Lord will bless them if they do what's right, are the ones with a bright future...'If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead toward times of greatest happiness." I agree! If someone had told me 3 years ago that by moving to Idaho Greg, who had worked the same job for 10 years, would have 3 jobs in 3 years. Or that by being laid off so many blessings would come. Or that one of the hardest challenges we would face would be to let others serve us. I would have told them they were CRAZY! I printed this picture big on canvas because for me it is a time of our lives that I hope I never forget. The experiences, blessings and growth we have made make all the hard times good times.

9) "Your individual future is either bright or cloudy, depending on you. I guarantee that you will face challenges. That is part of mortality. It is expected. It is OK in fact, it is necessary. But remember, your future is bright." "...by the mouths of my servants it is the same!" It has been said and so it shall be!
10) "So I am frank to say tonight that I hope you wont believe that all the world's difficulties have been wedged into your decade, or that things have never been worse than they are for you personally, or that they will never get better...You are here on earth at this time for a reason. You have what it takes. You have skills, knowledge, and natural talents given to you from God. If you live righteously, you will have access to the inspiration and strength you will need to triumph over any challenge you face. You will have protection of a worthy life; guidance from the Lord through the Holy Ghost and prophets, seers, and revelators; and the power of sacred promises that are yours because you keep your covenants." I think the first time I was told "you are here on earth at this time for a reason" I was in seminary and you know I think I got a big head with that thinking, well everything that this article as told us not to think. We are here on earth at this time for a reason, and that reason is to overcome all of this. To pass our test.

"TAKE THESE THINGS THAT ARE YOURS AND HAVE A GREAT LIFE!"

So can you see why I had such a hard time sleeping last night? I am hopeful that by typing some (honestly there are a LOT more thoughts but I will keep them in-for now) of my thoughts down I will be able to post this blog, curl into bed, and find sleep right away.

PS) Yeah I outlined most of the article, but that was for my own thoughts. Read it and see what you think! It references Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's talk "Come What May and Love It." which just so happens to be one of my most favorite conference talks ever. I am adding this article to the list for sure. I am not sure if it is just because of our current circumstances or what, but it speaks to me!

Majestic...

...one word for such a glorious place!
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Since I don't have any of my wedding pictures on display and because I really want a BIG pictures of the Salt Lake Temple I was on a mission to make sure I got a shot of it. Now I have to decide which one I want to print...help me decide!

I also love to learn new things about Temples so here are some "did you know" facts found at www.ldschurchtemples.com
*The first temple to have a standing angel Moroni was the Salt Lake Temple.
*Unlike many temples, which have east-facing angel Moroni statues, the Seattle Washington Temple, Spokane Washington Temple, Nauvoo Illinois Temple, and Taipei Taiwan Temple all have angel Moroni statues facing west due to the orientation of the lots and the placement of the spires (or towers).
*Due to its height and conductivity, it is not unheard of for an angel Moroni statue to be struck by lightning during a thunderstorm just like a lightning rod. (as in the case of the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple)
*The Vernal Utah Temple, Copenhagen Denmark Temple, and Manhattan New York Temple are all adaptations of existing Church-owned buildings.
*Every window in the San Antonio Texas Temple is filled with art glass created by Utah artist Tom Holdman.
*The Manhattan New York Temple is virtually a building within a building, which is completely soundproofed from the hustle and bustle of the City.
*The Church purchased an operating nine-hole golf course (which had announced its intentions to close) as the site for the Twin Falls Idaho Temple. Because the purchase included much more land than needed, the balance of the property was developed into residential lots with LDS-inspired street names.
*Endowments for the dead were performed for the first time in the St. George Utah Temple.
*The Jordan River Utah Temple was the first temple whose construction and maintenance costs for many years were funded entirely by monetary donation from local members. The temple site was also a gift to the Church.

So tell me which picture I should print and hang.

A Simple Thank You!

...my favorite time of the year is here, and we have so much to be thankful for that I try to take as many opportunities as I can to help my kids see all of our many blessings! Tonight for Family Home Evening we talked about our great freedoms and all the men and women that serve us and protect us. We talked about how hard it would be to be away from home and loved ones this time of the year. And from the looks of this it is proof of just how amazing my lessons are!


JUST KIDDING this was the post treat-let's pretend we are asleep so we don't have to go to bed-staged shot, but I thought they looked too darn cute to pass up a picture!

I actually think the kids got the lesson and for our activity we started writing letters and they LOVED it! Skye kept saying "write me another story mom so I can color the picture." she dictated and I wrote very simple yet thankful letters for her. Jacey was writing one of her letters and wrote "I like to illustrate and make up stories like..." she asked us "what is the name of one of the stories I have made up" and the first one that popped to my head was "The Story of the Messy House" I am pretty sure I shared it here, but real quick, it was what the title says a story about a messy house. She, without any thought, said "No I didn't make that up that one was true!" LOL! Can I just say she has the most beautiful handwriting I have ever seen? I might have to scan in a couple of these letters later just to show you! Dax didn't love writing at first but when it came time to finish his first letter he was more than happy to do another one and when I told him he could just write the same thing he said "nah, I want to make this one different." he also has picked up the phrase "Oh Fudge!" and says it ALL the time these days! Coming from his mouth it makes me LOL every time!

So when we were all done writing our letters tonight the kids all asked if they could write even more tomorrow. I of course said "you betcha" because they need as many as possible! I thought it would be fun to set a goal (see another life lesson tonight-wow we are such good parents!) the kids all decided that they could write 54 letters by the day after Thanksgiving, but if they got their cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends in on it they could do 100. So you all have been invited to help my kids them reach their goal. Of course I also found out later tonight that they have to be in by November 18th so we don't have as much time as I thought, but if you would like to help we would love it! All you have to do is write as little or as much as you want to the servicemen of our great country. They can be personal or generic, they can be all about your family or say nothing about your family. Just write! Add a return address, no postage or envelope.

These are the pages I made real quick for the kids to color and write on, but Greg and I also used them...we like to color too! Feel free to print them off (click on them and they should be full size) for your family to write letters on also just remember that your letters need to be to me or Cherri Archibald by November 18th.



As we were coloring this verse of Count Your Blessings popped in my head...fitting I think!
So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end

Sentimental Sunday...

...do you ever have moments of Deja Vu? Well I seem to have days of it any idea why that might be?









Oh maybe it is because I have the 2 cutest boys in the whole world! In case you couldn't tell these are two different, yet very much the same, boys. I am very curious to see if Colt has the curls too. He seems to have very similar cowlicks. Other than my photography skills (or lack of them when Dax was a baby) I think I might have a hard time in the future determining which is which. Oh I just love these sweet boys forever!

So I really meant to comment further on yesterday's RS activity, but for some reason I got a little long winded and forgot. The theme was "This Little Piggy" (for cute huh?!)
This little piggy went to market (I taught the smart shopping class)
This little piggy stayed home (Krista Sagers taught an AMAZING class on design on a dime-I have so many ideas for decorating my house. If any of you have an old wood bed frame you are not needing please let me have it!)
This little piggy had roast beef (we ate a scrumptious roast beef sandwich lunch)
This little piggy had none (a lady-I can't remember her name-taught a cooking class and I learned a trick to both add flavor to your meal and keep your meat from sticking to the bottom of your pan. You make a rack out of celery sticks and place you meat on top of them-brilliant! She also shared some very yummy sounding recipes)
This little piggy cried wee wee wee all the way home. (Kristy Hawker's sister came and talked about how to make memorable memories with your family. Shared some of her family traditions. It was very inspirational! We actually have a lot of similar traditions but I definitely have some fun ideas for this Christmas)

Called To Serve...

...I am so excited for my baby brother he text me at 1:30 telling me he got his call and he would wait until 5:30 to open it if we wanted to come. I was so ready to jump in the car, but with everything going on yesterday and today I felt I better just take him up on the conference call. It wasn't the same and we missed not being there, but it was still VERY exciting. So Landon has been called to serve a mission for The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS or Mormon) in the Lima, Peru West mission. I am so thrilled for him. Chad served in Peru too, different mission and I am not even going to try to spell it, and I know he is going to be one AWESOME missionary! He leaves 2/16/11.

I remember a few conferences ago Greg came home and told me about one of the talks during the priesthood session, it was on mission calls and how the presidency goes about choosing a mission for each individual future missionary. You can read it HERE it is so interesting to me, and I have no doubt that there is a specific reason Landon is being called to the people of Lima, Peru.

Congratulations baby brother! We are so proud of you and the kids are already talking about writing you letters and drawing you pictures. It will be the best two years of your life!



So on another note of the miracle of mission calls, right now I have 3 first cousins (2 of which are brother and sister)-Sadie, Dylan, and Neil-serving in the same mission in South Carolina. I have another first cousin-Scott-that served there years ago as well. After reading the article it is amazing (not really a strong enough word) that they all ended up there just months apart from each other. There is some need for Nelson love there I guess!

Life Is Short...

...I have pondered over a less cliche way of saying that, but there just isn't anything more fitting that I can come up with.

I have been deep in thought last night and today pondering questions such as:
Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

Seriously I have been singing this song in my head all day long. It has really made me stop to think. None of us know the year, month, week, day, hour or minute we will die. All we know is that at some point we will all die. I am so grateful for my knowledge in Christ's Atonement and Resurrection and in knowing that when this life ends it is not the end. I know that we will see our loved ones again, I know that our loved ones will still be with us in spirit. I know this because I have felt closer to my Grandpa since moving here than I did living in Utah. I know that when we die the hug that will be given on the other side will overpower and make worth all Earthy experience. I know that the sadness of death is only for those left behind. I know that there is great and marvelous work being done on the other side and that our loved ones that leave us, leave us because their work here is done and they must continue to progress and the only way to do that is by continuing on with work on the other side.

I also know that the song goes "Families can be together forever, through Heavenly Father's plan" I think it was maybe a year ago that I realized that there really is a silent emphasis on the word can. It implies that it wont just happen because of Heavenly Father's plan, it means that you have to work at it so that it can happen through Heavenly Father's plan.

Wow a little deep for me, but you see some very dear friends of mine lost their mom/wife a week and a half ago and while they knew her time on Earth was drawing short it still was heartbreaking to watch them go through the routine. I still cry for them when I read of their daily struggles, of things they miss, of habits they have had to break and things they can no longer do because she is not with them on Earth anymore.

While that started my thoughts the wheels were put in overdrive yesterday when I heard the news that a very dear friend of mine lost her husband. My heart breaks for her and her dear sweet kids and all they will have to endure without him here on Earth. I can only imagine what they are going through and just imagining it makes me sad beyond words. So hence my title-Life is Short. There were no signs that his time was drawing short and that he would not be here for very much longer. In fact Greg went to lunch with the kids yesterday and sat across from him and his kids. There really is just no way of knowing when our time will come or when those around us will pass on, and that is the reasoning for the song in my head. Then another song got stuck in my head when while cooking dinner the kids yelled "wow look at that rainbow, there are two of them!" and sure enough there were and while I have seen lots of rainbows in my day after such a dreary, cold, rainy day these ones just seemed so beautiful! The song "I'll Build You A Rainbow" immediately started playing in my head, and then almost just as immediately I thought of my dear friends.



I think these rainbows are for you guys! I love you and think of you often!

20 Minutes A Day...

...is the daily recommended reading for children, and it is safe to say they get it! Not always by me, but they get it!

All of my kids LOVE LOVE books-in fact if anyone is looking for Christmas ideas...just sayin'!

So in other news my veins are too small to donate blood anymore. I used to donate monthly, not sure when they got so small, but I was rejected today. If only they had tested my veins BEFORE I spent 30 min. doing all the prep work.

I survived my first mutual activity (do they still call it that?)-service scavenger hunt. I had a BLAST! Those girls are going to be so much fun!

"Can You Feel A Change Coming On?"

..."well other than the weather, I didn't until you asked me to meet with you after church." What is it they say? Don't let on that you are comfortable in a calling, because as soon as you do you get a new one. Well I guess I let on. I am now the 2nd Counselor in the Young Womens-Beehives. I am excited, if not a little nervous for this new calling. Between being a primary teacher, a scout leader or a president I have spent the last almost 12 years minus maybe an accumulated 1 year in primary.

I will miss mad dashes-in high heels-down the hall and stairs, back up the stairs and back down the hall as I tried to catch a little boy. I will miss questions like "teacher do you want a hamburger or hotdog? I am cooking them on my grill here." (grill being the air vent). I will miss all of their stories at the beginning of class and the look of interest on their face when I would say "K, it is my turn to tell a story" and the silence as they listen intently to stories about Jesus or his prophets. I will miss the weekly wrestle to get 7 (or sometimes 12) kids to sit reverently, sing and not feel too bad when they don't all get a turn. But mostly I will miss their simple testimonies and hearing them every sing every week. Today was our Primary Program (the favorite week of the whole year!) and when they stood and sang the words to "I Know That My Savior Loves Me" "I know he lives, I will follow faithfully. My heart I give to him, I know that my Savior loves me." the flood gates opened-it probably didn't help that I knew it was my last Sunday as their teacher. How innocent yet strong those kids are! I have learned so much from my little class, and I will miss teaching them every week. I am very excited for my new calling and look forward being with the Young Women twice a week, I just hope they don't mind me too much if I pull out crayons or talk to them in a motherly way until I get used to them and their age difference.

Change can be a good thing!

So speaking of the Primary Program... Jacey gave her first TALK in sacrament meeting today. A few weeks ago she gave a talk in Primary and they asked her to give her talk again for the program. She did an EXCELLENT job and didn't sound even a tiny bit nervous. This is HUGE for my little shy Jacey bug. Good job sweets you are my hero!

Things To Think About...

...I attended the General Relief Society Meeting broadcast tonight with my stake and came home with some things to ponder. The talks were exceptional, but tonight I was more impressed by the songs they chose for the conference. If I were to make a list of my 10 most favorite hymns 4 of them were sung tonight. These are songs I sing all the time, songs that get in my head and carry with me for days, but tonight their words and messages jumped out at me.

Count Your Blessings
1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

[Chorus]
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.

2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.
Count your many blessings; money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.

4. So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Carry On
1. Firm as the mountains around us,
Stalwart and brave we stand
On the rock our fathers planted
For us in this goodly land—
The rock of honor and virtue,
Of faith in the living God.
They raised his banner triumphant—
Over the desert sod.

[Chorus]
And we hear the desert singing:
Carry on, carry on, carry on!
Hills and vales and mountains ringing:
Carry on, carry on, carry on!
Holding aloft our colors,
We march in the glorious dawn.
O youth of the noble birthright,
Carry on, carry on, carry on!

2. We’ll build on the rock they planted
A palace to the King.
Into its shining corridors,
Our songs of praise we’ll bring,
For the heritage they left us,
Not of gold or of worldly wealth,
But a blessing everlasting
Of love and joy and health.

More Holiness Give Me
1. More holiness give me,
More strivings within,
More patience in suff’ring,
More sorrow for sin,
More faith in my Savior,
More sense of his care,
More joy in his service,
More purpose in prayer.

2. More gratitude give me,
More trust in the Lord,
More pride in his glory,
More hope in his word,
More tears for his sorrows,
More pain at his grief,
More meekness in trial,
More praise for relief.

3. More purity give me,
More strength to o’ercome,
More freedom from earth-stains,
More longing for home.
More fit for the kingdom,
More used would I be,
More blessed and holy—
More, Savior, like thee.

The Spirit Of God
1. The Spirit of God like a fire is burning!
The latter-day glory begins to come forth;
The visions and blessings of old are returning,
And angels are coming to visit the earth.

[Chorus]
We’ll sing and we’ll shout with the armies of heaven,
Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!
Let glory to them in the highest be given,
Henceforth and forever, Amen and amen!

2. The Lord is extending the Saints’ understanding,
Restoring their judges and all as at first.
The knowledge and power of God are expanding;
The veil o’er the earth is beginning to burst.

3. We’ll call in our solemn assemblies in spirit,
To spread forth the kingdom of heaven abroad,
That we through our faith may begin to inherit
The visions and blessings and glories of God.

4. How blessed the day when the lamb and the lion
Shall lie down together without any ire,
And Ephraim be crowned with his blessing in Zion,
As Jesus descends with his chariot of fire!

Can I just say our Prophet (President Monson) is a funny guy!! I absolutely LOVED his talk. If you missed it I would highly recommend you watch it-read it if you can't watch it-but watch it if you can. (you can watch it at the link above). I really liked his "dirty window" parable and how we should look to ourselves before we judge someone else. He also quoted Mother Teressa and said something like... When you judge you don't have time to love. So true! I loved all the attributes of charity that he shared too. So many of them I have never thought about.

It was a very good meeting and I am so glad that I went.

Holyness To The Lord...

...while in Utah I drove close to a couple of temples, and since I am on assignment to get all the Utah temples one day I thought I would knock a few off while I was close. I will start posting lots more pictures from our week tomorrow (since I don't work on Sundays)

The bountiful temple has always been one of my favorites, since it was my first dedication I got to attend (and it was actually IN the temple-not a stake center) I remember we were in the brides room...


and then the Logan Temple...I always like pictures of this angle. Greg asked if I wanted to go around to another side and I said nope I got what I wanted.

Awesome Grands and Greats

...our kids are very fortunate to not only have 4 wonderful grandparents, but also 6 wonderful GREATS living and while we were in Utah Colt got to meet my Nana and Papa (my dad's parents) for the first time. I forgot to blog the picture with the rest of our trip so I thought I would do it tonight. Yesterday was my nana's birthday and it reminded me that I had this picture. It is my goal to get pictures with all the Grands and Greats and the kids this year. I only remember one of my Greats and all I remember about her is her in the nursing home and taking her teeth out and scaring us with them, but I am sure she was a great Great as well. Thanks to the wonderful world of blogging my kids can see these pictures and hopefully remember happy times with all of them when they are parents.

So it is once again conference weekend, and I have to say the thing I love most about it being able to lounge around and watch TV all day guilt free. We printed off our Conference Packets and the kids actually listened to quite a bit-or at least they sat in the front room and worked on their packets while conference was on, but if they are like me they most likely learned more while doing something than by just sitting there. My favorite talk today was Elder Bednar's talk about warning signs and our children. I also really enjoyed the one directed to us mom's and daughters (not sure who that was I was up doing something...but still listening)

Let's Create...

...had a friend share this with me today and thought I would pass it on. I really liked it and feel inspired to do something better!

Sentimental Sunday's...

...today is brought to you by patience-this is not one of my strengths but today I impressed myself when all of a sudden my 4 sunbeams turned into NINE not too mention the fact that Skye also decided that she did not want to be without her mommy and daddy could not be found (the sluffer-ran home to get his reports he had forgotten). Not sure what was going on around here this weekend, but apparently it was a good weekend to visit the grandmas. But even with the few extras we had a great class. We learned about our feelings and I have to say by the end of Primary I was still feeling lovingly towards every one of them. I really do love this age because they are so innocent and so eager to learn. I have a cute little girl named Faith and this month the theme is Faith, prayer, repentance, and forgiveness strengthen me and my family. so needless to say the word faith is mentioned often and I love the little grin she gets on her face when she hears it and then she will turn to me and with this grin and asks "Why do they keep talking about me?" So CUTE! I also taught the kids a couple of signs the other week when we were learning to be grateful for our ears and today before class started (as I was trying to gain control of 9 little spirits) I looked over and saw one of my little girls teaching her new/visiting friend how to sign. It really amazes me how much these little kids are soaking up. In every lesson we have a scripture story and I try to go over it at the beginning of the class and then at the end of the class I ask them to tell me the story and I am amazed every week at the details they remember. So as much as I love them, they make me nervous...at the rate they are learning-talk about pressure on my part.

Alright so onto the Sentimental of days long ago...I should warn my family that I have found a box FULL of pictures of us as kids that I took with my little camera so you better be nice to me or else...

I don't have exact dates for these so if you know them please help me fill them in-another nice thing about digital is it stores the dates for us.

So it is apparent that my desire to be THE photographer dates way back and apparently it was a bright sunny day. This is Chad (boy-haha not sure I need to specify that one) Carrie )blue jumper) Kirsten (covering her eyes) Crystal (back in pink) and the other girl, Holly, was our neighbor-although she was more just another little sister. We had the coolest street and Greg has told me more than once how jealous the rest of the town was of our night games. Back in the day there was not a single house with a fence so we would play with up and down the streets until way past dark without a care. There were so many of us kids and likewise many parents keeping eyes on us and keeping the street out of trouble. Oh how I loved my neighborhood, it is kinda sad to go back and see NO kids minus the occasional kid of the kids we used to play with.


Since she was covering her face in that last shot here is another shot of Kirsten, aka Bip. This I believe was her before she went to school on her birthday (hence the wrapping ribbon in her hair). Can you believe that this tiny thing just had a baby? Wow where did the days go. Kirsten has always been the sweet one of the family, the peacemaker for sure. She always is so positive and loving towards everyone.


This one was on the day that Grandma Nelson left on her mission to Birmingham, AL. I wanna say that I was in 7th grade but honestly I don't remember. I do remember coming to check on her house one time while she was gone and finding a loaf of VERY moldy home made bread in her bread box. I also remember getting her letters and standing around the kitchen as mom read them to us. I remember writing her letters and loving that she was serving a mission. Wow how young we were back then...gotta love my native look and all those BIG ROUND glasses.


This one was not long after Greg and I got married. We went snow shoeing on the trail below Powder Mountain. It had snowed the most beautiful powder and the day was perfect so we set out. About an hour into our hike we saw tracks showing that other snow shoe-ers who had made it there before us had started to turn around right before they got to the canyon. Curious since it was so pretty once you got up there we wondered briefly why and then continued on. We were now the only tracks making fresh steps in the powder we continued on for about 15 min. and then we noticed HUGE cat prints next to the trail...ahhh...not wanting to be lunch for a hungry cat we turned around and would you know the place were everyone else had turned around was about where the cat tracks started...ummm I guess we should have looked a little more closely. Anyways it was a GREAT day and one day I would love for all of the family to own snow shoes so our hiking is not limited to summer.


This next one is one of MANY photo shoots I did with my niece Brooke. Poor girl was tortured by me from day one when her mom and I changed her into every outfit she had and used about 2 rolls of film in just that one shoot.


and finally for this week we have Jacey chillin' like Jacey knows how. She got this couch for her first birthday and until the (D U M B) cat peed on it to spite us this couch made many memories for this girl. She loved it. One night we couldn't find Jacey in her bed and couldn't see her in her room or the toy room we started to panic until we heard breathing coming from the couch which was turned upside down. She had unzipped it and had climbed inside the fabric taken out a cushion and had fallen asleep. Looking through pictures of her at this age I can see so much of Skye's personality in them. Some days I would love to go back to this time in our life and do it all over again just so I can savor it a bit more and kiss those sweet baby Jacey cheeks.

I Love The Friend...

...you know the one that comes to visit once a month via the postal service? I was getting ready to study for my lesson tomorrow and I always start by reading through the lesson and then going to The Friends website to find a coloring page, but tonight before I got to the actual reading of the lesson in the manual (which I always read online for some reason) I got side tracked by The Friends website and I started browsing through it and WOW there is a lot of cool things on there. Remember those scripture stories we used to watch all the time? You can watch them plus select stories from the Friend. I usually get my coloring pages for my Sunbeams (and my kids) from there. There are games/puzzles to play. Seriously I sat and "played" on the site for a good hour and will be adding it to my kids "Sunday Activities" list. So in case you don't have the site it is www.friend.lds.org

Did you also know that once a week www.lds.org is updated with a new video about life/family/church and they have put them on youtube so you can share them easier...so here is this weeks for all you all.



Alright now that I have played for an hour (or more) I gotta go get working on my lesson tomorrow we are learning about our feelings.

The Tables Are Turned...

...and it was Skye's turn with the hose and she was having a riot and I don't think Jace and Dax hated it either. Maybe one of these days I will get them in their swimsuits BEFORE they get all soaked. Oh and they will start washing my car REAL soon...they better if they want fare to go to the pool.






So guess what?! It is almost time to plant my garden (actually there is quite a bit I am hoping to get in the ground TOMORROW and SATURDAY) aren't you all so excited to see many many pictures of my plants growing? I know I am thrilled to be taking them soon!

For all of you that missed enrichment tonight FIRST SHAME ON YOU! SECOND you missed out on hearing a SUPERB lesson on gardening from a beginners stand point by me and a most EXCELLENT lesson on photography and fun ways to print and frame your images-that Nicki is one AWESOME gal and she has some FUN ideas! Now aren't you sad you missed it?!

I Did IT...

...I got up on stage in front of people and sang a solo and my throat tightened up and my voice shook like there was an earthquake, BUT I did it. I auditioned for the play Paint Your Wagon that will run Mid July-Early August. I wont know if I got in until later next week, but you can bet that I will blog about it either way. I am glad I did it and that I have a friend to do it with me.

So how 'bout a bit of happiness for today. It rained and it poured and most days I would have stayed inside my little house bundled under a blankey, but instead we hung out at the park and helped with a birthday party. Had tons of fun and right as I was walking out the door to go audition this is what I saw...I love rainbows. Every time I see one it reminds me of Gods love and it always reminds me of that song from my childhood "I'll Build You A Rainbow" and it reminds me that life continues after death.

Movie Review...

...So for the past few months (okay year) Greg has told me over and over that I need to watch the movie Miracle so it finally was allowed to reach the top of our list and we watched it last night. I am sorry to say I did not love it like Greg does. They used to watch it all the time at Garts and he swears he has seen it over 30 times and it still gets him. I personally found the 3 hour movie a little bit on the toooo long side. It did have a good story line and it was one of those happy feel good American movies, but I personally liked The Mighty Ducks better. It is a Disney movie about the 1980 US Olympic Hockey team. I think they could have left out quite a bit of the play by plays and we still would have gotten the general gist of the story.

So Greg would say WATCH it I would say let me just tell you what happens.

On another note: I am happy to report that none of my sunbeams fell asleep today although it was close. He was staring right at me during our lesson, but I could see that nothing was registering. I said his name and he about jumped right out of his chair...so maybe I did loose him and he was just sleeping with his eyes open. We had such a good lesson today and I would love to hear their takes on what I taught them :) They were so excited to see that their little lambs made it safely to church and next week I plan to get there early enough to get their lambs on their chairs for opening exercises.