Happy Birthday Larry!

My sweetheart is almost forty! And proud of it! (well, not for two more years, but he's cool with it!) He rocks my world.

Isn't is wonderful when you spend so much time with someone (nearly all day everyday), and you're still not bored? Yea, I think so too.

Larry, you are my best friend. I can't think of anyone I'd rather spend eternity with, so I'm glad I'm "stuck" with you.

Have a wonderful day, full of chips, pop, pizza, movies, chocolate, twizzlers, hugs and kisses. (Gosh, do we have a food fixation or what?)

Here's to you, mom!

My mom is sitting here next to me complaining about the fact that she is too inept to blog. Methinks the lady doth protest too much!

So, I will subject you all (i know there are hordes of people reading this blog--although you'd never know it by the paltry amount of comments I get--wink, wink, nudge, nudge) to a boring blog entry so that I can show her how easy it is!

There, now, your punishment is now over.

Believe in what you're doing

I was listening to something this morning that really spoke to me.

It says:

"believe in what you're doing
believe in who you are
believe in who you're becoming
believe in who you are

hold tight to the truth that you're a daughter of God.

It may seem simple--all the little things you do
But the lives you touch matter so much
And there's no one else like you
And Father needs you to stand tall and faithful
To be all you can be"

I needed that today, everyday.

Being a mom is hard, emotionally, mentally tough.
But this is how I am shaping my world, one child at a time.

What will my fruits be? Will those who see the fruits know that I am a Christian?

Will they know I believe?

Do I know I believe?

YES!

I love patterns...

especially in the Book of Mormon. When I find them, I feel like having a little party for my budding sensitivity! (i will definitely invite the Holy Ghost as the guest of honor!)

So now to the details:

1 Ne 11:1 (how is it that so much can be packed into one little verse?)
For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat ^apondering in mine heart I was ^bcaught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high ^cmountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot.

Do you see the pattern?

1. desiring
2. believing
3. pondering
4. the reward--revelation!

Cool, huh?

I know, it is like patterns 101, but I love getting personal revelation where scriptures are concerned.

Now I just need to put it into practice. I was reading more last night, and I came across something that has always bugged me (but I am not going to share that thing with you, no offense). I am putting my pattern to the test. Maybe I will even share my findings (if it doesn't reflect poorly on my spiritual kindergarten-ness. :)

Positive Persistence

I read an email yesterday that talked about "positive persistence." It was referring to offering healthy food to your children, but I thought about it is a more universal light. Just this morning, Lauren threw a fit about the fact that I wouldn't let her eat yogurt raisins on the stairs. The rule in our house is that we eat seated at the table. Just because she doesn't want to do that does NOT mean that the rule needs to be null and void for her. I encountered resistance (duh!), but I need to persist in expecting obedience to the rule. What an basic but essential principle in parenting! Now, if I could just tame my temper...

President Monson

Did he look great today? He looked so calm and kind. He is definitely different than President Hinckley, and I am looking forward to getting to know his personality. I am also very glad that President Eyring is still in the First Presidency. I know it is foolish, but I feel like he is "my" general authority. He came to our Stake Conference the week before he became a counselor to President Hinckley, and I had such a wonderful experience listening to him that I have had a special feeling toward him ever since (you know he was called to the first presidency because of his awesome talks in our stake conference!). I know it is silly, but no biggie!

I was surprised to see Elder Uchtdorf in the First Presidency. It seems to me that they are calling younger members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to serve in the First Presidency. I think that part of serving in big, scary callings like those are that of training. President Hinckley and President Monson have so much experience to share with others. It will then be the job of the train-ees to be the trainers. That is the beauty of serving in the church. There is always someone who will share their wisdom with you and someone with whom you can share your experiences as well.

Cool, huh?

No worry!

I have often used the phrase, "no worries," in conversation. But it doesn't really describe me.

I was impressed over this weekend, with the many commentaries on president Hinckley, about his ability to not worry. It was said over and over that he was not one to worry.

I am. Rather, I have been.

I was reading in 1 Nephi tonight, and I noticed a strong thread of worry vs. doubt in Lehi's family. Laman and Lemuel worried about Laban, Nephi did not. They worried about their riches, Nephi saw them as tools to facilitate a miracle. What a difference.

Faith is essential to not worrying. Without faith, we are just wishing that things would work out right. We don't expect miracles without faith, we wish things would turn out better than they do. Faith is the key. Nephi had faith because he had sought the Lord and had been strengthened. Laman and Lemuel didn't even try.

I want to "go forward with faith" and expect miracles. President Hinckley sure did, and he saw plenty of miracles.

It is snowing again!

I love the snow. Still! It has been snowing off and on since Christmas, and I am in seventh heaven! I love looking out my window at the huge flakes coming down. I love driving on a quiet evening when the noises of the cars are drowned out by the dampening effects of the snowfall. I love taking a deep breath of cold air and looking into a crystal dark sky.

I love that I don't have to drive in the snow everyday. I love that I can send my boy to school on foot. I love that Larry got a snowblower so I don't need to shovel (unless I want to).

I just want to make one more observation.

On Friday when I woke up, the snow was coming down like a thick blanket. i was worried to drive to Salt Lake for fear of dangerous road conditions. It wasn't as bad as I thought it might be, but it certainly wasn't clear. Then when I woke up this morning, there was a new layer of snow on the ground and it was coming down so fast! So much snow!! But I think of yesterday, the day of President Hinckley's funeral--the sun was shining, the sky blue, the roads clear. Coincident? I don't think so. The Lord was smiling down on the farewell of this mighty servant. Everyone was able to participate how they wished without road conditions hindering their way. What a simple yet wonderful blessing. God loves his children!

Hinckley Challenge

I got an email about this challenge honoring President Gordon B. Hinckley. I am going to do it as well as put a graph with my progress on this blog (if I can figure it out--if anyone wants to help me, let me know!).

I am grateful for his leadership, and I know he would want us to come closer to the Savior. One way I can do this is by reading Another Testament of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon.

Hop on board--let's honor him together!

So many blessings...

The first thing I want to say could be offensive, but it isn't meant to be.

I never wanted to live in Utah.

I was okay with stopping there for a few years for college, but I never envisioned myself actually living there.

I mean, here.

I live in Utah, and I am so glad that I do.

Because I live here, I was able to take my children to pay our respects to a very important man in our lives, President Gordon B. Hinckley.

We waited a long time, and the kids got a little antsy, but it was well worth it.

I saw a man who wore himself out in the service of the Lord. And it seemed to be a privilege, not a sacrifice, for him to do so. It reminded me of the handcart pioneers who wouldn't have traded their sufferings for anything because they truly came to know their God through those heart-wrenching trials.

But an unexpected blessing came immediately after. I was approached by a very nice woman (who I recognized as one of Pres. Hinckley's daughters) who walked straight toward me and thanked me for coming to the viewing. All I could do was dissolve into my tears and try to choke out a thank you to her for sharing her father with the entire world membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I felt like I was in the presence of angels, and they weren't all on the other side of the veil.

Today, during the funeral, I found myself again tearing up as I watched the love Pres. Hinckley exuded in every talk, every smile, every wave of that wonderful cane. How privileged I am to have been alive when this "giant of a man" guided this church with such humility, wisdom, faith, and optimism. How blessed I am to have known and loved him. As I said before, I am even more motivated to stand a little taller.

I already miss him, but I know that is a selfish feeling. I cry because I won't see him at the pulpit of the Conference Center, I won't hear another witty remark, I won't feel his powerful testimony of the Savior. But I will remember.

I saw President Monson in a new light today as well. What a loving man with such a daunting task. One could say that he has big shoes to fill, but that is the beauty of the gospel and the priesthood. There is no ambition for power or recognition in the leadership of this church. Those serving are doing so because the Lord has called them. President Monson brings different talents to the table than Pres. Hinckley did, but they are every bit as needed and tailored for this time and these circumstances. I pray that the Lord will strengthen him, and that we will all support and love him in his service.

I am grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am grateful to be a wife and mother. I am grateful for good lives that lift, motivate, support, and strengthen me. I will miss him, but President Hinckley's legacy will live on as each of us live more like our Savior.