Sunday - My favorite Day of the Week!

I love Sunday! I love going to church. Some people think 3 hours is a long time, but when you think about what percentage of time that is in a whole week - it's nothing! Today we had a great lesson in Relief Society about service. That's what Jesus' whole life on earth was about. King Benjamin taught about service in Mosiah 2:17. He said, "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

Sometimes in life we got on our own one lane highway and we forget to look at those around us who might be in need. This is something I'm guilty of and want to work on! I know when we give service, that often times we get more out of it than those that we serve. Service doesn't have to be a big thing. Sometimes it can be as simple as a phone call to a friend or neighbor in need. Or maybe a visit to a neighbor who might be lonely. Sometimes it's just a smile or a helping hand to someone that we see in the store. I'm going to try and be better at this.

I got my Sunday afternoon nap in and woke up to the smell of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies! I love that Morgan loves to cook and is good at it! Her future husband is going to be thrilled when he learns how well she can cook!

This afternoon we spent some time at my parent's house. The kids love to go over there! Mom cooked us one of our favorite "Grandma meals" - chicken strips, homemade french fries and milk shakes. We always know there will be food at Grandma's house. Then the kids started playing Just Dance on the Wii. They even got Grandma AND Grandpa to try it. It was pretty fun and made for some good laughs. Mataia got Dad on video dancing to Viva Las Vegas and posted it to Facebook. I think she might be in trouble. I love it when my dad lets his hair down and has fun with the kids! They love it, too.

My dad and my boys getting down to "Just Dance."

The only thing that would have made this day better is if the sun had been shining instead of snowflakes falling. I'm still trying to come to grips with the amount of winter we have left!

Well, now it's off to bed so I can start the rat race all over again tomorrow. I feel a crazy week ahead of us!

Here's a little clip that will hopefully inspire you as it did me with a desire to serve others more willingly. It makes me thankful for my parents and my in-laws who sacrificed so much to raise me and my husband.

">

Julie B. Beck!

I had the opportunity to go to the new BYU-Idaho center today to a Regional Women's Conference and hear sister Julie B. Beck. She the General Relief Society President in our church. It's a rare opportunity to hear her in person. She is awesome! First thing I noticed when I walked in is the spirit you feel in a room full of about 10,000 women! There's nothing like it! It reminded me of Women's Conference that I have attended at BYU in Provo before.

Sister Beck opened the meeting up to questions from the audience and she was amazing at answering questions on the spot! I'll just share a few things that I learned. The thing that stood out to me the most is that we should live in such a way that invites the Holy Ghost to guide us in our lives - or in other words, we should qualify for the Spirit. Then we should ask for guidance from the Holy Ghost in all that we do. One sister asked how we know if our own personal goals are in line with what our Father in Heaven has in mind for us. She counseled us to use prayer and seek guidance from the Spirit. She said that we would never receive inspiration from God that was not in line with His plan. His plan is for all men and women to gain immortality and eternal life with Him. Our main role as women should be to raise righteous families. She said that the children born in these days are some of God's strongest spirits and they need us to be strong parents and leaders to guide them.

She also addressed the purpose of Relief Society several times. She told us that some people think of Relief Society as a "women's club." That is not true. There are three purposes of Relief Society. 1. To Increase faith and personal righteousness. 2. To strengthen homes and families. 3. To teach the gospel and reach out to those in need. She talked about how she's heard a lot of excuses for not wanting to participate in Visiting Teaching. (Excuses such as not enough time, schedules not meshing, hard feelings or dislike for someone, etc.....some of these I've used myself.) She talked pretty straight and said the God doesn't care what our excuses are and that we should just get over them. (I laughed.) She said that this is a sacred opportunity to be an agent for God (and the Bishop) and that we should embrace it. God cares about what we are willing to give back. This was good for me to hear!

I could go on and on with about 10 pages of notes that I took from her talk today. I know that I went to that meeting for a reason today! I went with my parents and it was nice to spend some time with them. It's not very often that I get to do that - especially with my dad. They bought me lunch afterwards and we had a good time.

So today, the hand of God was very apparent in my life. Now we are going to settle down to a nice quiet evening at home with the kids. We kind of feel like this last few weeks has been the "calm before the storm." All of the kids have been between extra-curricular activities and we haven't had a lot to do. That all changes starting Monday. Next week the kids start track, club volleyball and wrestling. So back on goes my "taxi hat." I just try to enjoy it, though. I can feel my time with my kids slipping away quickly as they get older. Mataia will graduate in a little more than three years! How did that happen??? So I cherish every moment I have with them - even if it's in the car. And I love to cheer them on in their activities. They are great kids!

Life is Good!

Exercise, Temple, School and Visiting Teaching

Yesterday, I had a good but busy day. I started out with a little run on the treadmill. I've decided if I am training for a race that I will be more consistent in my workouts. So I've decided to run another half-marathon. There I said it out loud and posted it online, so now I'm committed, right? Anyway, I had a nice run while watching Biggest Loser (it's very motivating.)

Then I got Kace off to Kindergarten and headed to the temple. It was so nice to be there and feel the spirit that is there! Once again, I am so thankful to Father in Heaven for the blessings of the temple.

Then it was off to my American Foundations class. Right now we are studying segregation and discrimination in America. I have to admit that after learning more about what racial minorities went through in our history, I feel more compassion towards them. Some of the things that they went through are unspeakable! The worst part of it is that many times those who were murdering, beating and causing all sorts of other misery for them were never held accountable by the law. (I'm sure when they met there maker, it was taken care of.) This class has made me appreciate this country and what we have been through and the progress that has been made. There is still more progress to make, but we can live and learn.

Most importantly, I am thankful for BYU-Idaho and the opportunity I have to attend classes there. I love that I have the chance to attend a church owned school where we can apply the gospel in all of our classes. I love reading the views of church leaders in my Science class! There is no doubt that many things that happen on that campus are inspired of the Lord. The whole campus and the atmosphere is beautiful! A friend of mine told me before I started classes in January that if everyone in the community knew what was offered on that campus, everyone would be racing to get in line to take part of it. I can see what she means now!

At the end of the day, I had a good chat with my friend and Visiting Teacher, Melanie Miller. She is such a good example to me and I really enjoy when she comes to see me! Then I got to go visit my ladies. I have a new partner and new ladies on my list so this was a first. My new partner is Debra Froelich. She's a sweetheart and I got to know her a few years ago when I visit taught her. Now we go together and visit Loretta Forbush, Susan Davidson and LaDell Miller. One thing for sure, is that I'm the one being taught during our visits! I haven't always had the best attitude about visiting teaching, but today I'm determined to change that!

Life is good!

Snow, Nails, Babies, and the Temple!

Today we woke up to 4 new inches of snow, according to Chad and his trusty ruler. I'm really trying to see the hand of God in that. In reality, I'm done with winter. I just wish winter would get done with me. I have to admit, it is beautiful to see the freshly fallen snow on the trees outside. The sun did come out later in the day and it turned out to be a pretty nice day.

I got to visit with a good friend while she did my nails. There is something about getting your nails done that makes you feel real good! And it's always nice to have a good chat with an old friend. Then I came home and made cinnamon rolls and enchiladas for dinner. I'm thankful for food on the table!

I'm also thankful for nieces and nephews. I went next door and loved on my newest nephew for a few minutes. He is truly straight from Heaven! He is extremely tiny right now and it's amazing that his little body functions the way it is supposed to when he is that small (5 pounds 10 ounces as of yesterday.) There is nothing like a newborn baby. I love the way they smell, the way they move, how tiny their little fingers and toes are and pretty much everything about them.

And tonight I get to spend some time with my brother, Coy's kids. Our ward gets to take the youth to the temple tonight. So Jeff, Coy and Emilee went as youth leaders and Mataia and Morgan got to go. So Wyatt, Bailee, Creed and Bowen are here with me and the boys tonight. We are so blessed to have a temple so close! I love going and feeling the spirit that is so strong there. I know when I have something troubling me, I can go to the temple and seek guidance. I love looking out our upstairs window on a clear night and seeing the temple shining so brightly on the hill in Rexburg! I love the temple! I think I'll go tomorrow!

My brothers

Today I'm thankful for my brothers! My oldest brother, Coy, is having a birthday today. (He must be 38. Yes, he's older than me. And yes, my kids are older than his.) Even though Coy used to beat me up and make my life miserable when I was a kid, I still love him. He used to think it was fun to leave bruises on my arms after he punched me so hard. But I always knew he loved me because he would pester me about some of my choices and actions. He pretty much knew all my secrets and he kept them. Now that we are "grown up" and have our own families, it's nice to be close by. If you don't know him, you are missing out. He is a funny guy and always has a quick comeback for any comment. Heaven forbid you are trying to name a baby. He'll have some way to make fun of a name. Just ask my little brother Weston, who just welcomed their third baby to their family. You know you have to run the name by Coy to see if he can come up with some way to make fun of it. They settled on Hagen for their baby. Coy must have drawn a blank on that one. (And in case you are wondering, Hagen is absolutely adorable. After spending a few days in the NICU, he's home and thriving.)

I'm thankful for Weston, too. He lives right next door to us, but I hardly ever see him. But I know he's there and if we ever needed anything, he'd be here in a second. He can also be quite entertaining. He's a cowboy at heart and for some reason likes farm animals and he's good with them. He has his own little petting zoo started with miniature and full size horses and fainting goats. My kids have loved living next door to them and we will miss them if we ever sell our house.

And then there's my youngest brother, Braxton. He's the "bonus baby" in our family. Mom had him the week I graduated from High School and while Coy was on his mission in Texas. So now here he is, a senior himself. I moved out the week after Braxton was born, and so he never had the pleasure of living with me. Poor kid. He has pretty much had the run of Mom and Dad's house his whole life. He's a good kid and I love him, too. He has big plans for his life (college this fall and a mission next summer) and it will be fun to watch all of that unfold. Since Braxton is only three years older than Mataia, he has always fit right into my "stairs" of children and there have been times when people thought he was mine. I'd claim him. He's a good example to my kids and his friends.

I'm thankful that my boys have each other as brothers. Chad is such a good brother to Kace. Kace worships Chad and wants to be just like him. Chad acts like he doesn't really like it, but he would do anything for Kace. He would protect him at all costs. They love each other a lot! It's fun to watch. We had the Scout Blue and Gold banquet tonight. Chad received his Flag Football and Baseball belt loops. They had all the Cub Scouts say the Scout Promise and Kace stood up and recited it right along with the other boys - even though he's not a scout yet. You can tell he's attended many scout meetings with Chad and I. (I've been his leader for a year and a half.)

God has blessed me with many great men in my life - big and little men!

My husband is amazing!

So this is a catch up post for yesterday. I have known for a long time that my husband was more than I deserved in this life. I don't know why I have been so blessed. He brought a tear to my eye yesterday! Let me give a little background info on this first. I like to make memory books or digital scrapbooks through Heritage Makers online. I have been doing this for a few years and have made many books for our own little family and for others as gifts. Jeff has never complained about me doing this, even though it costs him a little money. Apparently, he has taken a little interest in what I have done and has watched me a little from time to time and how I do it. So one of our employees at work also has a Heritage Makers account. Jeff used her account and made a book for me titled, "What I Love About You." He wanted to give it to me for Valentine's Day, but it got here a few days late. It was the best late gift I could have gotten. I cried!

When I think back about how Jeff and I met, there is no doubt in my mind that God had a hand in that. There is no way that a guy from Alaska, who was a new convert to the church should have met up with an 18 year old Mormon girl from Idaho over Thanksgiving in 1993! Crazy! I thank my Father in Heaven for him everyday! He treats me like a queen, even when I don't deserve it! I don't know how it's possible, but I love him more everyday. (Now my girls are gagging over hearing me talk like this. I'm sorry if you're gagging, too.)

New Blog!

I am starting this new blog with a new purpose. My motto is "Life is Good." Sometimes, maybe we have a bad day. But in the big picture of things, life is always good. I have a sign that hangs in my kitchen that says "Life is Good." (Thanks to a thoughtful sister-in-law, Emilee, who saw it in a store once and thought of me.) When I see it every morning I am reminded of all the good things I have in my life. I give credit to a loving Father in Heaven for all good things I have in my life. I am planning to post to this blog regularly. (We'll see how I do!) They may be short posts and they may be posts that would bore you. So if you choose to follow this blog, you have been forewarned. I want this to be a sort of journal for myself and my family. At the end of the year, I will turn this into a book that we can keep and reflect on.

A few years ago in General Conference for our church, Elder Henry B. Eyring gave an address that made a good impression on me. He talked about reflecting on and recording experiences we had in our everyday lives. He encouraged us to look for ways God had reached out to us each day. That's what I want to do with this blog. I am a Mormon and my faith is a huge part of my life. The two most important things in my life are my family and my faith. I would do anything for both of them. Hopefully, that will show in my posts. You can read his entire address at: http://lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/o-remember-remember?lang=eng&query=o+remember+remember ">

Or you can watch a short clip here:

I love Elder Eyring! I hope you enjoy this blog and I hope that through this, I will reflect more often on what my Father in Heaven and His son, Jesus Christ do for me each day.