Trip to Utah

I am such a nut. We got to Utah Thursday afternoon and I didn't get my camera out of my car until we went to Temple Square on Tuesday, what on earth was I thinking?!!! I guess I wasn't... Since I didn't get my camera out in time I didn't get any pics of Devin and Diana!!! :(
They had to head back up to Rexburg on Monday eve, they had classes....

Here are some pictures of our little outing to Salt Lake City. We took a tour of the Conference Center...

Up on the rooftop... DALLIN by Elder DALLIN Oaks... Out front... Over to the reflection pool... Then we went over to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and watched the movie, "Joseph Smith The Prophet of the Restoration". It is so good, if you have not seen it you NEED to! I cried... again.Then we went and walked around Temple Square. Then, into the Visitors Center to see the Christus! The Spirit is always so strong in this room... "Be still, and know that I am God".

It was a beautiful day on Tuesday! The weather was perfect! It snowed on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday... we were so blessed!

Here is a picture of Chad playing in the snow out front at Grandma and Grandpa's! Hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa's... Thanks Brittany for making the cookies! Chad and Grandpa, what a treasure...Grandpa still likes his little outings... Dad's billy tube had come out some and the nurse noticed it when she was at the house on Friday so she called the Dr. and they had him come right in. Mom and I took him into the Huntsman Cancer Center on Friday and they put a new tube in. He is still pretty jaundice, you can notice it mostly in his eyes... he is very very thin but he eats REALLY well!!!! THAT makes us happy! He still loves his root beer floats! He was told he had 3-6 months back at the beginning of September but he is now starting his 8th month! He has a GREAT attitude, very very positive!!! He keeps telling the Dr's that he will see them in 5 years! I HOPE HE DOES!!!

Dead Cell Phone.

Okay, can I just say I had NO idea how addicted to texting I am!!! No idea. I always get on my boys but dang... I am guilty too.

I left my charger in Utah and my phone is DEAD. I am freaking out. YES, I will get a new charger... Brad said he would get me one on his way home from playing a round of golf. Dallin took my car to the beach so I am stranded at home with a DEAD cell phone. I am starting to shake... can someone please call 911???!!!

I guess I will put on my ipod and go clean out my closet. Nah, that sounds boring even though it REALLY REALLY needs it!!!

So... are YOU addicted to texting? I bet you are and just don't realize it!!!!

Journaling...

Well, I have been sick and busy... I am way behind in posts... so I am just going to ramble... bare with me!

The FIRST thing I want to say is...

Derek and Brittany had their one year anniversary on Sunday!!!! Congrats to both of you! WE love our Brittany so very very much!!!! We are so very grateful to have her in our family FOR. EVER.

_________________________________________________________________

Dallin was given the "Coach's Award" at the soccer banquet last week! The coach had a lot of nice things to say about him! And, as you can see.... he also earned the "Scholar Athlete" award again! He hates posing for pictures... he hates that I blog, LOLAnd, here are a few pics from his meet last week. The weather was gorgeous so Brad and I rented a cart and watched...

Brad got out of the cart to watch... so I snagged the driver's seat and got to drive the cart! Isn't he cute??? Love that man! He still makes my heart go pitter patter! ________________________________________________________________

Yesterday Brad and I got to go take the YSA's (Young Single Adults) to the temple to clean it.... it was a very nice experience!

It is Spring Break and Thursday we are going to Utah to visit my parents and see all our children! It will be fun to all be together again! I am REALLY looking forward to it! I wish we ALL lived closer! Families are the BEST!

Highway of Life...

Have you ever had a dream and then you are sort of awake and sort of asleep and you keep "expounding" on that dream you had???



Well, last night, or early this morning I had a dream... not much to it that I can remember... but I thought about it the rest of the morning until my alarm went off. I think I am going to use it in my Institute class tonight. I know it doesn't give you long to comment... I hope some of you are on line and will expound on YOUR thoughts of my dream...



Okay, so, here was my little/very short dream.... I was in a white truck (don't ask me why a truck or white for that matter) but, in it I was thinking about the highway of life....


Here is where my mind wondered to during the dream...

* We need to keep moving forward. (We can go slow but we can't stop. We certainly can NOT go backwards without causing an accident)

*We might pass others (even for a short time) or others might pass us...

*We can help others along the way (Not sure if you heard on the news the other night of someone that was unconscious at the wheel and a truck pulled in front of the car and slowed down, let them slowly run into the truck and saved their lives ~ we can liken this unto spiritual saving...)

*We might get lazy or tired and close our eyes for a few min (again liken this to spiritually) and might even run off the road... hopefully it will be a "wake up call" and we will quickly compensate and get back on the road. We might even hit a sign but not do too much damage and be able to get back on the road. We might get in a bigger accident and have to take the "truck" into the shop and THEN get back on the road...

Do you see where I am going with this??? ANYTHING you can add??? I would love any other suggestions!!!!! THANK YOU!

Thoughts from Elder Eyring

Because you are so valuable, some of your trials may be severe!
When you walk in the light, you will feel at that moment some of the warmth and happiness that will be yours when you are welcomed home again with the hundreds and perhaps thousands of others whom you will bring, who have walked in the light because YOU DID!

Elder Eyring - 2008

Funny!

Bob was putting his shoes on while observing his wife, Susie, who was looking at herself in the mirror. Since her birthday was tomorrow, he asked what she'd like to have for her birthday. "I'd like to be six again," she replied, still looking in the mirror. So, on the morning of her birthday, Brother Harris arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms, and then took her to Six Flags theme park.

What a day! He put her on every ride in the park: the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster, the Roller Coaster, the Chariot of Fire, every ride there was. Five hours later they both staggered out of the theme park. Susie's head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down. Bob then took her to a McDonald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake.

Then it was off to Cartoon Theater, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite candy, M&M's. What a fabulous adventure it was! Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into the sofa, totally exhausted. He approached his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, "Well Dear, what was it like being six again?" His wife's eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. "Dear, I meant my dress size!"

What a nice hubby.... he tried!

So.......... would you rather be 6 years old for a day OR a size 6 for a day???

Notes from Sheri Dew (Feb. 28, 2009)

Okay, I got Wendy Watson Nelson's notes posted HERE and now I am finally getting around to posting Sheri Dew's notes. It was a wonderful conference! I felt like not only was Sheri Dew talking to US but she was/is talking to our youth, maybe I felt that way because I have always worked with the youth be it in the Young Women's program, teaching Seminary, or teaching Institute and so you might be able to feel that from my notes, if so take it to them and use it or apply it to yourselves. Again, as Sister Nelson said, the Holy Ghost is what teaches and sometimes He tells us stuff that WE need to hear and might not be exactly what the speaker was talking about..... so, with that having been said, I hope there is something in my notes you can use.

Sister Dew started her talk by telling us of a time that she had gone to Hawaii with some of her family, there were several nephews on this trip. One of Sister Dew's nephews was going to jump from a cliff into the ocean and he had asked her if she would take a picture of him in mid air. He had shown her EXACTLY where he wanted her to stand and told her exactly when to snap the picture. So, Sister Dew was standing in the water probably about to her ankles and she explained to us that she had on capris and had her blackberry in her pocket on the side of her capris.

In came a huge wave... and yep, she got soaked! (but she DID get the picture her nephew wanted)

Now, not only did Sister Dew get soaked but, yep, you guessed it, so did her Blackberry. We all know she is a very busy woman and needs her phone, even when she is on vacation. She decided that she was on vacation and she would get her phone replaced when she got home, but after going 24 hours without a phone she worried that what if worked needed her... and they could not get her... so, she jumped in a rented car, drove to the other side of the island and stood in line for an hour for a new blackberry.

Our youth are tied to their cell phones.... ARE THEY TIED TO THEIR LIFE LINE TO HEAVEN??!!! (Are WE?)

How important is it to you to communicate with your Father in Heaven?

She quoted Elder Holland from a funeral that he spoke at, "This is not our home, sometimes we act like we will stay here... It's not. We wont."

We loose track of the big picture.

Revelations 12:7 & 9
"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels."
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

and then, verse 12
"... Woe to the inhabiters of the earth (US) and of the sea: for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."

Satan's time is short... we are near the end....

She said she has contemplated many times... What would Satan do to disrupt us LDS women?

1) He would try to confuse us as to who we are! (Gender ID... etc)

2) He would try to keep us from understanding what our Savior did for us!

3) AND, he would try to wreck our "Blackberry" to Heaven!

And, so... we need to

1) KNOW who we are! (Daughters of God!)

2) UNDERSTAND the Atonement!

3) LEARN how to get Personal Revelation! (GREAT question for Conference, WHAT does personal revelation FEEL like for ME?)

Doctrine & Covenants 138:53 & 56
"...and other choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fullness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work"
"Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men."

Sister Dew said, "Get on your knees and ask you Heavenly Father to tell you how He feels about YOU and if you have a mission here..."

(THIS was very sweet and very tender) She said, "IF He were HERE He would start by THANKING you. He would thank you for teaching... for being a good wife..... for being a good mother... a good visiting teacher..."

Luke 4:18
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the BROKEN HEARTED, to peach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised"

Broken heart... the Atonement is healing.

Ether 12:27
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, than will I make weak things become strong unto them."

He is our best therapist.

She went on to talk about our GPS systems we have in our car. If there is some place that we need to go and we do not know how to get there we simply follow the directions on our GPS, we little to the voice of the little lady.

IF we will listen to the voice and directions from our scriptures we will NEVER EVER be lost! (and might I add our living prophet with General Conference coming up!)

She said that FEELING the Spirit and GETTING Revelation are 2 different things.
*Ask the Lord to teach you ~ ask him to tutor you so that you know and recognize promptings. We need to learn what Personal Revelations sounds like/feels like to US.

He WANTS to teach us how to hear His voice.

The more pure we are, the easier we can hear.

He sent us to Earth NOW, because he KNEW we would do what He NEEDS us to do. YES, we do have a mission here. We need to ask what it is and DO IT.

Thank you & FYI...

Wow, Little People Wealth just gave me this award!!! THANK YOU! You should check the blog out! She lists all kinds of deals to make our lives easier! Coupons... sale prices... etc!I am supposed to name 7 things I love and then list 7 blogs I love.... so, I am going to take advantage and do my... So, here ya go.... 7 things I love and am thankful for!

1. My goodly parents... who taught me what life is really all about.

2. My wonderful hubby that supports me in all I do... and is sooooooooo good to me! (and who sets a great example to my boys)

3. My children. My good sons that always want to be with the family ~ yeah! And, my darling daughters in law that are always happy and a great example to ME!

4. Friends. ALL my friends!

Love you... thank you...

5. Prayer

6. Good health (I have been really sick and was cooped up in the house for the last 2 days, glad to get out for a bit today!)

7. A home.... yes, a house, but more than that.... our HOME.

Okay, and not to tell you about 7 great blogs... (NO in any special order!)

Pam - she has pictures of her trips to Africa and India... and lots of humor!
Jan - she always gives you something to THINK about!
Rachel - She is so talented, she made my header for my YSA blog! Thank you Rachel!
Mechelle - She is a wonderful person and you should check out her photography HERE (you can enter for a FREE photo shoot! AND she will travel to where YOU live!)
Jodi - She is so fun... and also a mom of 5 boys!
Tammy - She is a riot!
Beth - great lady...

Dang, I just realized THAT was 7... I have others.... that I love... want to know more great blogs to visit? Let me know!

AND, YES, I KNOW today is Friday.... but I started this post yesterday, LOL

Just Curious...

I used to wear silver ALL the time. Loved it. BUT, I am all of a sudden into gold...

There is a lady in our ward that does the color code to tell you what color of clothing you should wear. She also tells you if you should wear gold or silver jewelry... she says that I am "warm" and should wear gold. (I did this about a year ago and didn't change... BUT, then I saw this gold earrings on a good friend, they looked SO good, matched her hair color and skin color so nicely, so, I went and bought some gold hoops, LOL) Have you ever had the "color code" done? Do you know what colors you "should" wear? Do you like Silver or gold better? WHY? Just curious...

Sister Nelson ~ Notes (Long)

So, today I had the opportunity to hear Wendy Watson Nelson speak! She was IN. Credible! I enjoyed it so much that I am going to post my notes in hopes that you too might glean something from her words and thoughts.

"Spiritual Preparation for Times of Tribulation"

I am not the teacher today, the Holy Ghost is, so I invite you to have the Spirit with you regardless of what I say. She then told a story about when she was 24 and engaged. She said she has made it a goal and challenged us to also make it a goal to not "waste General Conference" to go with a question in our hearts. She was wondering if it was the right thing to do to marry this man she was engaged to. She said that EVERY talk was on marriage and that when Conference was over she knew she was NOT to marry this man. She went straight to the phone and broke the engagement. She said that years later she was asked to speak on marriage and she KNEW exactly where to go to get direction ~ the Conference talks of April 1974! So, she looked it up and NOT ONE talk was on marriage. Again, she reiterated the fact that if you decide to listen to conference this way.... "What is the one question I need most to have answered at General Conference" HE will answer you. Again, the Spirit is what teaches... like she said at the beginning of her talk, the Spirit is what teaches regardless of what she says.

She went on to say that the Lord's time is not our time.... it wasn't until 32 years later (to the month) that she got married ~ To Elder Nelson!!!

She said if you can't think of a specific question to watch for at Conference, to Pray to know what to pray for! THEN (loved this) she said you must do it... You don't say, "Lead me, guide me", and then say "Just kidding"!

She told a story of a lady that was called to be the Stake Camp Director. The lady that WAS the camp director was moving and they called someone else to replace her and she had to bow out (can't remember why) and so she was then called. She went to this stake meeting with all the stake YW leaders and ward YW leaders and she sat in the back thinking, "I shouldn't even be here, I was really 3rd choice" (etc, etc) and the Stake Pres. was speaking... he stopped, walked 1/2 way down the isle, called her by name and said you are right where the Lord wants you, He wants YOU and needs you where you are serving. He then turned, went back to the pulpit and continued his talk as if nothing had happened. She said, the Lord was speaking to ME ~ he let every body else listen in ~ but he was speaking to me!

Sister Nelson continued to tell us that the Lord hears our prayers and He WILL answer us!

She told us to search Alma 5 ~ the 40 questions there and see which of the questions stirs our soul...

Quote: "As the forces around us increase in intensity, whatever spiritual strength was once sufficient will not be enough."

Thought question: "How can I increase my ability to hear the voice of the Lord?"

1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour"

Be Sober = take it seriously! YIKES!!! BEWARE!

Sister Nelson went on to tell us of a recent trip to South Africa. They were in an open hummer going through the wild. She told of what an awesome experience it was but they were warned to make sure they did not stand up or put their arms outside the vehicle. She said that the guide had told them that they animals are used to the shape of the vehicles but if they put their arms out or stood up they would surely attack. She said a leopard walked right by the hummer and she got a picture. She put the picture up on Power Point. (None of these pictures are hers, sorry) She said he was so close she could reach out and touch it! She told us that the very next day it was reported that a tour guide was attacked by a leopard and killed!

Sometimes we don't even realize how dangerous of a situation we are in!

She said, "The Power of a Question... Do they INVITE the Spirit or do they OFFEND the Spirit?"

Then she showed a picture of a locked gate.

When we are faced with a problem do we ask, "Why me?", "Why do I always have to_____", or "Why does she always get to _____?"

This only leads to Doubt, Discouragement, Depression, and/or Despair.

She said that Jeffery Holland, in a CES Broadcast, said that when we have self pity (a pity party) the Holy Ghost cannot come...

She said, "If the Lord could of made it more difficult for Abraham, He would have."

Sister Nelson said that some questions open up our minds.

"What can I do to learn from this trial?" "What can I do so that I will be MORE of my true self through this trial?"

She said she wishes there was some way that we could watch just 10 minutes of our Premortal DVD so we could remember who we were, who we stood by, and what we did!

What IS on my (or your) DVD?

What is on my "Things to do while on earth" list?

She challenged us to pray, fast and go to the temple over these questions! (LOVE that idea!)

MAKE TIME to get to your "Things to do on earth list"!!!!

Look at 1 Nephi 15:27 "And I said unto them that the water which my father saw as filthiness: and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water"!!!!

Did you read that??? His mind was on OTHER things... NOT the filth of the water...

Are our minds on OTHER things... are we consuming the filth of the world?

(One cute thing... she said we as women have a GREAT influence on our husband... on our children... and NO it is NOT nagging! It is "repetitive encouragement"!!!)

Things that we do on a daily basis.... Whose agenda is "THIS" supporting? (video, dress, music)

She said to pray to have the Holy Ghost as our constant companion and THEN picture Him right by your side all day long! "When I pray for and picture the Holy Ghost, the third member of the Godhead, being right by my side, what am I naturally drawn to say or do, or NOT say and do?"

(Do not have one conversations with ANYONE without the Holy Ghost)

She challenged some women to do this for a time (I can't remember how long, I want to say 21 days???) and they said the 1st thing they wanted to do was to clean their homes...)

She told of a conversation she once had with a Patriarch. She asked him, "How do you prepare to give a blessing?" He told her that he starts by vacuuming the room.

She said that a stake pres. once told her that when they have a disciplinary council they make sure there is not one extra chair in the room, not one extra piece of paper... they CLEAN the room first!

She then showed us a picture of a barn...She drove by a barn once that had THREE words on the side of it... She asked us to think, what would these 3 words be for US?

The barn had in large letters across the roof.... NOT EVEN ONCE.

She has ONE nephew. She asked herself what she could do to make sure that he had a good life. She decided (he was 6) that she would promise him 100 silver dollars if he would keep the Word of Wisdom. She told him that she would check with him every year and if he did NOT partake ~ NOT EVEN ONCE by the time he was 18 years old she would pay him. Every year on his Birthday she would ask him, "Brad, have you ever smoked a cigarette?" (he was 7) He said no. The following year she asked him, "Brad, have you drank a cup of coffee?" He said no. And on it went... When he turned 18, she once again asked him and he said, "No. Not even once." So, she wrote "Word of Wisdom" with the silver dollars and took his picture with it and gave him the picture and the money. (I loved this!!!)

What am I willing to commit to the Lord ~ NOT EVEN ONCE?

She challenged us to take ONE question to the scriptures DAILY every 30 days.

Kneel down, thank our Father for the scriptures, ask your question, and then open them and READ. Journal your question and the date and when you get your question write down where you found it. Do this every 30 days. She did warn, that it might be interesting... when you go back and look, the scripture angels might change the scripture you found it in, they always do! (like her conference when she was told not to marry ~ remember... ALL of the talks were on marriage ~ NOT.)

The scriptures are an answer book! Wear your scripture lenses.Sister Nelson then put up a picture of her niece (I THINK it was her niece, I didn't write down what relative, sorry!!! This is NOT her niece, just a pic I found on Flickr!)

She told of this sweet little girl that is 3 year and 10 month old. She can NOT read. BUT, she always gets her scriptures out and "reads" them. And she marks them. And she writes about them. Sister Nelson asked her what she wrote and this is what she "read" to her that she "wrote" (I copied this from her power point)

"And he spoke unto me, and he talked to me

And his apostles returned and he died.

And he listens to me and he loves me

And he was the truth of God

And he gave me everything I needed

And he was done."

When we gaze into Heaven...

When we ask...

When we truly want to know...

We will be answered.

Happy Birthday Dear Derek...

Today is my oldest son's Birthday! Derek. He is 26 today!!! Incredible. Yes, I was 13 when I had him, LOL!!! Standing still at 39 over here!!!

Derek, you are such a wonderful son! I love you SO SO SO much!

Let me tell you a little bit about Derek. Derek was premature, born 5 1/2 weeks early, weighed in at 5 lb. 7 oz. His first word was ball. He played a lot of sports his whole life and still LOVES them! Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Football, and Golf. He played baseball and was very good but did it ONLY for me... he never really enjoyed it. He had 2 College coaches contact him to play for them, one was Southern Virginia University, but he decided to go to BYU Idaho. He still loves and plays basketball and golf at every opportunity! We think he should be a sports announcer!

Anybody remember when bleaching your hair was in? (High School)

He would be great and would love it! He served his mission in Sao Paulo Brasil. His 1st baptism...

With the Mission Pres. and his wife... (he is standing next to Sister B.)
After the mission.... Family Vacation... Devin, Dallin, Derek, Blake, and Chad.

Then Derek headed up to BYU Idaho. And, look at what he landed!

Brittany and Derek were married March 22, 2008. They are fixin' to have their 1st anniversary! She is wearing her Valentine's gift... Yep, a Laker's T-shirt, TOLD you he is obsessed with sports! (and about as romantic as his daddy, LOL) Derek has been very blessed, Brittany is the light of his, or should I say OUR life?!!!Derek is a wonderful son, I am so very proud of him! He is a wonderful big brother! Thank you Derek for being who you are! Happy, Happy Birthday! I wish I was there to take you to dinner!