Visiting Teaching

This winter has been long and cold and it seems as though at least one person in our family has been sick at all times. The sickness is going around everywhere. Lots of friends we know have been experiencing the same thing. So we haven't gone out to people's homes much. This was the first time in a few months that we actually did in home visits for visiting teaching. And it was so nice to visit our sisters again and to let Ryder play with their cute kids. He had a lot of fun trying out new toys and seeing some of his nursery friends. I hope spring weather is here to stay!

Tonight the Laurels and I were in charge of the combined young men/young women activity. We put together a Parenting Olympics event that was similar to a Housewife Olympics activity my friend had planned for Relief Society when we were in Indiana. It was a lot of work, but all the Laurels came through on their assignments, we had a really great turnout, and it was a lot of fun! Serving with the youth is busy, but it has truly been one of the most rewarding and enjoyable callings I've ever had. I love them all so much.

Christmas Parties

I've been able to go to some fun Christmas parties this week! Last night was the Relief Society Christmas party. The food was delicious and it was fun to get to know people better. Then tonight was our young women Christmas party. We had a sock exchange, played reverse charades, and ate yummy snacks. I love hanging out with these girls!

Peace

Today I was released as Relief Society President, or the leader of the Moms, as my kids have been calling me. I think I'm only sad about it because with the release comes a move far away from the wonderful people here who have become like family to us. But I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to serve the Lord and the sisters in my ward like I was able to these last two years as Relief Society President. 

I've learned that serving others is only a burden if we look at it that way. But if we look at it as an opportunity to be a disciple of Christ and a servant of the Lord our lives will be more blessed than the lives of those whom we serve. "To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves." -President Thomas S. Monson

I've learned that our Heavenly Father loves us all so much and is willing and waiting to bless us. Life is hard and is filled with trials, but as we communicate with Him through prayer and seek for His guidance as we read the scriptures we can find JOY in this journey. "Life is to be enjoyed not just endured!" -President Gordon B. Hinckley

I've learned that even though imperfect people are called to be His leaders in the church, He can make us strong enough and perfect enough to do what He needs us to do. Philippians 4:13 I can do all

things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  

I've realized even more than I knew before that my husband is a great man. He was so supportive of me in the calling and was willing to help out however he could. Our kids started looking forward to the times I would leave because they knew they would get to have a 'boy party' with dad complete with treats, tickles, inside jokes, games, and t.v.

I've had a lot of emotions knowing I would be getting released from something that has been such a huge part of my life and knowing that we are leaving good friends, and a wonderful city and that our life will be completely changing soon. But today during church I was filled with a lot of peace. Things will be good, better than good! We will still have opportunities to serve. We will still enjoy life to the fullest. We will still have challenges that will help us grow. And I'm sure the kids will still be able to have fun boy parties with their Dad. 

It's all going to be alright.

Family

 

Christ is the ANCHOR for us and our families through the storms of life.

We had a great Relief Society activity tonight about strengthening our families and homes. We heard a lot of great advice from our Stake President and his wife and from a former Bishop from our ward and his wife. It was an inspiring night! I'm so grateful for families and for this church that puts such an emphasis on strengthening families. 

Family

I really enjoyed the General Women's Session of conference on Saturday! I was able to go out to dinner with some friends before hand and then went to our church building to watch the broadcast after that. It was a great night out and the messages from our church leaders were so inspiring!

20 years ago they came out with the document The Family: A Proclamation to the World. What an inspired document it is! I'm so grateful for my family and my role as a wife and mother. I'm also grateful for my role as a sister, daughter, neighbor, and friend. I learned how important it is to look after the people we know and love them and to try and help strengthen them through their own personal trials. I love the gospel and I love being a member of Relief Society!

(Our family drawn by Kade)

Christmas Music

Today was such an amazing day. I was able to go Christmas caroling with some friends from church at a cancer center. It was so much fun to sing Christmas carols and even more amazing to see the big smiles from the cancer patients as we walked by their rooms singing. They are strong people and it was a privilege to sing to them. 

Tonight we took the kids to a little Christmas concert. It was a lot of fun and the kids really enjoyed. 

I love Christmas music so much. It really helps bring the spirit of Christmas into our lives. 

Inspiring People

Today my kids and I met up with a friend to go and visit a sweet old lady that currently lives in an elderly care facility. I see her every once in a while at church, but she hasn't been coming for a while because she had to have surgery and is still recovering.

We found her in a meeting and learned that she is a president of a committee there and they were discussing some of the complaints of the other elderly people. Afterward we helped her as a cashier for the snack cabinet, and then we walked her to her room to visit with her a little more. I thought it was so neat that she keeps herself so involved and busy at 80 years old! She told us she started learning to paint and draw a year ago and showed us some of her work and they were amazing! You really are never too old to learn something new!

She told us how she found the church and gained a testimony. She was living in Salt Lake City, UT with two boys when her first husband left her. They were barely surviving from paycheck to paycheck and all they were eating were noodles and creamed corn. A neighbor friend and member of the church recognized their poverty, got her Bishop involved and they offered her food. They met with the sister missionaries frequently after that, but her family was opposed to her joining the church. Her 10 year old son was the most adamant about joining the church and eventually all three of them did. She shared with us her testimony of how the Lord has blessed her in her life and how blessed she has been and how grateful for she is for all she has. She is one of the most humble and sweetest people I've ever met. It was such a neat experience to visit with her and get to know her better. "Older" people have so much wisdom to share from all that they've experienced in life. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to talk with her and learn from her.

My sweet kids weren't too excited about going to visit her today, but after the visit they gave her hugs and as we left Kade said, "That was fun!" He was even thankful in his prayers tonight that we were able to visit my friend. I'm glad that they enjoyed the visit as well!

Super Saturday, Big Helpers, Breaks

Today was Super Saturday at our church and since Brad is still busy studying I took Kade and Tenley with me. They had fun playing with friends, enjoying the treats, and even helped me with some of my crafts. They were also really big helpers when they helped me clean up! They are the best!

I was so happy when Brad decided to take a break with us tonight and go out to dinner. Tenley had a free meal for her birthday at Red Robin so that's where we went. It was delicious and so much fun to have a date night out as a family with Brad. 9 more days of craziness and then hopefully life will be a little more normal around here!

General Women's Broadcast, President Uchtdorf

I was able to watch the General Women's Meeting at the church with some friends last night. We had some yummy milk and cookies first and then went in to the chapel to watch the broadcast. All of the speakers were amazing, but I particularly enjoyed President Uchtdorf's talk.My favorite line that I took from him was to "live the gospel JOYFULLY." I love that! The more I focus on being joyful about each and every little thing I'm asked to do, the happier I will be and the more my example will affect others. I'm so grateful for Prophets and Apostles in our day and I so look forward to hearing more of them speak this weekend!

Friends, Volleyball

This morning we got to play with friends at a huge indoor playground. It was so much fun and we didn't want to leave! And tonight I got to go play volleyball with the ladies and young women from church. It was a great day. 

Relief Society

I love being apart of Relief Society, the largest women's organization in the world! It truly is amazing what big things can be accomplished with a little help from everyone.

Over the weekend we were asked to provide dessert for a funeral and so many sisters signed up to help and I was amazed at all the treats we had when I was putting them together! It felt good to serve someone especially during such a hard time!

Inspirational Thoughts

At the risk of being thought of as un-compassionate and un-loving, I have to be a little bit honest today. Being a Relief Society President is hard! The weight on my shoulders never goes away and I'm constantly worried about how to relieve everyone's problems. Normally I feel very guided on the right actions to take to help someone in need and more often than not I am happy to help, but there are times when it is just hard.

Today was one of those days.

Tenley has had a 102 degree fever for a few days and has thrown up a few times so we were just going to stay and home and take it easy for the day, but someone was in need and they needed me to go to them, so I had to wake up my poor little girl who had fallen asleep on the stairs and who desperately needed a nap in her own bed and drive the 20 minutes to the house to help them. I was a little frustrated, but then a thought came to me, "What if this were the Savior that you were going to help? How would you feel then?" And obviously I would do anything or go anywhere to serve my Savior. And then I thought of the scripture in Matthew 25:40 that says:

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

And I realized that going to serve this person, even when it was hard circumstances for me, was the same as going to serve my Savior. Every time I serve, I am serving my Savior.

I'm so grateful for that wonderful thought that came to me today because it has changed my outlook, and will hopefully make me a better person. I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me despite all my weaknesses and who tries to help me understand what life is truly about. 

I am lucky to be surrounded with so many opportunities to serve my Savior.

Service

Today I got to go visiting teaching to my friend who is battling cancer. She is one of the sweetest, kindest, positive, most courageous people I know. The message for this month is on ministering to others as the Savior did when he was on the Earth. At first when I read through it I was a little stumped on what to share with my friend because to me, she needs to be ministered to right now more than she needs to minister, but then I thought of what an amazing example she is of ministering. She has been flying around the country for tests, dealing with doctors and different possible prognoses, stressing and worrying about the future and her young children and her husband, and yet she offered to have the missionaries over for dinner last night. She wanted to serve!

I told her how amazing I thought she was for doing that a midst what she was going through and she said something I hope I never forget. She said, "I have to serve especially when life is the hardest because it's what makes me happier and blesses my life even more." 

She taught me a great lesson today and I'm so grateful for her wonderful example and the way in which she emulates the Savior. 

I'm reminded every day that there are so many amazing, inspiring, good people in the world. I'm so blessed to be surrounded by such great people.

New Friends, Sunsets

I had a really great night going to visit my new friend Elizabeth with another one of my friends. She was so welcoming and gave us a tour of her house and introduced us to all her hobbies. She is awesome and I'm glad I got to know her a little bit more tonight! 

It was a beautiful night and on the way home I saw this Sunset. It was so pretty!

Mother's Day

Brad really, really spoiled me yesterday for Mother's Day! I felt a little bit bad for all the hard work he did, but I was so grateful. He and Kade got me some beautiful flowers, they made me a yummy crepe breakfast, my favorite Cafe Rio dinner, and a delicious chocolate trifle dessert. I'm pretty sure Brad was in the kitchen all day!

Super cute video I got to watch with my kids:

We had a great day at church where I got to teach a lesson on The Joy of Womanhood. I am so grateful to be a woman and a mother. It truly does bring me the greatest joy in my life. I pray that I am able to live up to my divinity as a daughter of God.

Baptisms, General Women's Meeting

This afternoon Brad and I got to take the kids to the church for a baptism for a young boy in our ward. They were both so excited to see him be baptized the way Jesus was and to see him receive the gift of the holy ghost. I loved seeing their excitement for this little boy and the excitement they had to know that when they turn 8 years old, they will be able to be baptized as well.

They, of course, loved the refreshments as well!

Tonight I was able to go to the General Women's Meeting broadcast at my church building. Before hand we had an ice cream social and it was so fun to visit with friends as we awaited the broadcast. 

The broadcast was amazing! It was such an uplifiting and spiritual experience for me. I loved being able to share in that spiritual night with all woman ages 8 years and older. Because, as we learned, we all need each other! "As individuals we are strong. Together, with God, we are unstoppable!" -Sister Wixom

I was pretty emotional the entire time because the spirit was so strong. I was grateful to be there with good friends, but I dearly missed many of the amazing women I know in my life; my mom, my sweet daughter Tenley (I can't wait until she is old enough to go that meeting with me), my mother-in-law (I thought of her frequently throughout that meeting. She loved the sisterhood of Relief Society and she received so much joy from being a woman and sharing her love and compassion with others.), my sister, and my sister-in laws. I'm grateful to have close relationships with all of those women. They have all been such great examples to me in my life. I love being apart of this amazing sisterhood in the gospel.

I loved this video that was shown:

It's the tender moments that make your life as a daughter of God such a unique and special gift.

Relief Society Activities

Tonight we had an awesome Relief Society Activity about our "Happily Ever After." There were adorable decorations, yummy food, fun games, cupcake decorating, and a wonderful spiritual thought about our worth as daughters of God and the importance of remembering how beloved we are to Him.

It was such a fun and uplifting evening!

Kade, Ice Cream Cones Temple Trips

Kade was so cute and so helpful today! I love moments with just him when we play, read books, or just cuddle. He is so great!

Today we tried to go to the park with Brad because it looked so sunny and warm outside, but at the park it was super windy! And Kade went down a slide with a big puddle at the bottom so then he was super wet! We decided to take the kids to McDonalds for an ice cream cone to make up for the lack of fun at the park and they loved it! I'm pretty sure it was their first ice cream cones and they did a great job eating it!

Tonight I was able to go to the Temple with the sisters I serve with in the Relief Society presidency. It's always fun to make it a fun trip with friends so we can chat on the long drive and grab a bite to eat together.

I love going to the Temple! The spirit is so strong there and I always feel re-motivated to be better!

Snow Days, Service Opportunites

This morning we went sledding with some friends. Tenley and I only stayed for a little bit, though, because her feet were cold and she wanted to watch Elmo. She is turning into a little bit of a diva already! We had a lot of fun while we were out though!

My new favorite dance party song: Classic by MKTO

Tonight we had a little Relief Society activity where we went and did some service work at the Ronald McDonald House. I love serving there because I think they are such a great organization and they are near and dear to my heart because they served me while Kade was in the hospital. Only 5 of us were able to go, but we were still able to get a lot of work done! Some of the women sorted and organized donation boxes in their storage room in the basement, and I cleaned and sanitized all the children's toys with a friend. It was fun to have a good conversation with a good friend. She said exactly what I needed to hear to help me through a struggle I've been having and I couldn't be more grateful to her. She has such a profound, yet simple way of saying things and what she said really touched my heart and made me feel so much better!

I love being able to serve with such wonderful women! Not only does it feel good to serve and help others in the community, but I always feel that I've been so blessed from it as well.

As we left one of the Fathers that was staying there for his child thanked us for what we did and was impressed that we would take the time to do that. I'm so glad I went.

Visits, Preschool

One of my favorite parts of my calling is being able to go visit the women and their families in our ward. I love seeing them in their homes and getting to know them better. It is fun to see that different side of them.

I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve the wonderful women I am surrounded by!

Last week we started our preschool co-op group again and today was my turn to teach. I love these kids and their energy! I love to see Tenley trying to keep up with them too.