amazing community!

Today is Stake Conference (a multiple congregation meeting) but it was canceled. Everyone is out in the neighborhood cleaning up debris. Men & women with trailers & trucks are filling them up. Trees that weren't cleaned up yesterday are being cleaned up today. They came & took away our busted up fence & we picked up all the garbage etc. from the yard.

There is a 70% chance of snow & 100% chance of

more wind

nope not kiddin'

This time it shouldn't be as bad as last time- just gust up to 70 MPH.

Shoot- that's just baby stuff!

The kids are hoping & praying for school to be canceled again!

I'm just emailing the missionary & trying to get the laundry caught up in case the power goes out again. Priorities people!

Plus... I'm getting packages ready to send out for Christmas. Nearly all of our family live in different states. If I can get them all put together I'm headed to the post office first thing in the morning. Just think- with a wind storm swirling around-- there shouldn't be any lines?

 I know, I'm really thinking ahead! Heck, I'm brilliant!

sunday thoughts

Today was Stake Conference.

Stake Conference is when many different wards or parrish's meet together. We have this conference twice a year instead of our regular Sunday meetings.

Today was extra special- we had a guess speaker.

Elder Russell Ballard

He was very inspirational. I wrote down a couple of notes & want to share them & keep them here so I don't forget right away. (I hate when I do that)

He said he was in a meeting with President Hinckley in 1998. President Hinckley bore his testimony & said that he is saddened by the loss of members in the church. He said that he felt members who lose their faith often do it because they give mental consent but don't have deep spiritual conviction when they join.

A powerful, deep conversion in Jesus Christ- is needed to confirm what we agree to in our minds -that will carry us through adversity.

***

So often we know something is right- but do we know to the extent that we "do" what is right?

(I added that part)

There were other great speakers too.

Here are some thoughts I wanted to highlight because they are important to me.

*Do you assume that your children really know how you feel/what you believe?

Or do you take the time to tell them?

*Beckon to your children & be CLEAR.

*When we live the gospel we are literally standing at the tree of life & partaking of the fruit.

*If I died tomorrow would my children know our family brand? (what I/our family stands for)
*Take time to talk about what matters most. Have a family song, scriptures, mission statement.

*We believe in eternal families. That means we believe in having family prayer & family night. *Spend quality time talking & being together.

Needless to say- we had some great discussion around the lunch table today!

Great Conference

conference weekend

Twice a year my church has a Conference. It's called General Conference, there are 5 sessions, it takes place in Salt lake City & it is the first weekend of every October & April. I remember being a kid growing up in Seattle we listened to it on the radio as a family.

(sorry about the fuzzy photo)

Each session is 2 hours with various speakers & musical numbers from the Tabernacle Choir & other choirs. Conference is a very special time for members of the church. Most places now you can see it on satellite broadcast, or TV.

Even the missionary will be watching- it plays throughout the world on delay.

(conference kits made for the ladies I visit teach)

General Conference this year has definitely not disappointed. I have laughed & cried & definitely felt the spirit of the Holy Ghost reminding me of things I already knew & confirming to me the importance of this life- what we do- who we become. I am grateful for Conference.

I love it

game day

Yesterday Brett & Jack went to their first of many big football games of the season- it was a great one too. Last spring brett bought two season tickets to BYU football. Talk about excited! I think I was just as excited they were going as they were to be going...

After the events of this past summer I feel consumed with wanting to live a more purpose filled life. I feel like buying these tickets back then was inspiration. We are huge fans- Brett & Jack going to the games together- the year before he leaves for college= great times/great timing. Why not use this time- this time on this earth to do what we really want to do & what we really need to do. A couple of weeks ago while reading Jill- I was inspired to buy this book. I've mentioned before. I'm on my second time reading it (this time with a highlighter) this is one reason why:

"Acquiring some understanding of why we do things is often a prerequisite to change. This is especially true when talking about repetitive patterns of behavior that do not serve us well. This is what Socrates meant when he said, 'The unexamined life is not worth living.' That more of us do not take his advice is testimony to the hard work and potential embarrassment that self-examination implies." I only wish that we would've bought the tickets when Brian was here. But hey- Brett will have opportunity to do with him things alone when jack is away and he will use it...
So- what did I do yesterday, besides the obvious work below? I went on an errand to pick up something I ordered at the mall. On my way I realized I had ran out & didn't have any make-up on... even though I am severely fashion challenged (I have been trying to look more presentable therefore feel more put together) I decided to take a risk & do something completely out of my comfort zone. I walked up to the make up counter & asked the lady at lancome to do my make-up. It may sound silly to you but this was huge for me. guess what? it was fun, I tried something new- I liked it- it was different & ya- I did it.
This week I had a meaningful conversation with my lovely sister who is visiting, threw a birthday party, canned produce from my own garden & my neighbors garden, worked on a service project, read a book, played games with my kids, spent quality time with my sweet heart, created with friends, read a book with my son, sent a package & a letter, cried, laughed, went out to lunch, ate dessert, went for 3 walks, told several people I love them...
LIFE- I'M LIVING IT

Melancholy Sunday

Today we went to church & sat behind a sweet family with five young children-the oldest being eleven. I couldn't help but think about how much my family has changed in the last ten years. Just 10 years ago Megan was almost eleven- just like their daughter & Brian was 8- just like their son. Yep & Jack was six- like their six year old. I wanted to grab the mom & say... in ten short years everything will be completely different. Your daughter could be engaged, son on a mission & other son a junior in H.S. I'm pretty sure she already knows that. Still it was fun to silently sit behind them & remember. I wonder what the next ten years holds. Hailey will be 24 by then, Chloe 21 & Trent 18. Boy, I am feeling blessed.

(if I can figure out the scanner a really cut photo will follow *&%#@)

Sunday Thoughts

Today I taught what is probably the most famous/popular children's song in the LDS world to the primary kids. (For those of you who don't regularly read my blog, I teach music to children on Sundays at church. We call the Sunday school for 3-11 "Primary")

I Am A Child Of God.

I am a child of God

And He has sent me here.

Has given me an earthly home

With parents kind & dear.

(chorus)

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do

To live with Hims someday.

I am a child of God

And so my needs are great

Help me to understand His word

Before it grows too late

I am a child of God

Rich blessings are in store

If I but learn to do His will

I'll live with Him once more.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do

To live with Him someday.

There is so much to be learned from this song.

We are literal children of God.

We lived with Him & will live with Him again someday.

We are here for a purpose.

He loves us...

the simple lessons from this song go on & on.

Today as I was finishing up it just hit me-

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me

Help me find the way.

This is truly how our Saviour would have us treat His children-

each other.

Lead - Guide- Walk Beside-Help

It doesn't say... yell, force, demand, manipulate.

I truly believe we Lead, Guide by example. Just as He did- whether we know it or not.

I started out dreading teaching today. I am so glad I did it anyway.

*any thoughts?

I love Sundays around Christmas time.

I love the talks at church & the music. It's the one time of year I truly love to sing in the choir. Teaching Christmas music in primary (to 3-11 year old) is a delight. The music is pure about the true meaning of Christmas & fun. The children love it & I love to sing it with them. Last summer I bought a set of bells & we have been using them to sing Christmas Bells Are Ringing. It's a lot of fun. We just sing the song over & over until everyone gets a chance to play a bell.
Update on the missionary:
Many of you have asked how our missionary is doing & he is doing great. His letters are upbeat & he is learning & growing a lot. (As soon as his letters started sounding upbeat a huge weight fell off my shoulders & I have been feeling tons better.) I will post on him sometime soon.
If it's possible, I wish for you a peaceful Sunday!

Sunday Morning Walk

Fall- the perfect time for a morning walk.

This morning before Conference- Brett, Trent, Max & I took a little walk.

These are some of the beautiful sights along the way.

My heart is full with gratitude this General Conference Weekend,

for all the many blessings in my life.

For family, health & strength, knowledge of God & His Son Jesus Christ.

For the grand opportunity of life, of living.

Blogging these past few months has given me the ability to appreciate

the little things, and live my life more fully.

I'm sure that would sound silly to most.

But journaling my life is now of great importance to me.

For I know that as said today in conference...

young or old no one is guaranteed a tomorrow.

So for today I want to say thank you, Father for the opportunity of life.

For love in my home.

For giving me the awesome responsibility of being a wife & mother.

I know that there is a prophet on the earth today.

I know that God lives and loves us.

I know that I am His daughter a child of God.

A Big Part of My Life ~ Sunday Singing Time

Every Sunday I teach music to children. "Sunday school" in our church for children age 3-11 is called Primary. I am the Primary music leader. It is a job that I truly love. The songs are beautiful & full of the love of Christ. We have been preparing for our Primary program on September 24 when we are presenting what we have learned throughout the year to the congregation. It is one of the best Sundays of the year for sure. There is a lot of music involved, of course which we have been working on since January. Starting in August we are reviewing songs every week instead of learning anything new to be sure we are ready-plus a lot of families are on vacation. Even though it seems kind of boring to me to keep reviewing every week- I love to teach new songs- the kids seem to really enjoy it. We have played Name That Tune, Hide the Light-(one child hides a flashlight in the room while another is out, everyone sings louder & softer until they find it) & today rolled the music dice. It's a square cube with different words written on it like, skip a word, stand up, girls only...etc. It is their all time favorite.

Growing up in the church & going to primary every week I can only remember one or two of my teachers, but I can almost vividly remember the music leaders. The songs have stuck in my mind & even the posters they used to teach the songs. I know a big part of my testimony of Christ has grown from singing songs about Him as a child. It is so fulfilling to me to see these children learning & feel their beautiful spirits as they sing. A couple of weeks ago we were done singing & one of the boys said- Oh man, do we have to quit? It was such a compliment from a boy- especially. Today one of the boys who comes with his grandmother asked if we could sing a favorite song. I'll Walk With You. He is kind of a rough kid who doesn't have the best home life, it touched my heart & I held back tears. That song is about kids who are different or handicapped -walking & talking with everyone like Jesus would even if they can't walk or talk like most kids. Great Sunday!