Again, not your typical dry council Sunday

Family.

What's the big deal?

Why are they so important that it is the entire focus of our church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)?

And why is it the one thing Satan is trying so hard to destroy with homosexuality, divorce, abortion, premarital sex, cohabitation?

The talks several Sundays ago were about protecting our families and the last one was particularly good. Even Erik on the way home commented on what a good talk it was. That says something if an 11-year-old boy sits up and listens.

"That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory;" -Moses 6:59

The speaker gave an analogy of entering a family through physical birth and entering into God's family through spiritual birth.

Water
Physical birth: Baby is completely surrounded by amniotic fluid.
Spiritual birth:  At baptism one must be completely submerged in water just like a baby is totally submerged within it's mother.

Blood
Physical birth: There is blood associated with birth. BUT it isn't the baby's blood that is spilt to give life, it is the mother's.
Spiritual birth: To give us new life spiritually, someone else had to spill their blood. Christ spilt his blood to give us new life through the atonement.

Spirit
Physical birth: At some point during pregnancy, a spirit enters the body. To have a baby there must be a mother and a father. A baby takes on the name of his father at birth.
Spiritual birth: At some point in our spiritual birth we have to allow the spirit of Christ of enter our body. During baptism we covenant to take on the name of Christ. This is why Christ is also considered our Father, the Father of our spirits. It is He who makes it possible for our re"birth".

Eternal life is God's life which is family life. We are here to learn to love being a mother (or a father). Our whole focus should be on the family, and at the judgment day we will have the choice . . .

God's life that includes families

or not.

Closer to Christ - Days 87-90

DAY 87

Scripture study: Ether 13-15

Mark and ponder: Ether 12:27

Scripture thought of the day: Moroni 10:32

Thought of the day: "Hopefully, we're making some progress in our own individual lives. I hope that every person can feel he or she is a little better today than they were yesterday, a little kinder, a little more gracious, a little more generous, a little more honest in purpose and word an deed, a little stronger for the right, a little stronger to resist the wrong."

DAY 88

Scripture study: Moroni 1-6

Mark and ponder: Moroni 4:3, 5:2

Scripture thought of the day: Moroni 6:4, 6

Thought of the day: "Few ordinances or performances in the Church act as a greater incentive to personal righteousness than partaking of the sacrament. Those who partake of the sacramental emblems - having a comprehension of the covenant involved - are making for themselves a course which will result in obedience, holiness, and sanctification." -Bruce R. McConkie

DAY 89

Scripture study: Moroni 7-9

Mark and ponder: Moroni 8:24-26

Scripture thought of the day: Matthew 7:7-8

Thought of the day: "While it is a simple thing in a life of faith, I have truly, truly learned the importance of always praying. When one prays from the heart, it increases the faithful heart. And when one has a faithful heart, a deeper love grows. When love grows, it leads to the ability to treat those around us kindly. Praying unceasingly will bring about a better life as a member of the church. -Hitoshi Kashikura

DAY 90

Scripture study: Moroni 10

Mark and ponder: Moroni 10:3-5

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 11:13

Thought of the day: "Without reservation, I promise that is you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God." -Gordon B. Hinckley

A first birthday among other firsts this week

Oh my goodness. I remember thinking last year when I was just about ready to deliver Alex and we were in the middle of framing the house, "Please let me survive all this craziness." And ya know, I did. Where did this last year go? It definitely was not a year I would ever want to repeat but it was full of wonderful people and experiences.

Especially this one.

None of us could ever imagine our lives without him. He is a bundle of pure happiness and love.

The day started off with presents and his first chocolate milk. Later we introduced him to the zoo where his experience reminded me a lot of Erik's at the Dinosaur Museum in Ogden when Erik was little. Alex DID NOT like the dinosaurs throughout the zoo, especially the one that spat water at him.

He didn't really care for the giraffe either that practically came eyeball to eyeball with him. It was a fun first experience and I loved watching my "other" kids get so excited about experiencing Alex's "firsts" with him.

Afterwards we treated him to his first kids meal. He shocked me by eating it all. Not a drop on the floor.

Happy Birthday Big Al. Can't wait to see what this next year brings.

Today Ash ran her first race. She wasn't quite sure where the finish was and kept booking it down the road. I was laughing with one parent about his son who kept going until I looked up and Ash was right along side him. Someone finally led them back.

Nate won his first "big" prize. In fact it was the granddaddy prize of all . . . an annual family membership to the Family Fitness Center (a $372 value). I don't think the idea was to give it away to a nonresident but we are going to try our hardest to make use of it this year.

Obedience

Thirty seconds before the start of my Relief Society lesson I broke into a cold sweat as I realized I had left all my notes on my computer at home. I forgot to print them off. AHHHHH!

I guess the lesson went as well as I could have hoped for and maybe it was the lesson I was supposed to give since it went in a totally different direction than I was going to go with it.

So I'll share some quotes on obedience that I never got to use since there are some good ones.

As God has designed our happiness and the happiness of all His creatures, He never has, He never will institute an ordinance or give a commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which He has designed.
-–Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 256

Often we hear: Nobody can tell me what clothes to wear, what I shall eat or drink. No one can outline my Sabbaths, appropriate my earnings, nor in any way limit my personal freedoms! I do as I please! I give no blind obedience! . . . When men obey commands of a creator, it is not blind obedience. How different is the cowering of a subject to his totalitarian monarch and the dignified, willing obedience one gives to his God. The dictator is ambitious, selfish, and has ulterior motives. God's every command is righteous, every directive purposeful, and all for the good of the governed. The first may be blind obedience, but the latter is certainly faith obedience
--Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, October 1954

There are three degrees of glory in our obedience: telestial is obedience out of obligation; but begrudgingly; terrestial is obedience out of duty, but willingly; celestial is obedience out of love of God and man. You delight in obeying all truth that you know because you love God, the father of all truth.

--D. Kelly Ogden, 8 Mighty Changes God Wants for You Before You Get to Heaven

Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness. It is always given when righteousness is present, and the greater the measure of obedience to God's laws the greater will be the endowment of faith.

--Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 1966

When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power.

--Ezra Taft Benson, quoted by Donald Stahele in Ensign, May 1998

“If there are any of us who lack faith in this work it is because we have not kept the commandments of God. If there are any who do not know that this is the work of our Father, it is because they have not done their duty. I know as I know that I live that this is the Lord’s work and that knowledge comes as a result of keeping his commandments” --George Albert Smith, Conference Report, October 1915

Mysterious family connections

Last night we attended a ward barbecue and I wore my Ferron Peach Days fun run shirt. My neighbor, Cindy Astill, asked about Ferron and I told her I was from Ferron. She was visibly shocked because apparently her brother, Steve Beagley, lives there and I knew who they were. Small town meet small town.

Later as we were eating, Tyler asked me if one of the ladies there was an Ellis (his side of the family and quite large) and I didn't have a clue. Well, she, Carina Astill, was wondering the same thing about him and came over to ask. Carina is Tyler's second cousin and is married to Cindy Astill's son. She lived with her in-laws for a short time before moving to Stansbury.

Today before the Sunday school lesson began, a lady approached me and introduced herself as Cindy's sister and a local Ferronite and told me how she loves my mom. I never caught her name before the lesson started and will have to unravel this mystery.

Before sacrament meeting started, the kids were telling me about how Sister Astill's nieces were in Primary and they were from Ferron and one was friends with my sister Natalie.

So at dinner we were talking about the strange coincidences from the previous evening and today and Nate says, "So, in a roundup kind of way we are related to people in Ferron."

Yep. You're right. Grandma and Grandpa live there.

And so do the Beagleys who are related to our neighbors the Astills who are related to the Ellises who are related to the Learys, specifically Tyler.

I know what you meant Nate. It is a very small world in deed. I love that I grew up in a small town and have come back to live in a small town.

Closer to Christ - Days 80 - 86

DAY 80

Scripture study: Mormon 2-4

Mark and ponder: Mormon 4:5

Scripture thought of the day: Matthew 6:33

Thought of the day: "There must be purpose in our lives. We are here to accomplish something to bless society with our talents and our learning. There can fun, yes. But there must be recognition of the fact that life is serious, that the risks are great, but that we can overcome them if we discipline ourselves and seek the unfailing strength of the Lord." -Gordon B. Hinckley

DAY 81

Scripture study: Mormon 5-7

Mark and ponder: Ether 12:27

Scripture thought of the day: Moroni 7:5

Thought of the day: "You are good. But it is not enough to just be good. You must be good for something. You must contrib8te good to the world. The world must be a better place for your presence. And the good that is in you must be spread to others." -Gordon B. Hinckley

DAY 82

Scripture study: Mormon 8-9

Mark and ponder: Mormon 9:21, 27-28

Scripture thought of the day: Matthew 17:20

Thought of the day: "The faithful will exercise faith and pray always for all who are within the reach of the Lord. The good desire good to all." -Brigham Young

DAY 83

Scripture study: Ether 1-3

Mark and ponder: Ether 3:14-16

Scripture though of the day: Ether 12:6

Thought of the day: "Are you full of faith? You can tell whether I am or not by looking at me. You can tell whether the brethren who have been speaking to you are full of faith in the gospel by the look of their countenances. You can see if there is not a word spoken." -Brigham Young

DAY 84

Scripture study: Ether 4-7

Mark and ponder: Ether 5:3-4

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 17

Thought of the day: "For their testimonies [the Three Witnesses] shall rise up to condemn the unbelieving and rebellious before the judgment seat of Christ, yea there are or will be 10,000 times 10,000 other witnesses to testify with equal surety of the truth of the Book of Mormon." -Bruce R. McConkie

DAY 85

Scripture study: Ether 8-10

Mark and ponder: Ether 8:18-24; 9:16-20, 26-35

Scripture thought of the day: Moroni 7:5, 12

Thought of the day: "This scripture should alert us to what is ahead unless we repent, because there is no question that as people of the free world, we are increasingly upholding many of the vils of the adversary today. By court edict godless conspirators can run for government office, teach in our schools, hold office in labor unions, work in our defense plants, serve in our merchant marines, etc. As a nation, we are helping to underwrite many evil revolutionaries in our country." -Ezra Taft Benson

DAY 86

Scripture study: Ether 11-12

Mark and ponder: Ether 12:6-18

Scripture thought of the day: Alma 32:27

Thought of the day: "It is faith tht is the converter. It is faith that is the teacher. This precious and marvelous gift of faith, this gift from God our Eternal Father is the strength of this work and the quiet vibrancy of its message. Faith underlies it all. Faith is the substance of it all. Whether it be going into the mission field, living the Word of Wisdom, paying one's tithing, it is all the same. It is the faith within us that is evidenced in all we do." -Gordon B. Hinckley

Refreshing Orange Ice

So easy to make and so yummy. After working outside in the hot sun, I could eat the entire bowl myself.

Refreshing Orange Ice (Taste of Home)

3 c. water, divided

1 c. sugar

1 can (12 oz.) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

2 T. lemon juice

1/2 c. half-and-half cream

In a saucepan, bring 1 cup water and sugar to a boil, stirring frequently. Boil for 1 minute or until sugar is dissolved. Remove from eat; stir in orange juice concentrate, lemon juice, and remaining water. Transfer to a freezer-proof bowl. Cover and freeze until firm. Remove from freezer. Beat until blended. Beat in cream. Cover and return to freezer. Remover from freezer 20 minutes before serving.

14 Years

Oh man, I can't believe how young we looked. We were young. Where does the time go. You never know what 14 years will bring. Lots of happiness and joy. Much pain and sadness. But most of all 5 wonderfully good children whom I wouldn't trade for anything.

Due to a Sunday anniversary we celebrated at home with our own ribeye steaks, baked potatoes, rolls, veggies. Have I mentioned that Ty cooks a fabulous steak. Oh, it was yummy. Afterwards, to work off dinner, we went for a walk in the hills above our house and watched a hot air balloon float overhead while getting eatin' alive by the gnats (I felt like a dog with fleas). I don't know that I've ever seen a hot air balloon here in the Tooele valley, and it was kind of fun to watch.

Phoenix

My brother recently moved to Phoenix and took his cute family with him.

Relationships take work when family is close and it's even harder when the distance increases. I'd been thinking a lot about how to keep our relationship strong when they are so far away and was talking to my mom about this when she mentioned maybe we should go visit them and their new baby, Dallin. I jumped at the chance. My sister Angie came and brought her 3 young kids and I brought Alex and along the way I was able to surreptitiously cross "go to Grand Canyon"

Okay, this picture makes me look fat. I'm not really that fat. I promise.

and "go to Lake Powell" off our Summer Bucket List.

Ha, ha. My kids didn't go for that. I am already planning a trip to take them because both places are awesome.

Phoenix was wonderfully hot. Can you tell who had been traveling for 10 hours and was ready to cool off a bit?

5 of my mom's 7 boy grandchildren (missing Erik and Nathan)

Reed and Brittney were excited for us to come and I'm glad we made the trip. I arrived home to find the rest of my family anxiously waiting on the front porch for our return. And for some reason, I had this funny feeling that they weren't overly anxious to see me as they were to see their brother. He was greatly missed.

Closer to Christ - Days 73-79

DAY 73

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 11-13

DAY 74

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 14-16

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 14:24-27

Scripture thought of the day: 3 Nephi 15:9

Thought of the day: "With gospel perspective, we can know that when we endure to the very end, we are actually enduring to the very beginning. Thus, rather than viewing this virtue as delivering us expiring in exhaustion to a finish line, we are brought intact and victorious to a starting line." -Neal A. Maxwell

DAY 75

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 17-19

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 18:19-21

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 63:64

Thought of the day: "The trouble with most of our prayers is that we give them as if we were picking up the telephone and ordering groceries - we place our order and hang up. We need to meditate, contemplate, think of what we are praying about and for and then speak to the Lor as one man speaketh to another. 'Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord' (Isaiah 1:18). That is the invitation. Believe in the power of prayer - it is real, it is wonderful, it is tremendous." -Gordon B. Hinckley

DAY 76

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 20-22

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 20:8-9

Scripture thought of the day: JST, John 6:54

Thought of the day: "The sacrament and the partaking of those emblems is the very heart of our Sabbath worship. It includes a renewal of covenants with God. It caries with it a promise of His Holy Spirit to be with us. As we partake of the sacrament we can all stand on a level lane before the Lord. Each is accountable for what he does as he renews his covenants with the Lord in that magnificent and beautiful and simple ordinance of the gospel which carries with it such tremendous meaning." -Gordon B. Hinckley

DAY 77

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 23-26

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 23:81

Scripture thought of the day: Deuteronomy 17:19

Thought of the day: "Let us establish in our lives the habit of reading those things which will strengthen our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world." -Gordon B. Hinckley

DAY 78

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 27-30

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 27:13-14, 20

Scripture thought of the day: Hebrews 11:16

Thought of the day: "The test of the church is the kind of me it produces." -David O. McKay

DAY 79

Scripture study: 4 Nephi, Mormon 1

Mark and ponder: 4 Nephi 1:12

Scripture thought of the day: Alma 17:3

Thought of the day: "Is it too much to ask of anyone, any member of this church, that you actually fast for two meals a month? It will only bless our lives if we do so. I am satisified that if every man, woman, and child in the United States of America were to observe this great and marvelous practice, which costs no one anythin, not a thing, that it would take care of all the welfare problems of this nation. The Lord's way is a simple way that takes nothing from us, adds to our humility, to our spirit of worship, to our physical well being, and takes care of those in need and distress." -Gordon B. Hinckley

Sunset in Lake Point

Does it get any prettier than this?

We have amazing sunsets from our front porch. Gosh, I sure do love where I live.

We are alive and well this morning

My good news minute in Relief Society this morning: "I am alive and well this morning."

Last night we held an unplanned escape from our house at one in the morning due to carbon monoxide. Our CO alarm was going off and Tyler started waking all the kids to get them out of the house. I was tempted to turn the thing off and go back to bed but know that carbon monoxide is not something you mess with. Thankfully it was a warm night as we sat on the porch and then eventually moved to the van while we waited for the fire department to show up.

Two firemen did show up in their big fire truck all decked out in their gear like they were attending to a real fire; I was just glad they didn't drive up with lights and sirens but am extra sorry we had to get them out of bed for what seemed like a trivial matter.

After checking things out, no CO was found anywhere. If there was any it's possible it vented out when we opened all the windows. It could also have been a glitch in the alarm. But to be safe we slept with all the windows open. I was awakened this morning to sunshine, slight breeze, and birds singing (and the framer working next door). I was reminded that summer is here to stay for awhile.

Closer to Christ - Days 66-72

DAY 66

Scripture study: Helaman 11-12

Mark and ponder: Helaman 12:23-24

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 95:1

Thought of the day: "The process of perfection includes challenges to overcome and steps to repentance that may be very painful. There is a proper place for chastisement in the molding of character, for we know that "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth." -Russell M. Nelson

DAY 67

Scripture study: Helaman 13-14

Mark and ponder: Helaman 13:11, 14:8

Scripture thought of the day: Alma 34:33

Thought of the day: "Repentance through faith in the Lord's Atonement is the vital, lifelong process - not an isolated event - of coming unto Christ and being sanctified in Him." -George F. Hilton

DAY 68

Scripture study: Helaman 15-16

Mark and ponder: Helaman 15:8-9

Scripture thought of the day: 1 Nephi 26:8

Thought of the day: "Even yesterday's spiritual experience . . . does not guarantee us against tomorrow's relapse. Persisitence thus matters greatly." -Neal A. Maxwell

DAY 69

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 1-3

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 1:18-19

Scripture thought of the day: 3 Nephi 1:14

Thought of the day: "There is one supreme fact in the universe. It eclipses all other truths, all thought, all being, all emotion. God lives." -Utah Senator Jake Garn

DAY 70

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 4

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 4:10

Scripture thought of the day: 3 Nephi 4:8

Thought of the day: "When it comes to prayer, let's have no more empty statements and insincere but polite phrases. Be honest. If you're mad, say so. If you're confused, say so. And don't think anything is too small for the Savior's loving attention." -Cheiko N. Okazaki

DAY 71

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 5-7

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 5:13

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 127:4

Thought of the day: "Having daily access to the Spirit . . . is better than periodic miracles." -Neal A. Maxwell

DAY 72

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 8-10

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 9:14-15

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 76:5-7

Thought of the day: "We may never understand nor comprehend in mortality how he accomplished what he did, but we must not fail to understand why he did what he did." -Ezra Taft Benson

Summer Bucket List

A week into summer vacation and I've only heard the "B" word twice . . . "I'm BORED!" What they haven't realized yet is I've got a yard full of weeds that will keep them busy for the next decade.

Our summer seems to be quite full . . . of good ideas. We'll see what we actually get to, although I know if you don't plan it, it won't happen. Monday for FHE we did some preliminary planning.

 

A trip to the library ALWAYS commences our summer vacation and boy were we excited to go this year. The previous week Kiersten, Erik, and I made an impromptu stop at the Magna library to check out the new digs. Wow are we ever in love. The Hunter library was good to us but we won't be going back. We got home and talked up the new library so much that everyone wanted to see what it was all about. It did not disappoint.

Tennis club has begun (more about that later), I've run more this week than I have for a VERY, Very, very long time (I need to though; I've only got 12 weeks before my half marathon.), and this morning we rode our bikes 2.5 miles to Denny's for breakfast (It's something we've been wanting to do since Denny's opened up a few months ago.).

It did not disappoint.

A gecko was never in my food budget

I'm not really into the whole gecko thing.

Can't we just get a dog?

Preferably a yellow lab pup?

I found out this week when I was suddenly forced to buy food to keep the gecko from starving is that the crickets it eats have to be alive (no using the squashed ones in my garage) so that entailed also buying cricket food.

Are you kidding me?

I have to buy food for the food to feed the gecko.

So not only do we have a gecko, but we have live crickets in a bucket. Kiersten is now known as our little bug harvester.

I'm ready for this little love affair to end as she keeps begging me to hold Fermie.

I can't even go there.

I am just not a reptile kind of a girl.

Are you feeling a little overwhelmed?

I came across this article on LDS.org and had to breath deeply afterwards to not hyperventilate. It exhausted me to read it even though I knew it was fiction (but I also had a good laugh). Why is it that we as women feel we need to do all and be all to everyone. I offer no quick fix or solution, but I believe the key is surely in setting priorities and then having the self-discipline to act on those priorities. One of my mantras I try to live by is people are more important than things or projects, and by people I mean the people who are within my circle of influence on a daily basis (Internet acquaintances don't count in my world). So with that I often ask myself each day (usually in prayer) not only what are the most important things I need to accomplish that day but also who needs my help. When I put others first, the mundane annoyances miraculously seem to take care of themselves. Read on.

Mirthright: It Only Takes 30 Minutes a Day . . .
By Barbara Stockwell, Ensign, July 1982

A few weeks ago I read an article about the importance of studying scriptures, so I set my alarm for thirty minutes earlier every day. Then I remembered I should write in my journal every day, so I stayed up a half-hour later each night.

Then last week in Relief Society we were admonished to exercise daily to keep our bodies fit, so I got up a little earlier each day to jog. Later in the week, I read a magazine article that promised me beautiful skin in only fifteen minutes a day, and another one said that a half-hour a day of meditation could change my life. A self-help book told me I should spend at least thirty minutes a day visualizing my desires and repeating positive affirmations. I had to get up earlier to do this. 

Still, I was able to squeeze other activities into my already heavily scheduled day. I learned to do the pelvic tilt to relieve my lower back pain while driving to work. And I did my isometric exercises while at my desk. I cut my lunch hour in half in order to read the Ensign. In only half an hour a day I was able to finish it before the next one came … except for the conference issue. For that I had to stay up a little at night and read, after my goal planning was done. 

Another woman’s magazine said I could give myself professional nail care in only ten minutes a day. It also suggested that a foot soak after work would do wonders to relieve tiredness. I tried to do that while I was preparing dinner, but I got so relaxed I kept dropping the carrot sticks in the gravy. Dinner would have to be delayed a little, and that would push bedtime back about a half-hour. But it was all worth it; I was becoming a new woman. 

I learned in a class on success that the only way to make it in life is to write a “to do” list each night and then review it every morning to set priorities for the day. It only takes a few minutes and saves a lot of time in the long run. And did you know that if you spend only an extra forty-five minutes a day on housework you never have to get bogged down in spring cleaning? 

It is marvelous how many things can be done in such a short time, and I would feel negligent if I said I couldn’t find those few minutes. After all, is a few minutes a day for all that improvement too much to ask? I can always set the alarm a little earlier. 

But last night as I was setting the alarm after my prayers I realized it was time to get up and jog. Maybe I should make out a new schedule—it will only take a few minutes. …