Sunday, November 23, 2008

The LIving Christ

I am sure today's sacrament meeting was really good, it was our Ward Conference. However, Logan really didn't let me listen to much of it. The topic was the living Christ and as we walked in we were handed a copy of the Testimony of the twelve apostles so I was able to read it after I got home. Thanks to a great bishopric for making sure I took something home just in case I didn't get a lot out of the meeting, I like the whole thing but I think this is my favorite: "We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles- that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son."

Friday, November 21, 2008

The game of the year!!!


I am not sure the last time I was this excited for a football game but I can't wait until tomorrow. We will be watching the game at our house and anyone- Even those cheering on the Utes (as long as your not too obnoxious), are welcome to join us. We'll have a movie and games for the kids in the basement and some serious football food for the adults!! So come on over if you want, no formal invites are being sent so just seeing this is your invite and the more the merrier.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Livin' in the 90's

Today's Sunday message came from a talk given in Sacrament meeting by Gena Nielson on gratitude. She had recently been to a seminar where a guy talked about living in the 90's- and not the 1990s, but the 90% of life that is good. He said that most people have 90% positive and 10% negative in their life and that if we live in the 90% that's positive then the 10% negative will not seem so bad. I really liked this idea and needed to hear it today being as I've been throwing a small pity party all week for myself and feeling really picked on (see last Sunday's post for confirmation of this). So, after church I had to drive to Provo for some meetings this week and I had a good five hours to think about my 90%. In the process I was trying to think if I could even put into words what my 10% would even be and I was shocked, and a little embarrassed, when I had a hard time even deciding what it was about my life that could be considered hard. Everything that I had been complaining about, either out loud or in my head, seemed SO ridiculous so today I am living in the 90's but thankful for the 10% (which is probably more like 2-3%) that I've been given, and here's why-

I'm thankful for the hand prints on the walls, the toys on the floor, the pen on the couch, the piles of laundry and dishes. The only way this would end is if something happened to my family and I suddenly lived alone, or at some point in life- when my kids leave the house. I do not wish for either of these things to happen so I am truly thankful that I GET to clean up after them and hope in the process of it all they will eventually learn to appreciate it, and maybe even some day clean up after themselves (I know wishful thinking.)

I'm thankful for my husband's obsession with Xbox and here's why- Jeremy doesn't do anything half way, he's either in our he's out. I complain about this when he's playing the championship game with a team that he's worked with for years (which is only really weeks or months in real time) but I love this characteristic about him so many other aspects. Because of this dedication he is an awesome husband and father, an amazing employee and a strong priesthood holder. I will take watching hours of simulated drafts in Madden to have the husband that I have.

I am thankful for my serious, thoughtful girl. Even though this means that I go through all the effort of getting family pictures taken only to get them back without any that she's smiling in. Her seriousness and her concern for everyone else is amazing. She is always asking what she can do to help me, she is always asking how I am feeling. She has always been very mature for her age. I am so grateful for such a thoughtful kid.

I am thankful for my 6 year old who Loves every day of life. Even if this means that it takes him an hour to walk home from school because along the way he finds all kinds of adventures and excitement on the way home- even if I am worrying myself sick wondering what has happened to him. Even if this means that I rarely ask only once for him to do something because usually the first time he goes to do the task he gets distracted. Even with these things it is well worth it to see his face every time he walks in the door because he has "the coolest thing" to tell me.

I am thankful for my never quiet energizer bunny. I feel like I spend half of my life trying to get him to "be quiet"- whether it's in church or some other place that your supposed to be quiet, or at nap or bed time, or just because I'm trying to get some work done and I need him to be quiet. But I am so thankful for all the little treasures that come out of his mouth. Today as we went into church I said "now, the rule is you DON'T talk in church, OK. . . What's the rule?" to which he said "Don't talk, and don't ever give up". I am so grateful for the constant jabber that comes out of his mouth, most of which I can now understand.

I am thankful that I find myself overwhelmed by the amount of work I have. It was only five years ago that I was looking for some sort of job that I could do while also being a mother. I really just wanted something that would make a few hundred dollars every month, little did I know that it would turn into a career that I would love and be the perfect job to do while I raised my kids. So even though there are weeks when I wonder how I will do it all, I am so happy to have the job that I do.

I am thankful that every week I get to spend an hour with 11 crazy eight year old scouts. I'll have to admit this was a hard one to turn around, probably because it's a new calling and I'm still having a hard time mourning the loss of my beehives. But I am really grateful to have been taught, by great example, that you take any calling and do the best job you can at it. I know by doing this that the day will come that I even enjoy it- don't tell Brother Bethea I said that. This calling came because of my membership in the church and I wouldn't trade that for anything so I am thankful for it.

I'm trying not to be TAMNish but really I am seriously so blessed (if you don't know what I'm talking about you really need to click on the link and take the time to read the whole blog- you won't be sorry) and I am quite embarrassed that I ever felt sorry for myself. I am thankful to Gena for the great talk that she gave and for helping me to realize just how much I do have. Hopefully I'll remember for a while.

Friday, November 14, 2008

How sweet it is

Lately yogi has been having SUCH a hard time going to sleep. I'm not sure if he's inherited my inability to fall asleep without 30 minutes of complete silence and darkness or if he's ready to not take a nap (which by the way I'm not ready for) or if he's inherited his dad's distaste for being told what to do. Whatever the reason, we have had a struggle every night for quite a while. The other night we thought he had finally given in and gone to sleep and so as I went to bed I stuck my head in his room and this is what I found:



He had pulled the night light into bed with him had found a book and was "reading". At least doing that he was quiet so I just went to bed. I found out the next day that about 15 minutes later he had come out and watched TV with his dad for another hour or so. We've tried EVERYTHING we can think of. He shares a room with his brother and we've tried taking his "best buddy" away from him after a while so he has to sleep alone- didn't work! I told him he had to sleep in my closet the other night because everywhere else he was keeping people up- He went in, managed to TRASH the whole place in pitch darkness and never did go to sleep. Last night we tried saying he could either go to bed or sit on his dad's lap and not move or do anything, He would sit there until he was bored then say he was going to bed and go in his room and play in bed, at which point we'd get him out before he woke his brother up and start the process over. I've tried bribery, begging, yelling, ignoring, EVERYTHING!! So after staying up until 11 or so for the last few nights and getting up at 6 every morning it finally caught up with him and he just crashed on the couch next to me. And how sweet is he when he sleeps?

So I'm enjoying the moment and trying to be grateful for any sleep that comes without a fight, I would have preferred he wait until after lunch to fall asleep but I'll take it.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

8 fun things

I was tagged by Stacy, so here goes:

8 shows I love to watch:
1. The Office- seriously did I even need to say it?
2. What not to wear- If anyone wants to nominate me to be on the show I would not be mad, just so you know. I love Stacy and Clinton.
3. How I met your mother
4. Big Bang Theory
5. Amazing Race- This would be my first choice of a show I would like to be on, if I ever have the ability to leave my work and kids for a month.
6. Kath and Kim- I am still not completely in love with this one but it's new and so far it's staying in the line-up.
7. House Hunters- both regular and international.
Really surprising that I'm drawing a blank, the last two were stretches to say that I LOVE to watch them. I watch tons of shows but most of them I just kind of like so I'm not going to lie and list another.

Favorite 8 restaurants-
What's a restaurant?? I think this questions was to make those of us who live in Blanding feel bad, jk.
1. Red Lobster
2. Cafe Rio
3. Olive Garden
4. Ruby River
so I'm sure there are others but again I'm drawing a blank. It's been quite a while since I've been out of town so I can't really remember.

8 things that happened yesterday
1. lots of laundry
2. picking up toys
3. dishes
4. sweeping floors
5. making beds
does anyone feel bad for me yet? I really should have waited to do this until it was after a better day than yesterday.
6. Watched the BYU game (while folding clothes :)
7. fed the horses (which was officialy the only time I left the house)
8. went to bed

8 things I'm looking forward to:
1. being out of debt- looking down the road for this one, can't quite get it in view yet.
2. The Holidays- Thanksgiving at Noelle's and Christmas at home.
3. Finishing the basement- can almost see this one.
4. Losing the baby weight- yes my baby is 2 1/2 and I probably can't really still blame it on him but sorry that's when it started.
5. the day when my Saturday's aren't filled with laundry and other cleaning- yeah right.
6. Picking Josh up from France, only two years away!!
7. The next Vacation with my husband- nothing planned as of yet but it's time.
8. the rest of my life- cheesy I know but I really do like my little life.

8 things on my wish list:
1. New furniture- when we moved into the house we brought the old furniture with the plan of replacing it shortly after, two years later. . . nothing is replaced.
2. A swimspa or endless pool
3. A VW Routan- I'm trying to get pregnant right now so I can have German Engineering, jk. I've never even seen the car in real life but it looks cool on the commercials.
4. A landscaped yard- done by someone else, NOT ME.
5. A full time live in house cleaner- an ugly one of course ;)
6. A new wardrobe- and you could grant this wish by getting me on "what not to wear"
7. A six pack. . . you know what at this point I'd just be happy to lose the tire.
8. BYU to beat Utah, pleeeeeeease.

8 people I tag:
1. Stacy T.
2. Roni C.
3. Julie H.
4. Mindy M.
5. Kristin B.
6. Bev W.
7. Melanie R.
8. Chanelle C. (I haven't given up on you yet Chanelle, you can blog I know you can)

Sunday Message

Today was our Primary program in sacrament meeting- which is always a favorite in my book. I chose to post Carter's part because I helped him memorize it so I also have it memorized and with Logan being Mr. Psycho all throughout the meeting I didn't get much else, so here it is:

"The Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by it's precepts than by any other book"

- President Joseph Smith

P.S.- for anyone that did notice I did just put my kids names in this blog. I tried to use Carter's nickname of Bug and it just sounded really stupid, I have been feeling a little less paranoid lately and wondering what the chances are. . . so the jury is still out as to whether or not I'll be changing our names or not, for now I don't think so.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Getting a little paranoid

I love blogging, I also love the idea of finding old friends that I've lost touch with through blogging. For this reason I have not wanted to go private, however it is a scary thing to list so much personal information on the internet for anyone and everyone to see. I've decided for a happy medium. I am going to omit all personal information from this blog (including names and the town we live in) and use nicknames for all future posts. So don't be confused if we all suddenly have strange names, it will be quite a process to go through all of the old posts and change the info there. I ask only if you leave comments to respect this and use our fake names. Hopefully everyone doesn't think I'm a freak but it will make me feel better at least.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Sunday Message

I decided today that I would try each week at church to pick one thought or scripture or lesson that I learned and blog it. This will help me to pay better attention and also to leave some inspirational thoughts for others. Today Sister Gibbons read a quote by President Monson in Sunday School that I really enjoyed, I hope you enjoy it to.


"He will not always take your afflictions from you, but he will comfort and lead you with love through whatever storm you face."

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Happy Halloween

Halloween was so much fun this year. I personally love Halloween, it's getting less fun ever since my kids think they should get a say in the costume they wear but I still like it. This year Camryn was a Doctor, Carter was Indiana Jones and Logan was Winnie the Pooh. Jeremy and I went to a Party at the Snyder's and we went as hippies. I threw together the costumes at the last minute so they weren't the best but I was still happy to get Jeremy in a costume at all.
Sorry, Logan spends a lot of the day in his "big boys" especially when we are doing something messy.

If you look at this picture you'll see why Logan was naked, I guess I should have stripped Carter also.


The hippies (pre mullet)

After we added the mullet to the costume Jeremy looked even better.