Oh how I love...

DRY SHAMPOO!!!! I know it sounds lame but just go with me on this one. It is AMAZING! Today I was so tired from being sick (yes this is the 3rd time in 3 months) because I hadn't had much sleep so I didn't wake up in enough time to take a shower, and who really wants to be the family walking in late during church when the Prophet is sitting there by the door? So I pulled out my handy dandy dry shampoo that I got as a sample and a few little sprays and SHABAM! Like magic my hair looked like it did the day before AND it smelled good. Heck yes I am putting this on my list for when I go to the store next! I'm very excited about this new find if you haven't noticed by all the caps. SCORE!

That Great and Spacious Building

Today in Sunday school we were taught about 1 Nephi 8-11. And it was a great lesson. We mostly focused on chapter 8 and the significance of it and what the Tree of Life=love of god, Iron Rod=word of god, the Great and Spacious Building=Pride of the world etc. really mean. If you don't know what I'm referring to check out this link here and read chapter 11 too.
My teacher repeated a great quote from the 1987 conference talk by Elder Glenn L. Pace....
"...let me make it completely clear that the people in that building have absolutely nothing to offer except instant, short-term gratification inescapably connected to long-term sorrow and suffering. The commandments you observe were not given by a dispassionate God to prevent you from having fun, but by a loving Father in Heaven who wants you to be happy while you are living on this earth as well as in the hereafter.

Compare the blessings of living the Word of Wisdom to those available to you if you choose to party with those in the great and spacious building. Compare the joy of intelligent humor and wit to drunken, silly, crude, loud laughter. Compare our faithful young women who still have a blush in their cheeks with those who, having long lost their blush, try to persuade you to join them in their loss. Compare lifting people up to putting people down. Compare the ability to receive personal revelation and direction in your life to being tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. Compare holding the priesthood of God with anything you see going on in that great and spacious building."
What a perfect way to put it. It makes me ache inside for my friends and family that have chosen the instant short gratification over their eternity and their families. I'm so grateful for the happiness that I feel because I know I'm doing the right things. I love Visiting Teaching and the girls I get to go see. I love the power of the Relief society to teach women to lift each other up and support them and work together instead of putting each other down trying to be "better" then others. I love that I have the Prophet of God Thomas S Monson in my ward :) What a sweet blessing it is to see and hear him as often as I do. I am so thankful for the atonement, I don't use it enough. And I'm thankful for all of you who took the time to read this and who care about me and my well being and helped me be who I am. I am a grateful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Please Read This Post

Alicia is an old friend of mine hoping to adopt their 2nd child this year. If you don't know her all you have to do is read her blog to know what a beautiful person she is and a wonderful mother. There little family is searching to fill their eternal family. Please help them if you know of anyone who can help them fill that place in their hearts. You can read their blog at: http://aandw2adopt.blogspot.com/

2011

Some pictures that some what sum up 2011

You thought I forgot huh

Nope!!! I didn't! I'm pretty proud of myself actually because my mind lately can only be summed up in one word, nonexistent. I keep forgetting important stuff and have no idea how I can/could forget those kind of things. Now the real problem is figuring out what to even write about...
still thinking...
thinking...
Walla! wait, nope...
Well I bet that was the shortest post I've ever written. I bet you can't wait for post 3!

This Time Around

So I've made some goals for our family that will hopefully bring us all closer together spiritually and emotionally. I also made some goals for myself. I'm pretty amazing at starting things that I want to try or do but I'm never good at finishing it or even keeping it going (lets be honest). I want to make a chart on the side that has my list of goals that can be seen so I can keep it updated and view it to be reminded so I'll have to see about that later.... (I swear I will look and see if I can).
Family Goals:
Every Monday we have Family Home Evening-we started tonight and I'm sure little M had no idea what was going on but that's OK

Alan and I go to the Temple every month-now that we have a live in baby sitter we have NO excuses

Alan and I do our Home/Visiting teaching every month- I never got called in our ward to be one and its been a year and I felt it was time to go ask to be one. So far so good! I have great girls that I get to go see

We pray and read scriptures as a family every night- We do this anyway but I want to keep it up

Goals for Myself:
Update this blog once a week-crazy I know compared to what I have been doing in the past but I can do it!!!

Complete the Book of Mormon better than I did last- It took me 8 months last go round and I know I can remember the stories better if I read it like a novel like my late gma told me to do. (she would read the ENTIRE triple combination in a month!)

Be more patient-I've been working on this for a while and I can already see a big difference especially with my son.

Fit into smaller jeans-I've been able to fit into my pre baby jeans since I left the hospital but I could go smaller but my legs are just to big lol so they need to do some shrinking

Finish what I start- self explained

So now that you all know my goals you all better kick my butt if I fall out of routine! Especially because I never finish what I start! it takes a village to raise a family, well for me its going to take you guys to help finish my goals. Don't be afraid to tell me if I'm doing a crappy job, just do it!
Love you all and I hope you had a fantastic Christmas and New years!

Things that I've learned

I don't know about you but as soon as I got the October Ensign I read it in 2 days. It was just what I was needing. I love learning about the stories in the Book of Mormon. That is the only book that makes me feel guilty when I walk past it if I hadn't read it that day. Heavenly Father has given us 24 hours in a day to do what we want. Can't I take 30 min or so to read from his book? Yes, yes I can.
In this edition you will find time lines, promises, guides to studying and conversion stories on almost every other page. The faith that the people have in the gospel is so amazing. I'm going to go through a few of the things that really stuck out to me in this edition of the Ensign.

The Iron Rod
There are 3 groups in Lehi's dream that are trying to get to the Tree of Life. The 1st group are on their way and come across temptations of Satan. They wonder off and are lost. There is no mention of the iron rod because if you ignore or treat lightly the word of God you do not have access to that divine compass aka the iron rod. The 2nd group they pressed forward through the mist of darkness aka temptations and partook of the Tree of Life. But they were mocked by greatly dressed people in the Great and Spacious Building and they became ashamed, fell away and were lost. The 3rd group pressed forward continually holding to the iron rod and by the time they got to the Tree of Life they fell and partook of the fruit.
Now we know the reason the 1st group fell- temptations
the 2nd group perhaps they fell because they only sometimes they read and studied from the scriptures
the 3rd group stayed there perhaps because they diligently searched the scriptures and studied them. That saved the 3rd group from perishing.
It makes me think of what group I am in. Or what group I should be in. Well I for sure used to belong to the 2nd group but I'm striving to be in the 3rd. I started consistently reading from the Book of Mormon a while ago but not only that I write down in my journal after each chapter with my take on it and the story that it told to me. I know that sounds like a lot but I remember so much more and I know better where to find the stories. I'm in the book Helaman and going strong. I'm not saying this to boast or act like its easy. Its not. I worked hard to get where I am and continue to try and resist temptation to not read it. Because I know Satan knows what I'm doing and he doesn't want me to get there. I urge you to study and pray about this precious book. "You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the straight and narrow path...You will find life in greater and greater abundance..."
If there is any reason that you don't feel you can or want to read from Heavenly Fathers book that feeling is not coming from Him but from his adversary, Satan. He doesn't want you to learn and grow. Those are the most important times for you to grab that book and show Heavenly Father where your faith lies.
What group are you in?