Happiness

This week has been one of wonder and amazement for me. I usually celebrate the Holy week of Easter by remembering what took place each day of the week. This week has been extra special for me. I'm not sure why- maybe it's because we are studying Easter for Come Follow Me for Church or because I have two missionaries out serving who are sacrificing their time and talents to serving the Lord full time and I know what a sacrifice it is for them. They have taken Jesus's name upon their chest and represent Him full time. Or maybe it's because I have another son who is getting ready to serve just like they are- his mission papers just submitted this Tuesday evening. My life seems embedded and imbued with the thought of Jesus Christ and His Love and Sacrifice for me and for us all. It might be too, that my social media accounts- mostly Instagram- has been filled with post after post of Jesus Christ. How on Sunday He entered Jerusalem for the last time under waving palm fronds,...

In Church, we have been studying The Book of Mormon and Nephi's (a Prophet in the Americas) vision of the Tree of Life. Ok, it was Lehi's vision too. In it they eat the most wonderful tasting, beautiful fruit they have ever tasted before. They learn that it represents the Love of God.  I had an Epiphany last night! I realized that I don't have to be perfect to partake of the fruit and of God's love for me. I've always struggled with trying to be perfect, comparing my flaws with other people's strengths.  That can lead to Anxiety and Depression. No longer! I can imagine myself at the foot of the most beautiful, glowing, bright tree and taking a big bite of the fruit- like a pear- the juice running down my chin and onto my arms and off of my elbows- my tears mingling sweetly with the juices. I am so grateful for The Book of Mormon, for what it teaches me in my life at this time and for Lehi's and Nephi's Vision of the Tree of Life. I am t...

  Last Tuesday Morning, we had the chance, as a family, to go through the Gilbert Temple. The kids got out of school for a little bit and we got to go together. It is so beautiful! The kids especially loved the large stain glass windows, the long flight of stairs going from the baptistry to the sealing rooms, the very, very large chandelier in the Celestial room, the baptistry and the sealing room.  We had a Family Home Evening the night before about the purpose of Temples. I kept chatting about it during the tour and Jonah turned to me and said "Mom, we know!". Elizabeth was excited to see the sealing rooms where people get married and sealed together for time and eternity. She thought there would be an aisle to walk down, but loved the mirrors and the chandeliers in the room. It was great to finally see it completed after two years of waiting (since we moved here!).   Love this broken up waterfall! A lady explained to us that the architect saw t...

  A couple of weeks ago, Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Seventy and an Apostle of the Lord, gave a talk to the Youth of our Church. It was posted online and Josh and I watched a copy of it. Elder Bednar quoted Elder Maxwell when he said "It was better not to shrink than to survive..." speaking of his bout with Cancer. Tuesday, while driving home from the dentist, with a pain in two teeth, and a possible estimate for 2 root canals and 2 crowns (the price of which would deplete our savings), I began to think of this talk. I was very disheartened. And just like when a few bad things happen to you in a row and you start to think you are having a bad day, I began to crumble, just slightly. And the words "I will not shrink" pressed into my mind. I will not shrink from getting two root canals if I need them (I got one yesterday). And I went on from there: I will not shrink from not getting pregnant (a bitter, sour cup) and will meet with our Foster/Adopti...

There is a new media initiative going on for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They are picking 10 really big (not the biggest) markets and doing a media spritz that includes bill boards and 30 second commercials on prime tv show channels such as abc, fox, etc. It will also include ads online, including facebook and other webpages- all advertising mormon.org. On mormon.org, people can find more about the Church. They can read profiles of members of the Church. They can also chat with live representatives of the Church and even find out when and where they can go to Church. It is amazing! The intiative starts in October intensely for two weeks and tapers off, running until March 2012. It doesn't have anything to do with the 2012 Presidential Campaign. They are running it in Phoenix, along with NYC, St. Louis Missouri and other cities. Everyone in our Stake has been asked by Church headquarters to create a profile. I have, but I need to edit the photo on there (think s...

This past weekend was General Conference. Normally, we watch all four sessions on tv. This past weekend though, was the peak time to go see the 3,000 cherry trees in blossom down by the mall in D.C. so we decided to go check it out in the morning and then be back in time for Conference at 12 pm or watch it at the Visitors Center. We went down with our friends the Carrolls. They have three kids and always take the metro. We have four, and never take the metro. It was the most crowded I've ever seen! The trains were so packed we had to wait for more empty ones to come. It was an adventure, but I will never ever take the metro to see the blossoms again! We got down there, took some pictures- which I'll post later- and had a picnic lunch and flew a little kite. We got back at 1 or 2 so we missed most of the morning session. Josh did look on his blackberry to find out the new apostle- Neil A. Anderson- the uncle of one of my BYU friends. I loved the second session and then the morni...

Today is technically still Monday, February 4th, but I wanted to post a blog for tommorow, since I'm taking a "no computer" day off tommorow. Sometimes I spend too much time in front of the screen and I can just tell when my kids need me more often. Here are some highlights of the day: Good: Josh and I met seven years ago today. Bad: He is still at the office working at a case right now (8:30 pm) Good: I went and signed a memory book at the temple Visitors' Center for President Hinckley. Bad: The kids did not get enough running around time and had a hard time falling asleep tonight. Good: We didn't watch any tv today. At all. Elizabeth and I played Candyland and worked in her kindergarten workbook. Bad: We didn't watch any tv today. At all. I put the kids to bed early and was less patient with them. Good: President Monson was called to be our new Prophet, along with President Eyring and President Uchdorf. I watched the press conference among busy, busy toddler...