Garbage has become a treasure at our home as of late. The boys are letting their creative juices flow and it is a joy to watch. Okay, I admit, it is a little annoying to have trash all over the house. But, I realize that these times won't last.

At this Thanksgiving season I have been reflecting on the trials I have been given. Lately, I have been trying to see what lessons God would have me learn. I don't know how it happened to me yesterday, but I thought about when I'm not being my best self, and I thought 'what if the Savior were here right now.' The feeling inside of me was so horrible. I could see how I would feel so ashamed of myself in front of Him. I could almost see Him looking at me with eyes of, 'Settle down.'

I am so grateful for the chance to change. I am so grateful Jesus hasn't come again yet so that I can still prove to Him that I can stand a little taller, and be a little more committed to following His ways.

This life is a gift. I'm rejoicing in the season to reflect on what really matters..

Just for fun!

Vanessa`s beautiful picture

Joseph`s beautiful picture

Eric's beautiful picture

Wedding Day November 15, 1997

Here are pictures of our wedding day and engagement pictures. When we get our most recent pictures, it will be fun to compare. Hope you enjoy! It sure was fun for us to pull these pictures out and take a walk down memory lane.

Waiting...

I've been waiting for our photographer to get our family pictures to us before I posted a new post. But, he is taking longer than he promised.. I hope it is worth the wait.

We celebrated our 12th anniversary last week. We went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner and then came home to watch a movie. After 12 years, Jared and I feel so grateful to be together.

One of my favorite memories is our 5th anniversary. I had just given birth to little Eric 3 months earlier and was nursing him. But, Jared and I stole away and went out to dinner. We went to the Roof Restaurant in Salt Lake City, at the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial building. It was a gorgeous night. It had just started to snow when we got to the restaurant. We got a table with a huge window by it that opens to a beautiful view of the Salt Lake Temple. With huge snowflakes falling, we ate our dinner while gazing at the Temple and the Christmas lights while reflecting back to our wedding day. It was so memorable. The restaurant provided a warmth that matched the warm feelings I had in my heart for Jared. Those feelings are still in my heart, for which I feel very blessed!

Standing for Principle

Standing for Something, Gordon B. Hinckley:

"The problem with most of us is that we are afraid to stand up for what we believe, to be witnesses for what is true and right. We want to do the right thing, but we are troubled by fears. So, we sit back, and the world drifts about us and society increasingly adopts attitudes and standards of behavior that most of us do not approve of."

Pres. Hinckley later continues:

"In leadership, in standing for principle, there is loneliness. But men and women of integrity must live with their convictions. Unless they do so, they are miserable--dreadfully miserable. And though there may be thorns, though there may be disappointment, though there may be trouble and travail, heartache and heartbreak, and desperate loneliness, there will also be comfort and strength and that "peace of God, which passeth all understanding"(Philippians 4:7).



I love this book. It gives me peace in an otherwise frightful world! The prophets words are a light by which I live my life. I am so grateful for their words.

President Hinckley

'We are involved in an intense battle. It is a battle between right and wrong, between truth and error, between the design of the Almighty on the one hand and that of Lucifer on the other. For that reason, we desperately need men and women who, in their individual spheres of influence, will stand for truth in a world of sophistry.'
Standing for Something, Gordon B. Hinckley

...More to come from the epilogue in this wonderful book. It is a treasure to read the words of the prophets...

Our most recent pictures of the kids. Don't mind Erics bleached shirt.

CS Lewis gives a beautiful summary of the effect Christ has on us in his Narnia series that I'd like to discuss.

In Lewis's books, Christ is symbolized as a lion. He tells how people who live their lives in the dark are terrified of Christ's voice. And he demonstrates how people who don't live their lives in the dark, or, live their lives in the light, hear the roaring of Christ's voice as a sweet melody.

I have reflected on this idea a lot over the last couple of months. I can definately see how in my life, at times, I have been afraid of Christ's voice. A better way to describe it is that I wanted to run away from correction. Another way to describe it is that it feels like when I've broken a traffic law and the police are coming to punish me and the feeling I get is like I want to race away in my car to get away from them.

Christ tells us to change. He tells us to restore something we've taken away. He tells us to be selfless.

I wish I could describe the feelings I have about Christ and how He has changed me. I still have times when I want to run away from something I have done that is wrong, but it has become easier for me to admit wrong-doing the more I've done it.

Christ's words have become a sweet melody to me.

I'd love to hear your ideas...

I love the hymn 'I Know That My Redeemer Lives.' I found this video on youtube that is a tear jerker for sure. Hope you enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8athR6fvshY&feature=PlayList&p=00BC01C4E717DC6D&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=21">

New Design

I decided to do a new design because the blogs I go to that have pretty designs seem funner to read somehow.

A Soft Answer

Our bible lesson last night was Proverbs 15:1 which reads:

'A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.'

I have been working really hard with my kids to soften the tones in our voices to each other. I have been working by example and words to teach them this. It is amazing to me that as soon as we've had the lesson, that the kids will immediately use grievous (definition: upset) words and tones in dealing with each other.

Daily I use reasoning with them to explain why their behavior is unacceptable. It is time consuming and exhausting, to say the least. But, what a joy it is when we have our little successes. The Spirit is in our home when we are striving to OVERCOME. I love that word, that's why I bolded it. I don't expect us to be perfect overnight, but I do expect us to sit down and reason together so that we don't continue on in hurtful relations.