Interesting Talk

I just saw this video on another blog and I was very intigued by what he had to say. it is a talk given at a BYU devotional given in May 1996. I am going to read the full talk tonight but I hope that you enjoy the video as much as I did.


Here are all the points he made.
* Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you.

* When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself and direct them, in gratitude and love, toward God.

* In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and therefore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.

* First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don't permit anything to detract you from this awareness.

* You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the Light of Christ.

* Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.

* Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his Church.

* God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.

* God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us--everything will fall into its place.

* Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.

* When you cannot love someone, look into that person's eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him.

* Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.

* If someone hurts you so much that your feelings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again.

* Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm. On the road toward salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity but never doubts.

* Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter places of worship.

* Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your heart, might, and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction.

* You want to be good and to do good. That is commendable. But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then he will teach us what is really good and necessary to do.

* The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.

* Be grateful for every opportunity to serve. It helps you more than those you serve.

* And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better.

Enjoy. Talk to you soon.

Muffin Tin Monday and Chore Jars

This has been a summer of trying new things. We have been trying out chore jars. They are working so well. Who would have thought that putting sticks in a jar with chores written on them would work so well. The kids have been doing them for about 2 weeks and it is going so well. the idea wasn't mine. I got it off another blog (www.makeandtakes.com). It has been a great way to get the kids to work.


These are Halle's chores. I have added a couple since these original ones. The colored ends are up at the beginning of the day. Once the chore is finished they turn them down. That way I know what has been finished and what still needs to be done.

These are how they look in the jars. I just love how now we don't fight about what needs to be done. They just do them until all of the sticks are turned down. Happy day, maybe they will learn to work this year.

Our next new idea this year also came from www.makeandtakes.com. She does a Muffin Tin Monday. All you have to do is serve your kids lunch in muffin tin. I don't why this works so well but I have not seen our kids so excited about eating lunch EVER.

This is our first muffin tin. It had goldfish, peas, watermelon, carrots, apples, cheese, triscuits, apples, watemelon, pickles, cut up hotdogs, and ketchup for dipping. What a hit. they ate everything. It's a great way to get rid of leftovers.


Today's muffin tin was not as healthy as last week but still very enjoyed. It had peanuts, carrots, munchies, cheese, bun, munchies, cheese, pizza, pickles, bun, ritz, and pizza. It was great to get rid of little bits of food. next week I'm going to put a little more thought into it. The first thing halle asked me about this morning was what we were having for Muffin Tin Monday. Whatever makes these kids eat lunch works for me. It is nice to have something different for them to eat. Halle even wants to plan one. i think that it'll be a good way for her to start learning about how to plan simple meals. Let me know if you try it out. Talk to you soon.

I just have to share this dance for anyone who didn't see SYTYCD last night. It was amazing and I wish that I could move like this. It was touching and really unbelieveable even with the one slip-up. I loved it. Hopefully you all will as well.

Quilt Giveaway

So, I was checking my google reader this morning and saw that a friend had posted about a great quilt giveaway at The Old Red Barn the link is at the end of this post. It has got to be the cutest quilt. Go there and check it out.http://oldredbarnco.blogspot.com/All you need to do to enter is leave a comment. She said she would ship internationally, yeah for we who live in Canada. It has definitely made my day that we can enter. I love quilts and this one is amazing. Check it out.

Funny Story

I just have to share with you the funny thing that Brady said to me the other day. I almost fell off my chair I was laughing so hard, after he left the room of course. It was while I was cleaning up after lunch, this is how our conversation went
Brady: Mom?
Me: Yes Brady
Brady: Did you know that moms and dads are different?
Me: yes, but what do you mean?
Brady: Well dads have PERSISTENCES and moms don't
( Now I've got to admit I was a little stumped as to what he meant)
Me: What do you mean?
Brady: Well dads stand up to go to the bathroom with PERSISTENCES and moms don't.
Me: Oh you mean...

I was trying so hard not to laugh. Brady has been so curious about his body and how it is different from girls. I have been trying to teach him proper terms but for some reason he was sure he had a PERSISTENCE. HOnestly it was one of the funnier moments I have had with that kid. I can just see him going through his whole life thinking that girls have no persistence. Oh the joys of kids and their funny thought. I had to share because I knew that if I didn't write this down I would forget and not be able to tease him with this story later in life. I think that having kids is one of the best things tht I have ever done. They bring me so much joy and light even on days when I am ready to scream with frustration.

It reminds me of when Halle was just 2.5 and I was telling her that old rhyme about gir's being made of sugar and aspice and everything nice. She was so shocked and appalled. Mom she said I am not made of sugar and spice I am made of bones. didn't you know that?

I love my kids. They are really funny. Summer is going well so far. After the disappointment of not going to my mom's house we seem to be having a great time just hanging out at home and enjoying the nice weather. I think that I definitely need some sort of hobby though. Any suggestions? I seem to have more free time now that the kids are doing their chores more regularly and Adam does not need as much of my time as he used to. Who knows what I should do. Maybe I'll take up extreme sports. That'll be the day. Anyways. Talk to you soon.

news

So once again it has been a very long time since I have posted anything. It has been a very crazy few weeks for us. By the time I get around to thinking about posting I am just too tired. Most of you out there know but for those who don't we are having another baby. It was a huge surprise and shock. A word to the wise, even if you think that you are finished having kids don't give anything away it's a jinx. The only good thing about nothaving maternity clothes and baby stuff ( especially if it's a girl) is that I get to start fresh. I am due on Dec.22 but for me that means we'll have this baby around New Year's Eve. I am over 16 weeks already. It is actually going by quite quickly. I'm just too busy to really even think about it. I am still trying to wrap my around having 4 kids but I'll get there. If this baby comes on time Adam will only be 17.5 months so we'll see how that goes. I've never had two in diapers before so it will be a challenge. But I figure I can handle it. I just wish that I had my family close. It would make things a lot easier, thankfully I have amazing friends who are always there for me. I am so grateful for them and all they do.

I have quite a few pictures to post but I cannot for the life of me find my cable to download them onto my computer. I will find it today and post again tonight. I am off to a playgroup at the park but will post again tonight before So you think you can dance. Is anyone else loving it as much as me? Talk to you soon

I read a poem on another blog today and had to share it with all of you. It was very touching and made me think about my life and how i am living it. I hope that MY DASH is worthwhile

The Dash
by Linda Ellis
© 1998

I read of a reverend who stood to speak at the funeral of his friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth…
and now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own; the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard… are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left. (You could be at "dash mid-range.")

If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real,
and always try to understand the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile…
remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy’s being read with your life’s actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?