The Perfect Day!

Today has been a perfect day! Those kind of days don't happen too often so I will document it well. It started off at 6:00 am with me making cinnamon rolls and cookies for the gathering we had today while Carter opened his mission call.  I also made final preparations for the Relief Society lesson I was blessed to teach today.  During church we enjoyed a wonderful Christmas program that really set the tone for my lesson on "A Christ Centered Life".  The lesson went well.  I am always so grateful for the many comments that these wonderful sisters share.  They really strengthen my testimony and add so much to the Spirit and the lesson.  The most important aspect of the lesson was the importance of obtaining charity.  Charity is the pure love of Christ.  It is a gift of the Spirit that we can receive through prayer and righteous living.  Charity allows us to see others as our Heavenly Father and Savior sees them, to love them as our Heavenly Father and Savior loves them, and to understand them as they do as well.  This Christmas season, may we all have eyes to see, hearts to love and understand, and ears to hear so we can lift and bless the lives of those around us.

Immediately upon returning home from church are house was filled with guests.  This little adobe was packed.  There was truly "no room in the inn today", but it was awesome.  The house was filled with love and excitement.  Carter opened his mission call after everyone had the opportunity to guess where he might be going.  Wouldn't you know it, Uncle Gary guessed where he would be serving - the Argentina Buenos Aires East mission.  Carter will be leaving us on February 17th.  That is just around the corner.  He is so excited, and we are all so proud of him and excited as well.  Hopefully all those years of taking Spanish will serve him well!  Carter is such a good boy and he will make an excellent missionary.  Just remember Carter that charity is the one and only way to be a successful missionary.  My mission trainer - Sister Melissa Roddy - told me the first day I was in Mustang, Oklahoma, that if I didn't love the people of Oklahoma I had better get on my knees and pray until I do, because the work would go nowhere without it!  I give that same advice to you!  "Pray with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love."

Can I have a drum roll please....

So happy to have Aunt Kim, Uncle Mike, Keaton, and Uncle Gary with us today and all of our other friends!

I love my three sons!

No room in the Inn!

After everyone left, we as a family sat around and just enjoyed the feeling that was here.  We had family prayer and then hopped in the car and headed to Salt Lake City.  We stayed in the Salt Lake City Plaza Hotel which is right next to temple square.  It is a newly remodeled hotel and very nice, and for only $89.00 it was a super deal!  We walked over to temple square and stood in awe at the beautiful sight of all the lights.  Temple Square was packed with people.  Everyone was excitedly taking in all the sights.  I noticed on a few different occasions that Carter stopped and offered to take pictures for families who were trying to figure out how to get everyone in the photo.  He is already off to a good start of service and love.

There are those three handsome sons of mine again!

I love this!

Beautiful Sunday Evening at Temple Square

Here it is again!

I love to see the temple!

What a wonderful and blessed day we had.  I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for the many, many blessings that He has given me, and especially for this most wonderful day that we spent with family and loved ones!

Today's Ponderize Verse:

2 Nephi 5:27: And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.

The Force Awakens!

Today I am grateful for many things, but I am especially grateful that the powers of the dark side will always be no match for the light side of the force.  I am also grateful for free movie tickets!  Our three boys were able to see the new Star Wars movie Thursday night with some friends.  Blaine and I decided that we would go later-on when ticket demands had slowed a bit.  However, today was our lucky day.  Blaine's old baseball buddy Randy Wilstead gave Blaine four free tickets to tonight's showing of Star Wars at the Pine View Cinema.  We were so excited!  We couldn't talk our boys into going again with us so we called and asked Blaine's nephew Adam if he and his family wanted to join us.  We were so lucky to have Jaden and Cooper come with us.  Adam and Marcia have raised three great kids.  We had such a fun time with them, and we all really enjoyed the movie.  We even won two free giant buckets of popcorn.  The movie has received mixed reviews, but has managed to set blockbuster records which was expected.  I enjoyed the movie.  However, it was your typical star wars plot and very predictable.  Anyhow, may the force be with each of you throughout this holiday season!

It was awesome seeing Harrison Ford in the movie!  He is one of my favorites!

Today's Ponderize Verse:

I absolutely love 2 Nephi 4.  It is a beautiful chapter and beginning in verse 15 is what is known as the psalm of Nephi.  I won't write all 20 verses of his psalm, but I will share the final verse:

Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh.  Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto the, my God, the rock of my righteousness.  Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God.  Amen.

Grateful for My Birthday Boy!

Today I have so much to be grateful for.  It was a fantastic day mixed with a little stress here and there.  But Heavenly Father really blessed me with the strength and energy I needed to get everything done so we could have a super special end to our day!  Today is Blaine's 47th birthday.  It kinda snuck-up on me.  I knew it was coming, I ordered his gift well in advance, but before I knew it, it was here and I hadn't finalized anything for the day.  So, after dropping Ty off at early morning basketball practice I went straight to work cleaning my house and making a list of everything that I would need to do to make this day extra special for Blaine.  When it was finally not too early, I sent out some text messages to some of our close friends and family members inviting them to a birthday dinner at 6:00 pm at our little adobe home.  The morning flew by as I check one thing after another off my list.  Just when I thought I had everything under control I received a phone call from the principal at Piedre Vista High School in Farmington, NM.  He asked if I would be available to do a Skype interview today at 2:10 pm.  I knew I was super busy, but this was important so of course I said sure!  I quickly ran to Costco and purchased a pork loin roast, came home and threw it in the crock pot and prepared for my interview.

The interview went well.  I have no idea if I will get the job or not.  It is up to the Lord.  I am not a certified teacher, and I really think I surprised them with the depth of some of my answers.  Anyhow, it will be interesting to see how that plays out.  As soon as I finished my interview and quickly finished cleaning the house and then off to Harmons' to finish my shopping.  I was amazed at how things came together, and at 6:00 pm everything was ready to go.  I am so grateful this day for the tender mercies the Lord showed me along the way.  He knew that I was under the gun most of the day, but He really opened the door for things to run smoothly and not have any unexpected glitches because there was not a second to spare.

Tonight's menu included:  Sweet pork and grilled chicken burritos and/or salad, chips and salsa (mango/pineapple and regular), guacamole, cilantro lime rice, Cranberry Sierra Mist, and birthday cake and ice cream.  It was delicious if I do say so.  I was starving.  I had decided to start a fast last night because I really needed to find some peace and also ask the Lord for some extra help in helping our family move forward in whatever direction He deems best.  I just seem to be struggling in my ability to receive any concrete answers at this time.  I finally finished my fast at dinner time and I was famished.  It was so worth it though.  I cannot describe to you the peace that I have felt throughout this day.  It has renewed my faith that the answers will come, and when they do, I will recognize them when the time is right.

Tonight's guests included:  Our dear friends Rod and Bobbi Allen and Shane and Monica Johansen. My mom and step-dad Raymond also came and Blaine's brother Kirk.  Then of course the three boys were here as well.  It was a wonderful evening of food, friends, and family, but what made it even more special was that Carter's mission call came in the mail today just before the party started.  He will open it tomorrow evening at 6:00 pm.  Everyone is invited!  We are so excited to find out where he is going.  He is going to be a fantastic missionary!  What a wonderful day we have had.  Thank you Heavenly Father for my many, many blessings.  It really is true that gratitude = joy!  I am grateful and joyful this night! And, I am especially grateful for my wonderful Husband!  Happy 47th Birthday Blaine!  I love you always and forever!

Happy birthday to you; happy birthday to you; happy birthday dear Blaine; happy birthday to you!

Take a deep breath and blow hard!

Got 'em... Make a wish!

This is what the boys and I gave him - this is a framed certificate of his Army AEGD program.  We should have had this done years ago, but I just came across it in a box that has been in storage for some time.

Look what showed up today!  Can you guess where Carter might be going?  Join us tomorrow night at 6:00 pm to find out!

Today's Ponderize Verse:

2 Nephi 3:24

And there shall rise up one mighty among them, who shall do much good, both in word and in deed, being an instrument in the hands of God, with exceeding faith to work mighty wonders, and do that thing which is great in the sight of God, unto the bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel, and unto the seed of thy brethren.

This prophecy given by Father Lehi is referring to Joseph Smith!

Temple Blessings

Today I am grateful for the blessings that come from having a holy temple so close by.  Blaine and I joined our stake for a special temple night at the St. George LDS temple.  We met at 7:15 pm in the chapel of the temple and had a special devotional by a member of the temple presidency and our stake president President Ellsworth.  This really set the tone for the endowment session.  Their counsel centered on light and truth, and how light is the symbol of truth - particularly in the temple. They reminded us to focus on our Savior who is the way, the truth, and the life, and is also the light of the world.  Then they challenged us to let our light shine, that others may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in Heaven.  President Ellsworth shared this scripture:

D&C 50:24

That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

He then went onto tell us that the more we visit the temple the more light and knowledge we will be given, and that light will grow brighter and brighter until the perfect day.  This same light will also serve as a protection to us.  His words reminded me of something that the Denver temple president shared when we were in a similar setting over ten years ago.  He said that there would soon come a day that attending the temple once a month and even once a week will not be enough to restore the peace to our lives that the world will surely take from us.  I think that day is getting closer and closer. Some weeks I find myself wanting to sprint to the temple because I cannot get there fast enough.  I long for the peace and serenity that is there.  I love to sit in the endowment session and be filled with light and knowledge, and then enter the Celestial Room, and while surrounded by its grandeur and beauty, feel the love of my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.  I love to listen for the whisperings of the Spirit, and then be filled with the faith and courage to move forward.  I often find myself in the main sealing room where Blaine and I were married.  It stands as a beautiful reminder of the things that are the most important and that families are forever!

I love the St. George Temple.  It is my favorite temple, and I am so grateful for it!  I am grateful for a husband who is a worthy priesthood holder and loves attending the temple as much as I do!

I love how white it is!

The Celestial Room is beautiful!

One of my favorite pictures of the St. George Temple

Today's Ponderize Verse:

2 Nephi 2:24

But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.

A Tender Mercy

Today I am grateful for many things, but particularly for the tender mercies of the Lord.  I woke up at 5:30 am to take Ty to basketball practice and I still felt horrible.  I managed to get him there, but I came home and went right back to bed.  I slept restlessly because I knew I would need to get up soon so I could prepare myself for my interview with Principal Golden from Piedre Vista High School in Farmington, NM.  He was scheduled to Skype with me at 11:50 am.  I crawled out of bed at 8:30 am still having a fever, chills, and body aches.  I stood in the shower for what seemed an eternity letting the hot water soothe and massage my body.  I ate some breakfast and then did what I could to prepare for my interview.  To my relief Principal Golden's secretary called and said that he would have to reschedule our interview due to an unexpected schedule change.  I was so relieved.  I felt ready for the interview, but I truly didn't have the strength that I needed to be at my very best.  I consider this a great blessing and indeed a tender mercy from the Lord when I truly needed it.  Once the interview was cancelled I crawled back into bed and slept!

Today I am grateful to celebrate the Christ child.  It is because of him that tender mercies are possible.  Elder David A. Bednar has said that tender mercies are evidence that the Lord's grace is present.  I need His grace every day of my life!  I know that whenever I look for Him I will find Him and everything else that is important in my life!  #ilovecslewis

Upon waking up from my nap I felt my strength starting to return so I did some more research for this book that is taking forever to finish.  I also took the candy that I made yesterday out of the fridge and dipped each piece into melted chocolate.  Yummy!  I still felt weak, but not as sick.  I was able to fill five candy tins with homemade goodness.  I then took some to the sweet sisters that I visit teach and to my visiting teaching companion.  Check out the homemade chocolates and other goodies:

Bottom layer:  Pecan brittle and peppermint bark

Top layer:  Almond joys and chocolate dipped caramels

The finished product

I am so grateful that I felt well enough to go visiting teaching.  This always lifts my spirits, and it is wonderful to feel the love our Savior has for His precious daughters.  This months lesson is on Jesus Christ's divine attributes of compassion and kindness.  President Thomas S. Monson has said, "The Savior has always shown unlimited capacity for compassion.... Let us open the door of our hearts, that He - the living example of true compassion - may enter."  I am grateful to have felt the Savior's unlimited capacity for compassion through His Holy Spirit as well as those who have administered unto me throughout my life.  Thank you Heavenly Father for the precious gift of Thy Son and Thy loving sons and daughters.

Today's Ponderize Verse:

2 Nephi 1:20

And he hath said that:  Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence.

Blessed to Rest!

Today I was so grateful to not have a full-plate of activities and obligations; what few I had I was able to barely get through.  After spending the morning finishing up the laundry, cleaning out closets, making caramel and almond joys to dip in chocolate, and running some errands with Blaine I started feeling very achy and weak.  I kept trying to push through it, but by 3:00 pm I surrendered to a headache and fever and fell asleep on the couch after taking some ibuprofen.  I slept for about an hour and then went and crawled into my bed and slept for two more hours before Blaine woke me up to take an important phone call. The sleep had revived me somewhat but I still felt icky.  I spent the rest of the night half listening to the Republican debate and trying to do some research on the effects betrayal trauma has on the brain and body for a chapter I am trying to edit in this book I am still writing.  I don't know how productive I was because my head was still too heavy to make any progress, but I at least have a better idea of the direction I want to go with it.  I also did some research on classroom management in preparation for a job interview I have tomorrow.  I sure hope I am feeling well enough to do my very best - talk about bad timing!  Anyhow, I am going to stay positive and be grateful that I have been able to rest and not be stressed out about being unable to do things that were pressing!  I am also grateful for Blaine and Ty being so loving and understanding.  Poor Ty has had to eat grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken noodle soup twice today because I was too weak to fix anything else.  Blaine had leftover salad - poor thing.  Tomorrow is a new day, and I am going to pray to be better and not worse in the morning.  It is amazing to me that I can find something to be grateful for even when I am sick!  This is such a great exercise for me to do each day.  It always allows me to go to bed on a positive note!  I am truly grateful for everything that Heavenly Father has blessed me with!

Count your many blessings see what God hath done!

Today's Verse to Ponderize:

1 Nephi 22:31

...Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved a the last day.  And thus it is.  Amen.

Let Him In!

Today I am grateful for the way the day began.  Just as we were waking up Blaine grabbed the laptop next to the bed and found a song on YouTube that was sung at our ward Christmas party.  It was written by Michael McLean and is Called "Let Him In."  It is sung from the persona of the Inn Keeper in the Nativity or First Christmas story. He laments the fact that he did not let Mary and Joseph into the inn, but then he discovers that even though he turned them away the Savior still loves him and will be there for him as long as he will let Christ into his heart!  This song is a beautiful reminder to let the Savior into our lives, especially when we don't think we have room for Him.  This song is a great carry over from the lessons we were taught yesterday about making Christ the center of our Christmas and our lives.  Here is the link to the video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3f6SXPYDAU  He loves us so much, but we will never fully experience His divine love until we let Him into our hearts!  I am so glad that Blaine shared this with me this morning... It really set the tone for the rest of the day!

Luke 2:7

Turn off the "No Vacancy" sign in your heart and let Him in!

I am also grateful that I was able to spend some quality time with Blaine throughout the day.  We ran some errands together and then we went to drop a thank you gift off to Carmen Snow for helping Blaine and his High Priest Group Leadership with their Family History activity at the Covington Home.  Carmen wasn't home so we dropped her gift off next door to her parents' home - Grant and Grace Iverson.  What a treat that was to visit with them.  Grant is a 90 year old WWII Vet. Blaine asked him to share some of his experiences.  Boy his mind was sharp.  He took us way back to the war and his journeys with the Navy.  He started in San Francisco and soon found himself on the way to New Guinea and everywhere in between.  He talked about the horrific things that he witnessed and also the fun and exciting experiences he had.  We were amazed at the detail he included in his stories and we even were shown some pictures.  Both he and grace were so kind and they really lit up when they shared their memories.  It was such a sweet and tender visit.  We should all be forever grateful for these wonderful men and women who served our country during this crucial era in history.  We owe them so much!  I thought it very fitting that when Blaine and I returned home we turned on the TV and caught the ending of "A Few Good Men."  One of the all-time great movies - Powerful!  After dinner Blaine and I went and exercised and then we did the dishes together.  I made Ty his favorite night-time snack of Orange Julius and sent him to bed.  I did some laundry and then it was time to blog, and guess what?  I'm listening to "Let Him In."

Let Him in, let Him in, let the peace on earth begin... Let Him in, let Him in, let the joy and hope begin!  Let Him In!

Today's Ponderize Verse:

1 Nephi 21:23

...and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.