General Conference....

Wasn't it great? I think for me it all started with the General Relief Society Meeting. I felt like Pres. Uchtdorf was talking just to me. Did any of you feel that way? I am just so grateful that we live in an age where we have the resorted gospel on the earth again and are blessed with a modern day Prophet. Isn't it wonderful to hear from him? I am already excited to get next months Ensign.

Thought...

"In true marriage there must be a union of minds as well as of hearts. Emotions must not wholly determine decisions, but the mind and the heart, strengthened by fasting and prayer and serious consideration, will give one a maximum chance of marital happiness."

Spencer W. Kimball, "The Importance of Celestial Marriage," Ensign, Oct. 1979

1st Soccer Game

Here is the page from Evelyn's first soccer game.

A Lesson & A Thought

Have you ever wondered if your kids really like each other? Some days with all the fighting and whining, it has crossed my mind. Today, they showed me that they don't just like each other, they love each other. Max was napping, Sam was in quiet time, Evelyn and I were watching the 2nd session of General Conference. All of a sudden there was a crash from Sam and Evelyn's room. I go in to find Sam underneath the dresser. Half of him anyway. I pick up the dresser and Evelyn comes running in to see what the matter is. When she sees her brother under the dresser, she falls on him in a huge embrace. The compassion was overwhelmingly there, but in true Evelyn fashion, there was a little drama too. It touched me to see how concerned she was for him. I'm sure you are wondering why I would be so touched by this. She should be concerned. There was another instance not too long ago where he got hurt. She came to see what the matter was. Thinking I would get the kind of reaction I got from today's events, instead she says, "I am so frustrated! I can't hear my show with him crying!" The t.v. was turned off immediately... drama, drama. Back to Sam, he was fine, just a bloody lip. When he had finally calmed down enough to tell me what had happened, he said he was opening all the drawers (why, I don't know) and the dresser fell over. Unfortunately this has happened before, to Evelyn. You'd think we would have got rid of the darn thing after the first time. It will be gone tomorrow, I promise. I have also wondered if my kids ever really listen to the things we try and teach them. Not the every day things, but the other things. After Conference was over, again they proved they can and do listen. Instead of playing with toys or looking at books, they started playing Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. They had blankets over their heads and where calling each other by name. At first Max was Joseph and Sam was baby Jesus. I didn't realize this until Sam starting crawling down the hall. I asked Evelyn if he was a dog now and she said, "No he's a baby, he's crawling." Why the baby that crawls already at our house couldn't fill that roll, I don't know. The boys eventually switched rolls, not that Max knew he was a party to any of it, and on they went. I leave you with this thought...

"Children are open to gospel truths more than at any other time, and protected childhood is
literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to teach and strengthen children to choose the right.

"It's easy to know what to teach. The scriptures and our prophets are clear about what to
teach our children. Nephi summarizes it in this verse, 'And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ,
we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ . . . that our children may know to what source they
may look for a remission of their sins' (2 Nephi 25:26).

"Knowing that we teach of Christ and His gospel, how do we do it? Begin by following the counsel
of our prophets and making time in our homes for family prayer, scripture study, and family
home evening. Have we heard that counsel so often that it seems too simple? Or are we so busy
that adding one more thing feels too complex? I testify that even when our family worship seems
less than effective, obedience alone invites the blessings of the Lord."

Margaret S. Lifferth, "Behold Your Little Ones," Ensign, Nov. 2006

Sam Sam the Man Man

For those of you that know Sam, he is a reserved sort of fellow. He is getting better though and lately at home, he has become quite the character. He makes the funniest faces and talks in the silliest voices. I just wanted to share my latest page of him... Please tell me you can all name the movie!

Zoo Day

A few weeks ago we had our first school field trip. It was to the zoo. The day was beautiful and everyone seemed to have a great time.

#3

What is the deal with your children only being good for other people? Max is being especially Crazy right now. When I went to the dentist yesterday, the kids went to the neighbors. He had had a horrible night and I was so hoping he wouldn't be a total beast for her. She said he was fine. I am beginning to think she was lying! lol! Or maybe it's just me that brings out the best in him. He seemed fine when I got there and we even hung out for awhile and visited, no problems. The moment we walked in the house, the beast was back. Last night for Enrichment Night, it was a combined adult dinner and the Stake President and his wife spoke. Rick was holding Max at dinner and he kept reaching for Rick's glass of water. Finally I said, "Dude, no!" You should have seen the lip on his face. He could have tripped over it! It was actually pretty funny. Then the tears started. I had hurt his feelings in a big way. He doesn't like to be told no. All I can say to that is,... get use to it. He cries and screams and then all he wants is me. I want him to want someone else. I would like to walk out of a room, without him crying like I've ripped a limb off. I think this teething thing has just thrown him for a loop! Like right now, he is screaming from the other room. I know as soon as I pick him up he will fight and squirm in my arms to be put down. It's a no win with him right now. I know this will pass, but boy does it seem along way off right now...

1st Post of 31 for 21

My sister passed along the challenge of 31 for 21 to raise awareness for Downs Syndrome. So here is my first post...

Today I got to check something off of my list of To-Do's for the year. I went to the dentist. It has been more years then I want to say since going last. I am happy to report that I got a clean bill of teeth! Yeah! I am going to go back to have them whitened. I haven't decided if I am going to do the take home trays or the in-office thing. I am such a gagger (e-xrays weren't pretty!), that I don't know if I could sit there for a half an hour with that contraption holding my mouth open without hurling. Have any of you had it done before? What's it like?