High Five's for the birthday boy... Hunter turned 5!

Tell Me the Stories of Jesus - Daily Gems

"To fathers and mothers, to grandfathers and grandmothers, and to those without children of their own who lovingly nurture children and youth, my counsel is to speak more frequently about Jesus Christ. In His holy name is great spiritual power. 'There [is] no other name given nor any other way. . . whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ' (Mosiah 3:17)."
Neil L. Andersen, "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus," Ensign, May 2010, 109

Imperfect

I don't know about you, but for me, it is a struggle to be a certain size, have that flat tummy I had before 3 beautiful babies. You know go back to the way I use to look. It is a never ending challenge to loose those last 10 pounds. Oh but that movie star did it and she has 4 kids, or that super mom can do it all, then why can't I.

I compare myself to others ALL THE TIME. I'm not jealous, I just wish Oh I want her tummy, or wow she is so smart. The thoughts don't consume me they just kinda pop in and out of my mind. I struggle with sounding like I know what I'm talking about in an "adult" conversation. Half the time I'm the butt of the joke because I said something stupid and it didn't make sense. Then my confidence falls even lower.

I've never been real "book" smart, could I be a doctor and understand all those technical words... heck no. I can organize a house or office, plan any event or care for you, love you and serve you...but I'm sure not a brilliant person. I do have common sense and I do my best to teach my children. Shoot I might just start over in school with Hunter and learn as he grows up. Nothing wrong with going back to the basics, right?
I'm trying to read more, read, read, read. Steve says that will help get my brain going. I really have enjoyed reading. Which leads me to THIS article... It was PERFECT FOR ME!

I know my Father in Heaven needed me to hear these words. I just loved this message!!!!

It sure hit home for me, but it also confirmed the love that my Heavenly Father has for me.

My favorite part was : The Redeemer chose imperfect people to teach the way to perfection! "Lead us, Oh lead us, great Molder of men, out of the darkness to strive once again!

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are molding me. I'm reminded once again that the negative whispers from Satan that I'm just not good enough are not true!

I'm "created in the image of God".

President Monson, tells a story about Three Canaries. Two are perfect, and the third didn't look perfect because it had grey spots on its wings. Oh but the third bird sang so sweet. This bird was not blessed with beauty, gifted with poise, or honored by posterity. Yet her song helped others to more willingly bear their burdens and more ably shoulder their tasks. The world is filled with canaries with grey spots on their wings. The pity is that so precious few have learned to SING.

Some people feel like they are not as beautiful or as smart as others. But each person is valuable to the Lord. We can be faithful and brave and use our talents to serve others. Then we are like the yellow canary with grey on its wings. We are not perfect, but we are singing our sweetest song!

To live greatly, we must develop the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility.

By gaining a true perspective of who we really are! We are sons and daughters of a living God, in whose image we have been created. Think of that: CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.

“The Lord seeth not as man seeth, for man looked on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

The Redeemer chose imperfect people to teach the way to perfection. He calls you and me to serve Him here below. Out commitment must be total.

“Lead us, oh lead us, great Molder of men, out of the darkness to strive once again”.

I wanna go on a date with you Mommy!

Hunter was pretty bummed that Daddy and Mommy where going on a date and he had to stay home. So on Monday morning, Hunter and Mommy woke up early and went on a date. He wanted to have a "get ready for school date"! So that is what we did!

Hunter got a new hair cut. He loves sitting in the big boy chair with his cape. Then off to Target to get some last minute school supplies. Of course he hit me up for cash as we walked in so he could get a slurpie and food at the snack bar. (he was not cheap date) :)

Finally we went to Publix and got him all the yummy snacks that he wanted for his school lunch. (of course I got some HEALTHY stuff) :)

We finished the date off with a icecream cone and some good conversation. I love this age, he has so much to share with me. So many ideas and thoughts.

I asked him if he wanted to do anything else, he said no! We will save the golfing for "next time".

I'm actually looking forward to "NEXT TIME". It was fun just having time with my little dude! What a great morning.

Calling all Motorcycle Racers... Hunter is turning 5!

Hunter wanted to have a Motorcycle/ Florida State Seminole "color" party! Oh yes he WAS that specific. So this is what I came up with.

He picked out a cake that he just had to have, he found it 4 months ago in a magazine and said that this was HIS cake.

It sure did put my creativity to the test. I had LOTS of ideas but they just wouldn't flow together.

So finally after lots of brainstorming and web surfing....

TA - DA

I transformed my dining room into a racetrack.

Each kid got there own motorcycle to decorate and then they raced them.

I'm so glad my sister Bethany was in town... we were up very late transforming the room.

When the room was finished, I have to say I was pretty dang excited for Hunter to wake up in the morning and see his "Birthday Party Room".

(PARTY PICS COMING SOON)... IT WAS A BLAST!!!

Oh How I LOVE Pottery Barn

I look forward to Fall, the spice candle burning and the room filled with bright fall colors!

I love to see the web sites with all the fun creative ideas, it gives me inspiration to try and use what I have to recreate the amazing table scape's.

Thanks Lacy for the inspiration...

Well you all know me by now that I LOVE to CHANGE things up in my home. I had gone back and forth on keeping or taking down the mirror in my dining room. I just wasn't feeling it anymore, but I didn't know what to put there instead.

When I was over at my friend Lacy's house, she was showing me her new living room wall full of pictures and I got inspired! I loved how she did different sizes and mixed frames up.

Now of course since my sister Bethany came to town we just had to do some kind of makeover.

One evening when the kids were sleeping we decided to do a free makeover on my dining room. We used items from other parts of the house, a free makeover is always the best...I love it!

BEFORE:


















After...

Whatcha Reading? My Favs right now.

This book was given to me after my surgery, they thought it was a remarkable story to read. You just never know what the Lord has in store for you, and how he provides a way for you to overcome the trial and journey.... I read it with Steve each night. We are in the middle of this book and we both LOVE it, it is hard not to get emotionally involved..... so amazing!

Editorial Reviews

Be Still, My Son is the true story of a boy born into a typical Latter-day Saint family in the heart of Utah. In his youth, he enjoyed the blessings of living the gospel until his father became disaffected with the Church and sought polygamy as an alternative.
This story depicts the heart-wrenching emotions the boy experienced as he watched his family leave the Church for an austere fundamentalist lifestyle. He spent long, hot summers in the polygamist community of Short Creek, Arizona. Durning the school year, he had to hide his true identity for fear that his family's underground lifestyle would be found out. When he turned sixteen, he escaped and entered an unknown world full of challenges. He relates how the Lord carefully guided him back to the Church with the promise that "life would be filled with constant rewards." A series of life-altering events taught him that we all must "learn to wait on the Lord and trust him." This is a powerful story of one man's journey to elusive happiness.


About the Author
David LaMar Beagley was born in 1944 in Provo, Utah, to Jesse and Althea Beagley. He was the tenth of twelve children. At age sixteen he ran away from his polygamist home in Utah and joined the LDS Church in Flagstaff, Arizona.
He married Roberta Boyd in the Salt Lake Temple on May 27, 1966. They are the parents of six children and have nineteen grandchildren. He graduated from Southern Utah State University in 1970 and moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho to begin his twenty-year career in the Seminary Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He taught in Cedar City, American Fork, Pleasant Grove, and Idaho Falls.


My Sweet Sister Ashlea spoke so highly of this man. He was amazing at Time Out For Woman
and his book is has had many eye opening parts, that I really loved. I haven't finished it yet, but I'm drawn to the love he shares between Heavenly Father and us as parents.


"Having a child in our home may be the closest thing to having the Father and Son themselves within our walls".

Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Judges 13 : "The Lord will teach us what we shall do unto the children that shall be born".

S. Michael Wilcox

Do you ever wish that you had access to the ultimate parenting guide, the one with ALL the answers? In his new book, What the Scriptures Teach Us about Raising a Child, S. Michael Wilcox shows us that the scriptures, given to us by the greatest Father, are the ultimate parenting guide. He teaches us how to utilize and seek help from scriptural instruction and stories and apply them in raising and teaching children. Whether you are a new parent, a seasoned parent or a primary teacher, this book is a helpful guide to deeper gospel instruction for children of any age.
http://deseretbook.com/time-out/featured/28

"See A Good Day #27" - Steve's High Adventure (Scouts)

Steve went on a week long "High Adventure Trip" with the youth in our church. He had fun planning with the guys all of the fun activities they were going to do. Check out all the fun pictures.

"See A Good Day #26" - Growing Up

Henry is 15 months old and our family just adores him. He is growing up so healthy and happy. We are blessed to have such a sweet spirited little man in our lives.

Hunter calls him his little bro and well Steve has several names for him.. the one that really has stuck is "Ricky"... yeah, don't ask (totally an inside joke, not sure I even get it. LOL). It is just funny because Henry actually answers to it.

Henry is so curious ALL the time. He goes around the house turning water on, crawling up into the dishwasher and throwing the ball into the shower (and wonders, huh "where did it go"?). He loves to CLIMB on EVERYTHING!!! The other day Hunter called for me to come get Henry off of the craft table... it was so cute, he was sitting on top like he was king of the world. Of couse he was ready to greet me with his adorable smile.

HE IS ALL BOY for sure, rough and tough!!! I sure wouldn't have it any other way, I just LOVE it.

I LOVE watching him grow and see him play with the Monster trucks along with his big brother. Learning so much just from playing, laughing when a toy makes a sound. Oh but the best is when we read books and he wants to turn the pages, he is so eager to see what is next.

Then there is that smile, his smile MELTS my heart and so brightens my day EACH and EVERY time I see it.

Oh I just treasure my sweet little curious boy.