The Quote

I love this quote...it's from Elder Hales

"The greatest faith we have will be within our homes as we remain strong in the trials and tribulations of parenthood"

Also a really good one

Joseph Smith "...let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed" (D&C 123:15,17)

I love re-reading the Ensign and highlighting all the things I love or that stand out to me.

We had a great start to the weekend. I know...a little late...but whatever, this is my blog...lol



This is a picture Tanner took of his light in his room. Random...I kow.




What's a BBQ without s'mores...mmmmmm




Matt enjoying his hot dog...lol




Tanner LOVES the water

We had a BBQ and just spent time running through the sprinkler and spending time together. Tanner and I made Peanut Butter cookies that were very yummy. They are my fave!

My computer is acting slow so I'll have to post pictures later.

Sorry for the randomness...

My favorites

I re-read the November (General Conference issue) Ensign and found some really great quotes. I will share a few of them with you because there are many and over time, I will eventually share more.

Richard G. Scott: Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son Jesus Christ.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf: When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align

Dallin H. Oaks: This sobering teaching (Luke 12:51-53) teaches us that when family members are not united in striving to keep the commandments of God, there will be divisions...the straying of our loved ones will detract from our happiness, but it should not detract from our love for one another or our patient efforts to be united in understanding God's love and God's laws.

Robert D. Hales: When we do not do what is right or when our outlook is dominated by skepticism, cynicism, criticism, and irreverence toward other and their beliefs, the Spirit cannot be with us.

Kent D. Watson: Security for our families comes from learning self-control, avoiding the excesses of this world, and being temperate in all things. Peace of mind comes from strengthened faith in Jesus Christ. Happiness come from being diligent in keeping covenants made at baptism and in the holy temples of the Lord.
And finally for today...

Boyd K. Packer: No matter who you are or what you may have done, you can always pray. The Prophet Joseph Smith promised that " all beings who have bodies have power over those who have not"

I was inspired by one of the sisters I teach to go back and really ponder the words of the recent Ensign. I always have the intention to do that but I have not been successful at accomplishing it. So during Christmas break, I did it.

We had a wonderful Christmas. We went to surprise my Mom on Christmas eve day. She was surprised! We had a lovely time. Tanner is very spoiled by my family. Although this year, it was very mild compared to some other years. I think because now Emerson is part of our family (my nephew) they spoil him much more because he's little. Tanner really liked the blanket Santa made him. Santa came to him twice. Once on Christmas Eve Morning (before we left) and then on Christmas day at my Mom's. I was really worried that mine and Matt's gift we got him would be boring compared to some of the other stuff he got but he was the most excited about it when he opened it. We got him the second season of the Transformers cartoon. He opened it up and screamed and jumped up and down for about 5 minutes and when we tried to get him to open another gift, he wouldn't. So that was nice.

Matt had a double Christmas. He got 2 wallets, and 2 attache cases/brief cases.

I got 3 kangaroo jackets (I believe they're just called hoodies now), some really good sheets (400 and 600 thread count...Soooo luxurious) and we got the Wii! We have some really fun games and we love to play together as a family so it's awesome. I use to be very much against any kind of game system. I always thought it was such a waste of time but now, I'm glad we got one because we have a lot of fun together (okay Super Mario Brothers isn't that fun when Tanner plays, but we suck it up...after all, it's just a game).

Maybe this means that one day we'll have a pet...lol. NEVER!!! I like animals but I strongly, strongly detest pets. It's like having a 2 year old for the rest of your life...no thank you. Anyways, it was a really nice Christmas.

I am really glad Tanner is back in school. He was not very good during the holidays and for a week before Christmas we took all his presents away and told him that if he couldn't be good then he couldn't have his presents. He ended up being good but then on the weekend, he started misbehaving again. The Wii can be a good bargaining chip, but it doesn't solve the problem. It ends up that we send him to his room to think about what he's done and when he's ready to come out and try to be good, then he can come out. It's been working pretty good. I think it has helped him to understand the consequences of not making good choices. He was soooo cute yesterday at skating. His coach told him and another boy that she wanted them (the 2 boys) to be able to learn to skate fast and Tanner said "I can do it. I can skate fast because I'm good". Matt and I had to chuckle. We're always telling him what a good job he does at skating (among other things as well) so I think that's where it came from. We're reading the first Magic Tree house book right now. It's a really easy book and the words are not difficult for Tanner. We really try to foster and encourage his reading. He is such a good reader. His teachers are always amazed at how well he reads. They say he reads at about a grade 2 level...which is great, but we're not totally confident that he understand stories at that level. I guess that will come with time.

Matt is still looking for a job. He worked for a short bit for a friend of his. This is going on I believe the 3rd month of not having a job. It is a very difficult market out there. I may have to look for full time work and have him stay at home with Tanner. I'm not sure I can get a great paying job, but even a consistent income would help out.

Well, I think that's about it for now. Have a wonderful day!

kidney beans and stars

What does the title of my post have to do with each other???? They don't. It's just what I wanted to name it because of 2 different things I was thinking about.

First, kidney beans are killing me! Not in the literal sense but they are killing my arms. When I'm warming up on my treadmill, I use cans of kidney beans for my arm exercises. It is quite intense some mornings but I'm learning to manage. I don't have dumb bells so I have to use what I have and that something is cans of kidney beans. It's the same thing right? I'll get the same result, don't you think? lol

Stars...oh man, I LOVE doing my paper route these days because I get to see a sky full of crystal clear stars. Millions and millions of them. They are so beautiful. On Monday, I almost fell off my bike because I was busy gazing up at the stars. Such a blessing to be able to see them so clearly. We don't have the light or air pollution that Calgary does so we see them much clearer here.

If any of you are looking for a good FHE lesson, this week I read the book "Mister Penny" (it's about working together) and then we cleaned the house. I don't think I can remember a time when Tanner was so excited to clean. He wanted to empty the garbage's all by himself (normally Matt helps him do this) and actually did it. He cleaned up his toys quicker than he ever has before. Anyways, it was a great book and taught a good lesson.

Some of you might have noticed that my blog is not private anymore. I've decided to open it up again for a little while. That is why the comments have to be moderated now. If any anonymous people want to comment they can but I get to decide if their comments are going to be published. I was just feeling really uncomfortable, previously, with having unknown people make rude comments. I feel like this way, if they want to remain unknown to the public but want to (they don't have to) tell me privately who they are, then they can still remain anonymous/unknown to the public while still enjoying my blog. I hope that makes sense. I want everyone to enjoy my blog but I don't want it to be a source of contention or back biting between my commenter's like it had started to become before I made it private. Anyways, I hope that my blog will something that people want to read and find enjoyable.

To end my post I'll end with a quote that came in a local newsletter

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

A little bit of randomness

I have to laugh sometimes at some of the things I read in the paper. Today I read about a girl whose hand was grabbed by a seal and took her for a swim. She was 5 years old and the article said the girl was upset "...that the seal didn't ask her if she wanted to go for a swim." Potentially this could have ended in tragedy but it didn't. Oh, the silliness of people...

I found a nut free trail mix a month ago that Tanner loves and since the school is suppose to be nut free, it is a perfect snack for him to take. This is HIGHLY addictive (well, at least for me) but very enjoyable.

2 parts granola
2 parts sunflower or pumpkin seeds (I like to use raw pumpkin seeds)
2 parts raisins
2 parts dried fruit (we like a mixture of any of the following: banana chips, mangoes, craisins, dried blueberries or yogurt covered blueberries, apple slices, coconut, dried strawberries)
1 part chocolate chips or chocolate covered candy (like smarties or m&m's)

If you use dried blueberries, they are a bit pricey but they are really good. My Mother in law told me you can get the yogurt covered blueberries at Safeway. I only add about a handful of the m&m's because that is what Tanner would pick out so I only put a little bit in. You can buy all this stuff in bulk at Superstore (except the apple slices. I used my food storage apple slices. And I'm not sure where to get dried strawberries) for about $10-15. Since it's just the 3 of us, I don't need that much but if you wanted it just for snacks for your kids to take, it would be cheap.

Tanner is really enjoying kindergarten so far. They went on a hunt for Chester the raccoon. If you haven't read any of the books in this 3 book series, I strongly recommend you do. They are such cute books and have a great message. The first book is called "The Kissing Hand". The name of the other 2 have escaped me but I got them from my Relief Society Presidency as a gift when we first moved into the ward when I was pregnant with Tanner. Tanner loves treasure hunts and they're fun to do.

What else is new???? We went to Calgary this past weekend for a little vacation. Matt and I didn't really get to go anywhere and Megan and Dean are starting up a little business of photography so we were some of their first subjects.

Normally at this time of year, I already have Tanner's Halloween outfit thought about and his birthday cake in mind. I'm sad to say that I haven't even thought about any of that. I guess I'll be looking for ideas soon enough.

Tanner had tubes put in his ears on Monday. He's such a trooper. He took his baby (his monkey) and said that baby would protect him. When they brought Tanner back up to the room, the nurse said that Tanner told her that he had the most fun ever! I had to laugh a bit at that. After all that he has been through, for him to say that surgery was fun is kind of funny to me. It is the easiest and quickest of all the surgeries he's had so it doesn't really surprise me too much. Anyway, he's fine and happy and I can tell he hears better. He's not always asking us to repeat ourselves. And the T.V. isn't blaring when he's watching a movie.

Well, I think that's about all for now.

Here's a thought for today, When life gets tough to stand, KNEEL

A short public message for Jamie

Jamie, hello, of course I watched Grey's!!! I can't even wait. I was going to stop watching it at the end of this season, but now I HAVE to watch it next season. I think George is out. His story line depleted this season so unless they have something totally awesome for him, I can't see him returning. And we will visit in June when I drop Tanner off for the week. I believe it's the 26th that I'll be up. It's a Wednesday for sure. The Wednesday before July 1st.

Okay now for all those other people who possibly read my blog....

It's been a great 2 weeks. Calgary was really fun and we were all very productive. We had a great Mother's Day and celebration of my sisters' birthdays. Megan will finally get some clothes she wanted that fit her after having baby "E". He's such a doll...no pun intended. He didn't like Matt too much though. He got scared when he started talking to him. Maybe with time Matt will be less scary...lol. It's a bit of a sensitive subject for Matt. A small hit on his self esteem. Most kids/babies love Matt. And I'm not just saying that. Matt is amazing with all my friends' children. He's just such a good Dad.

I found this paragraph from a talk that Julie B. Beck gave back in November 2007. It's part of a really great talk and I would encourage all of you to read it because it is a really great talk (I know, I said that already).

" Mother's who know do less. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world's goods in order to spend more time with their children"

I believe in that quote full heartedly. I love that so much. It helped to confirm to me that not having T.V. in our house and not having a computer and only listening to church (because that's the only wholesome music I have) music is helping us be more spiritual and helping the spirit be in our home more frequently and more strongly. I am glad that Matt and I made that decision because it has blessed us in many ways. We do spend more time with each other and building our relationships with each other. And that's the most important thing right now. Well, one of them.

The weather has finally started to be consistently warm that it we don't have to dress in layers.

Here's a nice little story for you. ANd I would love any of your opinions to tell me if you think I made the right choice.

When Tanner rides his bike, he likes to "park" them behind the vehicles. We are telling him every time he goes out to park in the special spot he picked (which is on a grass hill on our yard) and not behind the car or truck (it's Matt's Dad's, not ours...on loan). So a couple weeks ago, he left his tricycle behind the car and as I reversed I hit it. It didn't do any damage, just scratched it a little bit. We reminded him again that it's not safe to leave his bike behind the car or truck because they could get wrecked and then he would have no bike to ride. So last week he parked his 2 wheeler with training wheels behind the truck. We got in the truck much later that day and when I went to pull out of the driveway I heard this "klunk". I knew right away what it was. So I jumped out and got the bike and showed Tanner that the front wheel was completely bent and that he wouldn't be able to ride it. He seemed a bit sad but then said "you can buy me a new bike". To which I said that we could not buy him a new bike because he needed to take care of the bike he already had (plus we don't have $60 to buy him a new bike every time his bike gets run over). So then he didn't say anything and I told him he would have to ride his tricycle again. When we went to my Mom's on the long weekend, she has a bike for him that someone gave to her. We'll let him have it when he comes home for July 1st from Calgary but did I do the right thing in not buying him another bike? Is there anything else I should have said to him? How can I help teach him to care for his bike? That is my wonderings...

Well, I should go and pick up the little munchkin from school. He only has 5 more days left...crazy! He has his final music performance tomorrow and Megan and my Aunt Carolyn are coming down for it. I'm really stoked about it. It should be really cute. Anyways, Have a great day!

random musings

Tonight Matt and I are going on a date with my best friend and her husband. We are going to see the movie about wolverine. I am not a huge x-man/wolverine fan. In fact, they kind of bore me but I really need to go on a date with Matt and I love spending time with my best friend so I am going to go. Who knows, maybe I'll enjoy the movie...lol. It does have Hugh Jackman and he's pleasant on the eyes. I'm excited to go. Matt and I haven't been to a movie since...well let's just say I can't remember the last time we've gone together with each other. I think maybe it was Christmas...I can't remember. Matt got 7 movie passes for his birthday and he's sharing one with me so we can go out together. I sure do love him. I have to admit that I'm a tad bit selfish when it comes to gifts. If I got a movie pass, I would have a hard (although it wouldn't be impossible) time sharing it with Matt. It would be worth the sacrifice though.

Last night I learned to crochet and today, I have a migraine. It's very muscle intensive to do that. I get all tense and then the next day, I pay. I have to learn to relax a bit more. I am making a blanket. A baby blanket...no not for me. I don't know who, but it's blue. So clearly for a boy.

I have some quotes out of the book that I just finished reading that I thought were good and I would like to share.

Bruce C. Hafen: When troubles come, the parties of a contractual marriage seek happiness by walking away. They marry to obtain benefits and will stay only as long as they are receiving what they bargained for. But when troubles come to a covenant marriage, the husband and wife work them through. They marry to give and to grow, bound by covenants to each other, to the community, and to God. Contract companions give 50 percent; covenant companions give 100 percent. Marriage is by nature a covenant, not just a private contract one may cancel at will. Jesus taught about contractual attitudes when he described the "hireling," who preforms his conditional promise of care only when he receives something in return. When the hireling "seeth the wolf coming," he "leaveth the sheep, and fleeth...because he...careth not for the sheep." By contrast, the Savior said, "I am the good shepherd,...and I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:12-15). Many people today marry as hirelings. And when the wolf comes, they flee. This idea is wrong. It curses the earth, turning parents' hearts away from their children and from each other (D&C 2)

Bruce R. McConkie: From the moment of birth into mortality to the time we are married in the temple, everything we have in the whole gospel system is to prepare and qualify us to enter that holy order of matrimony which makes us husband and wife in this life and in the world to come.
Then from the moment we are sealed together by the power and authority of the holy priesthood-the power to bind on earth and have it sealed eternally in the heavens-from that moment everything connected with revealed religion is designed to help us keep the terms and conditions of our marriage covenant, so that this covenant will have efficacy, virtue and force in the life to come. Thus celestial marriage is the crowning ordinance of the gospel, the crowning ordinance of the house of the Lord. Thus the family unit is the most important organization in time or in eternity

Those quotes just really stuck out to me. In a world where the family is being torn down all around us, I just feel so strongly about keeping our families from being destroyed by the adversary. We have to have strong foundations in our marriages to have a strong family so I felt the 2 quotes were kind of connected in a way.

On another note, my Mom bought us a clothes line. One of those umbrella ones. I'm so excited to have it. I only have one line across my backyard so I'm limited in the amount of clothes I can put on it. With air drying all our clothes (except towels and underclothing) we have quite a bit of clothes. I usually have 3 loads of clothes to do in addition to the towels/sheets and underclothes. It will be great to have more line to dry clothes. I love doing laundry. I love seeing the clothes blowing in the breeze. I'm kind of a nerd...I know. It is just so satisfying to me to do laundry. I love sorting the clothes and organizing them in the washer so I can fit them all in so one side isn't heavier than the other. I've never dreaded doing laundry. I'm weird, it's okay. I dread other things like cleaning my room, or sweeping. I don't like sweeping. I like mopping, but not sweeping.

We are going to Calgary for the May long weekend and I'm excited. It's the first time since Christmas that Matt will be able to come with us. He is now working at the county of Warner and so he has Fridays off so we'll enjoy a bit of a longer holiday. Seeing as we don't go many places together, it will be a nice treat for us to be together as a family. He won't get 2 weeks vacation since this is just a seasonal job so any extra long weekend together will be awesome. He's been off this week and in the past I would normally dread when he's home for long periods of time, but I've actually quite enjoyed it this time. I usually dread it because it kind of wrecks mine and Tanner's routine. But this time, he has been really helpful and even trimmed the lawn and he's getting Tanner new bike tires today. So it's been great. I guess I feel like I'm in a different place in my life and I am not as easily annoyed at change or difference. I think that's what makes it different this time. I'm trying to just go with the flow and not be uptight about things that really don't matter. I am trying to look at the eternal perspective and choose weather what is going on is worth getting upset or annoyed at. It's change, but I feel good about it.

Well, I think that's it for now. I hope everyone is having a great day and enjoying the weather (it's pretty nice here).

Gone with the WInd

You would think that by now I'd be use to the wind but this morning...it's a bit wild. Anyways, what's been happening the last month. I went to my first book club/discussion group. It was pretty good. I enjoyed the book and hearing what other people got out of it. The following is my favorite quote of the book and my possibly be my favorite quote in life right now:

It is not enough for us to be convinced by the gospel; we must act and think so that we are converted by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something...The final judgement is not just an evaluation of the sum total of good and evil acts-what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts-what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become. Dallin H. Oaks

How true is that? It is so important to not just do what is right but do it because we want to do it. There are so many people who live the gospel for "show". They do what they think is right to look good. But then there's those who live and breathe the gospel who desire to do what's right because they know and believe that it will make them a better person and trust in the Lord and do His will. I hope that makes sense. There are the doers and then there are the believers.

Let's see, what else have we been up to? I finished the Book of Mormon for the 3rd time 2 weeks ago. I started reading it again right away. The more I read the Book of Mormon, the more I love it. I feel like I get to know the people better each time I read it.

Tanner is happy and healthy. He had a really bad cold a couple weeks ago and then had it again last weekend. I'm a bad Mom and kept him home last Monday from school because I felt it was more important for him to rest than to go to school. I remember as a child and especially as a teenager, my older and younger sister and I practically had to be dying or throwing up all over for my Mom to allow us to stay home from school. But my little sister, Melany....she could complain that she had a "tummyache or sore throat" and she got to stay home, no questions asked. And she didn't have the same rules as us. We had to lie in our beds or on the couch and rest. There was no watching t.v. or reading or anything like that. The only way I can get Tanner to rest is if we watch movies. Otherwise, he runs around the house and plays and doesn't rest. I guess every child is different.

The problem I'm having right now in life is constantly feeling judged. Like I'm not a good enough Mom, or that I'm not strict enough, or that my child isn't good enough or well behaved enough or that I'm too laid back. Parenting is such a tricky thing sometimes. And not feeling like a good Mom, for me, makes me feel like a bad person. It's something that is hard for me because I have felt judged my whole life because of my past and I am really trying hard to be a better person and not be that girl I was 10-15 years ago that people strongly disliked. I've spent a lot of time on my knees because I know it comes down to forgiving myself. I can't make people like me or see me the way I would like them to see me. I can only be responsible for me and how I act and treat other people. It's a growing and learning process. That's life, I guess.

Anyways, I should go. Thanks for letting me open myself up to my vulnerability.

Correction

I just wanted to make it clear that I do appreciate what the soldiers have done and continue to do. I highly respect them and are grateful every day for what they do. The point I was trying to make is exactly what Sharon had said in that I don't understand why all the hoopla around people who have chosen that path and all the people who have died. I also found a great quote from I believe Boyd K. Packer about how not all our lives will be celebrated in grandeur like Moroni or the great heroes of the Book of Mormon. Most of us will live our lives in quiet splendor without all the fanfare but that doesn't make us any less serviceable to God. So I'm okay with it...the war and if that what people choose to report on and glorify then that's up to them.

I've just had my ears unplugged and it feels great. They've been plugged up for a couple days now and it was really painful last night and this morning but then I went to the doctor and they're all better.

We had a non eventful new year. We rented a bunch of movies and watched them. Matt went to bed at 11:30 and Tanner fell asleep at 11. So it was just me at 12 to kiss no one : (

We did, however, have an eventful weekend. Matt's truck (well, it actually his Dad's that he loaned to Matt) had the wheel lock up on it. Not a huge deal except that the truck was parked behind our car in the driveway and so we didn't have access to our car. So thankfully, with a prayer and the help of Susanne's husband, Chris, they got the truck out and the car is now accessible. So Tanner and I are back to walking everywhere. I don't think he really gets that yet, but I'm sure he will when I go to pick him up at school in a little while.

Matt also starts at dunlop ford tomorrow. We are all very excited about that and the changes it will bring. He'll stay on at the feedlot on the weekends because it's not a full days work on the weekend. That way, he'll be able to bring in a little more money and he'll still get time with his family.

Our Primary Class went well. I am actually very excited about it this year. I'm looking forward to teaching and learning all the things I can. I am looking forward to the class participation.

So, happy new year!

For Christal

I know Christal likes qoutes and I found a really really great one that I really love. It's by Geri Brinley

"How does one truly become a parent? Biological ties are not sufficent. Father, mother, son and daughter are titles that must be earned through meaningful hours of serving, giving, and investing in family members"