Monday, January 26, 2009

Joseph Smith and Church History

I Love Gospel Doctrine this year!!


I love what we are studying and I love our teachers. Last week the lesson on the first vision was amazing and although we have heard it one hundred times over I just love to read it in his own words thinking about it coming out of his mouth.
Since 9th grade seminary I have always had a love for the D&C and for Joseph Smith.Our family Church History trip we took years ago was just enough to wet my lips and have the desire for more. Although we haven't been back yet, I still constantly talk about going again all the way to New York this time.
Although I have an unwavering love for Joseph and total testimony of his life and teachings, I also go into the "question" mode with him. Which of course has led me to study and read books on his life and his challenges and his struggles. The more you study things then the more questions you have so in order to answer those questions you have to search more. As true with Joseph and I.
Yesterday at church our lesson was on the translation and the first 116 pages. Our teacher was extremely emotional and touched by the spirit and he brought that with him to tech our lesson, which as we all know is what "teaches" more than the words said. It turned out so interesting as he talked about the people who Believed Joseph and why. People in our ward starting talking about their conversation stories and their testimony on Joseph and he just let them. I know your not really supposed to do that in Sunday School, but it was the perfect way to get the point across, I know it was led by the spirit, and I know everyone was touched by it. They talked about people they know or themselves, and each one, their testimony came down to the knowledge that Joseph Smith was a prophet called by God, to bring us the gospel. I sat there listening to all these testimonies and stories, and I sat there thinking...
Why WOULD anyone question that? Anyone who would get to KNOW Joseph will KNOW he is a prophet and EVERYTHING that he did was from our Heavenly Father. I realized it is the same as they say with the Savior. Get to know him, don't question what he did, embrace it, with all your heart, with all your soul, with everything you have. AND I DO!

Just as I love the Savior and he loves me. I Love Joseph, he was a Prophet of god, and HE did everything in his power for US. The things he did were for us. They were for ME. It was VERY personal for Joseph and it is for me. We are so lucky to have that knowledge and the Gospel in our lives. It is so simple!

That's just my testimony of Joseph, I look so forward to an amazing year and we get to know and love this amazing man!

Friday, January 23, 2009

HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY CARLY!

This Year Carly decided to have a

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

Birthday Party..


Carly LOVES to Sing and Dance to anything HSM, Hannah Montana, or Camp Rock.

We had a Rockin' good time.

Jessica and Courtney made "Go WildCats" Signs & hung them all over.
The Girls made Red Mascot Pennants, "HSM" Musical Pictures & HSM DDR






BUT the Best part was a visit from the one and only

SHARPAY!

Who taught them how to Dance and sing to

"We're All in this together"



Courtney was in her school production of HSM so she really had fun with it. Although I did have to explain it to some of the parents as they dropped the girls off, why she was dressed like that. :) Gabriella (Jessica) made a quick appearance.. (not really her thing)

We had lunch and watched HSM (that lasted a whole 10 minutes)


Then ended with Playstation Sing-it. High School Musical and Disney Hits Karaoke..
Of Course They LOVED To Sing... and sing... and sing... and sing!
We are so glad CarlyAnn chose to be born to our family. She brings so much joy, happiness and Innocence to a house hold of teenage drama!!
WE LOVE YOU CAR CAR!!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

According to CVC 128089.5. Minor applicants can apply for a CADL!!!

"What am I doing? This is absolutely crazy! This is not right! I think I am feeling sick! How can anyone in their right mind make it legal for a 16 year old to drive a 3000 lb. hunk of steal, plastic, & glass.. ANYWHERE She wants.... at any time of the day...... WITH OUT AN ADULT!?"
THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS!!!
These are just some of my terrified thoughts as I sat there at the DMV waiting for Jessica to finish taking her Drivers Test. I looked around and saw Dad's tapping their feet, Mom's biting their nails, while we all anxiously waited the outcome of this strange and unusual universe we were all about to enter into....
"Teenage Driving"
One tall lanky boy came out of the room... (no way was he 16.. maybe 13:) ---Didn't pass... The mom frowned and stood up.. she put her arm around him as they walked out the door.... But I swear I saw a little skip in her step as a sense of relief washed over our little group of people sitting there waiting... waiting...
The DMV is an ugly building..
No wonder people are grouchy there..
I am glad we got there when we did, the line was now out the door..
Could I clutch my purse any tighter... my knuckles are turning WHITE!
BREATH!!!!! BREATH!!!!

K... Seriously CHILL! As Jessica would say....

Then the thoughts of a spontaneous 5 year old popped in my mind~
Jessica learning to ride her bike, and then being baptized, and then graduating elementary school, and then going to Young Women's and the look on her face on the first day of High School.
It was the same look she gave me as she walked into that room she was sitting in, which seemed like forever ago...
THEN time stopped as she stepped out. The smile on her face said it all.

YES She passed!!! It was just a moment in time, but a memory that will last a lifetime...
Yes, my 16 year old has the permission from our gov. to drive with a permit...

Hummmm.... quick trips to the store, errands, taking her sister to softball and more... I'm starting to like the feeling !!!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

CATCH UP!



OK..............Here is the
101 REASONS
I did not Blog in December

Christmas Tree's
Lights
Decorated Kitchen Window
Candy Cane Factory



Painted Front Room
Painted "Den"
Shar, Jay & Girls came to visit


G-ma Came to visit

Christmas Parade
Pajama Party
Christmas books
Made 12 Christmas Count-Downs (didn't keep one)
Wrapped presents
Took Christmas Card Pictures


Ward Christmas Party
Made Mashed potatoes
Young Women's Christmas Party


Made appetizers
Young Women's Lesson
Young Women's Christmas Gifts & Tags
Taxi'ed everyone
Christmas Family Home Evenings
Courtney's softball Tryouts
Wrapped presents again
Taught Gymnastics
Shopped
Christmas Choir Concert
Courtney's Softball tryouts AGAIN
Wrapped Presents AGAIN
Shopped AGAIN
Carly to Gymnastics


Jessica's Sweet 16 CUTE invitations
Jessica's Sweet 16 Surprise Birthday Party

Jessica

Helped girls study for finals
Learned Spanish
Learned Chemistry
Learned that I have no idea how to do Algebra 2
Finals
Finals
Finals
IT WAS FREEZING here ( 40*)
School got out
Shopped more
Bounced Checks
Hair appointments
Paid Bounced Checks
Paid More Bounced Checks :(
Gymnastics Meets
LOTS of vinyl
Delivered Vinyl
Hung up Vinyl
Forgot to mail vinyl
Made Cute Neighbor Gifts
Made LOTS of cookies
Ginger bread Christmas trees
Carly's classroom Christmas Party
Packed up the car & Presents
Drove to Utah
Stopped to see Cea at work
Had a Snowball Fight
Shopped
Taught Our Cali Roxy girl about snow
Went to Family Camp

Unpacked in the snow
Played with all the Cousins
Got Snowed in
Wrapped MORE presents
Played Wii Bowling
What did we do Christmas Eve? :)
Slept in Christmas Morning
Waited Christmas Morning

Had Breakfast Christmas Morning
Had Christmas, Christmas After

Tried to convince Roxy Snow she "go" in the snow

It kept snowing
Played in the snow

It kept snowing
Went sledding


Had Christmas Dinner
It kept snowing

Watched a Beautiful Rendition of the Nativity starring All the Grand Kids & Thayne


Finally went to bed
It kept snowing...
LITERALLY got snowed in
Went Snowboarding /Skiing

Carly Learned to Snowboard
Carly fell and cut her head open
Carly had to get Staples


Carly never wanted to go again ( She does now)
Had Fondue

Had Thayne's Birthday
Bought a trailer
Packed up in the FREEZING weather
Came home from Utah
Let Ron drive the WHOLE way!
Unpacked in 60* weather :)
Jessica Started Drivers Ed.
Regional Youth New Years Eve Party at Scandia
Watched New York Drop the Ball (go Russell)
Wished Ron Happy New Years!
Took down the Christmas stuff
Cleaned out the Garage

Woke up Jan 1st wondered if it was all just a DREAM!!
WOW!  What a month and I am just getting caught up..
Here we go again!