Mike needed to attend Youth Conference this past weekend and he asked me if I wanted to go with him. It was pretty great! There were 6 stakes represented and about 800+ youth. On Thursday afternoon Alex Boye came and spoke to the youth. I kind of knew about his conversion to the gospel but hearing it from him was quite amazing. He interacted with the youth quite a bit and I hope they took away what he said. Which was basically turn your back on the world and your face to God. That when you do that you are given riches that out weigh anything the world can give you. He was the reason I wanted to go and he didn't disappoint.
I'm not a late night person so after Alex spoke and it was free time we checking into the hotel room and that is where I stayed. Since it was cool and comfortable and I knew Mike wouldn't be back until after 11:30 central time which made it 12:30 eastern time. We got up the following morning and I took Mike back to the conference and I had a few wedding errands to run and I met back up with Mike after the morning sessions. We attended the last youth speaker by the name of Glenn Rawson who is the host of Sounds of Sunday.
His talk to the youth was about how they are just like the Army of Helaman, they are the modern day Stripling Warriors. It was powerful as he spoke to them but he said something that we could all relate too. As Brother Rawson was headed down to Salt Lake Airport he was driving with his windows open since it was during the middle of the night. He said how great it felt and he was driving down the highway all the sudden he drove into a strong skunk smell. He said he rolled the windows up quickly only to think well that is dumb now I have that smell trapped in the truck. He rolled them down again and drove a little faster to get out of the smell.
He related that to things that come into our lives and how sometimes they just stink but we don't stop and complain about the smell and stay IN the smell we drive on through it as fast as we can. When trials or sin happen to us we need to move through the skunk smell and avoid rolling up the windows to stopping to enjoy the smell of skunk.
This also applies to perhaps stupid things we have done. When we repent we move on and we don't keep going back to the skunk smell to punish ourselves over and over again. We move on.
LOVED that thought. All in all it was a great weekend. We had the awesome opportunity to meet with all the Stake Presidents of the Area Council and with Elder Anderson. What a choice experience that was. We each talked about our spouse and what first attracted us to them. I refrained from say that it was how Mike's back pockets danced as he walked. Hehehehehe! I was touched by something Sister Anderson passed on to us it is something she learned when she attended BYU. She said we all say how we want to marry a man of God who is willing to serve God and we should never complain when they do because that is what men of God do, they serve God. I wish I could remember who she quoted but I like that. Anyhow on Saturday we were all taught amazing principal's by Elder Anderson. He taught the youth how to ask inspired questions. Some of them were quite amazing. When the question was asked he would ask a Stake Priesthood leader to answer the question first and then he would follow up. He was quite a gentle soul and it was amazing to watch him ponder the question and listen to the spirit and then answer. I know the Lord loves His youth without measure so it was an amazing spiritual treat to see it happen again.
I loved this past weekend for so many reason but most of all the needed spiritual uplift that came and the time spend with my favorite friend! It was another peek into heaven!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The house that built me
I was introduced to this song by Kristen. I love it and it says what I so often feel. I think about the house I grew up in and long to take a stroll in it one more time. I remember when we were cleaning the house out I walked all over and wondered how I could capture all the memories that were contained inside. The back porch where dad hung his hat. Would I remember the best tub ever? The apricot tree that grew huge apricots. The 2 lemon trees and the wonderful flowers that grew in the yard. The bird houses that were build by my dad. The smell of new wood cut in dad's shop. The amazing garden's that were grown. The wonderful front windows that offered a view of the telephone wires where the squirrels ran back and forth. The grass that seemed a mile deep and oh so soft. And the two wonderful parents who lived within those walls. That is the house that built me.
When life gets way out of balance I just need to head back to good ol` Los Gatos and regroup and renew those wonderful memories and life can go on again!
When life gets way out of balance I just need to head back to good ol` Los Gatos and regroup and renew those wonderful memories and life can go on again!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
He Lives!
I was asked a few weeks ago if I was going to be in town this weekend and could I teach the Relief Society lesson that Sunday. It happens to be the last Sunday in which we study talks from the previous General Conference.
I did hope for a moment that Mike would be going to another ward and I could go with him and then I could say no but he suggested I teach it. They are 2 great talks- Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ by Elder Hales and The Love of God by Pres. Uchtdorf.
I have listened to these talks no less than 7 times each. They are both great stand alone talks and I was asked to teach them both in 30 mins. I have always admired my friend Debbie who was the teacher for this slot when I was Relief Society President.
I emailed her and said... help what do I do? It was not coming together as one. They were still 2 separate stand alone talks. Last last night she emailed me and it was the last thing I read before falling asleep with a prayer in my heart that I would be able to do this and that it would be what Heavenly Father wanted me to teach. After all Sunday was 2 days away and I still just had 2 amazing talks.
I woke up early this morning jumped out of bed and sat down at the computer and within a matter of an hour pulled out a lesson with these two talks each meshing together. It became clear to me again that this is Heavenly Father's church and we are His children and he does answer prayers. I just have a few clean up items and some word posters to make up and I am good to go.
My soul is at peace and I too can say as did Elder Hales and President Uchtdorf that HE LIVES!
I did hope for a moment that Mike would be going to another ward and I could go with him and then I could say no but he suggested I teach it. They are 2 great talks- Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ by Elder Hales and The Love of God by Pres. Uchtdorf.
I have listened to these talks no less than 7 times each. They are both great stand alone talks and I was asked to teach them both in 30 mins. I have always admired my friend Debbie who was the teacher for this slot when I was Relief Society President.
I emailed her and said... help what do I do? It was not coming together as one. They were still 2 separate stand alone talks. Last last night she emailed me and it was the last thing I read before falling asleep with a prayer in my heart that I would be able to do this and that it would be what Heavenly Father wanted me to teach. After all Sunday was 2 days away and I still just had 2 amazing talks.
I woke up early this morning jumped out of bed and sat down at the computer and within a matter of an hour pulled out a lesson with these two talks each meshing together. It became clear to me again that this is Heavenly Father's church and we are His children and he does answer prayers. I just have a few clean up items and some word posters to make up and I am good to go.
My soul is at peace and I too can say as did Elder Hales and President Uchtdorf that HE LIVES!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Mother's Day
Mike was leaving town on Sunday so we had Mother's Day on Saturday so he could be with us. A yummy dinner of steaks, grilled veggies, potatoes and Key Lime pie were made and soon on the table! The food was great but the company was out of this world.
Then it was time for a few presents. Such sweet kids to give me gifts for Mother's Day. I told them all that I didn't need anything and being with them was the best present of all. But the gift that brought tears to my eyes was the last one. I opened a folder to see a certificate with my name on it. It was a certificate for donation to the Multiple Myeloma Aassociation in Kathy's name. It brought tears to my eyes for the sweet thought of giving a donation that could benefit my sweet sister. It touched my heart so deeply with their sweet act of love. Each one of my kids are amazing to me.
The moment was made even more special since we knew Kathy was beginning her 2nd treatment that very day. I knew she had started into the thick of things again. I knew she would once again be so sick and going through more pain then I could ever imagine and then when everything came together all I could do was shed tears.
I don't know how Mike and I got so lucky to have such great kids. They take such great care of me when Mike is gone. I am thankful for them daily. They teach me so much each day. Love each of you so very much! Thank you showing me what heaven is like here on earth!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Happy Mother's Day
So like everything else Mother's Day is almost here and I was going to do this wonderful post about my mom. She so deserves one. But the time has come and almost gone. Dang it makes me mad how quickly time flies. But none the less I do want to take a few moments to remember a wonderful woman.
Mom was a great friend. She loved her kids. She never stopped trying to educate us. She would walk towards me armed with something she had just learned and wanted to share with me. I always knew this was a sit down moment that might take a while. But it was usually something that she was sure would make my life better or was of interest to me or her. She never did anything half way. If a job needed to be done it needed to be done well. Her life was just like that.
We didn't sleep in on the weekends. She woke us up on Saturday's at the crack of dawn to clean the yard. As a kid I hated that and wanted to be like all the other kids who watched cartoons. We didn't enjoy it when she cleaned with us. She could created piles faster then we could keep picked up. Kathy and I would just get that last pile raked and bagged up only to turn around and she had made 2 more piles for us to pick up. Our yard was always nice looking because of this. It was during those hours that we were taught all about gardening and keeping the dead flower heads pinched off. I learned about roses and how to care for them. Mom had lots of roses in her yard. Most if not all were in the backyard. I remember her telling me she loved Mr. Lincoln roses the best but the pink were very pretty as well.
She would plant bulbs of all sorts and it was always fun to see them sprout "their little heads up" and hear her talk to them as if they were her babies. It was while working in the yard that I learned that mom's favorite flowers were tulips. She loved tulips because her mother loved tulips. I love tulips because my mother loved tulips as well. When I see them it brings her back to me again.
I was taught how to make a bed correctly and how to fold sheets correctly. I was given that job until I learned how to do it and they looked nice in the closet. Something no one in my family has learned yet. We were taught how to clean bathrooms well and how to can fruit and tomatoes. I don't think I can count the number of times I had some type of juice running down my arms as we canned.
She showed me how colors work. I learned that there are blue or cold colors and yellow or warm colors. My mom always taught me to be aware of what colors I was wearing and what colors made my red hair pop. Although I wasn't much for my red hair when I was young. She told me how pretty I was and how she loved to hear me sing. I'm not so fond of my singing but it worked for her. Because I was the youngest and came along in her more advanced years I wasn't ever forces to take piano lessons or become part of the Girl Scouts. She use to tell me she was just tired and too old to make me do anything and I was always happy about that growing up. Now I wish I had been forces to do that because I see the wisdom in that.
Some of my favorite memories of Mom are her sitting down at the piano playing. She loved good music. She could rock the piano with the best. She loved jazz, classical, Ragtime and Broadway hits. She had a favorite song called Deep Purple. After dad died she would play that over and over again. Playing the piano was her source of comfort. She once told me she had been up during the night playing and crying. The words that came later to this song tell me why she played after dad died.
DEEP PURPLE
When the deep purple falls
over sleepy garden walls
and the stars begin to flicker in the sky
thru the mist of a memory
you wander back to me
breathing my name with a sigh.
In the still of the night
once again I hold you tight.
Tho' you're gone your love lives on when moonlight beams
and as long as my heart will beat,
lover, we'll always meet
here in my deep purple dreams.
- Mitchell Parish
I have so many wonderful memories of Mom that I could go on and on. She tried her hardest to be the best mother she could be. She truly wanted the best for all of her children. I am the person I am today because of my dear sweet mother. I have depth in my character and soul that she personally added. So many times in my life I hear her wisdom call to me and it has always been spot on. She was the perfect mother for me! Happy Mother's Day darling! I shall be thinking about you.
Mom was a great friend. She loved her kids. She never stopped trying to educate us. She would walk towards me armed with something she had just learned and wanted to share with me. I always knew this was a sit down moment that might take a while. But it was usually something that she was sure would make my life better or was of interest to me or her. She never did anything half way. If a job needed to be done it needed to be done well. Her life was just like that.
We didn't sleep in on the weekends. She woke us up on Saturday's at the crack of dawn to clean the yard. As a kid I hated that and wanted to be like all the other kids who watched cartoons. We didn't enjoy it when she cleaned with us. She could created piles faster then we could keep picked up. Kathy and I would just get that last pile raked and bagged up only to turn around and she had made 2 more piles for us to pick up. Our yard was always nice looking because of this. It was during those hours that we were taught all about gardening and keeping the dead flower heads pinched off. I learned about roses and how to care for them. Mom had lots of roses in her yard. Most if not all were in the backyard. I remember her telling me she loved Mr. Lincoln roses the best but the pink were very pretty as well.
She would plant bulbs of all sorts and it was always fun to see them sprout "their little heads up" and hear her talk to them as if they were her babies. It was while working in the yard that I learned that mom's favorite flowers were tulips. She loved tulips because her mother loved tulips. I love tulips because my mother loved tulips as well. When I see them it brings her back to me again.
I was taught how to make a bed correctly and how to fold sheets correctly. I was given that job until I learned how to do it and they looked nice in the closet. Something no one in my family has learned yet. We were taught how to clean bathrooms well and how to can fruit and tomatoes. I don't think I can count the number of times I had some type of juice running down my arms as we canned.
She showed me how colors work. I learned that there are blue or cold colors and yellow or warm colors. My mom always taught me to be aware of what colors I was wearing and what colors made my red hair pop. Although I wasn't much for my red hair when I was young. She told me how pretty I was and how she loved to hear me sing. I'm not so fond of my singing but it worked for her. Because I was the youngest and came along in her more advanced years I wasn't ever forces to take piano lessons or become part of the Girl Scouts. She use to tell me she was just tired and too old to make me do anything and I was always happy about that growing up. Now I wish I had been forces to do that because I see the wisdom in that.
Some of my favorite memories of Mom are her sitting down at the piano playing. She loved good music. She could rock the piano with the best. She loved jazz, classical, Ragtime and Broadway hits. She had a favorite song called Deep Purple. After dad died she would play that over and over again. Playing the piano was her source of comfort. She once told me she had been up during the night playing and crying. The words that came later to this song tell me why she played after dad died.
DEEP PURPLE
When the deep purple falls
over sleepy garden walls
and the stars begin to flicker in the sky
thru the mist of a memory
you wander back to me
breathing my name with a sigh.
In the still of the night
once again I hold you tight.
Tho' you're gone your love lives on when moonlight beams
and as long as my heart will beat,
lover, we'll always meet
here in my deep purple dreams.
- Mitchell Parish
I have so many wonderful memories of Mom that I could go on and on. She tried her hardest to be the best mother she could be. She truly wanted the best for all of her children. I am the person I am today because of my dear sweet mother. I have depth in my character and soul that she personally added. So many times in my life I hear her wisdom call to me and it has always been spot on. She was the perfect mother for me! Happy Mother's Day darling! I shall be thinking about you.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Achieving Your Life Mission
" To fill your divine destiny, you cannot have a negative attitude. You must have a "go and do" positive attitude to make it happen. President Ezra Taft Benson said of your generation, "You are to be the royal army of the Lord in the last days. You are youth of the noble birthright." Many to whom that talk was given are no longer youth. But the fact remains that they are the only army the Lord has, and they do have a noble birthright. Don't squander it with a murmuring, negative attitude as Laman did.
President Kimball said, " I remind you...that regardless of your present age, you are building your life; it will be cheap and shoddy or it will be valuable and beautiful; it will be full of constructive activities or it can be destructive; it can be full of joy and happiness, or it can be full of misery. It all depends upon you and your attitudes, for your altitude, or the height you climb, is dependent upon your attitude or your response to situations.""
This is from the book Achieving Your Life Mission by Randal A. Wright
President Kimball said, " I remind you...that regardless of your present age, you are building your life; it will be cheap and shoddy or it will be valuable and beautiful; it will be full of constructive activities or it can be destructive; it can be full of joy and happiness, or it can be full of misery. It all depends upon you and your attitudes, for your altitude, or the height you climb, is dependent upon your attitude or your response to situations.""
This is from the book Achieving Your Life Mission by Randal A. Wright
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Beach Time
I love going to the beach because I always find such solace and peace. Yesterday morning Mike texted me and said... it is a pretty and perfect day for the beach. I told him lets both get sick and go home and go to the beach. He said he could get off early but I told him that it wasn't possible for me since I am in the middle of getting ready to send testers back out into the schools.
I was very sad. We try to get in as much time together as possible and just as our luck would have it when he could sneak away I am stuck at work. He texted me back and asked what time I could get off and I said 4:00. I suggested that we could still go and catch the sunset. He said he could get off early and get things ready and we could meet at 4:00ish at the Stake Center and take off from there since we would be closer to the south of town.
PERFECT IDEA. It was something great to look forward too. What more could I want? To spend time with Mike, be at the beach, perfect weather, and a great seafood dinner. Ummmm I think heaven was calling my name yesterday.
So we did it and we were not disappointed in our adventure. Here are pictures and a short clip for those who long to go to the beach.
Walking hand in hand along the beach is really a peek into eternity. So glad I have my best friend along on this journey.
Mike truly is my everything. I asked him if he ever dreamed that two kids from the west would end up in Florida? I am pretty sure life is better then I ever dreamed it could be!
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How can anyone not recognize that this world was made by divine hands? Such beauty all around.
A short video for those who long for the beach as much as I do.
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