Superhero Halloween

My boys (well, specifically Talon) decided superheros were the way to go this year.  So here we are trying to strut our superhero powers...I really wish I had some some days.

 Wolverine was a great fit for Talon as his temper can flare from zero to ninety just like the fictional character. =)  How I loved hearing him say, "I here to save the day!"  And Talon, you do save my days with your pure enthusiasm for the smallest things and how "in character" you can be.  I love your superhero strength to make me smile!

 Flash fit Jaxon as he's quick to think of new ideas or figure a problem out.  His superhero strength keeps my mind thinking as I try to lead and teach this very independent child.

 Superman...I've been calling Doug this since we were dating and he'd lift 18 bags of groceries into the house from the car just because he didn't want to make multiple trips.  How I love his superhero powers to save me when I need love the most...I'm so thankful he lets me rest on his strength when I've exhausted mine.

 Storm.  Besides the fact that Jaxon insisted I was her for Halloween, I do think she's a good fit for my recent behavior as the past few weeks I've been cleaning & cooking up a storm.  Also, I have to add that there have been some thunder & lighting bolts that have flown out of me...sorry kids & Doug.

 Spiderman is definitely fitting for Colton as he's constantly climbing on tops of the kitchen counter, the couches, in & out of his crib, onto my tall bed, the bathroom sinks, the table, in & out of his high chair, etc.  He's fast and keeps us all in motion.  I love his superhero power to help me put life into perspective.  When I take the time to just read books, cuddle, or sing with him, I know in that moment that there's nothing more important than just being with him...that goes for all my kids & husband.

Great Times in Gatlinburg with the Gales

For fall break, Doug took off work and we traveled to Gatlinburg, TN with our friends the Gales.  We shared a 3 bedroom cabin in the Great Smokey Mountains that came equiped for our combined 7 boys...they esp. loved the game room, hot tub, and movie room.  Some of our favorite memories were playing games, FHE with little light sabers, the aquarium, yummy meals, colorful drive to the top of the Smokeys (but it was too foggy to see out once we got there), outlet mall shopping, Ober Gatlinburg with the overlook tram ride & ski lifts with alpine slides, and close to midnight conversations...we just didn't want to go to bed =).

FHE

Morning scripture study

Little light sabers

Fish faces...some really look happy!

swimming in the rain

Our attempted family photo:

Camping on an Island

was a piece of HEAVEN!  Love Nashville lakes, love our friends the Gales, love that they share their boat with us, love that we were able to spend some time as a family outdoors, love the beautiful TN September weather, love homemade rolls & soups, hot chocolate, dutch oven meals, roasting marshmallows, etc.

So sad I forgot my camera, so the quality of my phone (and Doug's) pics will have to do:

 Our Island

 Jax in a tree, Colton exploring with a flashlight, and Talon drinking hot chocolate...perfect examples of their personalities!

7 boys 7 & under

Fun with Dad

Fun with Mom

 Fun with Jax: From the moment we arrived Jaxon was climbing trees and pretending he was a boa constrictor.  He probably would have slept in a tree if we let him.

Fun with Tal...well, I've said in the past he's our emotional child...pic1 (thinking)- trying to decide if he wants to play in the water, pic2 (freezing)-after playing in water, pic 3 (tired/grumpy)- he might have been trying to take a nap with Colt.

 Fun with Colt: LOVED every moment with or without clothes.   He did "downward dog" for about 5 minutes just staring at the lake from a different view...we were cracking up.  Love this kid!

 Would take this trip again in a heartbeat!

Marriage Standards

So I'm the 1st Counselor in the Young Women's program at church and I'm specifically over the 14-15 year old "Mia Maids."  I taught a lesson on Marriage Standards to the entire YW group and invited my amazing husband, whom I feel so blessed to have, to team teach it with me.  We started by reading a journal entry of how we felt the morning of April 26, 2003...it reads:

A-"Doug and his dad came and picked up my mom and I.  We drove to the temple...and I felt very calm.  It was like, 'yeah, this is what's supposed to happen.'  My mom and I went into the beautiful brides room and got ready.  It was so beautiful- the feeling."

D- "Of course this whole time I was just sitting, waiting, we (a couple of guys) had the pre-mission/pre-temple talk, and then I just waited in my tux.  Finally Amber came out and I about passed out.  She is so beautiful!!!!!!

A-"My escort was this cute lady from Latin America.  She was about 4'10" and spoke with a heavy accent.  She was so sweet to me.  In the elevator up, Doug and her talked in Spanish.  Then we did the veil ceremony and waited in the celestial room.  I was so exhausted that all I wanted to do was lay down on the couch we were sitting on.  Doug said it would be ok, but the fact that we were going to be married in 10 mins and that I might mess up my hair restrained me from doing so.  (it had been an exhausting week of finals, putting on BYU's Senior Celebration for work, packing to live in Puerto Rico that summer, moving out and cleaning my apartment, last minute wedding prep, etc.)

D-"I was just thinking about eternity and Amber and both of them together.  I was sooooo excited, yet very calm inside, very sure and very peaceful.  It seemed like hours till they came back to take us to the sealing room.  And it was full of our family and friends, all smiling."

A- "It was the coolest feeling to walk into the sealing room and see sooooo many friends and family members.  I think that this was probably the best part of the whole day.  It was beautiful.  I held my composure until Doug and I were kneeling across the alter and the Sealer said- well, I can't totally remember what he said but it was when the question that Doug answered "yes" to.  Then I got a little emotional.  Afterwards everyone gave us hugs.  I really started to cry when I hugged my Dad.  The room was filled with people.  We reserved the biggest room for 55 people.

D- "OK, so you know how you always wonder what the kiss will be like when they say "you may kiss the bride."  Well, I don't remember.  I was so overwhelmed with the whole "this is my wife" thing and the eternity part that I forgot to focus.  It was good, but don't ask me how it went.  Then to hug everyone and just think about the decisions we made our whole lives to be in that spot together.  It was awesome!"

A- "It's such a blessing to have the Gospel in our lives.  Because it blesses us with the knowledge and ordinances so we can be sealed together forever."

Then we talked about how we prepared for this day along time before it occurred.  I told the girls that I remembered sitting in young women's when I was 15 and making my "list" of characteristics I wanted in my future eternal companion.  And how my list evolved as I matured, dated, and priorities shifted (to when I was 20 and met Doug).  I wrote the following on the board:

Doug then read his journal entry he wrote on his mission of the characteristics he wanted his eternal companion.  He got emotional as he read:

1.  She must have a strong testimony of Christ, and be willing to share it.
2.  She must be willing to look for and accept God's will.
3.  She must have musical/dance talent and be willing to share them.
4.  She must be strong willed- def. be able to stand up for what she believes to be correct.
5.  She must be affectionate but not smother me.
6.  She must like children, and have desires to have a large family.
7.  She must be active- plyisically (ie. sports, activities) - mentally (ie. intelligent, positive thinker, reasonable) - spiritually (ie. prayer, fasting, scriptures)
8.  She must be a positive person- like Elder Morley
9.  She must be willing to serve others, even when difficult for herself.
10. She must honor the priesthood and support me in my callings.
11. She must be HOT!

I felt the Spirit so strong as I just feel so blessed that Doug and I set our sites on a temple marriage and did not let any temptation or choice deter us from it.  I'm so thankful that the Lord not only blessed me with everything on my list, but that He generously went above and beyond my expectations!  I wrote this poem to Doug when we were dating:

Love Poem

You've opened my eyes to a new hope, a romantic dream, and a world I never thought would be my reality.  The love you've continued to share holds me in daily amazement.  This happiness experienced was so foreign to my mentality, but unconsciously desired.  For the first time, I've really experienced the joy of external truth.  Our honesty and trust dissolve my fears.  The honor and royal service rendered has raised my expectations.  Recently, my logic intertwines our lives and my heart beats gratitude, joy, and peace when it's next to yours.  To you, I am the Queen and the more I'm with you, I want to give you everything...possibly even eternity.

To my boys:  Set your standards high.  Strive for a temple marriage.  Don't let Satan's temptations prevent you from receiving the joy and peace an eternal relationship brings.  Marriage is not easy, but it's glorious in so many ways!  I feel so blessed to have your father as my eternal companion....he's wonderful to me and to this day I still feel like his queen!

I love this quote:
"I would admonish you to maintain an eternal perspective.  Make certain that the marriage in your future is a temple marriage.  There is no scene so sweet, no time so sacred as that very special day of your marriage.  Then and there you glimpse celestial joy.  Be alert; do not permit temptation to rob you of this blessing."  President Thomas S. Monson, "Whom Shall I Marry?" New Era, Oct. 2004, 4,6.

Working in the YW is WORK!

I always admired YW leaders from a far as I knew their work was of great importance and these girls are at such a crucial time in life.  I was happy serving in the Relief Society and for the ward and primary, all of which have been challenging/rewarding but this calling calls me to my knees almost daily as I'm praying for these girls to draw close to their Savior.  Satan is doing everything he can to bring them down to misery and I pray they will safe guard themselves daily through scripture study and prayer.  And that their thoughts will be of God, virtuous in every way, as we become what we think.

So here are some projects we've made and things we've been doing.

1.  A quote board for them to hang all the handouts we give this with inspirational thoughts that will prepare them to be married in the temple.  I took their photos and asked them what their favorite temple was and our YW Pres. does vinyl lettering, and the girls creatively made their clips the value colors.

2.  Scripture bag so they can easily bring their scriptures, personal progress books, journals, etc. with them to church.  (you YW leaders know how hard it is for them to do this =)  We helped them sew their bag from a placemat and then they decorated it to fit their personality.

3.  We held a Princess Protection Night where we discussed the great V word...I'm talking about Virtue.  I was in charge of decorations so I thought surrounding ourselves with white wedding dresses would be appropriate (wish I would have taken a picture of the entire room, but was too busy).  Our YW President talked about their divinity, we showed a creative Chastity clip from lds.org, broke out into age groups and had a more intimate discussion about the sacred powers of procreation, challenged them to remain virtuous and to keep themselves pure for a temple marriage as this leads to great joy.  Then we shared another clip about youth from other faiths and ours who wait to have sex until they are married.  A member of the bishopric spoke about "remembering", as it is easy to commit to do these things now when surrounded by people who support you, and how with time, they need to remember these commitments always.  Each of the girls were given a Princess Protection "diploma" in a glass slipper along with a special letter from their parents and a leader.  We showed a video slide show I put together of the girls to the song "Guardians of Virtue."

I prayed so hard that these girls' hearts would be touch by the Holy Ghost and inspire them to live a virtuous life.  The YW presidency (well, they're pregnant, but those who could) and the Bishopric and some mom's joined us in our fast for these girls as this evening came in a much needed time when many of these girls are on the edge of choice decisions and some who've even struggled with the loss of virtue.  My heart just yearns for them view themselves the way the Lord does.  That their parents will support them and help safeguard their daughters virtue as well.

Notes from General Conference Oct. 1-2, 2011

Kids gained a cavity from "conference Bingo" and I gained the following:

Saturday Morning

Elder Scott

• Scriptures!  I want to help my kids memorize scripture mastery right now.  Do one a day for a week.

Pres. Packer

• To the youth you are being raised in enemy territory  
• “All beings who have bodies have power over the adversary.”
• you will be blessed “if” you follow God’s commandments and follow God’s promptings.
• the voice of the Spirit comes more as a feeling than as a voice.  But if you are past feeling, you do not hear Him anymore.
• you will not make a major mistake without being warned of the Holy Ghost.
• assert your independence, your agency, when surrounded by others who tempt you
• the outcome of this battle is not in question, Lucifer will loose.

Saturday Afternoon

Elder Eyring

• Youth, do family history work and you’ll be safe guarded against the adversary

Elder Anderson

• bearing children is a spiritual matter decided between husband and wife and the Lord, acting in faith

Brother Ardern

• we will be held accountable for how we spend our time
• priority from Christ: seek first to build up the kingdom of God
• Alma: this is the time to prepare to meet God
• E. Uchtdorf: love is spelled T.I.M.E.
• busy= productive?
• “don’t become compulsive finger tip communicators”
• how sad it would be if the phone and computer drowned out scripture study and prayer
• dedicate time to the things that matter most

Elder Cook

• when feeling down, look up (not down), trust the Lord and rely on Him for strength
• exercise your faith, you will not feel incapable to do His will
• “serpent” analogy, some lack the faith that they will not be healed
• helium “balloon”...release your burdens to the Lord

LeGrand Curtis Jr.

• Redemption

Elder Christofferson

• Repentance

Sunday Morning

Elder Eyring

• stand as a witness of Christ no matter what the situation

Elder Hales

• “Thy will be done”
• “in His time and in His way the answers will come”
• “let us not give up on the Lord”
• “as we endure physical sufferings...”
• “to all the Marys and Marthas and good Samaritans...”
• “you are not alone in your gethsemes”
• “wait upon Him in Faith, and shall renew their strength”

Brother Callister

• The Book of Mormon: there is no middle ground, it's either the word of God or it's not 
• For those questioning it's truth, read it, pray about it, ask God if it is His word
• Things of God bring you closer to Him.  Does it (the B of M) bring you closer to Christ? or not? 
• of course I believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God, but I liked how plainly he put it

Sister Dalton

• Father’s of Daughters, love their mothers & be guardians of virtue (yours and hers)
• if your daughter is not home by curfew, go get her

Elder Ballard

• use the full name of the church

President Monson-- Our modern day prophet

• daily communication with God, build a relationship with Him
• live in such a way for the Lord to communicate with you daily, listen to His inspiration

Sunday Afternoon

Brother Richardson

• mirror the Holy Ghost
• Holy Ghost teaches very personally, line upon line, here a little, there a little
• teach people, not lessons
• by inviting us to learn, encouraging to us your own agency
• how do I invite others to learn for themselves
• teachers help learner to live the gospel

To sum it up in a nutshell, testify of Christ and live His will, live with the Holy Ghost as my constant companion so I can be the mom, wife, YW leader, friend, sister, and daughter of God He wants me to be.  

Here's Jax's temple he built during conference: