NTS...when going to D.C. during the Cherry Blossom festival, be mentally prepared for CrAzY traffic.
We decided to spend a few days in our nation's capitol with Doug's sister Kim. Highlights were the Air and Space Museum, the National Zoo, the Temple (thank you Kim for watching the boys so we could do a session together), Eastern Market, and a quick trip to see "the Great King of Kings" (from Night at the Museum 2...which by the way the Boys LOVED that movie) at the Museum of Natural History.
This cracked me up. Doug trying to protect 3 month old Colt from getting sunburned.
Sporting the flag.
Exhausted from all the walking.
Talon learning how to say "Shukran" meaning Thank You in Arabic.
Here we are at the "Great King of Kings"...don't they look so happy!
This whole conference I felt was geared toward parents, especially mothers!!! How perfect a conference dedicated to what I'm most passionate about and dedicate my life to. I just love knowing that the work I'm doing daily is supported by God and that it is the most important work I could ever do here on this earth. I love my boys and pray I can be the mother the Lord needs me to be for them. They are living in such turbulent times full of sin and these boys need a mother who will prepare them with tools to defeat Satan. Christ's atonement is what will ultimately save them (save all of us). They need to know that Christ is their personal Savior. It is my goal to teach my children about Christ's life, His teachings, and how to live a Christlike life.
So I remember, here are my notes:
General Confernce April 2010
Saturday Morning Session:
Julie B. Beck
There has never been a greater need for increased personal righteousness, families.
Qualify to have the Spirit with me.
The world will tempt us that we are “entitled to be independent” and to spend time away from families.
Spend sometime in the scriptures everyday.
Write impression down.
Revelations can come hour by hour.
Loose temper= loose spirit.
Women will have influence on the world in the last days. Must demonstrate happiness; will help draw people to gospel of Christ.
M. Russell Ballard
Womenhood and motherhood are being corrupted.
“There’s nothing as life changing as the influence of a mother.”
We women are given innate talents to nurture and influence.
Henry B. Eyring
God wants us to strengthen children while they are young.
“The family has an advantage in the first 8 years of a child’s life. This is through the atonement of Jesus Christ.”
“A strong spiritual foundation can make the difference for a life time.”
Children need to learn to recognize the Holy Ghost.
Saturday Afternoon Session:
Elder Bednar
READ THE BOOK OF MORMON WITH YOUR KIDS!!!
Sunday Morning Session:
Elder Uctdorf
We are to be Christ’s hands and lift other up!
Elder Scott
The Atonement of Jesus Christ had to be done perfectly. He had to experience ALL of the world’s sin, even the gravest of all sins.
The power of the Holy Ghost will help us to teach our children in these wicked times.
Savior needs to be the center of our home and felt by children and adults.
Christ needs to be apart of our teaching our children.
Cheryl C. Lant
As we help bring our kids unto Christ, we bring ourselves as well.
Teach them to love the Lord, the Gospel and how to live the Gospel.
1st love the Lord and our families
2nd become worthy examples
What do the Children see in my face? Can they see His image in my countenance?
3rd teach them truth from scriptures and prophets
They intuitively want to be good. It’s up to us to keep that connection with heaven. It takes a lot of hard work and patience to do this.
We are the ones entrusted to teach them the gospel.
Quintin L. Cook
“Following the Savior”
Remember and reverence the sacrament. This is the most holy meeting we have in church.
We MUST have love one to another. We manifest our love for our Savior by obeying his commandments and serving others.
How we disagree is a true measure of our character. We must disagree agreeably.
where we will be moving this summer! Doug and I are excited!!! Click here for a picture of Clarksville, TN (city next to Army base) and map so you can come visit us. It's about an hour from Nashville, TN.
Friday Night we headed up a "Valentine's Dinner Date" for our ward. With the help of a very talented committee, it turned out great! We had a couples competition that begin on the 1st and continued until the end of the event on Friday. "Cupid Competition" is what we named it and it consisted of the following categories: 1. 12 Days of Service- serve your spouse for 12 days along with reading scriptures, saying prayers, and saying "I love you" with a big hug and kiss (earned points daily) 2. Preparation Points- r.s.v.p by a certain date, email wedding/engagement pic for slide show, arrive on time with framed wedding pic in hand, and come dressed up (earned more points) 3. Getting to Know You- game about how the couples in the room met, knew they were the "one", and how they got engaged (was the dinner conversation at the tables and then the guess who game later...more points for correct answers) 4. Evening Of- during the dinner date you could earn more points by dancing to a Frank Sinatra song, complimenting each other, gentlemanly conduct, and kissing
The couples with the most points earn prizes that were donated from community businesses. 1st place took home 1 nights stay at Historic Hotel Morgan, $25 gift card to Olive Garden, and 2 movie passes.
We had a pasta bar, with Olive Garden style salad and dressing, yummy breadsticks, and an assortment of desserts. And the decorations complimented the Italian classy theme and Frank Sinatra style music.
Our Bishop spoke some words of wisdom about eternal marriage and then we ended the night with the slide show presentation of couples wedding/engagement photos and a statement of how they felt in the moment.
For me, this whole thing helped me feel closer to Doug as I realized that he and I serve each other daily without thinking "I'm serving him or he's serving me." Doug truly does so much for our family to make life enjoyable for us all.
Dougy Baby, I love you dearly and feel so blessed to have you by my side through this life. Thanks for your selfless service and commitment to our family. You give of yourself daily and I thank you for being a team player in parenting. I love you for helping with dishes, bathing kids, getting up the boys early in the morning so I could sleep more, and for all the dinners you make. I love you for being thoughtful and considerate of my needs and feelings. I love you for your goofy ways and though I don't totally get the whole "cowboy" thing, I love that you are confident in yourself and have a great self esteem. I love that our boys will have you as their leader and teacher in this life. I love that you love me and show me.
Last night I walked into the boys bedroom to find them both sitting on the top bunk reading The Book of Mormon together. Jaxon says to Talon, "Lets read about Jesus"..."Lets see how much Jesus loves us." OK, just loved that I was able to witness that sweet moment. I guess Family Home Evening does pay off. Last Monday we gave each of them their first Book of Mormon and have been helping them read a scripture before bed. It just warmed my heart to see them reading this wonderful book together and knowing that Jesus loves them.
All my boys were great to take pictures with Colton. We set it up in our living room and tried to time it with the 15 minutes he was awake in the morning. And I must say it was nice to get on the ground to take pictures without a big belly! So hard to choose which ones to print. Any suggestions?
