The Challenge to Become

I read this statement today in the July 2012 Ensign article, "Understanding Our Covenants With God", and thought I would share:

"The final Judgement is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts--what we have done," taught Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  "It is an acknowledgment of the final effects 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."

This statement comes from a talk, "The Challenge to Become,"  given by Elder Oaks found here.  Wonderful talk!

I don't know about the rest of you, but my life consists of To Do Lists.  Each day I find myself, especially as a mother of young children, just going through the motions and trying to keep on top of the responsibilities that I have.  Add in the things I want to do, the things that I would like to do, and the things I KNOW I should be doing that I'm not, and I sometimes feel like I'm in over my head!  It's easy to think that as long as I'm just DOING...I will be fine.  But over time I do realize that just doing isn't enough.    The CHALLENGE TO BECOME is just that...a challenge! 

Just Thinking...about my Lydia

We snapped this picture last Sunday...notice the earings?  She was so excited to finally swap out her earings for some "fun" ones.

This girl is awesome.  Really.  I am so lucky to have her and that she is my first.  She makes life so easy!  It has been fun to watch her grow up a little more and mature this last year.  I'm so proud to be her mom.  Just in the last week I have had two different people come to me and tell me how smart and well behaved she is.  She had to go to an older primary class a few weeks ago and the teacher of that class told me how impressed she was at lou's behavior and how well she payed attention and how much she knew!  Greg says he's always proud of her in primary (She's in the Senior Primary in our ward so I don't get to see her anymore, but Greg visits the primary often as the counselor over primary).  He said that even when others are being irreverent, she is always trying her best to do what's right.  She and I occasionally have our moments, but she is quick to forgive and so eager to help out wherever she can around the house.  For as many times as I ask her to help with Dallin, or with the dishes, or to go get something from the storage room or any other request I make, you would think she would roll her eyes and rebel.  But she is always quick to help and is so easy going.  I just love her!  I also love watching how she handles things at school.  So many girls this age get caught up in the "drama" and fads of being a girl.  She never begs for the latest styles.  She never demands to do things just because her friends are doing them.  She also doesn't let the pettiness of others affect her.  There are times when she just plays alone at recess because she doesn't want to have to choose sides.  I love her for that...mostly because I wasn't that girl growing up.  I grew up in a small school with a pretty large (for the classroom size) group of girls.  WE WERE HORRIBLE!  It seemed like every day there was some fight going on and the group was always split into two or three because of petty things.  (Luckily we all outgrew it and stuck together when moving up to the bigger school in a different town...I still love all of those girls!)  Anyway, back to lou...I sometimes worry that she doesn't get involved with her friends enough, but her past teachers have always told me that she is the peacemaker.  She doesn't get involved and she doesn't let things bother her.  I love that quality in her and I appreciate that I can learn something from my eight year old!

So...that's just what I was thinking when uploading this picture and thought I would share.  I hope to always have a good relationship with this girl of mine.  Luckily we have very different personalities so I think the odds are in my favor! ;)

Just Thinking - Turning 30

I think I may have forgot to mention that I turned 30 a couple weeks ago.  It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be!  I'm actually looking forward to my thirties.  When I think back to my twenties, I can't help but be grateful for all the important events that have happened in my life in the last decade.  For example:

I got married...to the greatest, most handsome, and funniest (for the most part ;) guy EVER!

I graduated from BYU (with a two week old baby no less!)

I've been pregnant 4 times

(with two of those pregnancies though fertility help)

wye's face says it all...I do get big!!!

Four pregnancies means four BEAUTIFUL babies!!!

I've traveled my fair share with the hubby (fair share considering the kiddos in the mix!):

Seattle - Our Honeymoon! (2002)

Cancun (2007)

Chicago (2009)

Arizona  (2009)

Kirtland, Palmyra, Rochester, and Pennsylvania (2009)

Oklahoma (2010)

Florida - DISNEY WORLD (2011)

and many farm bureau and dairy trips...my favorites (because they are usually free!)

I had cancer and surgery to remove the cancer in 2008...Malignant Melanoma to be exact.

(not exactly a "great" event, but pretty life-altering to say the least and an important part of my twenties...hopefully not a part of any other decade though! ;)

first time I've ever publicly shown this picture...you should feel special!

I've also had many different church callings, settled in a wonderful community, learned that motherhood is the most rewarding job, found out I love running...go figure, made life-long friends, and enjoyed many, MANY holidays and events with family and friends.

Yep, for the most part, my twenties were pretty good to me!

So...Bring on the thirties!  I'm ready and excited to see what lies ahead.

and thankfully I have a mother who will still make me a birthday cake...even when I'm thirty!

fun little fact:  All the girls in my family celebrated their golden birthday's this year:

I turned 30 on the 30th

Aimers turned 3 on the 3rd

and Lou turned 8 on the 8th

Kinda fun!

Just Thinking - September 11, 2011

Today I've had a lot on my mind and thought I would share a few of the things I've been thinking about (which means, no pictures and just a lot of rambling):

September 11th.  10 years ago today I was a junior at the new BYU-Idaho.  Greg and I had just BARELY begun dating and I was getting ready for my first class of the morning when I heard about the first plane crash.  It was a very sobering day.  This morning as I was getting ready for church, I turned the t.v. on and listened to the names being read of those that lost their lives that day.  Slowly, one by one, my children began trickling into my room and I was amazed to see the two older ones sit on my bed and listen to those names. They would point out to me every time the name being read belonged to a fire fighter. We had a brief discussion about what happened 10 years ago.  I hope my kids will always appreciate why September 11th is an important date in our history.

A special message.  I've been looking forward to today all week because I knew I would be getting a little break from Primary (don't get me wrong, I LOVE primary, but attending Relief Society once every year or so is definitely a treat for us Primary ladies).  The special occasion was a visit from our Stake Relief Society President with a message from our Stake President.  They wanted all the women in attendance.  She spoke to us about Reverence and how we are supposed to revere important people in our lives.  The two main topics addressed were the importance of revering our husbands in the way that we treat them alone and in public, and revering ourselves through the way that we dress (modesty).  It's actually very sad that modesty has to be addressed amongst the WOMEN (not young women) of our stake.  But the tactful and loving way in which she presented her message was perfect.  It definitely gave me two things to think and ponder on and I appreciate a Stake President to loves us enough to make sure we are receiving these messages.  (It takes a brave man to send a message to a group of women that they may have a problem that needs to be changed! ;)

Good deeds.  The other day I read an article in a small magazine that our state Farm Bureau publishes.  It was about a man in our state that is being charged for killing a grizzly bear near his home earlier this year.  He has six children and some of them were playing in the yard when the bear was shot.  He immediately reported it to the Fish and Game department.  He simply was protecting his family.  He faces a potential fine of $50,000 and up to one year in jail.  When I read this, I felt so sad for this family.  I don't know any more about the story than what I read in this article, but I'm sure this family is frustrated, and fearful of what their future might hold.  The article went on to say that on a happier note, this man's daughter recently participated in their county fair where she entered a 4-H pig.  The pig sold for almost $20,000.  It was sold 15 times and then given back to the girl.  WOW!  What an amazing way for that community to show their support to this family.  This story reminded me how grateful I am to live in an area full of so many good people too.  And hopefully I can be considered a loving and charitable friend to my neighbors as well. 

Just a few things to think about.