I was reading through my journal from last year and found this quote. It came from a stake enrichment and really stood out to me. It means a lot now like it did a year ago. But it's interesting to read what was going on in my life a year ago as to why this quote stood out so strong to me.
Pres. Howard W. Hunter stated that in the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus taught the disciples "...that prayerful watching does not require sleepless anxiety and preoccupation with the future, but rather the quiet, steady attention to present duties."
I feel like I've learned a little bit and I don't stress as much as I use to about the future and where we should be, what we should be doing. With our house for sale, it's just a constant feeling in me to wonder these things but it doesn't consume me like it has in the past. We have calmed down in our home. We don't spend as much money, we don't fill up our time with too many extra activities. We enjoy each other so much more and we are trying to take advantage of the short time we have with our children.
Many times when I take notes at meetings, I wonder if I'll ever remember them. Well, obviously, I wrote this down in my journal and a year later it is meaningful still. So it is good to take notes and write down why something has meaning to me at the time. There have been many times that I've read back through my journals and have been inspired or remembered something I've forgotten. In fact, a couple years ago, I was reading through my journal from high school when my parents were getting divorced and some friends weren't being very good friends and how hard life was and it said something about being a daughter of God. When I read that two years ago, I had the coolest experience. For the first time in my life, I knew deep in me what it really means that I am a daughter of God and He loves me. It is something that I can't explain but it was so real at the time. I taught the Young Women the next Sunday and shared my experience and told them that I hoped they could feel their true worth while they are young and not be almost 30 before they really understand who they are. I hope for the same for my daughter. I hope she knows who she really is while she is young. I don't "feel" it constantly like I did at that time but I remember what a deep conviction I had at the time and it is enough to remember who I am and know my worth. Hm. I need to think about that more so I am not so hard on myself all the time. All right then. This went way past what I thought it would and I can't believe I am posting it here. But there you go.
This came through on Daily Gems today. I like it:
"We need to remember that the full commitment of motherhood and of putting children first can be difficult. Through my own four-generation experience in our family, and through discussions with mothers of young children throughout the Church, I know something of a mother's emotions that accompany her commitment to be at home with young children. There are moments of great joy and incredible fulfillment, but there are also moments of a sense of inadequacy, monotony, and frustration. Mothers may feel they receive little or no appreciation for the choice they have made. Sometimes even husbands seem to have no idea of the demands upon their wives. "As a Church, we have enormous respect and gratitude to you mothers of young children. We want you to be happy and successful in your families and to have the validation and support you need and deserve."
M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 109
Happy Birthday John John!! John turned 11 and had his favorite people over to celebrate: Nairn, Jacob, David, Matt, and Nolan. They had pizza, cake, played games, watched a movie, jumped on the trampoline and won candy bars for knowing things about John. It was fun. Maria made his cake to look like his iTouch. He got an iHome and an airplane that broke on the same day. Figures. Below he graduated from cub scouts and became a boy scout but not before participating in the live derby. John and his dad made a tank out of boxes. It was a fun evening. All the kids got involved. Emily helped be the rock slide by throwing "rocks" at the kids. John's leader for the last three years, Grant LeFevre, carved him an indian for his neckerchief. He is a wonderful man and we've loved getting to spend all these years with him and his wife Darlene in scouts. On to bigger things!!! 
Happy Birthday Lil John!!
Be back soon with details.
I don't have pictures read y yet but I thought I'd share some thoughts anyway. In 8 years, did you hear that? 8 years1!! Little John will be on a mission. That is 3 years less than the time I have already had with him. To think we have lived in this home for 5 years is crazy. And we lived in Provo for 5 years before that. I can not believe it. I am told over and over and have been for years by random people who see me with ALL of my rowdy children, "enjoy it! You won't believe how fast it goes by. I sure miss that time. It seems so hard now but when they grow up, you'll miss it." I have heard these things so many times that now when someone says it, I think, 'oh I know. I was told this long ago and I'm trying hard to remember it and enjoy it'. So last night during family prayer, without realizing what I was saying, I asked Heavenly Father to bless little John during this year to do the things he needs to to be prepared to hold the Priesthood. Wow!! We had a great talk after and it was pretty neat for both of us to realize how soon that is and that we will have two priesthood holders in our home. Wow! I love it.
Gotta go! Be back soon!
All of the houses we like keep selling so this is the latest house I've fallen in love with. It is just a few blocks north of where we live now. It can be seen here in detail. It hasn't been on the market for long but I've watched the price drop from $389,000 to $350,000 and today to $329,000. So no one go buy it. Hopefully our house sells this week, this house will drop another $30,000 or they'll accept our low offer and it will be ours!!!! It is 3 bedrooms upstairs with the master on the main and about 1600 square feet unfinished in the basement. Can you imagine?!! Wonderful!!
Believe me.....that post title is such a joke. And when you see me, don't stand too close, there are many, many imperfections. I never have, never will have beautiful skin. At least since I can remember. I have seen my face look flawless once and it was in a picture of John and me that Robert took. I'm guessing I look flawless because Rob is a master photographer and smoothed my face right up!! Thanks Rob. It was a great boost! Even if it's fake.
For years, especially AFTER I got married I went to different skin doctors, tried several different drugs and different topical prescriptions, I tried almost every face remedy that can be bought at the stores. Then as a leader during girls camp in 2006, I was trying a new system that made everything even worse. I was miserable and felt horrible all week at camp seeing all the young women and their beautiful faces then me, their 29 year old leader with a pizza face. It was awful. Well, Brooke Jorgensen (another leader) said she had a doctor tell her that the best thing you can use for acne is...........................
Dial soap. There you have it. The deep, dark secret. I thought, 'I've tried everything else, I may as well give it a try'. So I did. And I combined it with one of my favorite products through all the years...........
Artistry Balancing Clarifying Moisturiser. The absolute best moisturiser on the planet. It cost over $30 but was well worth it. So I combined the three...dial, clean & clear, artistry....and voila!! My face cleared right up. I've had too much damage done in years past to have it look smooth but when I see pictures of me from the past, I am shocked at how many years I went through with a zit face. Now acne is few and far between. It's wonderful!!!! The sad part is, as the way things seem to go, Artistry stopped making this perfect, amazing, moisturiser. I was devastated. I turned to ebay and got a little more. Then Chelsea sent me her sample bottle. I am slowly using it. Seriously it feels so good. I'm addicted. Last night I was looking on the Quixtar website (where Artistry can be purchased) and I think they might sell in other countries. Is this true Chelsea? Anyway....in the meantime, I had to sample some new moisturizers to replace artistry and I found this...............
Oil of Olay for sensitive skin. Nothing like Artistry but it has kept me clear. So there's my secret!! I'm sure you are thinking I am the last person you would have gone to to find out how I keep my skin so smooth (ha) and beautiful (ha). But if you remember me a couple years ago, you'll notice there is quite a difference. Good luck to ya!!! Dial and Clean&Clear really dry out your face so you have to use a moisturizer. I also can not miss a morning or night in washing my face and doing the three step process. If I miss, I will without fail, get a new zit. I also ran out of dial about a week ago and went back to Cetaphil and started breaking out all over the place again. Don't worry. I bought more and I'm on my way back!! Same thing happens if I run out of Clean & Clear. Another product I love is.....
