Pampering

Thanks to a Christmas gift from Evan, the girls and I spent an hour at the spa down the street.
We opted for the pedicures and are now wondering why we have not been treating ourselves sooner…

Bragging rights

It is one of the great rewards of motherhood.

Today, in church, Taylor was recognized and received her Young Womanhood  Medallion.
This is not an easy task. 
She had to complete several experiences and a 10 hour project in each of the 8 values:
Faith
Divine Nature
Individual Worth
Knowledge
Choice & Accountability
Good Works
Integrity
and Virtue

I am so proud of BOTH of my daughters.
I am in awe of their great faith in their Lord Jesus Christ. 
I marvel at their obedience to His commandments.
I am humbled each and every time they teach me and help me become a better person.
I am so incredibly blessed to be the mother of such beautiful daughters of God.

Here we go again . . .

In just over three weeks, I will be teaching again.
I am stressed already.

1. This has the potential of being a very boring lesson.
2. In addition to adult Relief Society women, I have a large group of girls from age 12-18.
3. I need to keep the interest of the young women.
   (I don’t want them to moan on the third Sunday when they join the Relief Society!)
4. It needs to be sophisticated enough for the adult women.
5. I keep remembering – I have 30-40 minutes to fill.

The good news is, I have a game plan.
I found an object lesson that I can “tweek” and fit into the lesson.
It will take some preparation, but it has potential.
First item of business . . . lumber shopping at Home Depot.

Whew!

Am I glad that is over.

For 4 weeks that is.

I presented my first Relief Society lesson today. 
Because I am also the transition specialist,
ALL of the Young Women come when I teach.
It was a full house.

I started my lesson off with a brief introduction:

• I just graduated from Primary a few months ago.
• I only have experience teaching children and the youth,
  so I am very intimidated and extremely under qualified.
• In Primary, I only had 20 minutes to pull a lesson off,
  35-40 minutes frightens me.
• When I was set apart, Brother Bell gave me a very spiritual and personal blessing
  and I am convinced that is the ONLY reason I am still standing right now.

I then proceeded and succeeded.
Thanks to those with positive feedback.
I appreciate it!
It gives me to confidence to try again.

Quotable

‎"We cannot know what faith is if we have never had it, and we cannot obtain it as long as we deny it. Faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other."—President Thomas S. Monson

Family Night . . . Summer Style

Our usual outings fill the boat with family or friends.
Tonight was unique, it was just the five of us.

Hiking with the girls

How I forget how much fun hiking can be.
Right here in our own backyard is a wonderful playground.
A great place to get away from the heat,
and better yet,
a beautiful setting for a great workout.

Last night the girls and I hiked up to donut falls.
We talked about how nice it would be if we did this more often. 
I hope we follow through!

(photo above by Kylee)

4th of July (part 3)

The long weekend finished off with another day of food and family.

Happy 4th!!

 

“I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.  I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.”
~ Abraham Lincoln

 

“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”
~ BenjaminFranklin

 

“There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure.”
~ Dwight D Eisenhower

 

“I should like to say a few words about America…. No land is without its beauty, no people without their virtues, and I hope that you who come from elsewhere will pardon my saying a few words concerning my own native land, America. I know that she has problems. We have heard so much of them for so long. But surely this is a good land, a choice land, a chosen land. To me it is a miracle, a creation of the Almighty….”
~ Gordon B. Hinckley

 

‘This nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail…. I have faith in America. You and I must have faith in America if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
~ Harold B. Lee

4th Of July Weekend

Flaws

I came across this list on-line…

Ten Ugliest Character Flaws

1. Arrogant, Argumentative
2. Dishonest
3. Short-tempered, Combative
4. Need to Always be Right (Conceited)
5. Perfectionist, Nit-Picking
6. Being the Victim, Always Blaming the Other Guy
7. Selfish, Miserly
8. Stubborn, Rigid (Inflexible), Narrow-mindedness
9. Vain, Prideful (Haughty)
10. Humorless, Inability to Laugh at Yourself

I am pretty sure I fallen into at least 6 of these categories one time or another.
My poor family!

And to my daughters, I am SO sorry.
I pray that I did not pass these on to you.

Fear Factor

As I get closer to my first lesson in Relief Society, I get more and more nervous.

I think my my greatest fear is not filling all of the time.
I am not long winded.
I speak faster when I am nervous. 
I don’t do well with “ad-libs”.

In two and a half weeks it will be all over, until next month, that is.