Sunday Best!

“The holy scriptures and the spoken word of the living prophets give emphasis to the fundamental principles and doctrines of the gospel. The reason we return to these foundational principles, to the pure doctrines, is because they are the gateway to truths of profound meaning. They are the door to experiences of sublime importance that would otherwise be beyond our capacity to comprehend. These simple, basic principles are the key to living in harmony with God and man. They are the keys to opening the windows of heaven. They lead us to the peace, joy, and understanding that Heavenly Father has promised to His children who hear and obey Him.

My dear brothers and sisters, we would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most. Let us be mindful of the foundational precepts our Heavenly Father has given to His children that will establish the basis of a rich and fruitful mortal life with promises of eternal happiness. They will teach us to do “all these things … in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that [we] should run faster than [we have] strength. [But] it is expedient that [we] should be diligent, [and] thereby … win the prize.” 

Brothers and sisters, diligently doing the things that matter most will lead us to the Savior of the world. That is why “we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, … that [we] may know to what source [we] may look for a remission of [our] sins.”  In the complexity, confusion, and rush of modern living, this is the “more excellent way.” 

-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

My First “Smash” Type Book!

I love the idea of a book where you just put all kinds of things in it, pictures, clippings, ticket stubs, and of lots of journaling. I am usually a little particular about how I put things in a scrapbook. Smash books are fun, because it is a little more relaxed. The whole process is to just smash it in there, and have fun! Sounds good to me. I decided for my first smash type book to do, “Memories of 2012”. I always have things and stuff that I want to keep for memories sake and I don’t know what to do with. So here goes:

I decided to do a page for each month to put a few highlights from the month.

I made a book of “Love Notes” for my mom on her 80th birthday. Everyone in the family wrote a note to her telling her how much they love her and how grateful they are she is our mom and grandma and aunt.

She loved it.

My darlin turned 50 this year. He got to do I-Fly. It’s a neat place where you pretend your skydiving, because you’re in a tunnel with air blowing past you so fast that you can pretend you’re skydiving. I put a little book in on a separate ring with additional pictures that wouldn’t fit on the pages.

Hermana Kelsey came home!

I put lots of envelopes in as pockets to hold cards. I have all of the Christmas cards our family received too. I never know what to do with them, but I always want to keep them.

I am super happy with how it turned out. It is about 36 pages long. It is a quick look at the year and a very fun way to keep memories. I plan on doing it every year from now on.

Sunday Best!

Ether 6:6-7

6 And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind.

7 And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels beingtight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the arkof Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters.

———————————————–

“I am optimistic for you. Life presents great challenges and difficulties, but now is the most exciting time in the history of the world in which to live. There are greater opportunities to build the kingdom of God than ever before. There are more places to serve missions than ever before. You really can’t visualize the great blessings that await you. They are wonderful and exciting. Each of us is endowed with unique gifts, talents, and attributes. You can make a difference. You must make a difference. You are, as the Savior said, the light of the world.

We all face furious winds of evil and tides of the sordid not unlike the situation faced by the Jaredites as they traveled to the promised land. They were tossed upon the waves of the sea and “many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind” (Ether 6:6). But they were protected because “when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish” (Ether 6:7). In our time there are vessels that protect against these terrible spiritual tempests, and they are our temples, homes, quorums, wards, and stakes.

Though you may have ordinary ability and intelligence, by perseverance and hard work you can find happiness beyond your dreams and expectations. This will come about as you keep the commandments of the Lord.”

-James E. Faust

Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

Snow Caves!

I mentioned a few posts ago that my darlin is a scout leader.

The scouts had their Klondike Derby last night.

Plans for the night started about two and a half weeks ago. On Tuesday the 8th the scouts and leaders traveled to where they will camp. They spent about two hours piling snow, making large mounds. 

A week later on the 15th they went back up and dug out the caves. Then last night, the 18th they slept in them overnight.

They look like they’re having fun!

This wonderful man is my darlin, he has a heart of gold.

“A man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.” -Joseph Smith

That’s how I feel about my darlin. He is always willing to bless others with his time, talents, and love. Thankfully, he loves to sleep in snow caves!

Liam & Homie!

This is Liam & Homie.

Homie is the one with fur.

They both came to stay at our home for a bit. It was so fun and such a blessing to have them stay. Liam is our nephew, my hubby’s sister’s son.

He’s ten.

He blessed us by reminding us how the world looks to a ten year old. He blessed us by reminding us that someone is watching your example, so be a good example. He blessed us by teaching us patience. He blessed us by reminding us that the most important thing is love. 

I love this boy. When I look at this picture, I just watch to give him a squish!

Then I want to kiss his cheeks! 

Then I want to cuddle with Homie! And hear him squeak. When he squeaks, he’s telling me he loves me. And I love him too. 

I’m so glad that Liam & Homie came to stay! 

Suicide “Dew”!

My hubby is a scout leader in our neighborhood. When they have campouts and plan the meals for the campouts, one of the meals they sometimes plan to eat is called suicide stew. All of the scouts and leaders bring some type of a canned food item, and they throw it all together. An example is, cans of: any kind of stew, green beans, corn, cream of anything soup, ramen noodles, spaghetti o’s, chili, etc. Take all of these things, and put them together in the same pot and you have suicide stew. 

Flexy had a genius idea the other night.

I’ll make suicide “dew!”

He loves Mountain Dew (I wish he didn’t love it so much). He took six different kinds of Mountain Dew; traditional, Code Red, White Out, Game Fuel, Livewire, and Voltage, and added them altogether. 

Kelsey helping Flexy do some very serious mixing!

More mixing!

Here it is, now let’s taste it! 

It tastes great!! Suicide “Dew”!

Sunday Best!

“It is profitable to live long upon the earth and to gain the experience and knowledge incident thereto: for the Lord has told us that whatever intelligence we attain to in this life will rise with us in the resurrection, and the more knowledge and intelligence a person gains in this life the greater advantage he will have in the world to come [see D&C 130:18–19].

There are some who do not learn, and who do not improve as fast as they might, because their eyes and their hearts are not upon God; they do not reflect, neither do they have that knowledge which they might have; they miss a good deal which they might receive. We have got to obtain knowledge before we obtain permanent happiness; we have got to be wide awake in the things of God.

Though we may now neglect to improve our time, to brighten up our intellectual faculties, we shall be obliged to improve them sometime. We have got so much ground to walk over, and if we fail to travel to-day, we shall have so much more to travel to-morrow.

There must be a labor of mind, an exertion of those talents that God has given us; they must be put into exercise. Then, being enlightened by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, we may get those ideas and that intelligence and those blessings that are necessary to prepare us for the future, for sceneries that are to come.”

-Lorenzo Snow

Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

The Internet!

Have you ever wondered what you would do without

the Internet?

I remember not having computers, cell phones, and all of the other modern conveniences we enjoy and take for granted. For the last week and a half we have been without the Internet. We had an issue that was quite involved and I spent a lot of time on the phone trying to resolve it.

Now it is back up and we are all enjoying our various activities.

I’m not sure if anyone missed me, but that’s ok. It’s a new year and I am ready to do as good of a job as I can in making my blog a fun and interesting place to visit. I hope you’ll visit and leave a comment so I know you were here. Thank you for coming to visit me on the Internet.