Happy 8th Birthday, Mirielle!

Our sweet Mirielle Ilana Panameno is 8 today! Oh how we love Ella! She is so sweet and cares deeply about others. She loves school, she loves Primary, and she is very excited to be baptized next Saturday.

For her birthday, our good friend Liz cut her hair on Saturday evening. It is quite short compared to how long it had been. But she looks darling.
Gabby totally photo bombed in this last picture.
Ella is becoming a very good reader and writer in both English and Spanish. She is becoming better and better at piano. Her teacher has only positive things to say about her behavior and citizenship, and she is becoming more and more responsible. She is so excited to be able to attend achievement days with Michelle now.
For Ella's birthday, I made scones (Indian Fry Bread) for breakfast. We traditionally go out to dinner on the actual birthday, so we went to Sonic for dinner. The girls enjoyed their food and the Sonic we went to has a small playground so that was a highlight. Ella took cupcakes to school (I had to run to 2 stores at 6:30 this morning! I ran to a Smiths around the corner...but they only had one package of cupcakes...so I had to go to another store in a hurry to make it home in time to get us all ready for school/work. How I love that girl! She was worth the sacrifice.)
We also had cake this evening. Of course, Michelle had to shove her face into the cake ...another family tradition.


Here are a few things about Ella at 8:
Her favorite food is Oreo cake.
Her favorite place to go is Disneyland.
Her favorite book is Sisters Grimm.
Her favorite Primary song is The Sacred Grove. (She also really likes If the Savior Stood Beside Me, which is what she asked be played at her baptism.)
Her favorite scripture story is Daniel and the Lion's Den.
Her favorite thing to do is play Minecraft on the i-pad.
One thing she thinks is especially great about her is she's nice to her sisters (most of the time).
She likes Primary because it's really fun.

Journal Writing by Gabby

I have done pretty well so far at having my girls write in their journals each Sunday. Last Sunday, I asked Gabby what she wanted to write. She said she didn't. I said she could write about preschool or primary or our Family Home Evening lesson or her friends. She wasn't very enthusiastic at first, but after a minute, she said she wanted to draw a picture of the Bishop. I said she could draw a picture of him after she wrote something. Then she said she wanted to write, "I love the Bishop." I helped her spell the words, and she wrote the sentence. Then she began drawing a picture of him...but about halfway through, she said, "I don't really know how to draw boys. I'm gonna draw Sister DeLaMare instead." So she drew her primary teacher, Sister DeLaMare. Both Bishop and Sister DeLaMare got a kick out of her writing/drawing when I showed them.

Search My Heart: President Lee, Lesson 8

One of our RS teachers just had a baby a couple of weeks ago. So we got a substitute for her for last Sunday. But on Thursday evening, the substitute called me to tell me she would be unable to teach. So I decided I would teach...and it was okay, because I'd read through the lesson and had stumbled upon several things that went right with the lesson. I want to keep my lessons, because they are a record of my thoughts and what I'm learning. And my computer really could die at any day, so I'm going to save it here on my blog. At first, I thought, no one wants to read my lesson again. But then I thought, hey, it's my blog, and it is a good place for ME to save it, so I am. :) I really write this for myself and my children. (The quotes, unless otherwise stated, come from Lesson 8 In Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow.)

The lesson begins by telling a story. President Snow and President Franklin D. Richards had in 1850 heard Brigham Young say that some of the men should have their Priesthood taken from them because they were not magnifying their calling. Both President Snow and President Richards (at the time they were Apostles) went to Brigham Young to see if they should give up their Priesthood. He said that the Lord was pleased with them.

Quotes 1, page 119 "Throughout his life, President Snow wanted his heart to be right before the Lord, and he also encouraged the Saints to examine their own worthiness. He spoke with “a view of riveting more forcibly upon our understanding” the need to establish “a proper character, as Latter-day Saints, before God our Father."

Quote 2 page 119, "I am under the strongest impression, that the most valuable consideration, and that which will be of the most service when we return to the spirit world, will be that of having established a proper and well defined character as faithful and consistent Latter-day Saints in this state of probation."

The title of this lesson, “Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart” comes from a psalm of David. PSALM 139: 23-24...“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”

Elder Snow counsels us to reflect on our lives and to pray to know which areas in our life we need to make changes. Quote 3 from page 120

I have reason to believe that many of the Latter-day Saints, during a great portion of their lives, could approach the Lord in all confidence and make this same prayer—“Search me, O God, and know my heart, and see if there be any wicked way in me;” but if we, as a people, could live so as to be able at all times to bow before the Lord and offer up a prayer like this, what a delightful thing it would be, what an attainment we should have acquired in righteousness and good works! … I would recommend that [every person] adopt this prayer of David, and see how near he can live according to the light that he has, so as to make it in all sincerity part of his devotions to God. Many fail in coming up to this standard of excellence because they do things in secret where mortal eye cannot penetrate, that have a direct tendency to alienate them from the Almighty and to grieve away the Spirit of God. Such persons cannot in their private closet use this prayer; they could not unless they had repented of their sins and repaired the wrong they may have committed, and determined to do better in the future than they had done in the past, and to establish a character before God that could be relied upon in the hour of trial, and that would fit them to associate with holy beings and with the Father himself when they shall have passed into the spirit world.

He then went on to say,

… We must be true men and true women; we must have faith largely developed, and we must be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost to aid us in the work of righteousness all the day long, to enable us to sacrifice our own will to the will of the Father, to battle against our fallen nature, and to do right for the love of doing right, keeping our eye single to the honor and glory of God.

President Snow said on page 120 at the bottom: “We must be true men and true women….”


STAY IN CONDITION: On a blog that I follow, the writer made a t-shirt that says, “Team Packer: Stay in Condition”. She shared this quote from President Packer's most recent conference talk, April 2013, “Each of us must stay in condition to respond to inspiration and the promptings of the Holy Ghost. The Lord has a way of pouring pure intelligence into our minds to prompt us, to guide us, to teach us, and to warn us. Each son or daughter of God can know the things they need to know instantly. Learn to receive and act on inspiration and revelation.”

She pointed out the importance of the line, staying in condition. Almost a year ago, I ran a half marathon with Alfredo. It isn’t something I’d ever thought I would do…I am not a runner. But I worked hard, trained and I did it. Recently, Alfredo asked if I wanted to run another half marathon this summer. I had to answer no…not because I hated the half…it was a good experience. But I have not stayed in condition. I continued running for several months after the half, but slowly, I stopped. I am in no physical condition to run a half marathon now. Running even 5 miles now would hurt. It would be hard to breathe. It would be HARD. In this blog post I read, the writer, Sister Christensen points out that if we don’t stay in condition, everything is harder and more painful and we will lose to more disciplined athletes. Then she writes this, “We cannot afford to lose. The outcome of this match-up is too important, but how do we remain in condition?” So now, I ask you, how do we remain in spiritual condition?

President Packer gave this advice: “Latter-day Saints recognize the transcendent importance of the family and strive to live in such a way that the adversary cannot steal into our homes. We find safety and security for ourselves and our children in honoring the covenants we have made and living up to the ordinary acts of obedience required of the followers of Christ.”

Other suggestions President Packer mentions are using the priesthood. Faith filled prayers. Repentance.

One way to stay in condition that keeps coming to my mind is acting upon the promptings we receive, whether we understand them or not. As we respond to the promptings we receive to serve, to teach, to bless others, we will receive more promptings. The Lord will know that He can trust us to listen, to hearken and to obey.

Another thought I’ve had this week as I read this lesson was that contention drives the spirit away. Can someone please read 3 Nephi 11:29. Contention removes the spirit from our homes and lives. I loved Elder Falabella’s conference talk entitled “The Home: The School of Life.” He shared that one of his wife’s mottos has been: “In order to contend, you need two people and I will never be one of them.” That really struck me…It is something I need to work on.

On another blog, Sister Emily Freeman wrote about the importance of obedience. She was recently having a conversation with a friend about obedience, and the friend asked why obedience is so important. She writes, “I told her that I used to think that it was in order to improve our behavior, to keep us safe, to follow the counsel we are given. Those are all important, and true. But recently I have learned a deeper truth.”

She then shared this quote from Lorenzo Snow. QUOTE: Now if we really desire to draw near to God; if we wish to place ourselves in accord with the good spirits of the eternal worlds; if we wish to establish within ourselves that faith which we read about and by which ancient Saints performed such wonderful works we must, after we obtain the Holy Spirit, hearken to its whisperings and conform to its suggestions, and by no act of our lives drive it from us…” (page 123)

We need to be so careful not to drive the Spirit from us. We have great responsibilities…as mothers, as wives, as grandmothers, as sisters, as visiting teachers, as women of the Relief Society. We need the guidance and direction that the Spirit can bring us. We cannot afford to drive it from us.


Are there things in your life now that push the spirit away? Are there books you are reading or tv shows you watch that remove the spirit from your life? Are there sins that you need to repent of so that the spirit can dwell with you? Is there someone you need to forgive so that anger or bitterness doesn’t cloud your mind and heart and keep the spirit from you?

Or are there things that you need to add to your life or increase in your life so that you can have the spirit more fully? Perhaps you need to study the scriptures more diligently or you need to improve your personal prayers. Perhaps you are not attending the temple and don’t have those blessings in your life. Perhaps you know that you need to serve more. I hope that on the card I’ve given you, you will write down one thing that you will stop doing or start doing so that you can have the spirit more abundantly in your life, so that as President Snow says, you can “be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost”.

The Lord wants us to come to Him with broken heart and contrite spirit. I’d like us to listen to a song by a group called “One Clear Voice” entitled “Broken”. As it plays, listen to the importance of a broken heart and also perhaps be writing down what you can do to have the spirit more abundantly in your life…search your own heart to see if it is right before the Lord.

MOSES and JONAH:review these prophets and what we can learn from their examples, including that we can repent. Also that we need to do what is right, even if we stand alone. (page 121)

How can these stories of Moses and Jonah help us as we search our heart to see if it is right before the Lord?

Quote 4:

Such traits of character as we find evinced in the ancient worthies are not the products of accident or chance, neither are they acquired in a day, a week, a month, or a year, but are gradual developments, the results of continued faithfulness to God and to truth, independent of either the plaudits or criticisms of men.

… It is important that we, as Latter-day Saints, should understand and bear in mind that salvation comes through the grace of God and through the development in us of those principles that governed those righteous people before mentioned. The idea is not to do good because of the praise of men; but to do good because in doing good we develop godliness within us, and this being the case we shall become allied to godliness, which will in time become part and portion of our being. …

What does our heart glory in? What are our greatest desires? ALMA 48: 11-13, 16-17

On Thursday evening, I read D&C 64: 33-34. IT says, “Wherefore, be not weary in well dong, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceeded that which is great. Behold the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.”

I love these verses and in the past when I have read them, I have related them to service… be not weary in well doing… out of small things proceeded that which is great…. I still think they do relate to service, but as I was studying them this past week, a new thought came into my mind. Can’t these verses also relate to our own efforts in personal righteousness… be not weary in well doing. Keep doing what is right. Keep studying and learning and growing. You are laying the foundation of a great work. Out of small things proceeded that which is great. Our efforts to live the gospel are often small. But we are rewarded so bountifully. Even small steps to improve our lives bring blessings, particularly if the Lord sees that our hearts are open and our minds are willing. In Ether, the Lord promises that if we turn to Him, He will make our weak things become strong. Ether 12:27...

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage… and on, on to the victory!” (D&C 128:19, 122) in Sheri Dew's book No Doubt About It, she talks about how excited this makes her. She says, "Doesn't that just make you want to climb a rooftop or go on CNN and tell the whole world what you know and believe? We are engaged in the glorious cause of Jesus Christ."

Page 220-221 in Sheri Dew's book No Doubt About It (I read more than this, but here are the highlights that are my favorites:

I have come to believe that whatever we really want, we'll probably get. If we really want money and status, we'll find a way to get them. By the same token, if we really want to overcome bad habits or cultivate integrity or become more pure so that we can better hear the voice of the Spirit, we'll find a way to do those things as well. Fifty years from now, what we have become shouldn't surprise us, because we will have become what we have set our hearts upon.

Satan is also after our hearts, because he knows that if he can control our feelings and desires, he can control us--which is why he tries to harden our hearts, puff up the pride of our hearts, and set our hearts upon the vain things of the world...

No wonder the Lord "requireth the heart and a willing mind. Notice that He said nothing about how gorgeous or thin, educated or affluent, wealthy or influential we must be. He simply asks for our hearts and our will, because that's all we have to give Him. Everything else is already His.

Quote #5 from President Snow:

… What can we do under the circumstances to elevate ourselves still higher in the righteousness of our God? What advantages, blessings and privileges does this system of salvation, which we have obeyed, afford, and what means shall be employed to realize them? If there should be a sacrifice demanded it will be very opportune for all those who wish to make their religion a study, and who are endeavoring to conform to its requirements, by living it in their everyday life, to show their willingness to bow to the will of Jehovah, acknowledging his hand in adversity as in prosperity.

… It would be well to examine ourselves, hold communion with ourselves in the secret closet, to ascertain how we stand … before the Lord, so that if need be we may renew our diligence and faithfulness, and increase our good works.

I hope we will take the time to examine ourselves, to pick out at least one thing we can add to our lives so that we can feel the Spirit more abundantly or one thing we can remove from our life that is hindering us from feeling the Spirit.

Peace

A friend/colleague died today. She went in last week for routine surgery, had complications, and had no brain activity. She was removed from life support yesterday and she passed on today. My heart breaks for her sweet family. She was our school's psychologist and she was a kind woman who genuinely cared about us as teachers and about our students. She was 3 years younger than I am. She has twin girls in second grade and an almost four year old daughter. My heart is breaking for them. They are about the same ages as my Ella and Gabby. The twins came to our school in kindergarten and they are darling. Her younger sister was killed in an automobile accident just a couple of months ago. There has been too much grieving in their family already, and now this.

So many that I love face such difficult challenges. I guess in the past I have been mostly happily oblivious to the struggles that so many face, and now I am consciously aware. That is good and bad. I am learning a great deal more love and compassion, but there are days when it feels my heart is breaking for these beloved friends.

Last night we had a Relief Society Temple night. We met at the church and then carpooled to the temple to do an endowment session. Because of my personal circumstances, I know it can be hard to go to the temple alone if your spouse cannot attend with you. So my thought was that holding these temple outings every other month might encourage others to come along who maybe might be less likely to go by themselves or on a ward night. Six of us went, and it was wonderful. I had no idea when I scheduled this first one how much I personally would need that trip on that very day. I was feeling so saddened by the imminent loss of my colleague and burdened down by the knowledge of several others that are struggling. I was physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted. Going to the temple brought such peace. The Savior has promised, "I will not leave you comfortless." "Peace I give unto you, my peace I leave with you. ..."

As I was in the temple, I could envision a happy reunion between Sarah and her sister. I could envision the Savior taking her and each of us in His arms and embracing her/us. I want to live so that some day I can kneel before my Savior and give Him thanks and then be embraced in the arms of His love. I feel grateful for the peace that the Spirit can bring to us. My heart still aches for Sarah's family and their loss. We will miss her and I can't imagine how challenging it will be for her husband, her children, her parents who have now lost two children in just a couple of months. They are in my prayers. I hope they, too, can begin to find peace from the Savior. It is perhaps the greatest blessing we can receive in this life, particularly during difficult times.

Open hearts

I drive by a Baptist church on my way to work each weekday. I like reading their sign out front...sometimes it has clever sayings. This week the sign reads:

Open your mouth.
Open your heart.
Open your Bible.

This sign struck me. I think it is important counsel, although I think they have the order wrong. I think it should read.

Open your heart.
Open your Bible/scriptures.
Open your mouth.


I think we need to have an open heart and be ready to receive the promptings of the spirit and have our hearts filled with the love of Christ for our fellowman first.
Then we need to study the scriptures because that is how our Father often speaks to us and answers our prayers. Also, as we come to know the scriptures, we will know what to say to others.
Then, we should have the courage to open our mouths to share the gospel with others. If our hearts are open and our minds are filled with the scriptures, then we will know what to say and how to say it. Our words will have power.

In My Father's House

I saw a recommendation on a blog I read for In My Father's House by Corrie Ten Boom. I loved The Hiding Place, and I'm pretty sure that I also read Tramp for the Lord. Anyway, this tells about Corrie's childhood and young adult years...the years before The Hiding Place. It was wonderful to see how the Ten Boom family nurtured their children's faith and taught them and prepared them for the things they would face in the future. Here are some of my favorite parts (with an * by my thoughts):

page 16: "So many times we wonder why God has certain things happen to us. We try to understand the circumstances of our lives, and we are left wondering. But God's foolishness is so much wiser than our wisdom. From generation to generation, from small beginnings and little lessons, He has a purpose for those who know and trust Him. God has no problems--just plans!"
*I can see ways the Lord has guided my life or why certain things have happened. I don't understand everything, but I know that "all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly." (D&C 90:24)

Page 28: "Some people say that children don't have spiritual understanding--that we should wait until a child can 'make up his mind for himself.' I believe a child should be led, not left to wander."

page 34-35 Safe?
Said a precious little laddie,
To his father one bright day,
"May I give myself ot Jesus?
Let Him wash my sins away?

O, my son, but you're so little,
Wait until you older grow,
Bigger folks, 'tis true, do need Him,
But little folk are safe, you know.

Said the father to his laddie,
As a storm was coming on,
"Are the sheep all safely sheltered,
Safe within the fold, my son?"

"All the big ones are, my father,
But the lambs, I let them go,
For I didn't think it mattered,
Little ones are safe, you know."
--Author Unknown

*I think most of us realize how foolish the idea to let children make up their own minds is. Children need to be taught and led. We, as adults, even need to be taught and led. Yes, of course, there comes a time when children need to choose which path to take, but they will be much more likely to choose the correct path if they have been taught, if their parents have set a good example, and if they have felt the spirit. There is an innate goodness in young children, but it will quickly become corrupted if they are not taught by precept and example.

page 90 Corrie describes her family members learning several languages. She began to learn English in fifth grade and wondered if she'd ever go to ENgland or America and actually use English. (Of course, years later she traveled around the world speaking of her experiences and had many opportunities to use English.) Her sister studied German. During family Bible study, each family member would hold a Bible in a different language. Father would have each person read the same verse, such as John 3:16, in a different language. She writes, "When I was so young, it didn't seem possible that Betsie would ever have a chance to use a Bible verse in German. We didn't know any Germans then! However, God uses such seemingly insignificant ways to prepare us for the plan He has for our lives. Over forty years later, in a concentration camp in Germany, Betsie was able to use that verse-and many more-to speak to the prisoners and the guards about God's love."

*We never know when our experiences, the things we have learned, the subjects we have studied will allow us to bless others' lives.

Corrie was an au paire for a young child. The home was large adn the family was very wealthy. The family seemed very concerned with making money and Corrie was surprised that not all homes were so filled with love and laughter and fun as her home had been. When her aunt, Tante Bep, died soon after Corrie began this job and Corrie had to return home, she had gained greater compassion for this aunt that often seemed cranky...she had spent many years working in others' homes. "Just a small taste of the life she had led gave me more understanding. We never know until we walk in someone else's shoes."
(page 109).

page 117: "It never ceases to amaze me the way the Lord creates a bong among believers that reaches across continents, beyond race and color. This spiritual bond is something man has tried to establish with big national or world councils and organized ecumenical movements but always misses when the Spirit of the Lord is not present."

page 200-201...learned that she can't pray for something that is wrong...

Page 206, Her sister Hans lived in Rotterdam when there was a terrible bombardment during WWII. They fled and lived in a small suburb of Rotterdam, where they lived in a cellar for a year. She repeated to her children over and over, "Opa taught us, 'When Jesus takes your hand, He keeps you tight. When Jesus keeps you tight, He leads you through your whole life. When Jesus leads you through your life, He brings you safely home."


*Such a beautiful book and a warm and loving family devoted to serving the Lord. I am trying to make my home a refuge from the world. A place of love and laughter and safety and peace.

See Things My Way

My dear friend Aly shared a video on Facebook. It shows a forensic artist sketching women how they describe themselves and then how another person describes them. Then at the end, the women are shown the two sketches. In each case, the woman described herself as less beautiful than she truly was, emphasizing her imperfections. In each case, the other person's description was closer to the truth. The women then talk about how the way we see ourselves impacts our relationships, our work, our happiness. It ends with these words, "You are more beautiful that you think."

This video touched me. Aly shared that her husband had shown her family that video and then commented, "What if one of these women would have simply responded with, I am a child of God? How different would their portraits have turned out?"

How different would our lives be if we really felt that and remembered that each day?

This is something dear to my heart, because if I had one wish as Relief Society President, I think it would be to help each woman to really see herself for who she truly is...a beloved daughter of God...and to see how much potential she has to do good in this world.

I have a CD that I really love by a group called "One Clear Voice". I love every song on the CD, but this reminded me of one particular song entitled "See Things My Way." (This was written by Jeannine Lasky, Tyler Castleton and Julia Audretch).

Here are the lyrics:
I see you sitting there
With your head in your hands
How could anybody see inside
And pretend to understand
Doubting if a single heart would ache
If you simply slipped away
But when I look at you
I know the truth.

Chorus:
I see a strong and steady rock.
I see the anchor to my soul
I feel the hope you bring
The peace you leave
Wherever you go
I see a warm and faithful friend
Who listens to me time and time again
And I know if you could see
Oh, you'd believe
In the difference you make
If you could see things my way.

It breaks my heart to watch your eyes
Questioning your worth
Searching for an outward sign
Of praise that's seldom heard
I wish that you could look at your life
Thru someone else's eyes
'Cause when I gaze at you
It's an amazing view.
(Repeat chorus)....

If only we could see ourselves the way others see us. Since receiving this call as RS President, many people have told me of some of the qualities they see in me... and a few times, I have been really surprised. There have been a few times when I have honestly thought, "Wow, that's not how I see myself at all." Sometimes others CAN see us more clearly...we are our own worst critic. But even better than seeing ourselves as others see us, it would be best if we could see ourselves as our Father in Heaven sees us. 1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see through a glass, darkly". We don't see clearly who we are or whose we are. I talked more about this in my post on the program "Beautiful."

When I was called to be Relief Society President, but before I was sustained, I went to the temple. I prayed sincerely to know who I should call as my counselors and to receive the Lord's strength. My prayers were answered so completely that there was no doubt in my mind that the call came from the Lord nor any doubt who the members of my presidency should be. Then as I went back into the dressing room, for just a moment, as I gazed in the mirror, I caught a glimpse of who I truly am, a glorious, beautiful, beloved daughter of God. I was overwhelmed by the spirit and the love that flowed into me. I felt strongly that the Lord was telling me who I was and thereby also helping me to see how beautiful and cherished each of the women in my ward are. As we develop Christlike attributes, we become truly beautiful...beautiful from the inside out and it reflects in our countenances.

In No Doubt About It, Sheri Dew said, "Ultimately we will become what we give our hearts to, for we are shaped by what we desire and seek after. If we love the Lord such that our hearts are changed, His image will fill our countenances. But if we love the world more, we'll slowly take upon us those characteristics. As Truman G. Madsen has said, 'At youth our face reveals genetics. At fifty, we have the face we deserve.'" I am not sure that it is 100% accurate that at fifty, you have the face you deserve...but I do believe that the more we love and serve the Lord, the more our inner beauty will grow and the more that His image will be in our countenances. And some day we will stand before Him and finally be able to see who we really are. President Ezra Taft Benson said, “Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father (in Heaven) and how familiar his face is to us.” Then we will know that we are created in His image and we will truly understand how precious each of us is. But as we study, as we strengthen our faith, as we love and serve others around us, we can be given the blessing of catching a glimpse of who we are.

25 Words

I loved Rosemary Wixom's talk in Conference. She shared this:

We can also influence our children through the words we write to them. Nephi writes, “We labor diligently to write, to persuade our children … to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God.”6

President Thomas S. Monson shared the experience of Jay Hess, an airman who was shot down over North Vietnam in the 1960s: “For two years his family had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His captors in Hanoi eventually allowed him to write home but limited his message to less than 25 words.” President Monson asks: “What would you and I say to our families if we were in the same situation—not having seen them for over two years and not knowing if we would ever see them again? Wanting to provide something his family could recognize as having come from him and also wanting to give them valuable counsel, Brother Hess wrote [the following words]: ‘These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year.’”7

What words would you write to your children if you had 25 words or less?

As soon as I heard this, I jotted a note to myself to record my 25 words or less. I love this idea for so many reasons: it's an interesting writing challenge, it forces me to be succinct (not one of my strengths...I often ramble on), and I love the idea of leaving my priorities in writing for my children/posterity.

So without further ado, here are my (exactly) 25 words:

Love God and all men. Faith, hope, charity. Temple. Keep covenants. Learn, read daily. Forgive. Choose happiness. Be grateful. Remember whose you are. Eternity awaits!

Cheesy Italian Cream Cheese Chicken

I was thinking about making bacon wrapped chicken and even looked at this recipe, but I realized I didn't have any bacon...well, I have tons of real bacon bits...but I didn't have strips of bacon to wrap around chicken. But her recipe sounded yummy. So I thought...maybe I could modify it by just using bacon bits and tossing the other ingredients on top. But then I decided to make a couple of changes.

First, I threw the cream cheese into the microwave to soften it... and I cut my chicken into small pieces because it was frozen and I wanted it to cook as quickly as possible. Then I stirred in 1 package of Italian dressing mix into the softened cream cheese and added about 1/2 cup of real bacon bits. I put the chicken into a 9x 13 pan and smeared the cream cheese mixture on top. Then, because I was lazy, I sliced cheddar cheese and laid it on top of the chicken. You could totally grate the cheddar cheese, but I just sliced it because it was faster. Then I baked this for about an hour. (Until the chicken is cooked thoroughly). Optional topping: bread crumbs or Ritz crackers crumbled
Yum!

Recipe:

5-6 chicken thighs (or chicken breasts, but I used thighs)
1 package Italian dressing mix
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup real bacon bits... or about 5 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 cup cheddar cheese
bread crumbs or crumbled Ritz crackers crumbled (optional)

*You could also add a little bit of jalapenos to make it spicy or a small can of green chiles. You could also substitute pepper jack cheese (too spicy for all of us except Alfredo!) or monterey jack or whatever your favorite cheese is. This was so yummy! It would also be great like artsy fartsy mama suggested with the bacon strips wrapped around the chicken and then baked. So many options!
Sorry...no pictures...didn't occur to me until I was eating the yummy food and thought...I want to remember this!

Conference Highlights

Conference Weekend was wonderful. It helped that I was off the week before so I had time to clean my house, relax, catch up on sleep and so on. But I was also spiritually prepared for this conference and we came with questions. We wrote down several questions that we each wanted answers to and then listened for the answers as conference progressed. Here are a couple of our papers hanging on the wall before conference started:

Here they are once conference ended. Every question had been answered and most had been answered several times by several speakers. After conference was over, all three of my kids could tell me what their favorite talk was and why. We were all spiritually fed.


A few highlights of the weekend. Alfredo, Michelle and I were able to go to the conference center Saturday morning. It was wonderful. As President Monson walked in, the Spirit overwhelmed me and testified to me (again) that he is truly a prophet of God. It was wonderful to be in the room with these amazing men and women and to listen to them speak. From that morning session, the thing that stood out to me the most was that we need to "stand as witnesses" at all times. We all three loved Sister Dalton's talk. I also loved President Eyring's talk.

In between sessions on Saturday, I sent the kids outside to play with the dogs (still dog sitting...so our dog plus the extra two) and to ride bikes. Then two of their friends ended up joining us to watch the afternoon session. They enjoyed listening for the words "prayer" and "scripture study" and getting a snack when they heard the words. They also colored and listened for answers to their questions and played quietly.

In between sessions on Sunday, they needed a way to release some energy. Michelle suggested a pillow fight. If Alfredo gets involved, it becomes a full on war. He isn't very gentle, but he had the girls laughing, teasing ("can't get me... nananana..."), and running away. Mostly Ella and Gabby stayed down the hall where they were fairly protected, but Michelle was right there swinging and throwing pillows right back at him.

The questions are wonderful because they focussed our attention on conference, helped us pay attention and helped us see that conference is applicable to us. But they will also be a wonderful source of FHE lessons. I got some great insights into areas that I need to teach my children...both from their questions as well as from inspiration/direction given during conference. I also got some wonderful insights into ways to better serve in my calling. In fact, I looked over my notes after conference and made a sticky note full of "action items" ...things to DO. I also put stars throughout my notes to remind me of things that will help me as RS President or things I want to share in our upcoming Visiting Teaching Seminar.

For me, these are the things that are sticking out right now:
*Missionary work...the work is hastening. We all have a responsibility and opportunity to be involved in the work of redemption.
*Faith...I loved Elder Holland's talk about believing and faith. "Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief." "Don't let your questions stand in the way of faith working its great miracle." He said to fan the flame of your faith because all things are possible to them that believe. He also said that aside from the Savior, The Lord has only ever had imperfect people to do His work..."That must be terribly frustrating to Him but He deals with it and so should we.""Be kind regarding human frailty--your own and those you serve with."
*We need to love and forgive and help those who have wandered or who are struggling or who don't feel accepted or who don't know whose they are. We each need to reach out, to rescue, to love, to serve.
*Obedience is so important. Obedience brings power and safety. Obedience to the law of chastity. Obedience to the other laws of God helps us avoid the cunning traps of the adversary.
*We each need a place of refuge. The church...our wards and stakes are one place of refuge. The temple is another. Our homes should be another.
*Elder Nelson: "Our living God is a loving God."

I am so grateful for the spirit that I felt and for the answers to my prayers. I love this gospel!

Farmington Bay

Each year we take our second graders on a field trip to Farmington Bay to see the birds, to learn about habitats and study adaptations. We went two weeks ago, and we were able to see bald eagles as well as many other birds. I've always meant to take my own kids, but never have. So this past Wednesday, we went to Farmington Bay to see the birds. We didn't see any bald eagles, but we saw many different types of ducks and many Canada geese. Did you know Canada geese mate for life and are rarely seen without their mate? You usually see them in pairs.
We saw many red-winged blackbirds. We saw seagulls and great blue herons and killdeer and several other types of birds.


I was able to show my girls coyote and fox scat and show them a fox's den (that may/may not still be used by the fox...the lady that guided us on our field trip wasn't sure...the entrance she showed us had caved in, and so she said the fox may just be using a different entrance or may have moved to a new location.) I showed them vole trails. Then we went into the education rooms and saw the stuffed birds and looked at all of the displays. The girls enjoyed comparing their arm lengths to a bald eagle's wing span.


They really loved using footprint molds to make different animals footprints in the sand. I enjoyed showing them the skulls from several animals as well as birds' nests, and furs from the coyote, fox, badger, muskrat, skunk and raccoon. We looked at and read about invertebrates, brine shrimp, and snakes. The girls learned a lot and we all enjoyed this outing. There are over 5 million birds that come to Farmington Bay and over 200 different kinds. We were able to talk about how important it is to protect their habitat and we were able to identify some of the birds we saw. We want to go back in the fall when there are pelicans. They are so cool. And the girls want to go earlier in the spring to see the bald eagles. I'm so glad we went.

Rain, rain, go away...

That is what I felt like singing when I woke up to a rainy day this morning. I don't mind rain, but my friend Carey was scheduled to take Ella's baptism pictures today, and I didn't want to try to reschedule. Fortunately, the rain ended by about 11:30 so we met Carey at 3:00 at Wheeler Farm. It was nice to get a chance to visit with her and she took some beautiful pictures of Ella. I can hardly wait to see them. So I am thankful for the beautiful weather this afternoon. It has been such a wonderful week. It has gone by too quickly, but I have been able to spend time with my family, get several things accomplished and relax a little bit. Now I will have the energy to make it through the rest of the year.

Love, Growth, Gratitude

I've remarked a few times lately, including tonight, that I'd happily go back to teaching Sunbeams or that I'd love to work in the nursery. And there is a great deal of truth in that. I truly love little children and little children are so eager to love you back and have such open hearts. I definitely think I gained more from my sweet Sunbeams than they did from me. And I'm better with kids than I am with grownups. I can be silly and playful and I'm not as shy with kids as I am with adults.

Yet, lest I neglect to show gratitude for the blessings I am receiving, there is a big part of me that would be heartbroken to be released as Relief Society President right now. I'm sure that the time will come when I will be ready and/or it will be time for me to have new opportunities to serve in a different capacity, but I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve and to learn and to try hard things and to feel the spirit and to love the sisters in my ward. And I do love them. I don't know that loving adults or at least interacting with adults comes quite as naturally to me as does interacting with kids. And there are days when I feel so very inexperienced and feel like I can't possibly do enough to ease the burdens that so many people face. But there are also so many moments when my heart swells with love for these amazing women in my ward. I watch them serve one another, and my heart is touched. I watch them begin to make changes in their lives and return to activity and I just want to hug them and grab them by the hand and lead them along. And I spend some sleepless moments worrying for them and praying for them and admiring the strength that they show. I also worry that I may say something dumb that may offend or that I may not know how to "lift up the hands which hang down and strengthen the feeble knees."

I am grateful for the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. I have felt prompted on several ocassions to say something or visit someone or make a specific change. I don't always say or do the right thing, but I'm grateful for the times where I can pinpoint that I was being led by the Spirit. It seems a little miraculous to me. A year ago, I remember feeling quite discouraged because I felt like while I often felt the spirit at church or as I read the scriptures, I remember feeling like I was rarely led by the spirit to do specific things. As I prayed about that, I realized a couple of things. First, the spirit taught me of several instances where I thought I was just following my own idea and it really had been the spirit prompting me. Second, I realized that I needed to more carefully listen for the spirit, recognize it and follow it if I wanted to receive more guidance. I know that I am receiving more guidance right now for two reasons...one because I am actively seeking it and recognizing it and even recording it in my personal journal most of the time (I haven't actually kept a journal since I started this blog...but since this call, I've started one again for things that are too personal to share here.) and second because I have a responsibility that requires me to be led by the spirit so that I can serve others. However, we each have the opportunity to have the Holy Ghost lead us and guide us and teach us on a daily basis if we live worthily of that blessing.

I am so excited for General Conference. There are always talks that speak directly to me. But this time, I am following the advice I've seen in several places to have some specific questions in mind that I'm seeking answers to. As I listen to conference I will be listening to hear answers to these questions. Tomorrow, I am going to have my children write down questions that they are wanting to have answers for. Then we will listen for answers to each of our questions. I'm also excited because we were able to get tickets to the Sat. AM session, so Alfredo and Michelle and I will be able to be there in the conference center for conference. And I'm so grateful to my sister who will stay here with Gabby and Ella (who is ALMOST old enough to go, but not quite...26 more days from Sat. until her 8th bday!)

Dog sitting

We are dog sitting my friend Brenda's dogs for 10 days while she is out of town. She has two dogs...Luna and Daisy. My girls are enjoying them, especially Luna. They carry her all over the place and even want to sleep with her.

Journals

My kiddos got journals for Easter. I have been thinking lately that I'd like them to be more consistent about writing in a journal. It's a good habit to have and it's a good way to practice writing as well as to record events, thoughts and feelings. So I've decided to devote 10-15 minutes to writing in our journals on Sunday. I won't be able to write in mine at that time...because Gabby is not an independent writer yet... but I want to help them establish this writing habit. ANd I know myself well enough to know that often I have good ideas that I start and then I get busy and they don't last. So I'm hoping that by posting it here, it will make me more accountable. We started this on Sunday. I let the girls write whatever they wanted about Easter.
Gabby asked me to draw Heavenly Father and Jesus for her and then I helped her to spell "Heavenly Father" and "Jesus" to label the pictures. They aren't very good drawings, but I have never claimed to be a great artist.

Easter baskets

While we try to do most of our secular celebrating on Saturday and leave Sunday to remember the Savior, the girls do get their Easter baskets on Sunday morning. This year the baskets were actually buckets. They got books. They got a few treats, including Peeps. I hate Peeps, but I guess the Easter Bunny figured the girls should get at least one chance to try them and decide if they like them. They each got a shirt and a journal (or in Gabby's case a writing tablet with big lines.). They also each got a webkinz which they were really thrilled about. And Michelle and Ella each received an Easter dress. Gabby received an Easter outfit. Aly had taken Gabby and Sofie shopping a few days ago and found an Easter dress for Sofie. Gabby really loved it so Aly bought one for Gabby too. So Gabs and her best friend were twins today. ;).

Gabby was SOOO happy to get some Pete the Cat books for Easter. She loves Pete the Cat. (I'm glad that the Easter bunny read her preschool teacher's post on Facebook that all the preschoolers LOVE Pete the Cat. It was/is quite a hit!)


Then we of course went to church and had wonderful meetings where the spirit was abundant.

Then we went to dinner at my aunt and uncle's house. They had hidden Easter eggs for my kids, so my kids got a second hunt. This time some of the eggs had money in them. Gabby was all about the money...she gave all the candy to me but cheered each time she opened an egg with change. She kept repeating, "I am rich!" $1.55 made a little girl very happy.


Sunday evening we held FHE. (Sundays just work so much better for me/us.). We watched a video about the Savior's resurrection and read part of John 20. We read a blog post from Daily Closer to Christ about Easter and Mary Magdalene. And we read Carol Heyer's book The First Easter.

Then I had my girls write in their new journals. It was a wonderful day.