I Love This Life!

 

Saturday was clear and beautiful. Made more beautiful still by the time we were able to spend at the new temple in Ft. Lauderdale, FL with wonderful friends. I felt peace and love. 

Never mind the temple we can do that any time. Let's blow into the water because fountains are AWESOME!

And then the beach! It was perfect! Not too cold, nice breeze, lots of sun, and great company. :)

I read something the other day that I really loved. It's from Clayton M. Christensen's Book, The Power of Everyday Missionaries. "God's role is a constant, not a variable. He always keeps His promises. The only variable is whether we have the faith that we will be blessed with miracles if we make commitments to God and then obediently do what we said we would do" (p. 79). He was referring to missionary work in his book, but these statements apply to our lives in all aspects. He always keeps His promises.

We have been promised blessings if we obey (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/obedience-brings-blessings?lang=eng). We have been promised salvation if we live righteously (Matt. 7:21). We have been promised strength if we are humble (Ether 12:27).

 “And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7).

We need to have faith and trust in our Father in Heaven. "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10).

I know that Heavenly Fathers wants us to be happy. He knows us and loves us. He has given us scripture and prophets to guide us through this time so that we can find the path to eternal happiness.

Catching Up

I'm still in purge mode. I've discovered that it's harder for me to get rid of older things. Things like my old "biker drug lord" boots that I bought for myself in high school. I don't wear them, they don't match anything I still wear, and they are not practical in Florida's hot weather...but still they sit in my closet neglecting less fortunate boot wearing people. *sigh.

I updated my mormon.org profile. As I went on to add some thoughts, I learned some things about me that I had forgotten. Funny how that works. Use it or lose it I suppose. Glad I check up on myself on occasion. http://mormon.org/me/490K

I'm finally ready to join the gym, but I was supposed to do that last week. I wonder how many weeks will pass before it actually happens...

I have been focusing on my flat surfaces in our home. Some would call them "hot spots." I have, in the past, just swept everything on our big counter into the garbage. I am ready to do it again. I think if I keep it up then people might stop putting their things there. I currently have nine permanent and two temporary "hot spots." Fly lady is a great resource! http://www.flylady.net/d/new-links

I have great plans. In the quieter moments so many things just make sense. It's not that I am super woman, it's just that I expect to be able to accomplish all my designs. Especially the good ones!

I want my garden to produce food not weeds. Or..both!

I still have nodules on my vocal chords. I had to whisper that last part. ;)   I have great plans to get rid of those too.....maybe after I join the gym. Ha!

I am SO thankful for Heavenly Father's love for his children! And I'm glad to know that I am one of His children and that He listens to me. Knowing that He has perfect love for me helps me realize that He truly wants me to be happy. He wants to bless me. I have thought recently, "How does it make sense for me to even try to fulfill all my responsibilities without His help?"

The Savior said,

(Matthew 11:28-30)
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

For peace at home...prayer and scripture study.

Shouldn't I Be Making Dinner?!

I should be making dinner, but the truth is that I don't know what to make tonight. I have some leftovers here and there that I could put together for a little buffet. Everyone loves a good buffet right? Honestly my children would love dinner from a box...hm. Bummer for them!

I am rolling right into 2014 with a to-do list five children long. To begin with...purge Purge PURGE! Wow is there a lot of "stuff" around here that can be put to use elsewhere. 

Day 1: Computer desk. Papers, misplaced items, and good intentions. Gone!
Day 2: Entertainment center. Broken equipment, VHS, DVDs, and Super NES. Gone! -I mean seriously...Super NES? 
Day 3: Oh, darn. I was supposed to be purging. Oops.
Day 4: No time for that now, I'm blogging!
Day 5: I'll let you know tomorrow.

But there are some wonderful memories that I would like to savor from 2013. No time to get all fancy, but I had SUCH a great time with family and friends and family last year!!

Mohawk Brothers

Eden has braces!

Gideon thinks he's a ninja

Before picture with no After picture

Can't ignore Jett anymore

Eden got baptized! 

Gideon was not tired. Nope. Not at all.

And we all love Brad..er..uh Monday morning, multiple personality disorder, whoever he was that night.

Ah! They really are ninjas! Oh, and royalty of course.

Gideon wasn't tired this day either.

It was about time, and now it's fixed.

We even made NEW friends!

Just Jett.

Aw. Sweetness!

Family came to visit US!

It's not that Jett loves electronics....ok I'm not going to lie, he's obsessed.

New ice cream maker. Master and students.

Because I have this same picture of Brad with ALL our children.

Harper's birthday. Almost. Early because....

We went to Europe!

And I got sister time.

I love the sunset in Spain.

And more Europe pictures to come...eventually...maybe.

The Noels in St. Augustine!!!

Gideon WAS tired this day.

And new pictures of our family...Thanks Jill and Dad!

See! 2013 was great!!!  Although I wish I had more pictures of more friends. And I wish I had all my pictures on my computer so I could have included more of my family...So I will most likely add to this in a few days. After dinner.     :)        10 minutes to whip something up...