Chalk Art Festival - Downtown Salt Lake

I have officially lived in Utah for 2 years this month...crazy! Where does the time go? My mom and sisters came into town June 18 and stayed with me for a week and a half. We had a wonderful time together. Madison is an incredible little girl and she was so flexible to the rigorous schedule we maintained almost every day. I don't know that most 5 years old could handle such a busy schedule, but she was great and so patient with us. I love my mom and sisters and hope we can spend some time together every year!
One of the things that we did was attend the Chalk Art Festival held at the Gateway mall. I was so impressed with the incredible artwork and the intricacy of the chalk drawings. I would think chalk would be an extremely difficult medium to work with, but the artists created such incredible artwork, it would appear chalk is an ideal medium. Check it out!

Life's Lessons Learned

Elder Wirthlin gave this conference address in the Priesthood Session in March 31 of 2007. I just randomly grabbed an Ensign when I was trying to get the kids to fall asleep the other night and this is what I opened it to. Oddly enough, it had so much I loved in it.

He tells the story of being terrified in a football game of this massive Giant line backer on the opposing team that he would have to face. He was fairly fast, until one moment when he knew he would be running into this huge guy. When he realized how close he was to his dreaded fear, even though the ball was nearly in his hands, he took his eye off the ball.

I love how he helps us realize that fear can be a distraction from putting what is most important first.

Here is my new favorite quote that I have on my desk: "I urge you to examine your life. Determine where you are and what you need to do to be the kind of person you want to be. Create inspiring, noble and righteous goals that fire your imagination and create excitement in your heart. And then keep your eye on them. Work consistently towards achieving them. 'If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams,' wrote Henry David Thoreau, 'and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.' In other words, never take your eye off the ball."

He has many other wonderful things in this address.. but I just wanted to focus on this one right now... (also cuz I hear the circus animals getting wild down stairs)

ta ta for now!

Family Vacation along the Oregon Coast

Our family vacation was a blast! It is always so great when we can all get together, because our family is big and somewhat spread out so it's difficult to get us all together in one place. Dad was so great and flexible with the schedule for the week and that was fantastic, because with the Oregon weather you never really know what to expect. We had a packed week and we did so many amazingly fun things! We traveled to the Bandon petting zoo, camped in Umpqua, had a bonfire on Nye beach in Newport, went skim boarding in the Pacific Ocean, competed in family Olympic games, swam at the wave pool (formally known as "Splash"), and stayed up late talking and laughing every night. We had so much fun together! I love my family. I hate being so far away from them. Tracy made me promise that I will move back to Oregon after I settle down and I would love to promise that, but I don't feel like at this point in my life I can make that promise. I hope to live near my family after I settle down... but that all depends on where the Lord needs me to be and what direction he leads me in my life.

Julie Beck: And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit

I used this talk as my VT message last month because I loved everything in it.


She begins by talking about the value of a daughter of God and how much depends on them. "..there has never been a greater need for increased faith and personal righteousness. There has never been a greater need for strong families and homes. There has never been more that can be done to help those who are in need."

She continues by talking about the need for personal revelation. It is difficult to meet all of the demands and shun the destructive influences around us without it. "The ability to qualify for, receive and act upon personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life." --- Yes, I whole heartedly agree!





I have read and re-read this next section... it is such a help in my situation right now...
"Revelation can come hour by hour and moment by moment as we do the right things. When women nurture as Christ nurtured, a power and peace can descend to guide when help is needed. For instance, mothers can feel help from the Spirit even when tired, noisy children are clamoring for attention, but they can be distanced from the Spirit if they lose their temper with children. Being in the right places allows us to receive guidance. It requires a conscious effort to diminish distractions, but having the Spirit of revelation makes it possible to prevail over opposition and persist in faith through difficult days and essential routine tasks. Personal revelation gives us the understanding of what to do every day to increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek those who need our help. Because personal revelation is a constantly renewable source of strength, it is possible to feel bathed in help even during turbulent times."

Revelation needs to be asked for, prepared for, and acted upon as well.

The last section that most impressed me is the importance of seeking appreciation from the right sources. I thought a lot about just this sentence. Where do I want appreciation?.. sometimes the bathroom scale... or my piano students parents,... or the occasional neighbor that notices the garden?? or do I really seek appreciation from my Heavenly Father - and try to strengthen my relationship with Him?



I will quote directly: "...we are doing well when we develop attributes of Christ and strive to obey His gospel with exactness. We are doing well when we seek to improve ourselves and do our best. We are doing well when we increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes, and seek out and help others who are in need. We know we are successful if we live so that we qualify for, receive, and know how to follow the Spirit. When we have done our very best, we may still experience disappointments, but we will not be disappointed in ourselves."

I just felt this one was an inspired one... really what I needed too. I am grateful for this inspired woman.