So all last week, I worked on preparing a lesson for all the Young Women in my ward. I was so thankful for that opportunity because I truly believe that it is the teacher that gets more out of the lesson than the class. The lesson was on Eternal Perspectives. I really enjoyed studying about this topic all week. I would read a little bit at a time and then think and ponder about what I had read throughout my day. I have decided that I want to pick one topic a week to study about and just have that on my mind all week. To me, this is a very important lesson, and I really wanted to make sure the girls felt that as well. The lesson went well, but I had to skip a big portion of it because of time. Doesn't that always happen - you run out of time while teaching. Anyway, I just wanted to share a few of my favorite quotes and parts of the lesson.
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President James E. Faust said:
"Knowing who you are – who you REALLY are – is closely tied to knowing God, for you
are His children."
"Be obedient and valiant in your search to establish who Heavenly Father wants you to be. It may be hard sometimes, but He is always there to help you."
“If we really want to feel better about ourselves, we should do deeds of kindness. Kindness shapes our character and makes us more like our Father in Heaven. When we demonstrate our love for others, in turn we will understand better the love our Savior has for each of us and that we are children of a loving Heavenly Father."
"YOU choose your own happiness."
"We often will need to choose between having a GOOD TIME or LEADING A GOOD LIFE."
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"Pres. Harold B. Lee said, “Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you but on what happens inside of you. It is measured by the spirit with which you meet the problems of life.”
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Ralph Waldo Emerson said…
“What is success?
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
And the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by
A healthy child, a garden patch
Or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded.
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(I played this song at the end. This got a lot of us in tears)
A SONG TO SING
By: Hilary Weeks
She laid there last night
And all she could do was cry
She wondered who she was
As she thought about her life
The times she has failed
The things she has done
Surely heaven must look down
And wonder who she’s become
Is there a reason why she’s here
Then in the silence she heard these words
You have a song to sing
You have a story to tell
There is a destiny that only you can fulfill
Though you are wandering
If you’ll put your trust in Me
I’ll give you a song to sing
Her eyes were closed
But she opened her heart
She had always believed
There was no part
For someone like her
With so far to go
But tonight that changed
And now she knows
And for the first time in her life
She let go of the fear
So that she could hear
You have a song to sing
You have a story to tell
There is a destiny that only you can fulfill
Though you are wandering
If you put your trust in Me
I’ll give you a song to sing
Yes there’s a reason why we’re here
We have a Father who cares
Who will answer our prayers
You have a song to sing
You have a story to tell
There is a destiny that only you can fulfill
Though you are wandering
If you’ll put your trust in Him
He’ll give you a song
He’ll give you a song to sing
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Sunflowers
Sunflowers always face the sun. In the morning they face east. By evening, they have turned west. They follow the sun as it crosses each day's sky, so they can gather in as much sun as possible. We can be like sunflowers, and turn to the SON, Jesus Christ, and gather spiritual light from Him. A sunflower seed will grow most anywhere. You, too, can bloom and grow where you are planted. By desiring to believe and by studying the scriptures prayerfully, you will nurture your personal gospel seed.
As the sunflower grows, small buds will soon appear, surrounded by protecting leaves. Like those leaves, your parents, leaders, and teachers surround you, and love you, and protect you, and help your budding testimony grow. As a sunflower grows taller, its stalk grows thicker, for it must support the large flower that will soon be full of seeds. So as your spiritual stalk must grow, and your testimony will grow stronger as you prayerfully read the scriptures that teach of Jesus Christ and strive to become like Him.
When the sunflower bud opens, bright yellow petals form, and its head becomes a golden crown. The blessings of its growth at last begins to show. And, having been born of a seed, it now produces seeds of its own that nourish people, animals and birds. Your testimony will likewise produce its own new seeds and you will nourish family, friends and others who will see the Son reflected, like a golden crown, in you, for you have become like Him.
So, turn to the Son. Open your heart to His light. Seek it first thing each morning. Follow its warmth across each day's sky. Let its comfort be the last thing you feel each night. Then as the evening of your life's last setting comes, you will arise to a glorious new morning and turn again to Him and He will see His image in your countenance.
I got her dressed and then she disappeared into her room for a bit. I just went and started to get ready. She then brought me some hair ties and said excitedly, "Look mom, these are cool ones!!" I then put her hair in pigtails, but then she ran right back in her room over and over and brought me more "cool ones."
After we did her hair, she went and asked for her jewelry (pretty fancy and expensive, I know!) and her purse. Thanks Grandma Clay for the purse!! She keeps her little tiny baby doll in her purse. After she had all that on, I went back to my bathroom to finish getting ready. When I was putting my makeup on, she also wanted to wear my lip gloss.
It was totally fun having her get all dolled up! Such fun to have a girl! She ended up wearing everything - including the pinchy clip-on earrings for about 2 1/2 hours! She drew a lot of attention to herself....but hey - I guess that is what happens when you are a princess for a day!!
(I couldn't decide on which picture I liked best....)
In 1997, I was an mere freshman at Rick's College (now BYU-Idaho). I was so excited to be away at school and experience life on my own, but yet still a bit homesick. I missed my family and friends back home. I was lucky enough to have my older sister there to show me the ropes of college life. Mindi had been up there the year before me, and then I joined her in the fun of college life. 
As the clouds moved out about sunset time, we got to enjoy an absolutely beautiful sunset! These are the kind of sunsets I remember ALL the time in MO. So pretty! That is one highlight of being back here in the 
I don't know if you can see it, but a faint rainbow came out. Zach wanted to go see if there was a pot of gold at the other end.
This morning after a long night of thunderstorms, we got even more rain. The lightning and thunder were intense. Now a big area of the state, including where we are at is flooding - and having flash floods. So - the downside of a good thunderstorm. Hopefully the rain will slow down and the rivers won't flood too much more. The river in town was spilling over its banks today onto the bike trail that is next to it. Chris thinks it has probably risen about 8-9 ft. to be able to spill over the onto the trail. Crazy! This is what the drainage easement looked like at the back of our yard this morning!
Here is a little video of the storm blowing in when we got home last night. 
Chloe woke up with a slight fever the day of our zoo trip. She was pretty laid back the entire time at the zoo, but stuck it out. I still don't know what her fever was from, but she had it off and on for 3 days or so. It even got up to 103.0! Then all the sudden, she was better. Whatever it was got fixed from the fever. 
