Merry Christmas!

We are especially grateful this year for you, our family and friends. We were deeply moved by all the support and kindness you showed our family as Jacob was diagnosed with brain cancer in February. We know that the Savior lives and loves us and are grateful for the gift His life offers to all of us.

Once in a lifetime

This morning I happened to drop by Lauren's piano book to her new teacher and our wonderful babysitter Rebekah.

While there, she mentioned that her Dad was coming to pick her up to take her to see the angel Moroni go up on top of the Phoenix temple.



It wasn't a publicized event, but with this new knowledege I decided that we'd have to go see it.

We've been driving to the temple every other month for a year to watch the building progress and this would be the perfect capstone to those visits. 



With just over an hour, we packed lunch stuff, got ready and stopped to pick Lauren up from school. I knew she'd be devastated if she missed this once in a lifetime opportunity.



We got there and made our way through the gate when a man told me they had the angel on the ground and you could take pictures with it.



When we got inside we met up with Bekah and a few ward friends and enjoyed watching the proceedings together.



Once everyone had their photos they hoisted the angel up 20 feet and took pictures of all of the construction workers with it. Then they turned him until he was facing east.



 











The statue is 9 feet tall and had a 6 foot base rod with a roll of copper cabling running down it to serve as a lightening rod and ground the electricity in case of a lightening strike.









 

 

The girls kept commenting on how the angel was shrinking on his ascension, and it was true that he got smaller and smaller the higher up he went.



Once they got the angel lifted above the roof they hoisted two guys in a basket up to help run the cable down through the tower.



That process took a while- we started baking in the sun- but it was amazing to see those guys suspended in the basket to get the wiring right and the angel properly placed.

 

Once it was done they removed the cable from the top of the head and were lowered down, leaving just the beautiful angel Moroni blowing his trumpet to the east. Read more here about FIGURES ATOP TEMPLES. 



I'm so grateful that we got to have this opportunity and hope that my girls will always remember that they saw the angel Moroni placed on top of the temple. On the drive over Ellie said "I'm going to be married in that temple Mom," and I wouldn't want anything more for her than that.

My angel mother

I went to Utah in November to be with my Mom for a weekend after her 5th chemo treatment.

I loved being home with my parents and appreciated the chance to spend time and talk with them.

Seeing my Mom in the cancer center, and suffering the effects of the drugs, made her disease definitely more real, but I came away amazed at the strength with which she's facing this trial and the firm faith she has in our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

I credit my faith to the teaching and training of my parents, and am especially grateful for my Mother's influence in bearing record of Him, ever since I can remember.

I admire my parents so much for how they have come together during these difficult months and continue to look outward as they serve and bless the lives of those around them.

I know that my life, and that of my children and husband have been strengthened as we've been able to fast for, pray for, visit, and encourage my Mom and Dad through this trial.

I am even more grateful for my Mother's influence in my life, and know that anything I've done or become is because of her investment, love, nurturing, and sacrifice for me.

My vote

Tomorrow, Tuesday November 6, I will vote for Mitt Romney for President.

As I stated in February, there are many reasons I support Governor Romney.

First, Mitt Romney has the experience to deal with our economic crisis.

He is not a professional bureaucrat or elected official and has experience making hard monetary decisions and holding to real budgets.  With the economy in the tank,  unfunded entitlement programs, and the tax code of the future at stake, I want a president who will make substantive corrections to the mess my generation will literally be paying for the rest of our lives.

Second, Mitt Romney is a leader.

Governor Romney is not a stirring, soothing speaker and I like him all the more for it. He is decisive, he is direct,  he is determined, and he gets things done. I believe that actions speak louder than words and I have confidence that he will execute the agenda he has outlined for his presidency.

Third, Mitt Romney is conservative.

He is a frugal, traditional, and morally directed man who believes in the protection of individual rights, limited powers of government, and a free market economy. 

Fourth, Mitt Romney is trustworthy.

Mitt Romney is who he says he is. To me there is no better indicator of who a person is and how they will lead than the integrity and character of their personal life.

Fifth, yes, we need change in America-  a change from our current president.

Mitt Romney has the fiscal power, experience, and strength to make the tough decisions our current president has evaded. He can delegate and lead the other branches of government to action instead of issuing executive orders like our current president. He is a powerful presence and can confront world leaders and make choices to protect our interests abroad. He is a pragmatist who is not roused by political fervor, far fetched ideology, and the passions of the day.  He is financially independent and will not be controlled by any network, group, or political power seeking to sway his opinions. 

It is important to study out the candidates and issues in any election, but I hope that in this Presidential race voters will take time to do their own research and come to their own conclusions. The choice has been clear for me.

Let your voice be heard. VOTE.

Whirlwind

Sometimes life is slow and predictable, and sometimes it is not.

The last few weeks have been in the not category.

We've had some sad things happen.

We've had some great things happen.

And we're hoping that we're learning and growing in the process.

I'm grateful for this experience of life and the things it teaches me along the way.

Personal Progress

Tonight I attended a stake personal progress recognition night where two young women in our ward were recognized for completing the Personal Progress program. 

I was so proud of them and inspired again by how wonderful, meaningful, and important the Personal Progress program is.

As a YW leader, I have been working on the program for the last 18 months and loved reading the Book of Mormon for the virtue value project. I have also enjoyed refocusing on the YW values individually and have seen my life improve through study and goal setting.

I am so grateful for my mom, and wonderful young women leaders who encouraged me to complete the personal program as a teenager. As a teenager, Personal Progress gave me the opportunity to try out and practice skills, attributes, and talents that I now put to use every day as a wife and mother.

And the wonderful thing is that any woman "who desires to participate in and complete Personal Progress"(pg. 93) may do so! You can access the program online or obtain a book at any distribution center.

The Personal Progress program it is a great way to add simple goals and study habits to your life that will bless you and your family.

Why I'm voting for Mitt

Next Tuesday, February 28, I will vote for Mitt Romney in the Arizona primary election.

I'm not going to lie, I share my maiden name with the Governor, but beyond that there are several specific reasons why I support his campaign.

First, Mitt Romney has the experience to deal with our economic crisis.

He is not a professional bureaucrat or elected official and has experience making hard monetary decisions and holding to real budgets.  With the economy in the tank,  unfunded entitlement programs, and the tax code of the future at stake, I want a president who will make substantive corrections to the mess my generation will literally be paying for the rest of our lives.

Second, Mitt Romney is a leader.

Governor Romney is not a stirring, soothing speaker and I like him all the more for it. He is decisive, he is direct,  he is determined, and he gets things done. I believe that actions speak louder than words and I have confidence that he will execute the agenda he has outlined for his presidency.

Third, Mitt Romney is conservative.

He is a frugal, traditional, and morally directed man who believes in the protection of individual rights, limited powers of government, and a free market economy. 

Fourth, Mitt Romney is trustworthy.

Mitt Romney is who he says he is. Unlike most politicians (celebrities, athletes, millionaires, etc.) today, there are no skeletons in his closet and there will be no surprises about his personal behavior.  He is a motivated hard worker, who amazingly graduated at the top of his class from both Harvard MBA and Law school while supporting a family with his wife of almost 43 years, Ann. To me there is no better indicator of who a person is and how they will lead than the integrity and character of their personal life.

Fifth, Mitt Romney is the best contender against the current president. 

There is now a small field of contenders in the Republican primary race. We have been exposed to an onslaught of reports about each candidates life, their beliefs, their experience, and their agenda for the presidency. I believe that Mitt Romney is the most qualified of all of them to take down our current leader.  He has the fiscal power, experience, and strength to make the tough decisions our current president has evaded. He can delegate and lead the other branches of government to action instead of talking without producing like our current president. He is a powerful presence who can confront world leaders and make choices to protect our interests abroad. He is a pragmatist who is not roused by political fervor, far fetched ideology, and the passions of the day.  He is financially independent and will not be controlled by any network, group, or political power seeking to sway his opinions.  He draws voters from the same demographic as our current president and has the ability to bring independent voters to the red side of the line. He is our current president's greatest threat, as is evidenced by the all out push to take him down in any way possible. In this economic environment our current president fears a general election against Governor Romney.


It is important to study out the candidates and issues in any election, but I hope that in this Republican race voters will take time to do their own research and come to their own conclusions. The debate is tomorrow on CNN at 6:00 pm MST and the vote is on Tuesday the 28th.

Let your voice be heard. VOTE.

Work and Self-Reliance

That is the title of the new section in the 2012 edition of the For the Strength of Youth booklet.

My first thought was, seriously, work and self-reliance? That needs to be a topic for the youth today?

But then the more I got to thinking about it, the more I realized that work and self-reliance are, unfortunately, critical components of our society that are slipping away.

We live in the age of entitlement. We think we have claim to things, opportunities, and help by merely existing. We think we can get something for nothing.

How sad that in the booklet's 47+ years of existence work and self-reliance have never had to have special mention because they were an expected part of society and family life. 

I am grateful for the addition of this topic.  As a parent it has reiterated to me the importance of teaching my children how to work. Even though they are young, I need to remember that they can contribute and that they must contribute in our home for their own benefit and blessing. I am grateful for the counsel of prophets that directs me in raising children in this day and age.
 
So today we got to work washing the windows inside and out. It have have been over a year (...or closer to 2) since we cleaned them on the outside and they needed it. Each girl got a turn with the scrubbing brush, squeegee, Windex and paper towels. They enjoyed the task and I enjoyed teaching them how to clean the windows properly.

Before: Dirty Window

After: Dirty Grill

The reason for the season

This has been a season of giving. We have been able to share our home, time, resources, and baked goods with friends, family, and neighbors. Our girls have given to each other by doing small acts of service, buying gifts, and playing without fighting. We have been the recipients of the kindness and service of family, friends, and neighbors and are so grateful for their thoughtfulness.

Giving.

That is what Christmas is about. It all started with the first gift. The ultimate. The greatest gift that would span time and space and cover all the people that would ever inhabit the earth.

The gift of God's Son.

I am grateful to celebrate His miraculous birth and for our loving Father who sent Him down to save us all. I am grateful that He willingly gave His life for you and for me. And I am grateful that He continues to give mercy, grace, and love through the power of His atonement. That is what Christmas means to me.

European holiday, Part 1

So let's get this travel log started!

We traveled for 11 days to London, England and to Barcelona, Madrid, and Cuenca, Spain. We spent 4 and a half days in London with J's parents who are there serving a full time family history mission and then 5 days in Spain where J served his mission 11 years ago.

J with his parents

The true highlight of the trip was being with full-time missionaries and surrounded by memories of J's mission and it accentuated the wonder of anything we did or saw. Truly, seeing members of the church across the world who live their faith the same way we do was very inspiring and assuring that this is Christ's church on the earth. He is the same, His gospel is the same, and the people who accept it are striving for the same things no matter where they live.

My missionary in-laws

I think this trip made me more grateful for missionary work than I had been before. It was such a blessing to be with my sweet husband as he walked the streets and reconnected with people he'd known as a missionary.  It made me aware of just how much his mission has blessed his life and made him the person that he is today. It accentuated all that is good about him and strengthened him through trial. It helped me remember my own missionary service in Venezuela and recognize how my life was forever enhanced through that experience. And being with my in-laws and seeing them sacrifice the comforts of thier home, the proximity to their children and grandchildren, the ability to be there for their aging parent, and the ease of retired life to serve people, alive or passed on, in London affirmed to me that missionary service brings more blessings to ourselves and to our families than we could ever anticipate.

The members of the Rama Cuenca in Cuenca, Spain

So, for me, the most impressive and memorable part of our vacation  was seeing first hand how missionary work really does change lives for the better.

Easter Sunday

This Easter was one of the best as I spent many hours last week reading about the final week of the Savior's life on earth. I was preparing to teach a lesson in YW on Easter, and J recommended that I read the account of the Easter Story in all of the gospels. I used the religion 211 manual to aid me in study and spent time each day learning about what Christ taught, instituted, and prophesied before his death and resurrection. It was a very sacred experience and something that fortified my faith in His atonement for mankind and in the reality of His resurrection. I hope to prepare for Easter in the same way for years to come to remember again the sacrifice of God's Son. The "Easter Week" article in the April issue of The Friend was the outline I used to teach the lesson and the chronology that I followed in reading about the last week of the Savior's life. We read this account with our girls yesterday and I am grateful that they understood that Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of the Savior.

One of the best weekends of the year

 

It's time for General Conference!

I'm so grateful for the chance to hear the words of God's prophet and apostles over the next 2 days via TV, internet, and radio communications and for the strength it gives me and my family for the coming weeks and months.

Monkey off my back

Our 72 hour kits are done. I've got 5 backpacks, 1 Tupperware, 1 rolling duffel, and 1 bucket full of these supplies that I hope we never have to use.

Getting to business

After reading this somewhat sobering article in The Economist I decided that it is time to get back to work on our food storage. I  reorganized my storage closet last month and it functions 100 times better. Now I've got to fill the shelves, re-do our 72 hour kits (including making one for Ada), and buy some wheat.  Here is a great site  to help you start the food storage process.  Get your food now while the prices are low!

Grateful

I am grateful for a wise husband who reminds me to count my blessings through the business and stress of the season.

I am grateful that we will get to see EVERY member of our families (and I mean everyone) over the Christmas break.

I am grateful for sweet girls who are helpful and so excited for the simple joys of the holiday.

I am grateful for good friends who host fun parties and events that make this time of year more festive.

I am grateful for uplifting music, church talks, lessons, and programs that help me feel the Christmas spirit.

I am grateful for HIM, the Babe in Bethlehem, the Good Shepherd, the Savior of the World, even Jesus Christ, who this Christmas season is really about.

And because of HIM I know that repentance is possible, forgiveness is real, peace is attainable, and hope is alive even as HE is.