Dear Children,
Make sure you make General Conference a priority. I hadn't thought about it much before college. I went/watched and liked it, but didn't realize the significance. President Benson gave a great talk we read in a college class about following the prophet and one of the points was that when the prophet speaks, like at general conference, it is the most recent scripture we have, and therefore most important. Wow. We get to hear from our leaders twice a year and hear their words from inspiration to us to help us to return to Heavenly Father. How lucky we are to have that opportunity! I hope you treasure every general conference, and also that we read the talks in the Ensign after together or alone.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Dear Children,
I just want you to know that I loved our wedding. It was the perfect day. Getting married in the temple is amazing. It is the number one thing I want for each of you. The day was gorgeous, overcast after we came out of the temple and then sunny at our reception. It was so great to have family and friends with us, and to be sealed together forever in the temple. After, we had a huge reception that was the perfect summer evening reception. There was a steady line of people for 3 solid hours. They showed up early, ate a lot, and stayed late. It was so great to have so many people come celebrate with us. I love that we drive by the Century House all the time and I think of that night when I see it. It wasn't hot, people were dressed up, there were lights in the trees, the perfect amount of shade, the cake was beautiful and humongous, so much food and a crepe bar, I loved my dress, and your dad and I kept stealing glances at each other while talking to hundreds of people congratulating us. It was wonderful.
I just want you to know that I loved our wedding. It was the perfect day. Getting married in the temple is amazing. It is the number one thing I want for each of you. The day was gorgeous, overcast after we came out of the temple and then sunny at our reception. It was so great to have family and friends with us, and to be sealed together forever in the temple. After, we had a huge reception that was the perfect summer evening reception. There was a steady line of people for 3 solid hours. They showed up early, ate a lot, and stayed late. It was so great to have so many people come celebrate with us. I love that we drive by the Century House all the time and I think of that night when I see it. It wasn't hot, people were dressed up, there were lights in the trees, the perfect amount of shade, the cake was beautiful and humongous, so much food and a crepe bar, I loved my dress, and your dad and I kept stealing glances at each other while talking to hundreds of people congratulating us. It was wonderful.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Dear Children,
Tomorrow your dad and I leave for Lake Tahoe for the weekend. You'll be with each set of grandparents till we come back. We snuggled and kissed you both all day and will miss you so much! Don't grow while we're gone. It seems like you have both been growing WAAAAY too much lately.
Just so you know, this week Zachary and dad set up the GeoTracks one morning before work, and we have all been playing it all week long. It takes up the whole living room and is a lot of fun. Zach has a hard time when Elizabeth walks up to the train and knocks the whole thing over, but has gotten better at dealing with it (and Elizabeth has gotten better at not messing everything up). You two are little pals and it is SO fun to watch you. You chase each other around a lot (never catching each other, just running and running). Elizabeth's repeated the phrase 'ME TOO!!' all week. Last weekend was the father and sons campout and Elizabeth thought she was going too :) She wasn't too sad about missing out on the fun, we had a girl's night here. She asked about Zachary and Dad until she went to sleep.
Tomorrow your dad and I leave for Lake Tahoe for the weekend. You'll be with each set of grandparents till we come back. We snuggled and kissed you both all day and will miss you so much! Don't grow while we're gone. It seems like you have both been growing WAAAAY too much lately.
Just so you know, this week Zachary and dad set up the GeoTracks one morning before work, and we have all been playing it all week long. It takes up the whole living room and is a lot of fun. Zach has a hard time when Elizabeth walks up to the train and knocks the whole thing over, but has gotten better at dealing with it (and Elizabeth has gotten better at not messing everything up). You two are little pals and it is SO fun to watch you. You chase each other around a lot (never catching each other, just running and running). Elizabeth's repeated the phrase 'ME TOO!!' all week. Last weekend was the father and sons campout and Elizabeth thought she was going too :) She wasn't too sad about missing out on the fun, we had a girl's night here. She asked about Zachary and Dad until she went to sleep.
Dear Children,
I have been watching a coupon show, so I started investigating coupons. I must say, it is crazy. There are sooo many websites and blogs and sources for coupons. It must be exhausting to keep up with it all! For sure the people super into that devote hours and hours to couponing. Phew. Let's just play some more trains and not go to Target this week, k?
I have been watching a coupon show, so I started investigating coupons. I must say, it is crazy. There are sooo many websites and blogs and sources for coupons. It must be exhausting to keep up with it all! For sure the people super into that devote hours and hours to couponing. Phew. Let's just play some more trains and not go to Target this week, k?
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Dear Children,
I want you to know of the importance of General Conference. It is amazing that we can listen to the prophet and apostles, and amazing we can watch and listen in our home. It is important to watch the messages, and also to read them after. One semester I had Lloyd Newell for 'Teachings of the Living Prophets' and our homework assignment was to read the last conference Ensign cover to cover and then be tested on it. I got out a highlighter and a pen and wrote notes, marked passages, and overall just really got into it. I haven't done that again since that semester, but I should! In President Benson's talk about the 14 guidelines for following the prophet he talks about the most recent things the prophet has said as being the most important thing we should study, because it is the most recent revelation.
I want you to know of the importance of General Conference. It is amazing that we can listen to the prophet and apostles, and amazing we can watch and listen in our home. It is important to watch the messages, and also to read them after. One semester I had Lloyd Newell for 'Teachings of the Living Prophets' and our homework assignment was to read the last conference Ensign cover to cover and then be tested on it. I got out a highlighter and a pen and wrote notes, marked passages, and overall just really got into it. I haven't done that again since that semester, but I should! In President Benson's talk about the 14 guidelines for following the prophet he talks about the most recent things the prophet has said as being the most important thing we should study, because it is the most recent revelation.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Dear Children,
Ahh, I love you guys. Today Zach messed his pants and it was all over the place. I'm sitting on my mattress while I type this and wait for my sheets to dry. At the same time, Elizabeth dumped the rest of the cereal bag out on my floor. I think it is times like these that can really test a person, and luckily I didn't get mad at either of you, we just cleaned up.
I love a good love story. I love nature-photographs of it, being outside, paintings of it, I love a good museum that has some inspiring artwork (but I don't get out to them much these days!), I love looking at pretty things online, I love making things, I love being with you and playing and laughing and tickling and playing with hair and hiding and finding and making messes and horseback rides and laughing and laughing. There are so many things I love, it is hard to think of them all. Right now I have a magazine (Real Simple) on the counter waiting for me. Your dad gave me a gift for Valentine's last year of a year subscription to that magazine and I LOVE getting it and spending time to read it. I would love to write someday. Who knows what- articles, a great blog, a book, several books. My craft area right now is full, which I love. There are so many projects I could easily get overwhelmed, so I try not to be. I like working out and wish I had a little more dedication for it. We are resolving to get outside more as a family especially once it starts getting light out. I love thinking about our future family and wondering what it will be like. Our favorite topic is you guys. We talk about you all the time and talk about how it is almost unbelievable how cute you are.
Ahh, I love you guys. Today Zach messed his pants and it was all over the place. I'm sitting on my mattress while I type this and wait for my sheets to dry. At the same time, Elizabeth dumped the rest of the cereal bag out on my floor. I think it is times like these that can really test a person, and luckily I didn't get mad at either of you, we just cleaned up.
I love a good love story. I love nature-photographs of it, being outside, paintings of it, I love a good museum that has some inspiring artwork (but I don't get out to them much these days!), I love looking at pretty things online, I love making things, I love being with you and playing and laughing and tickling and playing with hair and hiding and finding and making messes and horseback rides and laughing and laughing. There are so many things I love, it is hard to think of them all. Right now I have a magazine (Real Simple) on the counter waiting for me. Your dad gave me a gift for Valentine's last year of a year subscription to that magazine and I LOVE getting it and spending time to read it. I would love to write someday. Who knows what- articles, a great blog, a book, several books. My craft area right now is full, which I love. There are so many projects I could easily get overwhelmed, so I try not to be. I like working out and wish I had a little more dedication for it. We are resolving to get outside more as a family especially once it starts getting light out. I love thinking about our future family and wondering what it will be like. Our favorite topic is you guys. We talk about you all the time and talk about how it is almost unbelievable how cute you are.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Dear Children,
It is exhausting to prepare for an emergency.
Having the food we need in long-term supply, the food we need for stuff we eat every day, medicines, first aid kits, rope ladders, extra copies, 72 hour kits (still need to put some diapers in that...), fire drills, smoke detectors, locks, insurance....phew. It is exhausting! However, not only is it a good idea to prepare for a wide range of emergencies, it is also what Heavenly Father has asked us to do, through his prophets. For me once I start thinking of things that could happen (i.e. earthquake) then I just feel more and more unprepared. For now as I work to have our family more prepared I just figure if I keep at it, I'm at least headed in the right direction!
It is exhausting to prepare for an emergency.
Having the food we need in long-term supply, the food we need for stuff we eat every day, medicines, first aid kits, rope ladders, extra copies, 72 hour kits (still need to put some diapers in that...), fire drills, smoke detectors, locks, insurance....phew. It is exhausting! However, not only is it a good idea to prepare for a wide range of emergencies, it is also what Heavenly Father has asked us to do, through his prophets. For me once I start thinking of things that could happen (i.e. earthquake) then I just feel more and more unprepared. For now as I work to have our family more prepared I just figure if I keep at it, I'm at least headed in the right direction!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Dear Children,
I hope you don't spend much time in your life complaining. There is so much to complain about, it's so easy to do. On the other hand, think of all there is to celebrate! I think of the world a lot. It's past, it's present. When something is hard I think of how someone right now is roasting hot somewhere and would do anything for some water. Or how 200 years ago whatever task I am doing that is annoying (laundry) would have been so much harder. I think of the things I am grateful for all the time and I think that's what really helps me to be positive most of the time :) Just focus on all the blessings you have.
I hope you don't spend much time in your life complaining. There is so much to complain about, it's so easy to do. On the other hand, think of all there is to celebrate! I think of the world a lot. It's past, it's present. When something is hard I think of how someone right now is roasting hot somewhere and would do anything for some water. Or how 200 years ago whatever task I am doing that is annoying (laundry) would have been so much harder. I think of the things I am grateful for all the time and I think that's what really helps me to be positive most of the time :) Just focus on all the blessings you have.
Dear Children,
I hope you spend a lot of time in your life on your church callings. There will be meetings, unexpected things, inconvenient things, tasks that take you out of your comfort zone. I hope you realize the importance of church service and volunteer and really sacrifice.
One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite people, Marjorie Hinckley:
"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandqiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. i want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."
I hope you spend a lot of time in your life on your church callings. There will be meetings, unexpected things, inconvenient things, tasks that take you out of your comfort zone. I hope you realize the importance of church service and volunteer and really sacrifice.
One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite people, Marjorie Hinckley:
"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandqiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. i want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."
Dear Children,
I don't know if you will get my gene for appreciating things like Mondays, January and lists. To me they are a new start and really motivate me to do more. Your dad just started to get into the spirit of that this January. We have made some new family goals like meal planning, getting better prepared for emergencies, and doing what is best for our family. We got a HUGE calendar and have been keeping track of schedules as well as planning lunches and dinners for the month. It has been so nice and has helped the stress level SO much! I hope to instill in you a desire to be a planner and to use that to your advantage so you can enjoy life more!
I don't know if you will get my gene for appreciating things like Mondays, January and lists. To me they are a new start and really motivate me to do more. Your dad just started to get into the spirit of that this January. We have made some new family goals like meal planning, getting better prepared for emergencies, and doing what is best for our family. We got a HUGE calendar and have been keeping track of schedules as well as planning lunches and dinners for the month. It has been so nice and has helped the stress level SO much! I hope to instill in you a desire to be a planner and to use that to your advantage so you can enjoy life more!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)