They Really Must Have Been Listening...

Down South...St. George with Grandma and Grandpa Hansen
April 2003
We headed to sunny St. George for Spring Break this year.  Nearly a whole week spent at Nana's and Papa's condo playing tennis and golf, enjoying the sunny pool, marveling at the beautiful scenery and hiking it too, hanging out cousins and grandparents, shopping and just plain old relaxing! It is one our family's favorite places to go.  The first weekend we were there was conference weekend.  That meant we did not have to head to the church but instead we watched on the television, both Saturday and Sunday, talks from our church leaders...it was fantastic.  The kiddos did pretty good and it was a very inspiring and enjoyable part of our trip.  We came home the following week and as Sunday morning rolled around, I planned to gather the kids around and review on of the great talks from the previous week The Sabbath and the Sacrament by Elder L. Tom Perry, one of our apostles.  But before I could I noticed something magical...the kids were all going about their day in a very-sabbath minded way and in a way that was an improvement over previous Sabbath mornings. They had remembered the talk and were each trying to improve their own personal Sabbath attitudes.  The ripple effect definitely was happening as everyone was inspired by the actions of others.  Mom and Dad didn't have to preach...they had already listened to the an apostle of the Lord and the result was wonderful!  

Not Just Your Ordinary Wall Decor

Was it somewhat angular letters done cross-stitch style with colorful embroidery floss?  Or some sort of florally script in an ornate gold frame?  The mental picture of a little wall hanging varies within my mind but the profound message it conveys something steady and strong within my heart:  "Choose Your Love, Love Your Choice." Read about that little message in President Thomas S. Monson's, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and a living prophet of the Lord--a seer and revelator just as the prophets of old, recent conference address.  

Sixteen years ago, I was lucky enough to have my true love choose me (he would say he was lucky I chose him...in reality it probably goes both ways...haha) and I have to admit I love my choice every single day!  Doesn't mean everything is always peachy-keen but it does mean I have power to use perspective and unselfishness when times get a little bumpy and if I choose not to, well, then, I am not choosing happiness. Feeling like you have control of yourself is important to me.  Recognizing my choices are within my control is pretty empowering!  

November 29, 1994
ChoCho and Senior
You can't tell that Senior is wearing blue socks (hey, they matched the dark blue suit he wore to the temple) and his tux is a little short (that is the reason you should try on your tux before the big day).  We also got left at the temple and had to call from a pay phone (no cell phones back then)  and have someone come and pick us up.  Yep, I rode to the temple with my parents that day and he rode with his parents (you know it is bad luck to see one another before the temple on the day of your wedding...at least that is what he told me when I asked him the night before what time he was going to pick me up).  After the ceremony and family pictures, our photographer continued to shoot photos of the two of us and everyone else headed home (without telling us or realizing we had come with them) to prepare for the rest of the festivities leaving the newly-married downtown with no car...once we figured it out we called Senior's little sis and little bro and they drove back down and picked us up.  We treated them to lunch at Training Table.  Kinda crazy but lots of fun!

Grammar Lesson

Cutie friend giving us our grammar lesson...

Be and Do.  Every thought about the relationship between two little words we use all the time?  Those two little words that are connected in ways that when understood can be life-altering.  Check out this talk given just ten days ago by one of the church leaders from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  You can read it, watch it, download it or print it.  What attribute or way of being are you gonna focus on this week?  Following Elder Robbins advice, I thought back on the scriptures I studied this AM and decided that humility should be the "Way of Being" for the week...guess what we will be talking about as we drive a crazy carpool tonight (based on the evening calendar eating dinner all together tonight might not be in the cards)? Any suggestions for teaching kids and grownups about being humble?