3 Questions

Here's the plan:

September 1st. I've been studying a few random scriptural topics the last few weeks since I finished The Book of Mormon. I reread Sister Julie Beck's talk from last Women's Conference (Fantastic!). I'm anxious to again pick up with The Book of Mormon cover to cover so I'm taking her challenge- Read it from cover to cover while searching out 3 questions:

1. Who Am I?

2. What are my responsibilities in the house of Israel?

3. How do I fulfill those responsibilities?

I've noticed that many blog authors have 'give aways' of things they love. I love The Book of Mormon.  So that's going to be my give away. When I'm all finished (in a month or two or three), when the book is full of my notes and thoughts, I'll give it away. I don't know if anyone will want it with all my scribbling, but time will tell. 

...and even if I can't give it away, I'm excited for me.

And for those of you who have never read it, you don't have to wait that long. Give me a call and I'll get you a copy asap and you can read it with me. 

Famous last words

*And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen.

So perhaps this would only be considered famous to a select demographic, but everytime I read this, I get so excited. Of all the people I want to meet in life, Moroni is high up in my top 10. (Does anybody else have a top 10?) What an amazing life-before and after.

I love the personal insights he gives of his own life. Some of them just make me anxious to read more. For example:

An epistle of my father Mormon, written to me, Moroni; and it was written unto me soon after my calling to the ministry. And on this wise did he write unto me, saying:

Think about it. He is completely alone. The only people around want to kill him and anyone like him. He saw his entire civilization self destruct. His father was killed and any other family/friends he may have had. He has the incredible, heavy responsibility to care for and protect this sacred record and there are definitely forces that oppose that charge. Certainly he had the help and companionship of the Holy Ghost, and he had the writings of the prophets for his friends. And he has us. Us.

He knows us. He's seen us. He cares about us. He's worried about us. And so he writes to us. And this is what he shares. "This is a letter from my Dad that he wrote to me. He wrote it soon after I was called. This is what he said."

A letter from his dad. Probably one he read over and over again. It was certainly sacred to him. And he wants us to have it, too. A voice from the dust. More than any other author in The Book of Mormon-or any other book-when I read his words I have the impression that I'm reading letters from my friend, and I can't wait to shake his hand. 

'Til we meet again!

Lookin' Sharp!

More soon!

Annual Ward Picnic

Just when we're ready to leave and boom! Suddenly, there are babies everywhere. Of course. At least I was able to hold a few today.

Standing on the corner one more time...

(Hate pictures of myself, but needed some proof that I still exist.)

Will you?

She will!

Savy and Taylor snuck over to Brighton's after seminary and decorated her room with chocolate kisses and flowers. He put up a big sign that said, "Now that I've kissed the ground you've walked on and showered you with roses, will you go to prom with me?" No pictures. :(

Later that night she came over and left her response. Here it is...CUTE!

More pictures

So quick, but so fun!

We had such a great time. So glad the whole family could come. Wish we could do it more often. And I'll admit it. After hearing Luke wasn't sure he wanted to come, I was kinda' glad to hear he cried at the airport because he didn't want to leave.
I don't have a lot of time to write much about the pictures-hopefully everyone else will chime in. I will say, notice the dads in park shot. Also look for the picture with Jeff running towards me, "You can see him saying, "Mo-om, it's not fair...'" Abby and Taylor-Jen you can take that one, and cute picture of Jen with the girls on the swing. (Em, I have a better picture of you on the playground, but the wrong one downloaded. When I get back to Scottsdale, I'll try and remember to upload the best one.
If you missed some of the other posts, check out Creepy Crawlies, The Good Egg,  OJ adventure and our Easter Egg hunt.



... and the Friday finale! The Statue walk downtown (love the new American Gothic), Mangos then ending up at the Easter Pageant.



CAM! So happy to see you and your beautiful family. It's been a LONG time, but not much longer.

post game fun

What's better than General Conference?

General Conference on Easter...

...with cousins!

And missionaries.

(The aprons are to save their white shirts. They're so kind and humble, they humored me and allowed the picture.)

Conference food tradtions:

waffles with homemade syrup (no more Mrs. Buttersworth at our house), opt. peanut butter

Cave Creek Tacos

Breakfast Nachos

***This year we traded bagels and fruit for doughnuts and then chili for Ribs and hot dogs. I don't think any of the kids felt bad about that.

(Don't you love Jeff's hair? He doesn't like me to do it for him...he likes it this way better. Independence is hard...for the mom!)

Love the conference packets! Taylor got them ready for his pre-conference FHE lesson. Thanks Tay. They helped the kids stay a little quieter on Sunday-except they did most of it on Saturday before conference even started.

OK Jess, we did something different with the treats to prevent some of the getting up and down. This time, before it started everyone filled their own private bowl and kept it nearby. Dad gave some magic words to listen for. Worked much better!

(Couldn't resist, he's just so cute.)