More fun than galoshes in the rain.
I adore Purdue Avenue and all the inspiration found there. You might already know that.
I was invited to write with these girls which feels like the best play date EVER.
My post is all about future planning. Of the grandparent sort.
Learn how to simply (I promise!) turn these:
into this:
and how it will help you now and in the years to come. Happy smilin’!
We reviewed President Uchtdorf’s talk today in Relief Society: Forget Me Not. It’s one of my favorites. I made this art journaling page a few months ago with his thoughts in mind – a treasure map full of everyday moments.
{list of supplies here}
I used a few of President Uchtdorf’s quotes on the page:
“The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who, thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout their lives. These are they who are truly happy.”
“…don’t close your eyes and hearts to the simple and elegant beauties of each day’s ordinary moments that make up a rich, well-lived life.”
The lesson today reminded me how much I LOVE President Uchtdorf’s talk. It also reminded me that I should introduce my study topic for the year – I already have half of a notebook full of thoughts and scriptures, but hadn’t posted about it here yet. With my study on effort last year – time and again my thoughts turned to treasure. Quite a few scriptures connect the two. That and studying about my 4th great grandfather gave me a feel about what real treasure is. Here are the thoughts from my notebook at the beginning of this year:
Treasure (Looks so much prettier when written by hand – all embellished. 😉 )
I’m thinking on how treasure fits/inspires me in my life. There are so many people, memories, things, blessings, and doctrines that I treasure. I want to study the word as a noun and a verb. What do I treasure? How do I treasure? What treasure do I want to earnestly seek? What do I share with family and friends?
Treasure usually involves a journey of some sort – with treasure being the reward. How else can treasure be discovered? I hope this year brings lots of answers – & lots more questions too. I’m ready for the adventure.
It seemed natural to have silver or gold be my color for the year. I couldn’t decide – so I went with both. 🙂 I’ve learned some significance to those along the way as well. I will continue to share throughout the year. You are welcome on my journey!
I’ve been crushing on this site: Purdue Avenue
What’s not to love about a site that features crafty goodness, photography tips and inspiration about life? As promised, it is a site that leads to all things fabulous. See?
{Click on any of the photos to go straight to that project.}
The tutorials are thorough – complete with pictures and ooze creativity. I would not mind taking up permanent residence on Purdue Avenue.
One of the contributors is my very good friend Mandi. I *adore* her. She posts sweet and fun weekly layouts of her family. Weekly! She also makes adorable stuff like this:
and this:
And inspiring things like these:
Cards can be downloaded here.
Mandi does all the research and lets you know the best products and process. Even those photos turn out cute.
Mandi made my blog header – I’m so blessed. Have you noticed that my puddle splashes change each time you visit… or refresh? Try it out. 🙂 Love! And she sent me the cutest package when Meri was born. Mandi found things I had pinned on Pinterest and made them for me. All in my color I chose for last year. Who does that? Mandi. She’s amazing.
I love her idea of setting goals on March 4th. I always need a refresher by then.
Here is my first week in March goal:
My comments on the blog: “I have spent a full day contemplating. Then I realized there is more than one week in March and that took some of the pressure off. 🙂 So I decided. This week I will not let my perfectionism keep me from starting. Yes, there are things that I put off doing because I know they won’t be perfect in the near future. I’m going to start anyway. Starting with a newsletter I volunteered to make… over a month ago.”
Almost week later – “I did pretty good on my goal – it wasn’t everyday though. 🙁 And there my perfectionism peeks out again. So – I’m gonna celebrate what I did accomplish! ready? * Newsletter for the Humanitarian Center? started, finished and delivered. hurray! * a guest blog post for the 1940 census blog? sweet. fun photo shoot for said post? can do. Except not a 1940s radio in site. Instead I sketched a radio for a backdrop and let my little ones dance in front. It worked and I think it turned out even cuter than my first idea – love. And my final one? I haven’t hung anything on one of my bedroom walls because I’d love to re-paint it sometime. So here’s a beautiful wall needing a little color with no holes at all. I decided it’s okay to put a few holes in it while it waits to get painted. It’s right by where Meri sleeps and I put up the most beautiful yellow cloth banner EVER. And it makes me smile.
Thanks for getting me started Mandi!”
Here’s my goal for this week:
Some posts from my draft folder, some formulating in my brain… consider yourself warned. 🙂
Remember this post? It’s {past} time for the continuation…
John Tanner’s sons were described as “generous, plain-speaking and long-lived”. All good qualities in my eyes. 🙂 Leonard J. Arrington, a Church Historian, studied the history of the Tanner family. He says “Each has a separate story to tell, but in the activities of the family as a whole, we can see their contribution to the Church. They consistently contributed to the growth of their communities; they served long and faithfully in their local wards and provided children and grandchildren who sat in the highest councils of the Church. Consistently devoted and hard-working, they gave their families economic and spiritual security and left an honorable legacy of commitment that has not decreased with time.” What a blessed legacy!
Spiritual and economic security for my family? Sounds like good goals to me. How does one go about insuring that?
Some things we are doing now to help provide spiritual security:
* Family Home Evening
* Personal and Family scripture study
* Personal and Family prayers
* Sunday evening interviews – complete with setting goals. We currently interview two groups – older children/younger children every other week.
Spiritual security – definitely something we’ve been working on and will continue to do so.
Economic security? Not as much. How does one do that? I think a lot of it comes down to the example we set as parents and the skills we teach our children (much like the spiritual security). Where are our priorities? Do we always pay tithing first? Do they know we set aside savings? Do they see us budget and know money is spent in different categories? Do they see sacrifices being made now and realize it brings blessings later? I have some work to do…
While studying more about the Tanner family I came across two examples with qualities I want to emulate. May I share?
to the one who makes me laugh, cry and love with my whole heart…
Happy Anniversary Mister!
{credits here}
Our family’s Christmas card this year:
Sorry it took a little while to get it over here. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas this year and are still celebrating in the afterglow. 🙂
Much love from us!
{credits here}
into our world right now.
{Post written on October 24th – only about a month later am I getting around to putting the photos with the text and getting it published. Not too bad considering some of my drafts. ;)}
Sunday night was interview evening while Jim Bob was Home Teaching. We usually take turns with interviews – a few for each of us – and it goes fairly smooth. Last night though it was all me – and the four youngest determined to get their interviews. It worked.
We discussed what they learned in church (this time it was all about the Autumn songs they sang and family trees), how school is going, any stories/anecdotes/concerns, etc. to share, and then we set a few goals each. I’ve been having them select one spiritual goal and then an anything goal. This can be expanded as they grow. For now it works great.
Here’s a peek at the goals the young ones selected.
Katey (3):
* Be nice to baby brother during preschool.
(Katey says this is a spiritual one because Jesus was nice to everyone. Works for me. 🙂 )
And Katey’s other goal:
* Help do cooking three times this week. (I’m thinking bread, apple pie – we have lots of yummy apples from Grandma Wilson’s tree, and … a surprise – cuz that’s how we roll.)
*This is what we did Tuesday (the 25th of October) – off to a good start:
And my apologies – you do have to imagine the result, because the camera didn’t make it’s way to the kitchen after the bread was baked.
Now for the apple pie baking – mini pies for friend’s day treat:
(Thank you for the dress Aunt Christina! Katey does adore it! She didn’t want to wear it for Halloween – her little heart was set on being a princess in regular clothes?? I know. She loved the princess-y hat with ribbons, but did not want to wear a fancy dress. Kinda cute – and a bit warmer, so no complaints. She has gotten A LOT of wear out of the cute Dorothy dress and she just might wear it next year… if it’s not threadbare by then. 😉 Love my quirky little one!)
And the surprise:
Owl cupcakes – found here. They are even cute with chocolate frosting eyes if you happen to eat the Reese’s Pieces on your plate before sticking them on. I’m a little pleased that candy-eating Katey came up with that solution all by herself. Now that I take a peek again on Pinterest it would make it sooo much easier if the cupcakes are flat on top. oops! Next time. And there will be a next time… 😉
Goals for Drewby (5):
* Pray every night with lots of thank thees
* Learn to bake an apple pie.
Autumn (7):
* Read 10 verses a day in her scriptures. (She’s been reading 5, so I was also pleased she decided to stretch a little.)
* Change Caleb’s diapers many times this week. (hmmm… that one didn’t pan out. We’ll have to revisit that one.)
and because she wanted an extra:
* Learn cooking with Katey.
Caleb? Maybe I’ll have to set his.
* Say the sweetest prayers (with a little help).
* Take amazingly good naps every day.
Looks like a good fall week to me.
Interview treat? M&M’s in 22 different colors – courtesy of the M&M store in Las Vegas.
Sweet.
I had some thoughts I wanted to blog, but it really needs some background first. Hence, a three part series… on the topic of fortune.
Some of my favorite stories growing up were family history ones. I loved hearing about John Tanner, my fifth great-grandpa and his conversion story. He lived in upper New York and was one of the area’s leading entrepreneurs. He probably would have stayed there permanently if he had not met the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. John was a Baptist lay-minister who went to hear the missionaries speak – from what I understand, he wanted to protect his Baptist brethren from false doctrine. He had open sores on his leg that could not be remedied, but was stubborn (a family trait – perhaps? maybe we’ll go with strong-willed…) and told the doctor that he would rather leave this world with his bad leg than have it amputated. So, that evening, he propped his leg up in his cart and went to hear the missionaries speak. John left that evening with a Book of Mormon and a desire to know the truth. A few days later one of the missionaries (Jared Carter – the other missionary was Simeon Carter) visited his home. Jared “administered to John, and commanded him to rise and walk in the name of the Lord. [John] never used his crutches again.” He was baptized that very night, along with his wife. He walked three quarters of a mile to do so – after months of not walking on that leg. (all quotes from “The John Tanner Family” by Leonard J. Arrington, Church Historian, March 1979 Ensign)
John’s story is full of generosity and consecration. He sold his farms, hotel, orchards, thousands of acres of timber and an island and proceeded to give his all to the church. Some in loans, some in donation. The large things he helped with were the Kirtland Temple and the church-sponsored bank, the Kirtland Safety Society. Before he left on a mission in 1844 he met “Joseph Smith on the streets of Nauvoo, he gave the Prophet his note for $2,000, signed in Kirtland in 1835 to redeem the temple land. The Prophet asked what he wanted him to do with it, and Father Tanner said, “‘Brother Joseph, you are welcome to it.’ The Prophet then laid his right hand heavily upon Father Tanner’s shoulder and said: ‘God bless you, Father Tanner, your children shall never beg bread.’”
I remember my mom claiming that blessing and prophecy – knowing it was intended for generations. And it has been fulfilled – many generations over. We never went hungry growing up. We had a bountiful garden – my grandparents a flourishing orchard and farm – and a whole section of our basement always filled with food. We were and continue to be so very blessed. I have to wonder if perhaps this promised blessing is not one of the reasons my family so throughly loves food.
When I was younger I imagined what it would be like to be wealthy. To have our own island (because, of course, we would have inherited it) and to live a rich life. Especially when I found out that the property John Tanner owned back then is now worth more than $250 million dollars – that’s a huge sacrifice. Then I thought about the blessings we would have missed out on if John Tanner had never heard the missionaries. The abundant life that the gospel brings. To know the joy of family and the purpose of our life here. The knowledge of eternal families, a living prophet on earth today, temple worship and the peace it brings. To experience serving and loving others – there is no comparison. Once again I thank my Heavenly Father for a generous, big-hearted great-grandpa that knew where real treasure lies.
{Gedeborg Family – July 2011. We’re in the middle. ;)}
Lauri, one of my favorite ladies in the whole world – a beautiful mixture of elegance and spunk -, taught the lesson in Relief Society last month. She taught from President Uchtdorf’s talk, “Your Potential, Your Privilege”. It was wonderful to discuss a talk from the Priesthood session and apply it to our lives as women.
I adore this quote: “As you read the scriptures and listen to the words of the prophets with all your heart and mind, the Lord will tell you how to live up to your priesthood privileges. Don’t let a day go by without doing something to act on the promptings of the Spirit.”
Personal revelation is a blessing we can all seek. Lauri asked us to each finish this thought:
“If you want a spiritual experience _______________________________ .”
We then shared ideas and I loved the variety! Here are quite a few:
* go to the temple
* pray
* go for a long run
* read and study the scriptures early in the morning
* really listen to your children
* do something hard
* ask for a Priesthood blessing
* bear testimony
* act on a prompting
* listen to beautiful music
* stop being busy – just stop…and listen
* read your Patriarchal blessing
* do Family History
* ponder
* acknowledge the goodness of our Heavenly Father
* pray after reading scriptures for truth
* express gratitude in prayer
* give service – especially to the handicapped
* notice beauty and be uplifted
* create something beautiful
* be still
* have more faith and less fear
* remember why challenges are there
* spend time with your children
* create harmony in your home
* sit by a campfire alone
How would you fill in the blank?
The sister closing the meeting mentioned how wonderful it is that the Lord knows us and can reach out and communicate with us individually. I agree. What a marvelous blessing!
There are so many thought-provoking ideas – and more out there. Definitely enough to do at least one daily – and many are things I do daily or would love to do daily already. I just need to remember to look for those opportunities and then act on the promptings that come.
“The words written in the scriptures and spoken in general conference are for us to “liken them unto [ourselves],” not for reading or hearing only. Too often we attend meetings and nod our heads; we might even smile knowingly and agree. We jot down some action points, and we may say to ourselves, “That is something I will do.” But somewhere between the hearing, the writing of a reminder on our smartphone, and the actual doing, our “do it” switch gets rotated to the “later” position. Brethren, let’s make sure to set our “do it” switch always to the “now” position!
…Let us earnestly seek the light of personal inspiration. Let us plead with the Lord to endow our mind and soul with the spark of faith that will enable us to receive and recognize the divine ministering of the Holy Spirit for our specific life situations and for our challenges…” – President Uchtdorf
…that I’m learning, but who’s counting. 😉
If the answer is going to be yes anyway, you might as well say it with an exaggerated nod and a sparkle in your eye.
Case in point:
Katey asked for the largest, curvest banana in the bunch.
I answered with my sparkly nod, letting her know I was in on her little secret… and was rewarded with a fruity smile.
Sweet.
