Jack & Daisy

Meet Jack and Daisy. The two newest members of our family. (Jack is pictured above and Daisy is below). Cute-huh? They both have opened their eyes and are beginning to become mobile. Jack is definitely the mellow one of the two. He just chills on your chest and sleeps. Daisy is a bit high-strung. Lots of meowing and crying. I guess kittens even have colic :)

We have had a few of the Primary kids come by to take a look. Thanks to Abby & Brittany for holding them while I took their pictures! You both did great :)

Young Women's Conference

Saturday evening Emma and I had the opportunity to go to SLC and listen to Young Women's Conference in the Conference Center. It was Emma's first time inside that building and we had a great time. It was also the first time that she had seen President Monson in person. Cool. Our stake had tickets all in the same area, so we were able to sit by some of Emma's friends from other wards. We met up with Casey Ann and Camry after the meeting and then they went to IHOP for some grub. I can't believe how big she is getting!

Funny Story: On the way to the Conference Center, Emma turned to me and said very seriously, "Mom, Beiber Fever is real." I laughed out loud...I could not help myself.

Here We Go Again...

When I woke up yesterday my cat, Maddie was meowing. A lot. We knew that she was pregnant again (ugh...I wish the vet would just fix her...who cares if she is too old to be fixed???) and that kittens were coming shortly. When I heard her constant meowing I knew that it was getting close to the time. I told Josh to sharpen his skills as a birthing coach (he was not amused) and get ready. Before we left for church we had one cute little kitten.

Okay, as much as I do not want anymore kittens, I have to admit that she produces some darling little critters. This morning we woke to another one. I wonder how many more she has in there? As soon as I am sure that she is done, I will post some pictures of the cute little guys/gals.

In the meantime we are trying to name them...any ideas??? I suggested we name them after the minions in the movie "Despicable Me". You know, Kevin, Dave, Larry...

Anyone need a kitten for their child's Easter basket? They will be old enough just in time...

A Great Day

Yesterday I had the opportunity to listen to Sister Julie Beck, General President of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. What a remarkable woman. She had been invited to speak to our stake as well as 5 other stakes.

I arrived at the tabernacle about an hour and half early to have a good seat so that I could be up close and listen without distractions. I did not say a word to anyone around me. I just sat and read and listened. It was great. I really felt some inspiration as I studied and took notes on the things that I was reading while waiting for the meeting to begin.

It soon became time for the opening song and it was announced that we would be singing "There Is Sunshine In My Soul"...one of my mother's favorite hymns. I instantly could picture her in my mind singing this song. I found myself holding back tears as I thought of the righteous influence she has had in my life.

Sister Beck then spoke to us about the influence mothers have on their children. I think one of my favorite things that Sister Beck said is that "The little things we do to build the world are really big things". At another point of the meeting she began to talk about Visiting Teaching and how some people have "issues" that tend to get in the way of completing their responsibility. She then said something very profound - "The Lord doesn't care about your issues. He cares about His children." She then counseled those individuals who struggle with visiting teaching to get on their knees and figure out their issues and go take care of His sheep.

I walked away from that tabernacle feeling that my cup had been filled. It was a great way to start my day. And then, thinking that there was not way it could possibly get better...it did...BYU won their basketball game against Gonzaga (and John Stockton's son - ha!) and propelled themselves into the Sweet Sixteen tournament for the first time in thirty years. Can you say "Go Jimmer"???

An Answer To My Prayer

This past week has been good. Okay, I will be honest, it started out bad, but it ended really good. I have had a problem that was bugging me for quite a while. It is not something that I will blog about specifically, but lets just say it was draining me. I had a lot of emotions that were taking over and making me rather grumpy. It was beginning to consume my thoughts and at times, I even found myself becoming very angry and hurt. I knew that I should not be angry, but I could not help myself. The more I thought about it, the more hurt and angry I became. At one point, I even found myself in tears. I was not sure how to handle the situation and this past week, my answer came.

I finally had time to open the New Era magazine and found an article that spoke to me. The words jumped off the pages directly into my heart. I knew that it was an answer to my prayer. Don't you just love it when things like that happen?

It was an article about Christ in the temple when He cast out the money changers. It talked about anger and how at times we need to stand up for what is right and how there is such a thing as righteous anger. It did not completely solve my problem, but it did provide me with wise counsel about how I was to handle it. I said a prayer to myself and acted upon the direction I had received. Can I just tell you how wonderful I felt after I acted? Total relief. Like a huge weight had been taken from my shoulders.

My feelings of anger and hurt have dissolved. I feel free. Liberated. How thankful I am for inspiration and words of modern prophets. Aren't we fortunate to have a Heavenly Father who loves each of us enough to calm our troubled hearts and answer humble prayers?

Soon

Today I looked out my back window at my garden. I am ready to get my hands in the dirt. Too bad the weather is not cooperating with my desires.

I recently read a quote by Joseph F Smith that made me think. He said "Everywhere in nature we are taught the lessons of patience and waiting. We want things a long time before we get them, and the fact that we want them a long time makes them all the more precious when they come."

That made me take a deep breath and realize that I can be patient. Spring is coming. Slowly. Some days it seems slower than others. I saw this picture today and realized that by "Small and simple things great things come to pass..." So today while I look out my window at the dreary winter weather, I will try to remember that the trees ARE beginning to bud. The flowers ARE beginning to come back to life. The temperatures outside ARE beginning to rise. Small but great things are happening and the end is in sight.