Evans 1st temple trip

What an awesome day this was for our sweet Evan. He was able to go on our youth temple trip for the 1st time on Saturday. I could not go because I had other chicks to tend to, plus Evan wanted his Dad to baptize him and apparently it was so special. When I saw Evan afterward at the twins basketball game, he had a big bright beautiful smile and I understood with exactness what his expression was trying to communicate. He was happy, he was peaceful and gained a beginners love for the temple. He wants to go back every weekend :) and I can't wait to take him, such a sweet kid!

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“I am satisfied that if our people would attend the temple more, there would be less selfishness in their lives. There would be less absence of love in their relationships. There would be more fidelity on the part of husbands and wives. There would be more love and peace and happiness in the homes of our people. There would come into the minds of the Latter-day Saints an increased awareness of their relationship to God our Eternal Father and of the need to work a little harder at the matter of living as sons and daughters of God.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley “News of the Church,” Ensign, May, 1984)

THANKFUL THURSDAY - Advocates

Today I am thankful for advocates. People that have a voice, out there in the world doing good. Naturally there must be opposition in all things, there will be those advocates with motives to sabotage anything good or wholesome, those are not the advocates I am thankful for. I am motivated by righteous advocates like the prophet who has spent his life advocating the Savior and His Gospel. Friends, family and mentors who share my sensibilities and beliefs that are not afraid to tell it like it is and share what they believe, I am draw to those people like MAGNETS and am so thankful for their influence. They empower me to do the same.

Years ago I was introduced to an organization called American Mothers and AMI (the national site). AMI is an interfaith, non-political, non-profit organization for women and men who recognize the important role of motherhood. They are out promoting the moral and ethical foundations of families.

In our area in Utah, I started a little dinner group with my friends. We participated on a monthly basis, we would gather together, have dinner and review that months chapter. At the time we were reading PHD Glen Lathams book "The Power of Positive Parenting". It was a 2 year program where we read a single chapter a month. It was such a remarkable process. When we started the group I had all the ladies write down where they saw their strengths and weakness as a parent and mother. We retested 6 months into it and what a remarkable journey we were all on. We were growing and developing as women. We were learning from our studies and the spirit but in large part from one anothers experiences. Some nights we would sit and visit about our lives and our situations and how to overcome our trails as parents,each so unique. Since there was a broad range of ages and stages of parenting, we were all able to learn something from anothers experiences. It was the best "extra curricular" activity I have ever been involved with. It made my life better, it help me become better. I wish so bad I was still doing it. I still get emails from the AMI organization and one of their Superstars from AMI is associated with 2 other groups dedicated to the fight against pornography Team Decency and Fight the New Drug. These are both really great organizations out doing many great things, creating a very real awareness about the dangers of such poison as pornography. I am seeing people all around me be effected by this and how sad it is. The adversary sure does have a firm grip on this one!

I know... life is busy. There are so many things I wish I could be a part of and be an advocate for. There are inspiring stories all over especially right now with everything that is happening around the world to bring aid to Haiti. That has got me thinking???? Where will I focus my energies? Where will I pledge my allegiance? Of course the Gospel of Jesus Christ and my family first and foremost but as time passes and I have more flexibilities, there will be more opportunities in terms of time and resources for me to get involved. It certainly provokes pondering the good better and best idea. I have high hopes that one day I will I have the privilege of making a difference in other ways, even if small. Until then I must delay, delegate, diminish or delete :)

  

Happy day!

Just Imagine... a 12 yr olds tribute to the Beatles

Really quite amazing! LOVE the Beatles.

Evans Priesthood Ordination

Evans Aronic Priesthood ordinance was this past weekend. This is him with 2 of his buddies who's birthdays are within a few days of his. He recited his favorite article of faith in sacrament meeting which was #4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

We are so happy for Evan to have lived worthy to receive this wonderful blessing. It is the beginning of many more priesthood blessings and experiences he will have.  He is So ready to graduate from primary. We LOVE YOU Evan!

"D" is for Decision

"We are all heaven sent, but what we are able to accomplish in the Lord's work depends to a large extent on our willingness and ability."
--James E. Faust, "You Are All Heaven Sent", Ensign, Nov. 2002, 110

I thought this was funny..... that is often how I feel.  Sometimes life sure feels repetitive, same rolling "to do list" from day to day. I saw a note pad once that said: "I Will Do One Thing Today" with enough space to write one chore. The idea of that is intriguing and noble, the thought that you are better off to do one thing really well, than 10 things mediocre. I agree it is true to a point but totally unrealistic SO I have to muster the strength from day to day to do it all! And since failing is not an option SOMEHOW I must figure out how to do it all REALLY REALLY WELL. 

I was listening to an NPR show on the radio today and heard a "expert" talk about time management and what she said really struck a cord with me.

"D" is for decision

Delete
Delegate
Diminish
Delay

In lieu of all that I have been doing to get my priorities in line so I can accomplish my goals for the new year, this idea about decisions has really hit it all home. This is exactly he formula I need to be thinking about everyday. The culminating idea she presented is to have ONE time management source weather it be digital or on paper. Interestingly I adopted this philosophy on my own last summer (I am so smart:) when I started using a composition book for my daily journal. In it I write basically my next days "to do list" a running list of things I need to think about, present days accomplishments (so I do not feel completely defeated), things I want to pray about and often thoughts or impressions that come to me throughout the day. This has proven to be a very effective tool. Sometimes I will bring my calendar into bed with me at night with my Comp Book Journal and make sure I am up to speed with all I need to accomplish. Another thing she said is to evaluate your goals and to always be in check if your "to do's" are getting you closer to you ALPHA goal.... such as a happy home, happy, husband, happy kids, happy self, skinner, better job etc. you get my point. For me my ALPHA goal is richer happiness.... what that means is living the gospel more fully = happy self, happy home, happy kids, happy spouse, so if my "to do's" to not support the achievement of that alpha goal then one of the 4 D's will come into play. Delete, Delegate, Diminish, Delay


This is so great. I am really quite excited to explore this a bit. I think this will work great for me and will slide in quite beautifully to the things I am already doing.

Hope you all had a great day!
XO
Jen

"We must not allow the things of the world to blinker our vision of the eternal destination. Nor must we permit the "voices in the world" to lead us off course (1 Cor. 14:10). Rather, we must allow the hope of Christ's glory and of eternal life to rest in our minds forever. We must reaffirm the goal that matters most and press toward it looking forward with an eye of faith."
--Carlos E. Asay, "Stay on the True Course", Ensign, May 1996, 59

“Only when our faith is aligned with the will of our Heavenly Father will we be empowered to receive the blessings we seek.” Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Shall He Find Faith on the Earth?,” Ensign, Nov 2002

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for Bubba. Even though he streches me far beyond where I am comfortable, he is my child that will teach me a lot, forsure. He is a ray of Sunshine and I love him.

Black plastic bags . This week I have used over 12 in my effort to reach my January 31st deadline of dejunking and simplifing. I have made such great progress!

Prayer.

The gosple. What a blessing to have it and to KNOW it is true!

My testimony. I am so grateful I have the fire burning inside!

LDS.org - I could spend days and days on their.

Straws.

A good sneeze. They feel so good!

Opportunies we have here in this life to progress. Tonight a sweet friend reminded me of what a great blessing that is.

For cell phones. My sugar has been out of town going on 7 days, it is SO nice to be able to reach him just whenever I miss the sound of his voice!

My 1 daughter:) = jubilation

Burgers breath and humid neck. (yep, still heavenly)

So much more I am thankful for. I guess the culminating thought for today is how grateful I am that my spirit is so overjoyed with gratitude. There are no words to describe it. I have said it before, I am thankful I am so thankful. It feels so good inside!

More Birthday Fun

Well it all started not a minute after 6am this morning. What the heck! They do not even get up that early on Christmas morning. Anyway, it was a cozy sweet morning, everyone was so kind and loving to each other, probably because we were all too sleepy to be otherwise. After we opened presents I made to order Evans favorite breakfast "hole in one" with bacon and oj, then I hauled everyone to school. It is tradition that I go have lunch with the kids on their birthday and bring their favorite food, which today it was Jimmy Johns sandwiches and KC donuts (yum, my favorite too). Tonight we celebrated more, you guessed it... made to order dinner with homemade pizzas, root beer, salad and Jello cake. Birthdays are really fun around here. We just make the day all about them and we all really love it because we know we'll all get our turn eventually at least once a year :)

(never mind that my daughter is 1/2 naked in every group photo lately. Not exactly sure why she is in her undies on my counter top but oh well, thank goodness to Clorox cleanup)

Happy 12th Birthday Evan

Happy Birthday sweet Eddie. Oh what a joy he has been in our family. I got looking back through some pictures of him and remembered the intense feelinsg I was flooded with when he was born. I cried for many days and overwhelmingly so during his 1st few days.  Every picture of me those first few weeks I look like a battered wife because my face was all red, swollen, no makeup and wet eyes. It was not sadness I felt but love. A type of love I have never felt before, a feeling only my spirit could translate. It was a love that transmitted both ways to and from heaven.  Clean, pure, with no expectation. For a little girl who was never "baby crazy",  had sure gone completely nuts over this baby.  What a joy he is in our life, he is tender, sweet, loving, gentle and happy all the time.   We love you Evan, happy 12 birthday!

THANKFUL THURSDAY - New Year Goals

Hello 2010. I am so grateful you are here. I knew I would love you. 2010 just felt good, sounded good and is so much easier to write than 2009. I am certain this is going to be a great year, I can just feel it.

It has been so fun reading and talking to others about their goals for this year. I have been very inspired and have incorporated many of those great ideas into my list. I am really good ... I mean really good at setting good goals but like most, struggle with the execution. I think I have figured out the weak chain in the link....it is not really all that interesting, I am SO predictable really. I am highly distracted! I never would have suspected this about me because I am rather intense in other ways but lately I have been frustrated at my lack of follow thorough and unfinished projects/chores, that's it all about to change. Watch out!

I read something on a board at church the other day and it said something like this...

What we LOVE = What we SEEK = What we THINK/DO = What we ARE/WILL BECOME

I have pondered that a great deal and prompted our choice in our family scripture for this year, centered around happiness and love. The scripture we choose is "... consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it." MOSIAH 2:41

We are happy people, hence our blog name "Shining Happy People"but it is not just our natures that create happiness it is the choices we make and have made that overwhelms us with those feelings of love and happiness. It is our foremost goal this year to increase our love and devotion to our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ and then to each other. That makes us happy. That keeps us happy!

Some of the other goals I have made this year have more to do with "goals" for my goals rather than the goals themselves. That made me think of a quote I am familiar with  "To reach a goal you have never before attained, you must do things you have never before done."
--Richard G. Scott, "Finding the Way Back," Ensign, May 1990, 74  with that said these are a few of the thoughts I have about the new year.

3:00p.m. MANDATORY DEADLINE - this takes SO much discipline which I mentioned I clearly lack. When those stinkin cute kids come bursting through the door I need to be 100% available to them. That means dinner done (really done), my chores complete, Douey and Burger happily playing independently so that I can focus on what it is they need from me. If I am not done with what I want/need to do by 3:00 or I must abandon it until later. My deadline is January 31st to have this mastered.

GO TO BED EARLY and GET UP EARLY - This is essential for MY quality of life. It is the only privacy I get. Real prayer, real meditation, read scripture study for me happens in those very early hours of the morning. This is a must! My lovely Ambien will assist me for a few nights in getting sleepy earlier to facilitate a 5am wake up.

BUDGET $ - I will not bore you with the details but I've got a plan :)

LOVE my SWEET HUSBAND - I know in my heart of hearts how passionate I feel about my extraordinary husband and sometimes the abounding "spirit"ual energy that is communicated between us often is more powerful than actions or words.... I still feel I have been lazy about expressing it and sharing with him how much I love, adore and appreciate all he does for me. When he sees a crack, he rushes to fill in. This year I will find new and more meaningful ways to express to him all the ways I am overwhelmingly grateful he in mine.

"SHOW THEM HOW YOU FEEL" - These were some words I heard in my head recently. I think it was a message from above for me TO my children AND my husband. It is SO easy to get distracted (as mentioned before is a weakness of mine) that I forget to show them how intensely I feel about them and all the good they do. I am a highly expressive person as it is, but what a waste to feel those things and not to share them.

SABBATH DAY HOLY - this has been a desire of mine for a long time. With last years schedule at 2:00, that was challenging. It was easy to spend all morning getting ready for church but now that we are back to 9:00 church that is all changing. In a world where sadly the "Sabbath" is an increasingly vague term I am committed to observe this personally and as a family. I am notorious for pulling out the vacuum or spending hours in the kitchen while my family is resting, building paper airplanes or just hanging out. NO more! YES we must eat and YES we will survive if the popcorn kernels stay on the carpet over night. Remember the old primary song "Saturday" goes something like this "Saturday is a special day. It's the day we get ready for Sunday..." is my new mantra.. That means no Saturday night dates until we are ready for the Sabbath.

TEMPLE - at least once a month. This one is ongoing from past years and will be there forever. Maybe at a certain stage in my life (in the future forsure) I can swing it weekly... that would make me SO happy. Temple attendance for me is a must! I LOVE the temple!

DEJUNK and SIMPLIFY - Too much stuff! I am so excited about this one. I am so ready!

MORE THANK YOU's - I am THE WORST at sending Thank You cards! Sundays will be my day for this. I feel so much gratitude all the time but again sadly have not been good at expressing it when I feel it.

FINISH JESUS THE CHRIST - never mind this has been on my list for 3 years.... it will get done this year.

SERVE OTHERS MORE - I have had tunnel vision lately. I have been zeroed in on me and my family and all their needs which is where it should be but serving "others" has (un-deliberately of course) not been high on the radar and it has irritated me, sort of like a pebble in my shoe. 

Among those above goals are others like.... going to Disneyland in the fall, vacationing, loosing weight, be more fit, reading lots of great books, writing lots and lots of things, journalling, creating wonderful things in my kitchen, taking a photography class, taking a speed reading class, learn to print more legibly, keep up on paperwork (I HATE paperwork), keep my bathroom counter space cleared off, slow down, take a deep breath and others. I never want to limit my potential by creating too few of goals so I figure list all the ones that mean something to me and read them often, check my progres often. As PHD Glen Latham always said "KEEP DATA", then I can track my progress and monitor the weakness before it is too late and all these goals get pushed into 2011 :)

I am so thankful for a new year. I am so thankful for growth, 2009 was a big growth year for me. I am  thankful for new opportunities to learn and grow. I am so thankful for all the lovely spirit bodies that roam this earth teaching me eternal lessons both big and small.
 
"Our task is to become our best selves. One of God's greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final."
--Thomas S. Monson, "The Will Within," Ensign, May 1987, 67

Hope you all have a great year!
Much Love!
Jen

Cancun ... Fun at Barcelo

The day after Christmas my ultra generous parents took the entire family (60 people) on a trip to Cancun Mexico. We actually were in the Mayan Riviera which is about 1 hour south of Cancun and it was absolutely tremendous. This resort (Barcelo) was ah-mazing. Really truly it was so beautiful. Everywhere you walked was perfectly manicured and clean.  There were so many fun things to do all over the resort we did not even scratch the surface. We drank Miami Vices by the dozens daily, there were catamarans,  canoes,  wind sailing, miniature golfing, water/beach volleyball, snorkeling, swinging hammocks and on and on.... The food was great especially the New Years Eve Dinner (YUMMY), everything was just wonderful and HUGE HUGE thanks to my sweet, adorable, super duper, overwhelmingly generous parents that made this all possible, we love you oh so much!

The Cancun airport was a madhouse in every sense of the word. What you see, those people that closest in view, they are actually in line for Delta who is on the very opposite end of the terminal, you can not even see it in view. This picture does not do it justice! All things considered the family as a whole did pretty well and most everyone got their flights and their connections home ... eventually :)

These 2 cute little kids find anyway possible to keep themselves entertained. These photos were actually from our layover going to Cancun but they were so stinkin cute I needed to post them. :)