A Wedding Surprise

Ok, it looks like I need to start posting something besides fun videos. But first, here's a fun video of a surprise wedding toast. I think you have to appreciate musical theater to enjoy, hence my husband's disinterest. I'm already plotting whose wedding I can do this at.

Reflections of Christ Exhibit

This is a slideshow of the Reflections of Christ exhibit on display at the Mesa Arizona LDS Temple Visitor's Center. It's a nice viewing for Sunday downtime, quiet time after a long day, or just a needed dose of perspective.

Photoshopped Beauty

Tonight we had a Modesty Fashion Show for the Young Women. I think the girls had fun with it. Before they walked the cat-walk we had two speakers: the bishop and a sister who talked about fashionable modest clothing. The bishop showed this clip, and I wanted to share. I hear it's a popular youtube video so this may be old news to you. I think it was a great thing to show the girls, and a good thing for me to remember. Enjoy.

Photo Blogs

In this "not-my-fault" society I'm going to partially blame my blogging addiction on others: my photographer friends. I love looking at their photo blogs, so I thought I'd share the view. I'm not sure how they will feel about being "advertised" alongside their competition. Since most of them live in different states around the country, that shouldn't be an issue.

Heidikins Photos

Kenneth Hoglund Photography

Aaron

Michelle

Jackson Pollock

Your kid itching to play with the mouse but you're afraid he'll mess everything up? Click here for a safe place for them to play.

or

Your kid like to paint but you hate all the mess? Click here.

or

You like messing around with digital art? Click here.

or

You just like checking out new links? Click here.

Dedicated to My Sister the Student

Shiny Disco Ball


plus Ugly Uncomfortable Pointed Colorful Cardboard Hat


plus Funky Colored Hanging Paper Lights


plus Annoying Noisemaker


plus Ridiculously Delicious Cheesecake


MINUS Yucky Thick Textbooks


Equals One Sweet End-of-Semester Party!

Spring Quilt

With spring beginning to show itself, I put this quilt on our bed yesterday. This is an old family quilt passed down through generations so I rarely get it out. But yesterday it was saying "Use me! Use me!" Every time I walk into the room it makes me happy. I imagine that each scrap of fabric once belonged on a dress, a shirt, or an apron of an old-time family member. I like to explore the possibilities of what kinds of toys they played with or food they made wearing that "scrap." Maybe someday I'll make a quilt like this for my children to pass down. Maybe.

Twisting, Lifting and Bending

Let me add myself to the numbers of LDS women pondering on and even blogging about Elder Ballard's Sunday afternoon General Conference talk. There were many things he said that touched me, and once I can review the text on Thursday I will probably have more to say.

There was one point he made that has been on my mind. He said that as of late he has realized how much twisting, lifting, and bending his wife has done around the house over the years. As many people do, I compared this to my own life. I regretfully admit that Janson probably does more of the twisting, lifting and bending around the house than me. (How sad, when he spends much less time at home than me.) And he is fully aware of the work I do accomplish because I make sure it is known to him.

In those few sentences Elder Ballard motivated me to do more of the twisting, lifting and bending, and to do it quietly, without the need for recognition.

Site Review: Normal Mormon Husbands

When I first stumbled upon this blog I instinctively wanted to link it here. Then I decided to give it a while to see if I continue to like it, and I do. The blog is called: Normal Mormon Husbands and I think it has quite a following. Ironically, it seems that the majority of readers are female. I don't know this "normal Mormon husband" personally, but I get multiple laughs out of just one post. For those of you who have read the Stephenie Meyers Twilight series, he has a couple posts you'd enjoy. Overall, he writes about funny subjects most Mormon parents of young children can relate with. Enjoy.

Mail-to-Blogger

I'm just testing out the mail-to-Blogger feature.  Now I can write an email and when I push "send" it becomes a published post on my blog.  Some of you are saying, "That was so last year," but this is new to me.  This makes things pretty convenient for me, although I doubt I'll be posting more often than usual.  (My life isn't that exciting!)  Now posting will just be a quicker process, a benefit my daughter's will appreciate.  I am realizing that when blogging I turn deaf to my children's cries.  How sad.  And something I am working to change.  Believe it or not, my children are indeed at the top of my priority list.

Mommy Moments

Woohoo! An idea I've had for a while has just been born. Come visit a new blog: Mommy Moments. The first post explains what it's all about, so I won't go into it here. I've always wanted to do a team blog with other people, and I'm so excited to see what we all post. If you're interested in contributing let me know... even if it's just one story and not on a regular basis.

Babies and The Food Radar

Post moved! This post has found a new and more fitting home at "Mommy Moments." Visit it to experience the witty humor.

Spotlight: My Sister Sara

My little sister Sara is amazing. Growing up we weren't that close, but since we have moved apart we have become good friends (ironic, I know, she talks about that issue here).

When she first started calling to just see how I was doing I was shocked. Only my mother calls to check up on me. I don't think it was a coincidence that these calls became more frequent around the time that she became her ward Relief Society president and also a psychology major. I now call her my own personal (and free) therapist. How a busy, fun college student (BYU-Idaho) has the time and patience to listen to the ranting and ravings of a young mother is beyond me. My mother and I have commented on how her leadership calling has made her more aware of the needs around her, beyond those of even her ward members. She has always been a compassionate person. In high school she became a CNA (certified nurses' assistant) and worked for a living doing things I have a hard enough time doing with my own children (i.e. change diapers).

Here's a countdown of things I love about Sara:

1. When she was in high school she gave up her room for Janson and I whenever we came to visit. I loved staying in her room because it was happy and cheerful. There were yellow smiley faces everywhere you turn, along with positive quotes and motivational sayings.

2. She is in a great, long-term relationship but doesn't obsess about it to others. Her boyfriend, Taylor, is very kind to others including my children.



3. She calls just to see how I'm doing and to give me a chance to talk to an adult. Overall, she is much more observant of needs than I am.

4. She is probably the most financially smart person in our family, at least out of us siblings. She is willing to do the work it takes to make the money she needs. If she needs something, she saves up for it and makes it happen. Like buying her own car.


5. She can make nearly any situation fun.



6. She is usually very positive about things. When tough things happen to her she doesn't gripe about it. Going through those trials has taught her how to recognize what her limits are- what she can and cannot handle. That is a very impressive skill.


7. And last but not least... she is forfeiting a month of work time this summer (when she could be making good money) to live with me. While Janson spends a month living and working in Salt Lake this spring, Sara is going to live with me and help take care of the kids. She is a God-send, and I am so blessed to be her sister!

Announcing: Spotlights

After my pitiful wallowing-in-self-pity post last night, I've decided it's time to bring to life an idea I've had. I'd like to make dedication posts where I spotlight people I admire. They will most likely be people that I know periodically reads this, so if you browse but don't comment, leave a comment here or there so I know you're a reader. Stay tuned to see who I spotlight first!