Create

There are some really beautiful videos out that combine music, pictures and the words of the apostles that really bring a new depth of meaning and inspiration to the words and message of the apostles.
This video is from Elder Uchtdorfs message last fall at the womens sessions of conference about creating as a means of finding joy.

Too funny - Too bad it's true

I had to share what I found on someone else's blog about the stimulus package:

Sometime this year, taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus Payment. This is a very exciting new program that I will explain using the Q and A format:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment? A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money? A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money? A. No, they are borrowing it from China . Your children are expected to repay the Chinese.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment? A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ? A. Shut up.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:
If you spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China .
If you spend it on gasoline it will go to Hugo Chavez, the Arabs and Al Queda
If you purchase a computer it will go to Taiwan .
If you purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico , Honduras , Chile , and Guatemala .
If you buy a car it will go to Japan and Korea .
If you purchase prescription drugs it will go to India and Canada .
If you purchase heroin it will go to the Taliban in Afghanistan .
If you give it to a charitable cause, it will go to Nigeria .

Tom and Becca

How Do I Love Thee

Here is a beautiful video perfect for Valentines Day

You can do hard things

If you think you can't do hard things, think again. Watch Nick and he'll show you that trusting in God makes all the difference.

Marriage

I read an article by Oliver DeMille in which he talked about marriage as the central relationship in society. He quoted a journalist that said that women with children think of themselves first and foremost as mothers. This is confusion. If you are married with children, you are first and foremost a wife.
This statement got me thinking - do I put my role as wife first? With four young children they are quite vociferous in their demand of my attention. I know that sometimes my husband wonders where he fits in. Fortunately we do have a built in babysitter (my dear sister Debbie lives with us) which allows us the flexibility to leave in the evenings after the children are in bed.

I watched a movie last week - "Fireproof" which was about a married couple that was ready to call it quits when the husband's dad asked him to take the Love Dare - a forty day journey to love and serve his wife with no expectations of her. This movie really got me thinking about my commitment of serving my husband. My husband is good at serving me and thanking me and showing such kindnesses. This morning, after working a 12 hour night shift, he cleaned the whole kitchen, loaded the dishwasher, washed the hand dishes, wiped the counters and swept the floors - what a fabulous thing to wake up to - a clean kitchen - a bouquet of flowers couldn't have been more beautiful.

On a scrapbook blog that I visit she mentioned that her mother had a tradition of doing the "14 days of Valentines" where she would do one thing each day on the days leading up to Valentines Day. I thought this was a great idea. I've never made too big of a deal out of Valentines - but I think it's time I started - a time to go the extra mile in showing my love how much I love and appreciate him.

Happy Groundhog Day

Baby Lydia is wishing you a "cool" day.

These photos are courtesy of 4 yr old Tom (who is convinced that on his next birthday he is turning eight. In fact, today he had a tape measure he was using to measure how old the other kids were). Tom put the sunglasses on Lydia and then insisted that I take a picture. I told him to go get the camera for me and when he came back he decided he needed to be the one to take the picture - he then proceeded to take pictures of many other things around the house. Kids love cameras. I love digital cameras - I would never have let him run around the house taking pictures of whatever he wanted with a film camera. Digital is fun because they can see on the camera screen what they took a picture of and then the pictures can be loaded on the computer for them to see their artistic work - all at no cost.


So, my challenge for myself is to eat wholegrain breakfast, which is going great, but dinner was a little lacking. Jeremy went to work tonight before I made dinner, so I gave the kids leftover macaroni, which they love, but I do not, so I didn't eat anything. I didn't know what I was in the mood for, I did eat a slice of bread. So, just now, realizing that I didn't have dinner I settled for a cup of hot cocoa and will call that good enough for tonight. I'm too "moody" sometimes when it comes to eating and fixing food. The rare times that I make a weekly dinner menu I don't usually stick to it. I wish I had a gizmo like the Jetsons had - like a vending machine, but for dinner, type in the code and walla - dinner.

I'd really be fine if our bodies only required feeding once a day, or maybe once a week.
Have you ever pondered why eating is so constant - I mean, we only go to church once a week, why not only eat once a week. I actually have pondered on this before, and as much as I would like to give up eating I know that there is purpose in the need for "constant nourishment" for our physical bodies. The Doctrine and Covenants tells us that all things physical are spiritual also. The constant need for physical nourishment is a reminder of the constant nourishment that our spirit also needs. I enjoy spiritual nourishment and meal planning more than I do physical, however, I still find the same struggle with getting it in - ie, making it a priority.
I think my next challenge will focus on spiritual nourishment.