The Good News

The following was so heart warming and uplifting that I wanted to share it.

"The Good News is that He who commands us to love is the most loving being in the universe. He is also the pleasantest. Heber C. Kimball provided a wonderful window on the soul of God:

Often when I have been in the presence of brother Brigham, we would feel such a buoyant spirit that when we began to talk we could not express our feelings, and so, "Hallelujah," says Brigham, "Glory to God," says I.  I feel it and say it.
Some of the brethren kind of turn their noses on one side at me when I make such expressions, but they would not do it if they knew God.  Such ones do not even know brothers Brigham and Heber; if they did they would not turn a wry face at us.  I am perfectly satisfied that my Father and my God is a cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured Being.  Why?  Because I am cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured when I have His Spirit.  That is one reason why I know; and another is--the Lord said, through Joseph Smith, "I delight in a glad heart and a cheerful countenance."  That arises from the perfection of His attributes; He is a jovial, lively person, and a beautiful man. (Journal of Discourses, Vol.4, p.222, emphasis added).

Was there ever a more ennobling and encouraging doctrine than the reality and goodness of God? Regularly each Latter-day Saint sings glibly that “I am a child of God.” When the significance of that truth settles into our hearts, it changes everything. We travel life’s byways under the watchful eye of a Father who understands us, loves us, and wants us home with Him. 
Knowing the character of such a Father, helps us progress. We are never more like our Heavenly Father than when we love others as He loves us. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (I John 4:11). "

Beach

We went to the beach twice this week. The first time was on Wednesday, late afternoon. We got there in time for sunset. The ocean was calm, the water was gently lapping the shore. The colors in the sky were soft pinks and blues. The sun was a deep orange. It was so peaceful and beautiful. If Lydia wouldn't have fallen in the water and gotten soaking wet and if Becca had eaten dinner instead of falling asleep and as consequence was now so hungry she didn't want to stay at the beach, we would have stayed longer to enjoy the beautiful evening. But, it was short lived and after 15 minutes we left, I was sad to leave such a beautiful scene.
Yesterday was our second time at the beach. While the boys were at school the rest of us decided the day was warm enough ( 80 degrees) that the beach should be pleasant. It's interesting how the ocean is so different from day to day. Wednesday it was calm and serene. Today it was quite the opposite. The waves were crashing into the beach and there was a dense fog that limited how far we could see - not even a hundred yards before the fog engulfed what was beyond that short distance. Although the air was warm, the water was cold. It was shocking the first time the water lapped my feet, but as always, it doesn't take long for the once cold water to seem pleasant. Walking along the beach with children, especially toddlers, who literally toddle along. There are shells to examine, and sand to scoop (and throw, that is Lydia's favorite thing), waves of water to chase and people to wave to. As we walked down the beach, away from the groupings of people who set up near the parking lot, the fog even further separated us from other people, and except for the occasional passerby who was also walking along the beach, we felt like the beach was our own private sanctuary. The fog made it seem dreamlike and the overall effect was so soothing.

Sidewalk chalk art

How are your skills in sidewalk chalk art? Check out this youtube video of some sidewalk art from two missionaries in Moscow Russia.

New Year

Happy New Year! Is it really 9 days into the new year already? How time flies. It's been rainy and cold so we've been indoors more this week. We wanted to go for a bike ride today, but it rained all day. The kids got to play with some friends this morning and then they spent a majority of the rest of the day building with legos. This picture isn't from today, I unfortunately didn't get a photo of today's creation. Jeremy and the boys come up with some great things. Just yesterday we added to our lego collection with a bucket of legos we found at a thrift store. All of our legos are second hand. They are too expensive from the store, so we keep our eyes out for used ones and so far have four buckets of legos, which apparently is enough to build large creations.

I wanted to share a link to Book of Mormon charts to mark off as you read the Book of Mormon. One in particular caught my eye. It is in the shape of a temple and by the time you read the whole Book of Mormon the temple is colored in. I want to post it in the living room and use it for our family scripture study so we can see our progress this year.