Girls hair

This post is dedicated to Kandis and Jacy, who always did my girls hair so cute, something that I rarely do, which is why they did it for me.
But today I tried my hand at it and I think it turned out cute.

Lydia's hair.

Becca's hair

Beach day

We went to the beach today. We should have left sooner so we could have spent more time there. Matthew and I stayed under the sun shade and the children played and played.

I am using the voice recorder on my iPhone to write this blog which is way faster than trying to type this using the tiny keys.

day in pictures

 I guess the title is actually misleading. These pictures aren't all from one day, but they are from the past few days.

First up, some super silly pictures of kids with mustaches. I think Matthew was less than amused.

During general conference we thought that Matthew is old enough to take notes as the prophet and apostles speak.

This is one of my favorite outfits that Lydia wears. 

Matthew got to come with me and Jeremy for my birthday dinner at California Pizza. 

Chocolate Cake

I love chocolate cake and I have a favorite recipe that I use, often, way too often lately. I know some of my friends wanted a copy of this recipe so here it is.


Chocolate Fudge Cake

2/3 cup oil
1/2 cup cocoa
2 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups water
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Mix together cocoa and oil until smooth.
Add remaining ingredients. Beat until smooth.
Pour into greased and floured (or just use pan spray) 9X13 baking dish.
Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

Frost with Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup butter
 4 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
3 Tbl milk


Enjoy, and don't blame me if you gain 10 pounds, this really is a wonderful, moist cake that is irresistible and you will find any excuse you can to make it.

Happy Together

If you are looking for something to make you smile, watch this youtube video.







For me one of the fun things about this video is that is was filmed in St. George.

Enjoy.

The Family

Testimony of family
 I had a strange dream last night (Saturday night). 


A "worldly" young man married the girl he got pregnant then he starts to feel the need to become a father and husband in the true sense of the words. 
We were standing in a group of people and he asked if there was anyone who could help him come to know the truth and if Jesus could really help him. 


I stepped up in front of this young man (maybe 19) and I was wearing glasses and I took them off so I could look him in the eye with nothing in between our eyes.
I told him that yes, through the atonement of Jesus Christ he could be healed and made whole. 


I also told him if he accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ he could be taught what it meant and learn how to be a husband and a father. 


He had tears in his eyes and I saw the hope that he had and that he believed what I had told him. He felt he could move past the pain he was currently experiencing in his life. 


I felt the spirit as I told him those things. I also told him that I could get him in contact with missionaries who could teach him more and he accepted. 




 
This experience of sharing my testimony in my dream has deepened my testimony of family. For me the concept of family is just as natural as the air I breathe. I don't have to think much about if air exists or why it exists or why it is important to me. The same with family. 




The thought that there are those that don't understand and value family is one that I haven't given much thought to. But I've realized that is why so many people can be promiscuous and adulterous because they don't really know of and understand the doctrine of the family. 


If people really understood the importance of the family they would be doing anything and everything they could to protect their future or current family. Their decisions would be in line with "will this help or harm my family?" 


 I also felt the reality of the atonement as I testified to that man and saw in his eyes the hope and the change that was already starting to take place in his heart and in his desires to change and become better. It was no longer important to him to follow after his own lusts, he was ready to learn how to become the father of his home. 


 There is so much confusion that exists in the world and there are many people who need their hearts healed by the love and atonement of the Savior. And then they need to learn the doctrine of the family so they can experience the joy that comes from living after the manner that God intended us to live. 


 Definitely The Family: A Proclamation To The World is a timely document that those who are seeking to understand can read and study and use as a pattern to learn what family is. 


 Yesterday afternoon In conference Elder Scott talked about dreams and that we can be taught through them and I have just experienced that and it really is a powerful way to learn. But I don't know if I would have paid too much attention to my dream once I woke up, except that I remembered that Elder Scott mentioned the need to ponder on the dream and write down what thoughts came.
 


I almost didn't do this because I didn't want to get up and find something to write on. Thankfully my iPad was right next to my bed and I realized I could type it into the notepad.




As an additional note, there were many talks in conference about the family. In particular there was one on Sunday afternoon by M. Russell Ballard,  that listed the benefits of strong families and how they are necessary for society to prosper.

My Sign

I think I need to make a sign to wear --

Yes, they are all mine

As I go places with my five children I see the looks and some are even bold enough to ask. I've really had mostly positive comments and people are amazed and impressed that I have five kids.

The other day I realized that most people ask the question in a positive way
   "Are these all yours?"

However last Friday a man asked it differently, he asked,
    "These aren't all yours are they?"

It's for people like him that I'll wear the sign just so they don't have to ask the question.


Addition: Now that I've read this post I've changed my mind. I think my sign will read,

"Yes, these are all my blessings"