This is me question 2

Today is my birthday and I do plan to record all the fun that I've had in the past 2 days, but tonight I thought that I should take on question 2 of the "This is me challenge". Question 1 was pretty easy and simple to tackle, but question 2 really gave me something to think about. The question is

What are some choices in your life that affected where you are now?

I have often thought about this question. I know that I have made many decisions that have affected where I am now in my life, but for this challenge, I will list a few major, influential decisions. Let me start by recording a bit of my personal history. Many years ago as a Senior in high school, I had a decision to make about where I wanted to go to college. I always knew that I would go to college because for as long as I can remember, I desired to become a Kindergarten teacher. I had planned to go to Utah State as I knew they had a great program for my major. I had been accepted, an apartment had been reserved, and I had a good friend who was going with me and was also going to be my roommate. This was probably one of my first major decisions. Just as it was coming time to go, my friend came to me and told me that she just didn't feel right about her decision to attend Utah State, so she was backing out. I felt scared at the thought of going alone, but my plan was to go ahead and continue on, but as the time drew near, I too felt that this was not the right path for me. So, I switched gears and decided that I would stay home and begin my college education at Salt Lake Community College until I could decide what to do. That felt right and that's what I did. Shortly after that, I felt like I needed to go to Brigham Young University. This was a strange thought for me. I had never considered BYU before and believe me, my grades in High School were not good enough to get into BYU (they were good, but not straight A's by any means), but at SLCC I took school very seriously and worked hard and did really well there (It's funny how much more important your grades become to you when you are paying for your education.) I fought the feeling that I had to apply to BYU, but eventually I decided that if this was meant to be it would work out and all I really had to do was get my application in. I did what I needed to do and the day that it was due I drove it to Provo and turned it in. A short time later I received an acceptance letter. This decision has affected my life tremendously! After moving to Provo, I felt like I needed to apply for a job as a teller at a local bank. I had been a teller before and had sworn that I was done with that job for reasons that require a blog post of their own, but suffice it to say that my prior job in banking left me the awful memories of being robbed at gunpoint 2 times in 6 months and that, so I thought, was end of my career as a teller. So, when that feeling came, I thought that I had lost my mind. But, the job was in a bank in a grocery store and I felt much safer in that setting. So I applied, got the job and through that decision, I met Brett's cousin who set the stage for Brett and I to meet. Brett and I met, dated, fell in love and look at us now going on 15 years of marriage and raising 4 fabulous boys! The decision that I made to marry Brett truly was the best decision that I have ever made. It was a major decision and has affected my life in a very positive but life changing way. Shortly after we married we began our life together back east in Connecticut. I gave up for a time, the decision to become a Kindergarten teacher as I put my schooling on hold to become a wife and to support my husband in his new career with IBM in New York. Never in my life would I have thought that I would ever leave UT and there I was young and newly married navigating life in what seemed like a foreign country. But it was one of the best times of my life. I met so many wonderful friends, I had a job in a flower shop that I loved and Brett and I were very happy. The decision to become a mother was a no brainer for me. It was something that I always aspired to and during the course of our time in CT, we were blessed with the births of two of our boys. Then another decision moved our family to CA yet another place that I would never have imagined myself living. But here we are and while I've had ups and downs with adjusting to life in CA, it is home and we are happy. And during the course of our time here we have had 2 more children. It truly is amazing how our decisions really affect our lives. One little (or perhaps big) decision to attend BYU was the best decision that I could have ever made. It led me to becoming a wife and a mother and provided many opportunities for growth and joy in my life. One thing that I know for sure is that my Heavenly Father has had a hand in my life. He has guided me and blessed me in more ways than I can count.

I love to see the temple...

Today was a great day! The boys had the day off from school, and Brett had the day off from work and it just so happened to be our Stake Temple Day, so as a family, we spent a good portion of the day here. I can think of no better way to spend the afternoon than enjoying the wonderful spirit of the temple. I love this scripture in 2 Nephi 9:52

Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice

Today my heart did rejoice. I love being in the temple with my husband, and I am thankful for our eternal marriage. I also felt joy knowing that Erik was having the opportunity to participate in baptisms for the dead. I was also grateful to know that my other 3 boys (Cameron, Austin, and Ethan) where close by being taught and cared for by wonderful leaders in the primary. There is joy in the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is joy in service. Families are eternal. These are truths that I hold dear and thank my Heavenly Father for. I truly do love to see the temple.
My boys

Object lesson

I just had to document this little experience so that I wouldn't forget and so that someday when Austin says "Mom, tell me a story about when I was little" (as he so often does) I can share this cute story with him.

Brett had the opportunity on Sunday to present a sharing time to the primary children. His sharing time was based on the 6th article of faith:

We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

He used this object lesson that he used to use on his mission to help the children understand that our church is organized the same way that Christ organized his church when he was on the earth.

Later that night Austin grabbed a handful of cups and said "Mom, I want to tell you a story." He then proceeded to stack the cups just the way Brett did explaining to me how the church is set up. First he layed out 12 cups (and this was my favorite part.) I asked him why there were 12 cups. He said they were for the 12 "opossums" (apostles). How cute is that?! Then he stacked more cups "building" the church. Then he told me that the church fell down (as he knocked it over). I asked him why the church fell down and he said "because they killed Jesus and the opossums (apostles) died". He then proceeded the build small little structures telling me that different churches were organized and that "Sister Smith" (He meant Joseph Smith, but his primary teacher is Sister Smith. I got a little chuckle out of that) didn't know which church to join, so he prayed and God told him that he shouldn't join any of them. Then He proceeded to lay out the cups again to build the church just like he had in the beginning telling me that Heavenly Father helped Joseph Smith restore the church to the earth just as it had been when Christ was on the earth. This was such a sweet moment for me as a mother because you often wonder if your children are listening or paying attention to what is being taught and to see that this lesson made such an impression on him makes me realize that they are listening and picking up on so much more than we even realize. I shared this story with Brett and we both got a little chuckle out of it. I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and for the influence that it has on my children.

Quote of the day...

I receive the Family LDS Gems in my e-mail each day and I love this quote by President Thomas S. Monson.

Women Have a Great Influence for Good

"Too frequently, women underestimate their influence for good. Well could you follow the formula given by the Lord: 'Establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God' (D&C 88:119).

"In such a house will be found happy, smiling children who have been taught, by precept and example, the truth. In a Latter-day Saint home, children are not simply tolerated, but welcomed; not commanded, but encouraged; not driven, but guided; not neglected, but loved."

Don't we all want that?!

The whole talk is really great too. Take some time out today to read it here

CREATE!

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.

Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty." --President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I just watched this video clip by President Uchtdorf on www.LDS.org and I loved it! I believe that it is so important for us to develop and use our creativity and I am a big believer in cultivating creativity in our children. It truly can bring joy to our lives and to others around us when we use our talents and energy to create something.

So here's to using our talents to
Improve Beautify Extend Smile Cultivate Develop Create.

You can also read President Uchtdorf's talk here.

FHE "Secret Service Agents"

We had a great Family Home Evening tonight! The boys really participated and enjoyed the lesson and that made for a very pleasant evening. Don't get me wrong, little Austin still ran around in circles and tried everything he could think of to distract his older brothers by making them laugh (little stinker), but overall it was a great night. I adapted this lesson on service with the amazing story of the Candy Bomber. Now you can see why my boys were so into this lesson. What little boy doesn't love bombers and candy? And if you can combine the 2 even better! So we read the story and we talked about service and then Brett and I challenged the boys to perform a secret act of service for a member of our family. When the service is completed, they get to leave a heart that says "You've been served" behind. Erik said it was like being "Secret Service Agents" How cool is that. So I will be watching for little hearts to start popping up all over our house this week. Then for dessert....Brett's favorite....the best Texas Sheet Cake ever!

Texas Sheet Cake from Allrecipes

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sour cream
2 eggs
1 cup butter
1 cup water
5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

6 tablespoons milk
5 tablespoons unsweetened
cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10x15 inch pan.
2. Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Mix in the sour cream, then beat in the eggs. Set aside. In a saucepan, melt the butter, then stir in the water and 5 tablespoons cocoa. Bring mixture to a boil then remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly, then stir cocoa mixture into the dry ingredients, mixing until blended.
3. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
4. For the icing: In a large saucepan, combine the milk, 5 tablespoons cocoa and 1/2 cup butter. Bring to a bowl, then remove from heat. Stir in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla, then fold in the nuts, mixing until blended. Spread frosting over warm cake.

*There is a picture book called "Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot" that tells the story of Col. Halvorsen (the candy bomber) I have it on hold at the library and I am going to read it to my children this week. Check it out!