I love this quote - so much like President Hinckley

"When our people first arrived in this valley 155 years ago, they saw with prophetic vision a great future. But I sometimes wonder if they really sensed the magnitude of that dream as it would unfold."The headquarters of the Church are in this city which recently hosted the 19th Winter Olympics. We made a deliberate decision that we would not use this as a time or place to proselytize, but we were confident that out of this significant event would come a wonderful thing for the Church. The great buildings which we have here—the Temple, the Tabernacle, this magnificent Conference Center, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Family History facilities, the Church Administration Building, the Church Office Building, our Welfare facilities, together with scores of chapels in this valley—could not be overlooked by those who walked the streets of this and neighboring cities. As Mike Wallace once remarked to me, 'These structures all denote something solid.'"And beyond this, we had total confidence in our people, many thousands of them, who would serve as volunteers in this great undertaking. They would be dependable; they would be pleasant; they would be knowledgeable; they would be accommodating. The unique and distinctive capacity of our people in speaking the languages of the world would prove to be a tremendous asset beyond anything to be found elsewhere."Well, it all worked out."
Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Church Goes Forward," Ensign, May 2002, 4–5

Counting my many blessings

I would feel very ungrateful if I didn't recognize the great many blessings I have in my life and since I didn't take the time to bare my testimony in church today, this is just as good a spot. In my last post I talked about losing my job - well shortly after I sorted things out and I know have a couple forms of income - may not be as much or the way I had planned (I know I should never plan)but I will make it just fine.  I am very very grateful for that.  I have begun to see the good things that will come from this change in much stronger light than last week and again I am grateful for those people who helped me see that, even if you didn't realize it.
Some of the things I am grateful for:
My testimony of a loving and caring Heavenly Father that loves me and shows me in the small and simple things of my life. 
A Savior who died for me and for you.
Repentance and Forgiveness
Prayer and the amazing ability to communicate with our maker, the peace, comfort, joy, answers and power that it brings
The scriptures that speak to me
A living Prophet, knowing that there is a prophet of the restoration
Peace, Comfort, Joy
The Holy Ghost
Tithing
The power of fasting - I have been taught this over and over
A job/jobs
Incredible friends that remind me constantly of how to live my life through their examples of goodness, faith, forgiveness and love
A awesome family who support me even when I am not supporting myself enough
The ability to think through problems (not claiming I am smart, just grateful for that ability to see problems from many different angles)
Teaching and how much I learn because of it
Support
Great Music

                                                   

The beauty of this world                                           Talents
Sweet babies that remind me of the innocence and sweetness that the Lord would have us show/be
My calling

Blessings

I would feel very ungrateful if I didn't recognize the great many blessings I have in my life and since I didn't take the time to bare my testimony in church today, this is just as good a spot. In my last post I talked about losing my job - well shortly after I sorted things out and I know have a couple forms of income - may not be as much or the way I had planned (I know I should never plan)but I will make it just fine. I am very very grateful for that. I have begun to see the good things that will come from this change in much strogner light than last week and again I am grateful for those people who helped me see that, even if you didn't realize it.
Some of the things I am grateful for:
My testimony of a loving and caring Heavenly Father that loves me and shows me in the small and simple things of my life.
A Savior who died for me and for you.
Repentance and Forgiveness
Prayer and the amazing ability to communicate with our maker, the peace, comfort, joy, answers and power that it brings
The scriptures that speak to me
A living Prophet, knowing that there is a prophet of the restoration
Peace, Comfort, Joy
The Holy Ghost
Tithing
The power of fasting - I have been taught this over and over
A job/jobs
Incredible friends that remind me constatnly of how to live my life through their examples of goodness, faith, forgiveness and love
A awesome family who support me even when I am not supporting myself enough
The ability to think through problems (not claiming I am smart, just grateful for that ability to see problems from many different angles)
Teaching and how much I learn because of it
Support
Great Music
Sweet babies that remind me of the innocence and sweetness that the Lord would have us show/be
My calling

Changes

Well, this life is all about changes - some good, some nuetral, some not as good but all changes non the less. On Friday I found out that I will not have a job come January. The project is going much faster than expected and there is no reason to keep me on after that time period. I wasn't completely surprised so that was good. I immediately put out some feelers for jobs and it looks like I will be able to teach 4 classes in the Spring for MACC and I am still looking for some other random job to make up the difference in pay. I am hoping that I will be able to find something fairly quickly.

The good things about this change:
* no figuring out what to do at work when the actual work part is done and we still have 20 hours left in the week
* more time to work on my dissertation, classes, etc
* time to go and interview for jobs if I need to do that
* longer time at home at Christmas :)

The bad:
not as much money
a more random work schedule
no help with tuition

So it seems the good out weigh the bad - just wish money didn't play such a large factor in my life!

Another Change - I am getting older this week. I feel very blessed with loving friends and family who have asked about celebrating with me! I feel very loved. This birthday is only reminding me that I need to get out of school already! I am feeling a bit trunky in school at this moment - only in thought becuase my classes keep me too bust for it to be in action!

I hope everyone has a great week!

Monday Quote and Birthdays

“With all the differences in our lives, we have at least one challenge in common. We all must deal with adversity. . . . It is in the nature of our being human that comfort gives way to distress, periods of good health come to an end, and misfortunes arrive. . . . The arrival of suffering or the loss of material security can bring fear and sometimes even anger. . . . “The very opportunity for us to face adversity and affliction is part of the evidence of [Heavenly Father and the Savior’s] infinite love. God gave us the gift of living in mortality so that we could be prepared to receive the greatest of all the gifts of God, which is eternal life.”
Henry B. Eyring, “Adversity,” Ensign, May 2009, 23


This week we have 3 Birthdays in my Family!

Happy Birthday Christopher who is one now (7th), Cameron will be 11 (9th) and Mandy will be 6 (11th)! What a great week!

Fall, School and Question

Well school is off to a roaring start - I have taught three times and attended class two weeks (MACC starts a week earlier than MU).  Things are feeling much more doable of course I haven't gotten anything to grade or any huge project due right this second so we will see but I am optimistic that things will turn out well.  And as my BYU bishop used to say "This too will pass even if you don't" - nice sense of humor and great support! :)

Fall here is beginning - the days are getting cooler and I have seen a tree or two changing its colors.  It is apple picking time, applesauce making time, canning time, etc.  I love this time of year and all that it brings.  Which leads me to my decorating for the season - really I guess for September because in October I will add in Halloween stuff and November Thanksgiving will take its place.  My goal this year is to dwindle down the decorations I have since I will be moving.  Sadly, decorations take up closet space because I have no storage or garage - something I will be looking for in my next abode.  Regardless I have too many and so I will be giving some away after each season - it won't be too hard because my tastes have changed over time so that will help.

Here are some pictures of what I have done for September.  

As some of you know I gave away my TV in December and have gone without since - honestly there are only a few times I have missed it.  In Dec. my friends helped me move my armoire to my craft room for material - I love it there - so much more room and I can see almost all of my material.  So here is the question - does anyone know how I can add another shelf to this (see picture below) so that I can see all of my material.  Consider this - I am not a carpenter nor do I have any carpenter tools so it would have to be something simple or something I could ask a friend to help me with.  If anyone has any suggestions please let me.