A quick story

Car charger for GPS won't work, Look at plug.. Oh, it's broken, I can see the tip is busted! Go to Best Buy, buy new charger. Plug in, doesn't work. Humph, bum cord? Go to Best Buy, exchange for new cord. Get home, plug in, still no charge. Charge GPS on Computer. Go to Best Buy, exchange for a charger that will charge through different plug. Get to car, still won't charge. Wait a minute.. could it be the lighter in my van?!?! Oh yeah, Josh replaces the fuze in 2 seconds. Now charger #3 charges all right, but won't direct at the same time. Back to Best buy, exchange cord #3 for cord #2, and now......A WORKING GPS! YEAH! I feel like a really stupid detective.

TOFW The Savior

I went to an EFY when I was a teen called "Walk With Me." This was my favorite year, I grew so close to my Savior. I see life coming between us and it saddens me, and I delight in events like Time Out For Women that allows me to take a step away from life and grow closer to the Savior once again.

Here are some things that were talked about that I don't want to forget.

-Understand that He is excepting, don't 'fear and tremble', be of good comfort.

-Bring the Lord all that we have and He will make up the rest, to be sufficient for YOUR needs. (Bread the Fishes)

-The Savior experienced all our problems and troubles. He CHOSE to do this, and He did it cheerfully. (He understands REALLY)

-He not only knows our troubles, he FEELS them.

-After his resurrection, there was much work to do, he felt Mary's sorrow, and he stopped to comfort her.

-He sees the beauty in every one, and so should I. Zacharius was small, shoved behind the others, Peter thought him a sinner, Jesus saw a prophet.

-Jesus is sensitive, he looks under the surface

- Jesus also lived, learned, grew and built grace for grace. It took him 30 years to get the fullness. Be patient w/ yourself

-Christ is a pursuing shepherd.

*Kenneth Cope * You'll meet Him in the fire before the sky.

- Our Savior is there through our trials.

Elder Holland:

"The future of this world has long been declared. The final outcome between good and evil is already known. There is absolutely no question as to who wins because victory has already been posted on the score board. The only really strange thing in all of this is that we are still down here on the field trying to decide which teams' jersey we want to wear."

- Jesus knows us and wants to come close to us.

*Kenneth Cope * Him and Him alone

-Jesus love "Broken Things"

*Kenneth Cope* Broken

-Let your heart not be troubled, turn and trust God

- God won't give you anything you can't handle WITH help from Jesus Christ.

-Put your hope in Him

-when you kneel down and empty your soul, you make room for Him to Enter.

A few stories that I want to remember:

Sister Belcher is blind, she told of the training that she under went as her eye sight was failing. She was taught how to live as a blind person. They taught her how to find out where she was by observing her surroundings. One of the major things you have to observe is which way you are facing. If you know what time of day it is, morning or past noon, you need to feel for which side of your face the sun is hitting. Feel for the warmth. *When we are needing direction, feel for the SON to get your bearings*

Michael Wilcox told a story about his son imitating him. He was laying on his bed marking his scriptures and studying, and his young son came and laid by him w/ his crayons and his scriptures. Bro Wilcox thought nothing of it as his son began to "color" in his scriptures as they "studied" together. When he was done, his son showed him his scriptures. (Bro Wilcox put up a picutre of the two books beside each other) His son had copied his markings nearly perfectly. Underscoring, highlighting, and even notations (as best as a 6 yr old could). He told his son that he was so impressed with his good work, and his son said "yeah, but my lines aren't straight like yours."

-Imitation is worshipping. The Lord doesn't send us away because our 'lines aren't straight'. He is happy to see us imitating Him.

- God loves ME!

TOFW on Parenting

A little over a week ago I had the pleasure of attending Time Out For Women. I flew out to Kansas City and met up with Barbara. It was SO fun to see her again, and have the chance to hang out together. I took a pile of notes and have compiled them and decided to blog about the conference in themes/principles that were taught.

I arrived in Kansas City on Friday afternoon. Barbara picked me up from the airport and we headed out to Mimi's for lunch/dinner. We don't have a mimi's out here, so I was pretty excited to find out that it was one of the choices on the list. :-) We then headed up to the convention center for the evenings events. We were informed right off that Sheri Dew couldn't make it to the event, and so they had a substitute flown in, fair enough, cuz it was John Bytheway. That evening however we got to hear from Bro. Michael Wilcox. What a wonderful speaker. We also had a few musical numbers from Jenny Oaks Baker. After the intermission, we were informed that we were SO lucky, for the remainder of the meeting, Jenny oaks Baker would be giving us a much sought after concert. (hum, not what I was looking for. I was looking to be uplifted by music and word, not just an hour of violin music) I looked at Barbara, she looked at me, and we snuck out after the 'announcement'. We headed as quickly as we could to the nearest mall to squeeze in some shopping. :-) This is the night that I discovered the beauty with in the place called "the Buckle" humm, pricey discovery, but beautiful none the less. WE headed back to her place after they kicked us out of the mall. It was fun to see this house that I've heard about over the years. We had a fun night, and were back up bright and early to get in line to get a good seat at the convention center the next morning. We got our TOFW tote bags, in which I was SO disappointed that I purchased last years bag for $5 on clearance because I wanted a "real" bag.

The talks on Sat filled me up and kept us laughing and sometimes crying. It was wonderful

On Parenting:

- Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

- the Lord not only knows our troubles, but he feels them.

- Jesus was happy in his affections, not miserable.

- the Lord sees beauty in ALL his creations.

- Children are like slow ripening fruit

- Heavenly Father loves my children as much as I do.

- He understands them better then I do

- He will help me understand them if I just ask.

- Wait for the children to ripen (learn and develop), and trust in the Lord

- Stubborn fruit, when ripe is SO sweet.

- How to grow and ripen fruit: Feed (teach) and water, the SON will do the rest.

- Cry unto the Lord on their behalves

- the Lord will be "intreated" of you

- Sometimes the fruit doesn't ripen on this side of the vail

-What if the fruit of my parenting is not how my children turn out, but how I learn as a parent?

-believe, hope and endure

- Choose to not be an emotional wreak

-What's it like to live with me?

- The Savior had very important work to do, but he stopped to comfort the saddened.

- Don't compare or compete.

"Fifty was my favorite age. It takes about that long to learn to quit competing- to be yourself and settle down to living. It is the age I would like to be through all eternity." Marjorie Pay Hinckley.

Happy Birthday Brent

I have a million blogs to blog, but as a "gift" to my sweet heart, I wanted to blog about him.

This will likely embarrass him that it is posted on the web. I was thinking the other day about all the sweet romantic things that he has done over the years (nearly 15) that we have been together. So after some thought, I decided to post all my memories of our past relationship and all the sweet stuff that I remember about my truly romantic man.

When I met Brent, he was a music major. He was madly in love with his French Horn. When he went on his mission, he left a girl who had his class ring, when he came home, she was gone and so was the ring, but his Horn waited faithfully. The two of them were off to rule the music world. This passion drew me to him, I loved how driven he was to practice and be the best that he could be. Our first date was a walk. We talked and walked and talked and walked. On that walk he was sure to ALWAYS be between me and the traffic. To the extent of switching sides in the middle of the street to assure my safety. (see what I mean... totally sweet).

Brents next true love was his Mom. Yes, another thing that drew me to him, who couldn't love a man who loves his mother? The first time I met her, he had me take her daisy's (her favorite flowers). This is something that he often did for his mom. As a teen he would get them for her on his way home from school from time to time. (sweet again)

Once he decided that we were meant for each other, and that I would be his next true love, he presented me with a dance in the rain, followed by a bottle of perfume that he had purchased in France (on his mission). He purchased it with the intent of giving it to his future wife. (aww, he was thinking about me even before he knew me) While we were dating he went to a big music "thing" in Texas. While he was there, he spoke with many of the instructors and musicians around him and concluded that he would never make enough money as a musician to support a family. I know that some musicians do, but he really didn't want to teach, and didn't want to risk not being one of the few that make it big. So out of love for me and our future family, he changed career paths. The beloved horn worked with Brent to put him through his undergrad, but the intent was now Medicine. A true act of love for me, he sacrificed his dream, and happily headed down a different path.

Over the years he has done little things here and there. He knows that my favorite flowers are Star Gazer Lillies. He has gone to some pretty long lengths to score my my favorites, and is sure not to get the wrong kind of lilly, for they don't smell the same. :-) While we were in school and never had 2 cents to rub together, he would come home and tell me "If we had money, I would have bought you flowers today." (which is almost as good :-) ) Once he drew me some flowers for Valentines day. Brent has written poems and many sweet letters of appreciation. He knows that I love sonic so sometimes he brings me home a limeade at the end of a day. And he knows I love chocolate, so he takes care of that too. I give him a hard time about not doing enough, but he really does do a lot, I am just too needy. :o)

In our first year of marriage, oh the first year....., this poor man endured much, as I cried my way though. One night in particular, as I sat on the bathroom floor, not really even knowing myself why I was crying my eyes out. I heard his voice on the phone, "Mom, she's crying, and she won't stop... what am I supposed to do?" He quickly got off the phone and came and did just what his mom told him to do. He kept his mouth shut and just held me 'till I stopped. He has done this many, many times, but that first phone call to his mom, I will never forget.

We have had many conversations where I have expressed my frustrations with my imperfections and he can honestly tell me that he loves me. Brent has never told me no. Any thing my little heart has desired, he has seen to it that I've had. Sometimes we've had to wait, but he sees to it, if it is doable. Including a move to Canada in the middle of our undergrad. (in hind sight, probably one of the worst financial moves of our marriage) but he saw to it that we went "home" for a few years.

Brent has ALWAYS been sweet and wonderful about me taking my own "me" time. He is kind and sweet to my giggling girlfriends who come over and stink the house up with nail polish, he adjusted the messed up backs of my other girlfriends in med school.

He has taken, count them 2 dance classes w/ me! And actually enjoyed it. (at least he pretended to) I love to dance, he is uncomfortable with it, even tho, he is a very good dancer. I was the envy of all the wives in our YMCA dance class. :-)

Before we had children I collected baby clothes in my bottom drawer of my dresser. When I would get frustrated with work, or sad about anything, he would reach in the drawer and pull out the tiniest little cardigan and show it to me to make me smile. He knew it would work every time. I still have the cardigan, not because my children wore it, or because it looked so cute on them, but because that is how he got me through those first 3 years.

I almost forgot this one..... just this past month I was awaken in the middle of the night (4:30am I think it was) by my sweetheart asking me if I had some "running pants" I thought he had lost his mind! I thought to myself... there is NO way he is fitting into my running pants. Told him No, and tried to go back to sleep. Then he asked me if I had anything else that would be warm for me to wear. I couldn't figure out what he wanted and why. When I eventually came around and did what he was asking me to do, I put on some warm clothes, and came out into the living room where he wrapped a blanket around me and escorted me out to some chairs that he had set up in the back yard. We snuggled up under the big beautiful clear sky on Tennessee and watched the sky as it put on a beautiful show of "shooting stars". He had heard the night before that the most activity was going to be at 4:30 am, he set his alarm and got it all ready so that we could watch the show. What a sweet heart!

He has taken me away any chance we have gotten, and has big plans to whisk me off to Europe someday.

My favorite, most romantic thing that my sweet husband has done: He made a play list for me. Every once in a while he throws in another song, and each and every one of them is all about us. Each one fits almost perfectly.

The play list is called: "For My Princess" and the songs are as follows:

What kind of man would I be? Chicago

Faithfully. Journey

I your eyes. Peter Gabriel

The best of times. Styx

Forever and ever amen. Randy Travis

You're the inspiration. Chicago

Open Arms. Journey

You save me. Kenny Chesney

Shameless. Garth Brooks

Je L'aime a mourir. Francis Cabrel

Can't stop loving you. Phil Collins

Lonely Day. System of a down

Tangled up in you. Staind

All I want. Staind

The Reason. Hoobastank

He has been there for the birth of each of our children and has held my hand and supported me even tho the Dr in him wants to be down there doing "the fun part". He even told me after I had Liza that he never wanted to see me in that much pain ever again. He REALLY didn't like not being able to stop me from hurting. A while back I made an on going list of reasons why I am grateful for Brent:

- he goes to work, so I can stay home

- he loves the flames

- he likes all things Canada

- he knows my favorite flowers

- he eats my food even if it's yucky

- he gives great, real big hugs

- he sometimes has topical anesthesia on hand

- he likes my cooking

- he took 2 kids to work w/ him for take your kid to work day.

- he calls me when he knows his schedule so that I have it to make my plans

- he locks the door and turns on the alarm when he leaves the house in the morning (that's how he protects me when he is gone)

- he calls me from work on his breaks

- he was excited to take the kids to work w/ him

- he cherishes his children (some ages more then others, but all of them were 3 once.)

- he wants to have a good relationship w/ each of his children as individuals.

- he rubs my neck

- he'll play with my hair

- he doesn't complain about dinner or lack there of.

- he still has dreams and hopes

- he comes straight home from work

- he's willing to give me girl time

- he came on a picnic with us

- he brings me drinks

- he sets up the computer and other electronics for me, cuz I'm not so smart that way.

- he loves to sit w/ the kids

- he goes to church, no matter what happened the night before (work, whatever)

- he helped Tori w/ her book and let her be in control

- he cares about taking care of himself

- when he spoils me, he spoils me good

- he tries to surprise me

- he mows the lawn

- he loves his kids

- he's funny when he is happy.

- he puts away the food and helps clean up after dinner

- he lets me take the kids to activities at the church so that I can just visit.

- he loves to hold sick kids.

- he loves to rock kids.

- he takes care of all the "military crap"

- he studies hard to pass his exams

- he wants the best for us

- he really is so much fun

AND the most of all.......

- HE IS MY BEST FRIEND!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!