Happy Valentines Day

I am lucky enough to teach some great 5 yr old children at church. They wiggle and love to talk and by the time I get home it is nap time. They are so sweet and love to tell stories and look forward to treats. I promised them a special treat this Sunday for Valentines day. I saw these in a recipe blog about a month ago and planned on making them for my class. I bought all the ingredients and hid them up in my room until last night. After getting home from moms house about 10 pm this is what David and I put together. The kids were so excited and it was great bribery to get them to listen today. Our kids even got some after dinner.
This year Mike and I decided not to do gifts. After blowing a tire last week we had new tires put on the car, put on brakes and once again fixed the bumper. (not helping my case with what a great driver I am). The one thing that I wanted was to go golfing together. We haven't been for about 5 months and I am definitely missing it. When we walked in the door from church there were roses, a card, the Sunday paper and toothbrushes! What a man! This is the first time Mike has got me a card....EVER! It was wonderful and so unexpected. (that made it even better) Then we made the kids red pancakes with biscuits and gravy for lunch. After finally it was nap time! Day went wonderful and couldn't have been better. Even though yesterday I was longing for a vacation since we spent last V day in Florida getting ready for our cruise. Wouldn't trade today for Florida!

I stole this saying from a friends blog but love it and think everyone should see it!

"I don't pretend to know what love is for everyone, but can tell you what it is for me; love is knowing all about someone, and still wanting to be with them more than any other person, love is trusting them enough to tell them everything about yourself, including the things you might be ashamed of, love is feeling comfortable and safe with someone, but still getting weak knees when they walk into a room and smile at you."

Reasons why.....

So today did not start off very good for me. We went to the Y and went swimming. I asked Mike if he would go get the two oldest children from seminary and take them to school and come back and pick me up. We usually leave together and get ready at home. Figured this time I would try getting ready there and be ahead of schedule. Well, that didn't work out so great.

As we walked into our separate locker rooms, Mike asked if I had my cell. YEAH! Didn't think much more of it. Then I went about my business took a shower and put my make up on. Came out a little after 7 am just about the time he should be back from dropping David and Krystal off at school.

I waited...and a few minutes later got a text message from him asking, how you looking? Immediately answered....I'm outside! So I waited and waited. About 10 minutes later waiting outside (keep in mind it was 18 degrees this morning) I called and asked Mike if he forgot about me? No, he said, I was waiting to hear from you. When I told him that I responded to his text within seconds. He said, oh my phone was on vibrate.

I was livid!

Well, Mike being the easy going guy he is, said I'll be right there. He didn't see the reason I was so upset. He had been at home to get his phone and got side tracked (distracted) talking to the 3 younger children that were still home.

It was probably a good thing I was outside because I was HOT and cold all at the same time. There is a good point to this story. Even though I was so upset with Mikey this morning as the day has gone on I remember why I didn't kill him and why I love him so much. (even though...sometimes he makes me crazy)

He is a wonderful husband and father!

He works just as hard on his days off as he does on "normal" work days

He can build just about anything! He made this gate on one of his days off and during his vacation he built us a new base to our king size bed. It is amazing and all made from scratch. (will post a picture later)

So Mike.....even though you forgot about me today, I sure do love you. It just takes time for me to cool off sometimes! Someday we may even be able to laugh about this morning. (just not soon)

FHE: Provident Living

I get emails on Monday from LDS Living. They have this outline for Family Home Evening. It is great because it makes it easy to assign something to each person and keep most everyone happy. We still have problems with who's turn it is. We still have to tweak the system, some kind of a wheel would work out great to help me remember who did what last time. We do not usually do the refreshment recipe but it is nice to have. I will do my best to post these on Monday so that you can use them too. If you like it let me to keep posting.

Conference Talk: For more information on this topic read "Being Temperate in All Things, "by Kent D. Watson, Ensign, Nov 2009 ,38-39

Thought:Security for our families comes from learning self-control, [and] avoiding the excesses of this world. (Kent D. Watson, "Being Temperate in All Things," Ensign, Nov 2009, 38-39.)

Song:"When We're Helping We're Happy" Children's Songbook, p. 198.

Scripture:But behold, I trust that ye are not in a state of so much unbelief as were your brethren; I trust that ye are not lifted up in the pride of your hearts; yea, I trust that ye have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world; yea, I trust that you do not worship idols, but that ye do worship the true and the living God, and that ye look forward for the remission of your sins, with an everlasting faith, which is to come. (Alma 7:6)

Lesson:Ask family members to think of their earthly possessions and choose what they would most like to take with them when they die and why. Discuss the following:

• What can we take with us when we leave this earth? (D&C 130:18-19.)
  


• Since we can take knowledge and intelligence with us, what should we be doing?
  

Empty all the money in your wallet or purse onto the floor or table. Ask someone to read 1 Timothy 6:7, 9-12, 17-21 aloud and then ask:

Why is the "love of money" evil? (Verse 10.)Share President Gordon B. Hinckley's statement: "It is the love of money and the love of those things which money can buy which destroys us. We all need money to supply our needs. But it is the love of it which hurts us, which warps our values, which leads us away from spiritual things and fosters selfishness and greed." (Ensign, May 1997, 49.)
How can we stay focused on the Lord rather than on temptations, snares, and foolish, hurtful lusts which can accompany wealth? (See verses 11-12, 17-19; see Matthew 6:19-21.)

Whom does Paul say we can trust? (Verse 17.)

What does Paul suggest we be rich in? (Verse 18; see D&C 42:29-31.)

How does providing for the poor build a "good foundation . . . on eternal life"?

What should we do with our riches?Make a plan to contribute to Church humanitarian efforts or in some other specific way bless those who are less fortunate.
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The New Testament, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006], p. 263.)

Story:(Bishop John H. Vandenberg)
My wife and I were married during the time of the depression. I had purchased a new car, and it was all paid for. I was employed; my salary was $125 per month. I remember bringing home my first check. My wife said, "It isn't very much, is it?" I replied, "No, but it will do." She said, "Yes, if we budget it." So we sat down and budgeted: $12.50 for tithing; $1.00 for fast offerings; $45 for rent; $40 for food, and additional amounts for utilities and clothing; and $10 in the savings account, for we presumed and anticipated that a child would come eventually. When we added it all up, the $125 was all allocated. I said to my wife, "It's all gone, and there isn't any left to buy gasoline for my car. What am I going to do?" She replied, "Sorry. I guess you'll have to walk."
So I walked back and forth to work. And the car stayed right in the garage for several months until I got a raise and could spare a little to buy gasoline. We've always managed to get along on my income, and I don't think we have ever had an unhappy moment over it, but rather, much satisfaction in coping with the situation. It isn't so much what you earn, but how you manage.
(Leon R. Hartshorn, Outstanding Stories by General Authorities, vol. 2, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1971].)

Activity:Use the simple alphabet/number code (a=1, b=2, c=3, d=4, etc.) to decipher the following message from the Prophet.
23, 5, 21, 18, 7, 5, 25, 15, 21, 20, 15, 2, 5, 13, 15, 4, 5, 19, 20, 9, 14, 25, 15, 21, 18, 5, 24, 16, 5, 14, 4, 4, 9, 20, 21, 18, 5, 19

Answer: We urge you to be modest in your expenditures (see The First Presidency, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances, Feb. 2007, 1)

Refreshment: Alice's Navajo Fry Bread
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups warm water
Shortening for deep-frying In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add water in small amounts, mixing between each addition. Knead dough till soft but not sticky. Cover and let stand 15 minutes. Pull off egg-sized balls and roll each into a round about 1/4 inch thick. Prick with fork 3 or 4 times to allow dough to puff up when it is fried. Deep-fry in hot fat in heavy skillet. Serve spread with jam, or sprinkled with powdered sugar or salt. Makes 16 to 20 rounds.
(Paula Julander and Joanne Milner, Utah State Fare, [Salt Lake City: Shadow Mountain, 1995], p. 37.)

Lucky boys

David was invited to go to a "special fireside" on Friday night. The Fitch's called about 9:15 pm on Thursday and asked if David would want to go to see President Uchtdorf. I said, YES he would. Didn't ask him just wanted to say if he doesn't go I'll go! When we told David the next morning he wasn't real excited. Which at 16 seems to be the norm. David being a good kid and knowing he just signed a contract to listen. Didn't complain too much before he went.

President Uchtdorf is the Second Counselor in the Presidency of our church. He was in the German Air Force and later become a Commercial Pilot. He always tells great stories and really is a funny guy. With David's love for the military this really was good for him to be at. Not only were they in the Air Force Chapel on the Academy but he was surrounded by some great people in a small setting. He started to take notes on his cell phone.

Here is some of what he wrote:

Where ever we go we are always brothers and sisters. Draw close to people of the world and love them, acquire peace. Peace is something we desire in our hearts, difference between peace and war. Peace is not just absence of war. Peace is worldwide desire. General Douglas Mc Arthur said: A solider above all other people pray for peace, for he or she must suffer bearing the deepest scars of war. Always reach out to others.

http://newroom.lds.org/ldsnewroom/eng/background-information/leader-biographies/president-dieter-f-uchtdorf

This was a great opportunity and not something that everyone was invited to. It was a private fireside for the cadets with some of the Cadet supporters. We were so lucky that the boys in our ward were able to go and listen to some great stories of President Uchtdorf. I'm sure this is something that all the boys will remember for a long time.