October’s End

Here is our October collage with the highlights of the month captured in photos:

Grace came and spent the morning with me

Kelsey’s choir concert

Hiking with the Priests and Laurel, hiking season has begun!

Our family room progress, bottom cabinets are in!

5K Walk for the food bank—it’s tradition

UofA Football

Pumpkin Patch with the Snells

 

Here is the link if you want to play along

endure to the end….

I have been doing some topical study in the scriptures, the plan of salvation being subject. I made a simple drawing in my notebook and my plan was to take each diagram  and what it represented, study the scriptures and articles I found and then move on to the next diagram, marching my way through my simple drawing. My plan didn’t work out, but I have benefited to much by this study. My drawing is still simple, but what those drawings represent have more meaning to me now. There are many “side roads” that I find myself on, all still encompassed by the plan. Which, btw, is one of the things I have grown to love the most. Everything applies, and is so much clearer when I apply it to the perfect plan of our Father.

Today I was studying enduring to the end. It was perfect timing for me to read what I read to help me get perspective.

First a scripture, touched my heart and humbled me. Hebrews 5:8-9 Though he were a Son, yet learned  he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

The Savior is the supreme example in ALL things.

Another scripture giving me perspective and comfort. D&C 24:8 Be patient in afflictions for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.

Through the atonement I find strength and comfort.

Lastly, an article that was instructive. I could see how to apply the principles to my life. Elder Hales:

“We were not sent by Father in Heaven just to be born. We were sent to endure and return to Him with honor.

"We are taught in the scriptures that there must be opposition in all things (see 2 Ne. 2:11 ). It is not a question of if we are ready for the tests; it is a matter of when. We must prepare to be ready for tests that will present themselves without warning.

“The basic requirements for enduring to the end include knowing who we are, children of God with a desire to return to His presence after mortality; understanding the purpose of life, to endure to the end and obtain eternal life; and living obediently with a desire and a determination to endure all things, having eternal vision. Eternal vision allows us to overcome opposition in our temporal state and, ultimately, achieve the promised rewards and blessings of eternal life.

“If we are patient in our afflictions, endure them well, and wait upon the Lord to learn the lessons of mortality, the Lord will be with us to strengthen us unto the end of our days: “He that shall [faithfully] endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” ( Mark 13:13 ) and return with honor to our Heavenly Father.

“We learn to endure to the end by learning to finish our current responsibilities, and we simply continue doing it all of our lives. We cannot expect to learn endurance in our later years if we have developed the habit of quitting when things get difficult now."

My “take away”:

1. Remember:  I am a child of God. I have a purpose.
2. Vision: I want to return to my Heavenly Father.
3. Action: I will be obedient, do His will. I will not quit.

Are We There Yet?

Read this on a blog this morning and it fit perfectly with what was going on in my head. I was thinking about enjoying the journey and that I want to do that, really I do. But the journey needs to smooth out a bit, it has just been too rocky, to enjoy very much. Then I scold myself for those thoughts and remind myself that the “enjoy the journey” reminder IS exactly for those times when you need the reminder. When the journey is enjoyable there is no need for a reminder right? Or as this author says:

I’m reminded of this as I drive down a different road to a different place with a restless heart inside me. Over the last few years so many changes have come–good changes, hard changes, and everything in between. There’s a part of me that loves the adventure. But there’s also a part of my that sighs like a kid in the backseat and asks, “But aren’t we there yet?”

We dream of the day when we arrive.

When we’re truly happy.

When we don’t have struggles anymore.

When we’re completely settled.

There’s a name for that place: heaven.

And if you’re reading this, you’re not there yet.

We put a lot of pressure on ourselves when we try to find heaven on earth. We want to get to the place where we can say, this is it. But there’s no such thing as this is it: there’s just the next step God has for us.

That job.

That relationship.

That move across the country.

They’re not the be-all-end-all you might want them to be. They’re just what God has next for you.

Now I’ll confess: that sometimes makes me whine like the kid on the road trip. Sometimes I just want out of the stinkin’ car already.

But beyond that feeling it’s comforting to know that I don’t have to try to arrive at perfection. I’m free to explore and pursue and go where God takes me.

If you’ve been trying hard to arrive then lean back in your seat for a moment. Roll down the window. Feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face. And if you dare, maybe even enjoy the journey for a bit.

You’ll get there one day, my friend. Not today. Or tomorrow. But eventually.

And in the meantime, there’s so much in store for you along the way.

So what is going on now? Well, once again, no one is hurt (prayers of gratitude for that) except…the truck.

Marana Pumpkin Patch

I heard the advertisement for the pumpkin patch on the radio and I immediately had two thoughts: 1.  it sounded like so much fun and 2. we needed to borrow some kids and go! That led to my next thought: call the Snells. They had the pumpkin patch on their list of places to go but were happy to let us tag along, so we did.

We went on Saturday, the 27th. It was a beautiful day, with the sun shining and blue skies and perfect fall temperatures. There were many free activities to choose from:

we spent time climbing on hay bales,

we made our way through a small petting zoo,

we watched pig races,

got lost in a corn maze and

 

 

 

 

 

 

gave piggy back rides for tired legs.

Of course, the highlight was getting to go to the pumpkin patch. Picking out a pumpkin was not as easy as it sounds, when there are so many too choose from. You never know if the next one might be better than the last. So we walked and hunted and chose, then walked hunted and chose again. Finally everyone was happy with their pick.

It was great to spend that time with Tyler, Caleb and Grace. They are great kids and we love them so much.

Later that afternoon, Kelly and I went to our last UofA football game of the season. We were sad to see the season come to an end for us. Next year we will have to spread the games out longer so we can enjoy good football weather too.

To My Beautiful Daughters

Period.

(I can’t remember where I got this, sorry to whoever you are who created it)

Grace’s Visit

Grace came for a visit today while her mom went to Caleb’s class. I wasn’t quite ready for the day, so she came in and “watched” me finish with my make-up. Of course, but the time I was done, she needed to do some touch-ups herself. I couldn’t help but grab the camera and get some shots of her primping!

When she comes, we do lots of things together. We read, play games, and color. But most of the time we spend it outside with the bee baby. Sometimes we give the baby a bath too. Grace loves to take care of the baby and make her happy. She is so sweet with her.

Putting in Cabinets!

It is really starting to come together and feel like we are finally getting this project done.

And it looks so good! I can’t wait till the counter top is installed and we can finally see all the work come together and use this as our family room again!

And look at this cute banner I made…for me and maryn and…