Showing posts with label LDS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LDS. Show all posts

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Happy Day :)

Two weeks ago I met with the bishop and he extended me a new calling. But since last week was Stake Conference, it didn't become official until today in church. I AM NO LONGER IN PRIMARY! I am so excited! Since I married Josh almost 10 years ago, I have spent about 7 years serving in the primary program, so I am overly excited to be able to have a calling that is another part of the church services. I did have to go to primary one last time this week because the new piano player wasn't ready to take over. But starting next week I am the new Relief Society Chorister. Yay, I get to go to Relief Society!

I was so happy today, I actually made up a song and sang it to Josh.

"Today is my last day in the Primary.
The Primary.
The Primary.
Today is my last day in the PRIMARY!
And that makes it a very happy day."

I will admit I'm a little nervous about Relief Society and how it my stir up my feelings on infertility. But I've been anxious for a change in church callings that will give me a better chance at growth so hopefully this is just what I need. 

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Friday at the Quilted Bear

On Friday I went with my cousins Kim & Jessica to the city. I was even able to meet up with my friend Meka for a bit. The entire day was a blast. We started at one end of the valley and worked our way up all the way to Magna. My favorite two stops were The Olive Garden and The Quilted Bear.

I'm participating in another Swaperoo so I bought my partners stuff at the Quilted Bear. Here is the sneak peek. I'll post more pictures after I mail the package.


There is a booth at the Quilted Bear that makes the cutest things. (Wait, back that up, all of the booths are so cute!) This booth takes a cute twist on their items. They have these little wooden decorations for each season and on the back of them is the little plastic covers you use to child proof electrical sockets. You plug these into your electrical sockets!

I don't have much for Easter decorations so I bought myself this cute block display. It really brightens up the living room. Over the last few years I have come to LOVE motivational sayings in picture frames or on tiles. I thought this one was perfect given recent events. Now I just need to work on actually living it. I don't know if I like the color of the bow, I'll probably change it for a dark brown.
This was my treasure of the day. Its a picture of the Jordan River temple on a tile. I LOVE it. It was a little pricey and I walked by it 3 times before I finally decided to just buy it. We have a few pictures of the temple we were married in, but I wanted something elegant and fancy. It looks so perfect on my book shelf.
This is another Jordan River Temple display I bought recently. Its a collectors plate that can either set in a stand or hang on the wall. I still haven't decided where to display it, so it moves around a lot.
Friday was the best, I can't wait to do it again.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Temple Square

We got our second Christmas on Saturday when we went to see Celeste. We had a fun time, but learned we need to better prepare for the city. We were a few minutes late for the movie, not that it mattered because it was already sold out. I had to call a friend to find a restaurant (turns out we were piratically standing on it). The city sure is busy during dinner time, we never have to wait to get seated at a table where we live. But dinner was a blast, she even laughed when I called Josh a gay cowboy because he bought a purple shirt. We are so comfortable around her. We were able to get into a later showing of the "Princess and the Frog." It was super cute. I could fall in love with Disney all over again.

After that we decided to get lost in the city and go to Temple Square. I'm so glad the temple is big so even when you see it several streets away, you can get there. This was my first time using my new camera and I haven't figured out the settings yet so some of the pictures are blurry.

On the way back to her house we got really lost. Had no clue where we were. We thought about keeping Celeste, but we weren't sure where our home was either. But God is in all parts of the adoption process and through divine luck we found her house.

I get to go out again on the 22nd to learn the sex of the baby. I am so excited!!!! If Josh can't get the day off, than he says we will have to take another trip in January so he can see Celeste too.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving ABC's

Adoption - What a wonderful miracle adoption is. I'm grateful that my life is so entwined in it's web.

Books & Blogs - I love to read. I love the blogging friends I've made. I love that blogging is such a great way to stay in touch.

Computer - I spend WAY too much time on it, but after having to go a month without one, I know it needs to be on this list.

Dinner - Love to cook it, love to eat it. Also love it when Josh cooks it!

Emails from C - If I go a day or two without them, my mood starts to turn sour. I LIVE for these emails.

Family - Thanks for loving me.

Good Home - As newly weds we lived in some pretty questionable apartments. I am thankful for the nice place we live in now. Love the space and LOVE the views.

Hope & Faith - It would be a bleak sad world without it. I'm especially grateful for the hope and faith I've had lately.

Infertility - Really? REALLY? Yes, really. Without my infertility I wouldn't be the person I am today. Without infertility our lives wouldn't be touched by adoption.

Josh - I could use all the words in the dictionary and still not describe how wonderful he is and how much I love him. My life is so wonderful because he is a part of it. Thanks for loving me babe!

Kisses - If you were the recipient of Josh's kisses, you would be grateful for them too.

Laughter - Don't always take life so seriously.

Music - I love it when songs really seem to talk to me. I also love it's calming effect.

Nephews - I feel pretty lucky to be their aunt.

Open Adoption - What a great way to touch so many lives. I look forward to exchanging emails, pictures, and hopefully visits with birth parents and their families. Our child is going to be so blessed to have them in their lives.

Photography & Pictures - I love capturing moments on film and turning them into ever lasting memories.

Quite - I love to get out and play and be around family and friends, but I'm also grateful for quite moments to sit and reflect.

Resources - I knew NOTHING about adoption when we started this process almost 3 years ago. I have learned so much through classes, books, blogs and friends. I'll probably never know everything about adoption, but I feel more prepared than I did 3 years ago.

Savior - He always loves me unconditionally and there is so many miracles in my life that I know He arranged just for me.

Temple - I'm so grateful to be sealed to my husband for all eternity and I look forward to they day we can take our children there to be sealed to us.

Uniqueness - Josh calls me quirky, but I think uniqueness sounds nicer. Either way, I like the many different things about myself. I'm glad that every one is different and that there is no one else quite like me.

Variety - I love where we live. We experience all the different seasons and the beauty that comes with each of them.

Wisdom - I love learning new things.

eXtraordinary friends - I hope you all know who you are and how much you mean to me. My life is blessed to have such wonderful friends.

Yearning - It's what keeps me going sometimes. I would have given up a long time ago without it.

Zipper, Pyro & Ally - They have filled our home and hearts with so much love.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Welcome Home Elder Christensen

Wow, what an amazing day yesterday. Dallon came home from South Africa. I can't believe it's been two years since we saw him last. Here is my view of all the excitement.

Getting to the airport. Preston was so excited to ride the bus and see airplanes.
So much nervous energy. Barbara had such a hard time sitting still.
Preston thought it was great fun to ride the escalator. When daddy got tired, grandpa would take over and back and forth. He always jumped off at the bottom.
Visiting with family while we wait for the plane to land.

Is that him?There he is! This is where the security guard had to remind us to stay right there, they were coming to us.
He is finally home! So many happy mothers last night.
We did it. He lasted two years in South Africa, and we made it two years without him.




Meeting Tyler for the first time.

Preston can be so camera shy.

Some of his friends came to meet him.
Talking with his grandparents.

Preston quickly taught Dallon Swing Me 1-2-3.

Welcome home Dallon, it's good to have you back.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Family Fast

The Church designates one Sunday each month, usually the first Sunday, as a day of fasting. Proper observance of fast Sunday includes going without food and drink for two consecutive meals, attending fast and testimony meeting, and giving a fast offering to help care for those in need.

As members of the church, we can fast for many purposes. Fasting is one way of worshiping God and expressing gratitude to Him. We can fast as we ask Heavenly Father to bless the sick or afflicted. Fasting may help us and those we love receive personal revelation and become converted to the truth. Through fasting we can gain strength to resist temptation. We can fast as we strive to humble ourselves before God and exercise faith in Jesus Christ. We may fast to receive guidance in sharing the gospel and magnifying Church callings. Fasting may accompany righteous sorrow or mourning.

To read more of what our church says about Fasting, please visit this LINK.

Most times we fast for personal reasons and personal growth. But there is strength in numbers and sometimes members will choose to fast for a common thing. This Sunday we have asked family and friends to join us in a fast for our adoption plan. It would be awesome if this fast resulted in our getting chosen, but we are also asking for family and friends to fast that we can receive the comfort we so desperately seek. We are fasting that we may align ourselves with God's plan.

If you like, please join your prayers with ours on Sunday.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Malachi 3:3

A friend sent me this email today. It is just what I needed to hear.

Malachi 3:3 says:
"He sill sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all impurities.
The women thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'
He smiled at her and answered,
'Oh, that's easy...when I see my image in it.'

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Honest Scrap

I know I've done a few things similar to this, but I love doing this kind of thing! I was tagged by my cousin Kim.

1. I shot our last truck and Josh took the blame. We were out shooting pot guts and I leaned over the bed to shoot one and hit the truck. I hit it twice before we realized. We could only find one bullet hole. I think only one person ever noticed and Josh told him that he did it.

2. I almost broke up with Josh. We had been dating for a few months and I wasn't sure if it was something I wanted to continue. The night I planned to break up with him he suddenly took me in his arms and it just felt so perfect. After that is when I really started to fall in love with him.

3. I have flunked two college classes. I laughed about the first one. I was a straight A student! It was my college math class. I love math, but I got busy that year and missed a few classes (some because I had learned the joys of sluffing, but mostly because I joined a school club and missed a few classes doing projects there). But the teacher was different in teaching style; that is my excuse. I retook the class that summer from a different teacher and she was so much better. She taught everything like I had learned in high school. I got an A that time. The second class was Economics. I work hard in that class! But I had to retake it anyways...

4. I dream on almost a daily basis of getting a baby. I day dream about the call and where we will be. I dream of the birth mother and what she is like. My nightmare is that the call will come while Josh is hunting in the mountains and I won't be able to find him.

5. I am already thinking about Halloween. I want to figure out how to mount my skeleton on the elk mount and make it look like he is riding it. I have started to think about my Halloween dinner menu. Josh suggested a cranberry crumble. I told him no because it isn't Halloween related. His defense... it's a fall dish. I don't care. It has to be a Halloween dish. I'm not sure what we will have for dinner, but I am tossing around ideas in my head. I can't wait!

6. When I am home, I wear Josh's t-shirts. I like how they fit me.

7. When I am upset, I like to turn the up radio loud and drive fast. I have a few Cd's that I prefer for my mad driving. My favorite one is the Twilight Soundtrack.

8.I don't ever plan to attend any high school reunions. I hated high school and was so glad to get away from there. I keep in contact with a few people, but I really don't care about the rest. That is the only part about Twilight that I don't like. I could ignore it in the book, but in the movie it makes me remember high school.

9. When I am on my 4-ten hour work schedule I let my house work slip during the week and then do everything on Friday.

10. I have the entire Section of Doctrine & Convents 6 highlighted. It took several times of reading it to do so, but each time I read there, it somehow touches my soul. My favorite verses are: 10-12, 14-16, and 22-23.

I tag EVERYONE. I am feeling lazy and don't want to list all the names. If you are on one of my blog lists, consider yourself tagged.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

I stole this from another blog

But since it was a quote by an Apostle of our church, I guess it's not really stealing (which is a good thing because our church frowns upon the kind of thing). But the quote was so good that I wanted to post it here. The blog I got it from is Inky Smiles; she does a thought every Thursday and I always look forward to them.

"Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. ... It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance."In the language of the gospel, this hope is sure, unwavering, and active. The prophets of old speak of a 'firm hope' (Alma 34:41) and a 'lively hope' (1 Peter 1:3). It is a hope glorifying God through good works. With hope comes joy and happiness. With hope, we can 'have patience, and bear . . . [our] afflictions' (Alma 34:41)."
~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Monday, March 9, 2009

All in Good Fun!

The Book of Mormon is a book of scriptures that we use in the church we belong to. That is why we are also referred to as the Mormon's even though the real name of our church is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints". If you would like to learn more about our church or have any questions feel free to email me at sourbonk [at] yahoo [dot] com.
I found this poem today and it was too cute not to share. Someone had left it by the printer at work. I found it online at about.com.
I hope those of you who know the stories in the Book of Mormon will get a chuckle out of this.

What if Dr. Seuss had written the Book of Mormon.
Nephi:
Of goodly parents I was born
I've never drunk, I've never sworn
This is Lehi, he's my dad
Laman, Lemuel, they are bad
And who is this? Why this is Sam.

Sam:
Yes, this is Sam; Sam I am

Laman:
That Sam I am, that Sam I am
I do not like that Sam I am

Sam:
In a tent, my father dwelt

Laman:
And it's so hot, I think I'll melt

Lemuel:
Our father's brain is out of whack

Laman:
Yeah, it's too hot, I'm going back

Lehi:
Then go and get the plates, my dear

Laman:
On second thought, I'm staying here

Nephi:
You said you'd leave and go away
Now all you want to do is stay?

Lemuel:
That Nephi always gets his way

Laman:
Here we are in this damp cave

Sam:
We would not be here if you'd behave

Nephi:
I will go and I will do
There's the angel, that's my cue
Laban's had too much to drink
Now he'll lose his head, I think

Nephi:
Look what I found, a brother from the quorum

Sam:
We will take him home, we will call him Zoram

Laman:
Our gold and silver we have spent
I do not like it in this tent

Lemuel:
I cannot read the Liahona
I must have drunk too much Corona

Laman:
We hate it here, we have no lives

Lehi:
Then go back to the city and get some wives

Lehi:
A tree, a tree, I see a tree!!
The fruit is white, the fruit is free!
A floating building, could it be?
Why do they laugh and stare at me?
Laman, Lemuel, come and see!

Laman:
We will not eat your precious fruit

Lemuel:
We will not wear a tie and suit

Laman:
We will not help you build your boat

Lemuel:
We do not think that it will float

Laman:
No not this boat, it will not float
Not even in a shallow moat
I do not care what Nephi wrote

Lemuel:
We will not eat your fruit I say

Laman:
We will not eat it on a tray

Lemuel:
And we won't eat it in a tent
Not even if your clothes you rent

Laman:
We'd rather have a can of spam

L&L:
We will not eat it, Sam I am

Sam:
You do not like it, so you say
Try it, try it, and you may
Try it and you may I say

Laman:
Sam, if you will let us be,
We will try it, you will see

L&L:
Say, we like this fruit of life
Sorry that we caused such strife
You've saved us from an awful jam
Thank you, thank you, Sam I am!

Friday, March 6, 2009

Touch of Faith

I have been looking for this picture for a few weeks now. A local store had a sale this weekend (40% off everything), so I went in and was determined to not leave without this picture. (I also bought some new books!)

Touch of Faith depicts a woman reaching through the crowd to touch the hem of Christ's garment. The story is told in Mark 5:25-34."And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse.
When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
And his disciples said unto him, Thous seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of they plague."

I used to think that I had that kind of faith. When we first started the fertility pills I just knew that if I could touch my Savior I would be healed and would be able to become a mother. I contemplated stocking church headquarters in hopes of catching a glimpse of our Prophet, knowing he too could give me the healing I thought my body needed.

I know now that wasn't meant to be. It doesn't make my faith any less, I've just had to refocus it elsewhere. I know that my Savior could heal us and make us parents, but He must be able to see something that I can't see and He knows when the time will be right for us to get a baby, for us to have a chance at being parents. While I was digging through my scriptures looking for this story I stumbled on a thought I wrote in there who knows how many years ago...

"Faith keeps us trying when otherwise we might give up."
At times I do want to give up. The waiting and uncertainty are so hard to deal with sometimes. Everyday I see people and I know I could be better parents than them. I would buckle my child up in the car, I would realize that if I am cold and need a coat than maybe they are cold too and I would not only put a coat on them but also their socks and shoes. I would make sure that they knew they were loved.
I get so restless thinking that maybe today our birth mother will find us. Maybe someday I will be a mother. Everyone in the adoption world talks about how it will happen when it's supposed to happen, but it's hard to wait on the unknown. I know someday my joy will be complete, but what am I supposed to do until then?

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Testimony Meeting

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On the first Sunday of each month our church has a testimony meeting during our Sacrament services. Basically that means that they open the podium up to anyone who wants to stand and talk about how the feel about the church. It is completely voluntary.

Today I wanted to get up and bear my testimony, but I was suffering from stage fright. I knew if I got up that I would end up crying. Now I am feeling guilty that I didn't follow my heart. Had I been brave enough to stand up this is what I would have said:

"The last two weeks I have prayed harder than I think I ever have and I have cried harder than I have in quite a while. I was so worried that my friend wouldn't get her baby, that the placement would fall through and that she and her husband would end up going home to an empty house. I begged my Father in Heaven to not let that happen, I pleaded and at one point I even tried to bargain. At times I wanted to give up hope, how could my prayers make a difference? I am just one person. But I couldn't let go of the hope I had inside. This had to work, it just had to.

I had forgotten just how powerful a prayer can be. At first my prayers were "how can this be happening, it's not right." Then it was "please, don't let this happen to them. Can't you see they need this baby." Finally after several days of praying my heart seemed to calm down and I knew that things would work out the way they were supposed to. I didn't know for sure that the placement would happen, I just knew that it would go according to the Lord's plan.

I know I wasn't alone in my prayers and we must have prayed hard enough because things worked out and my friend was able to take this sweet little baby home."