31 Gift Tags later...

Our Women's Conference Christmas Gift to the WC committees.  

Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, 

pressed down, and shaken together, and running over... 

For with the same ^bmeasure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Many office hands made for light work. 

Thanks to our friend Emilee for providing the bling!

Growing up too fast.

This was taken the night of the Christmas Ball (12/7). He went on a triple date and had a wonderful time. I, of course, gave him a list of "to-do's" before he left.

--always open her door

--let her go first

--talk to her and not just the guys

--get her home on time

--drive carefully 
--treat her with care

Check, check, check, check-check and check. What a great young man he is. :)

Halloween 2012

 The princess pirate of the Utah seas.

Conversations with a pirate during homework

Pirate: Hello

Me: Hi there. How was your day?

Pirate: It was such a lovely day. Not a stitch of rain.

Me: um, ok

Pirate: Don't you think that is true?

Mom: Why yes I do.

Pirate: me too. 

Monday homework

snack after church.

The twins are here :)

October 16, 2012

Congratulations to my brother and his amazing wife. 

What Kind of Friend Are You?

The finest of friends must 
sometimes be stern sentinels, who 
will insist that we become what 
we have the power to become.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Insights to My Life, p. 199

Missionary Announcement on Saturday Morning at General Conference

Saturday morning at General Conference, President Monson announced that young men can now leave on missions at 18 and young women at 19.  I felt the same way as these kids (a mixture of astonished delight and absolute fear).  I don't know how I feel about sending Brax out early. I need more faith. :)  I'm sure he will hit the road running, Book of Mormon and Bible in hand, sending lost souls to Christ.  At the moment, I feel that he is the age of the third photo. Pray for faith and save, save, save!

Why I LOVE homework and How Much I Don't Know about the Amendments.

Most of this week has been catching up on homework. There has been mutiny in the home. School work has not been done at school and so there have been consequences. Very sad, lamenting and gnashing of teeth consequences...for instance, three to four hours of 'make-up' work every night this week. Ugh... I've got to say, that sometimes punishments are harder on moms.

Since I have all but ignored the other child due to the others lack of interest in doing school work. I decided to help him (AFTER he asked) with learning the 27 amendments.

Before I am critiqued on my spelling and grammar, may I just say, in my own defense, it was really late, I was really tired, and I had just done Sudoku with a very UNHAPPY child.

So here it is. My take on learning the 27 amendments.

From: J
To: b 
Subject: amendments study sheet
Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2012 Time: VERY late
 
The first 10 are known as the Bill of Rights

1. free speech! No ONE can tell me how to worship

2. I have TWO guns because I have the right to bear arms

3. There are THREE people already living in my house so NO soldiers can be quartered here
 
 4. There are FOUR doors in my house and you can't enter any of them without a warrant.
 
5. I can have FIVE attorneys if I want them because I get the right to a fair trial and if you mess up, you can't send me to trial again.
 
6. I'd like the SIX minute trial please because I have the right to a speedy and fair trial
 
7. I can't lose my SEVEN dollars so I have the right to a jury in a civil case if I could lose money.

8. The government can't make me pay EIGHT billion dollars for bail. Fines must be fair and there can be no cruel or unusual punishments inflicted.

9. Sorry, but the government can't claim that I only have the "NINE" rights listed in the Bill of Rights, ok, it's not just the "nine", but the government still can't claim that no matter the number.

10. I can tell you in TEN seconds why it is better for the States to have more power than the federal government. Too bad Obama doesn't think that. 

11. ELEVEN people from California wanted to sue the State of UTAH in a federal court. Guess what? They can't. Has to be a State court.

12. On November 6 each electoral officer has two separate votes. One for the President and one for the Vice President. They cannot be on the same ballot. By the way, 2 ballots x the 6th of November = TWELVE :)

13. THIRTEEN million slaves are freed by this amendment, because it abolishes slavery. Go Lincoln!!!

14. The FOURTEENTH amendments gives me rights as an American Citizen. I have FOURTEEN ways to purse life, liberty and property.. ok there are probably more, but FOURTEEN is good for now.

15. The FIFTEEN people behind me have a right to vote, even if they aren't white. 

16. Congress has the right to tax me for SIXTEEN percent of my income... ha ha ha ha. more like Thirty percent, but SIXTEEN percent of taxes made me feel better.

17. I don't care if your man has SEVENTEEN ways to be a great senator. The state legislature can't elect him. Only the people of the state get to elect him. and he can't be SEVENTEEN.

18. You may be EIGHTEEN years old, but the sale, production and transportation of liquor is still illegal.

19. Women have the right to Vote! NINETEEN women will be ahead of you in line when you go to vote because they got up earlier, at NINETEEN hundred hours (1900) which is equivalent to 7:00 p.m.,, which doesn't really work here, but whatever, now you have WOMAN+VOTE+NINETEEN in your head FOREVER. :)
 
20. There will be at least TWENTY lame ducks in office dude - which is why you are being ousted on January 20th. Goodbye OBAMA! (We hope) - otherwise we will be TWENTY days and FOUR more years of ...
 
21. Guess what? TWENTY ONE year olds get to drink again because this amendment repelled the 18th. Now we have TWENTY ONE million alcoholics. Way to go government. Good move.
 
22. This amendment limits the president to TWO-TWO terms. Oops, I stuttered. Sorry, just TWO-two terms. That is 8 years in case you are thinking about OBAMA again, so if you used math: half of eight is four and it takes 2+2 to get to four, which is all Obama has left if he is reelected...THAT amendment is TWENTY TWO in case that was confusing...
 
23. You know those TWENTY THREE million people that live in the TWENTY THREE counties in the District of Columbia? They get to vote. Whoever said they couldn't in the first place is TWENTY THREE kinds of stupid. :)
 
24. This amendment prohibits the Poll Tax in federal elections. If you only made TWENTY FOUR dollars a week, you couldn't pay for a Poll Tax so you couldn't vote. The smart people in this country cried foul and said even those who only have TWENTY FOUR cents should still be able to vote, so you can't charge them! Not even TWENTY FOUR cents.
 
25. In 1973 Nixon and his VP Spiro Agnew made a mess of the office of the Pres and VP. Did you even know about the guy named Spiro? Me neither. Anyway because of the 25th amendment, the VP takes over when the president is unable... this is a stretch, but the 2+5 of the TWENTY FIFTH amendment = 7 of 1973 when perhaps the two worst people in America were the VP and President of the country (except for 2012, but that's another blog post). By they way, 5-2=3, of 1973... okay, this is just bad.. By the way, Spiro resigned a year BEFORE Nixon resigned (charged with accepting bribes), then the President resigned... so who was left you ask? Well, Nixon named Ford as the VP and when Nixon left Ford became president. And that my friend is why we love the TWENTY FIFTH amendment.
 
26. The voting age is now 18. (2+6=8) - get it? :) - add in a one and you get 18 which is the new voting age... okay... it's late!!!! cut me some slack.
 
27. I am your senator (representative, etc.) I want a $27,000 raise while I'm in office. Too bad! you can't have a raise while in office. NOT EVEN TWENTY SEVEN cents! Raises can be put into effect after your term is OVER!


Thus you have your 27 amendments. :)


I am VERY sleepy. It is 11:57 p.m. By the way, do you remember the 5th amendment???... I can have five attorneys if I want them, because.... the 7th amendment??? - You can't take my $7 dollars without a jury...the 11th amendment?... I'll give you a hint... 11 people from CA tried to sue Utah in a federal...
Love,
Mom




p.s. YES a lot of the numbers are made up. Get over it! Except the amendment numbers. Those are right :)

Left the IPAD home again the other day...

Do you ever wonder how she comes up with these ideas?

The younger brother: Hank Smith

This is my younger brother Hank. He's quite a popular guy with the LDS youth. He travels quite a bit and speaks all over Utah, AZ, CA, Alaska... My children think he is "awesome Uncle Hank" and they quote him on a regular basis. The women that I associate with through Women's Conference think he is "amazing, so funny, such a great speaker" and "he's your brother?" WOW! 

hmmmm

He's okay I guess. I like him. I like his wife more though :)

She's expecting twins in a few weeks. Four boys under the age of 6. Fun times for my brother!

I tried to get him to smile. He was having a hard time with the newspaper's Saturday crossword puzzle, so I helped him out with my good friend 'google'. He said, "Jenn, that's cheating". Whatever Hank. I got you the answers...

Here is more about Hank's CD's

You can hear a clip here on his new CD: 5 Temptation Killers here:

p.s. He really is a fantastic uncle. He and Brax make a great team.

The "Relief Society General Meeting" Weekend

I spent Saturday evening at the church's Conference Center for the Relief Society General Meeting. Sister Linda Burton, Sister Carole Stephens, Sister Linda Reeves and President Eyring spoke. Each gave such inspiring messages. 

 (from left to right) Sister Stephens, Sister Burton, Sister Reeves

I decided not to take notes that night, instead, I just focused on the feeling in the room and listening. Each one of these sisters are amazing. I got the chance to know them last year when they came to Women's Conference. Sister Burton is one of the nicest women I have ever had the opportunity to meet. Last spring, during a particularly trying moment (over the phone) at WC, I was in the reception room, leaning against a wall, with my back to the room. I had just hung up the phone when this arm went around me and this voice said, "You seem burdened, how can I help. Put me to work, I'll do anything you need". Yes, it was Sister Burton, the newly called Relief Society President who was now (only 3 weeks into her calling) - was asking how she could help me. 

She and her counselors are kind, humble, inspired, smart, spiritual and funny. They are inspired and entrusted to guide the women of today. Their lives have been full of triumphs, heartache, sweet moments and tragedies. I highly suggest listening to their messages. You will grow. I did.

You can listen by clicking here.

Count Your Many Blessings or Just Look Outside

This is our daily view as we drive to work/school/activities/church right now. Every morning it looks a little different depending on the light. I love the fall.

The Flu Shot

I took the kids to get their annual flu shot today. It would have taken about 30 seconds to vaccinate us all except Em decided she didn't want a flu shot and put her arms in her shirt and doubled over into a ball. I put her on my lap, moved her arm out, told the nurse to go ahead.  She was NOT happy (Em, not the nurse). After it was over she looked at me with this sheepish look like "...mom that didn't hurt". I took her out of that room and told her if she ever wanted to be free from being grounded for an eternity, she'd better go and apologize to that nurse. Right Now. She did and was spared from punishment.

Brax watched the whole thing unfold with unsuppressed humor.

Girl drama.

Braxton

Braxton: Age 17

kind

loving

helpful

prayerful

seminary goer

chooser of right

loyal cousin

hard worker

fireside side kick

master of toast, cereal and breakfast skillets

mower of lawns

weeder of flower beds

music lover

reader of books

film lover

film-maker

photoshop master

accomplished computer user

texter of immense speed

conversationalist

funny story teller

grower of height
handsome in looks
theatre tech junkie
director of shots
writer of stories

destroyer of shoes

   ...and jeans

sword swinging extraordinaire

air soft player

driver of good skill

 brother of wisdom

Fall in Utah.

Time to go take new photos! I took this one last year up at Aspen Grove, almost at the end of the season. It is such a beautiful place. I love this time of year.

1st day of school 2012!

The Lord's Living Prophet

After spending the last few months listening to the political/religious raging, reading articles, watching the clips, and hearing the awful things that ignorant, uninformed people have to say towards my faith, how grateful I am for the prophet and his words from General Conference, April 2012.

"This great cause in which we are engaged will continue to go forth, changing and blessing lives as it does so. No cause, no force in the entire world can stop the work of God. 

Despite what comes, this great cause will go forward. You recall the prophetic words of the Prophet Joseph Smith: “No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."  Complete talk available here

I cannot comprehend what it must feel like to not believe in a living prophet. As I sometimes find myself wading through the fog of the world's commotion, turmoil, and disbelief, I am so grateful for the chance to be lifted out of the mire, to be able to listen to the prophet, called of God, and find clarity again and again.  He is the example of a happy life, a grateful life, a joyous life, a life lived like the Savior.

We Need Living Prophets (video)

Not long ago, I spent time reading the comments posted after a political/religious news article regarding our beliefs.  Remarks by those who are a (self-proclaimed) Godless people, spreading the idea that there is no God, no Savior, no Atonement.  The thought then came -- that their rhetoric sounded so familiar. I felt the spirit prompting with the name of Korihor which sent me to Alma 30.  As I read, I realized that their ranting is nothing new, tragic as it may be.  Several days after I had the opportunity to speak with one of the members of the quorum of the twelve apostles. Although it was an informal family luncheon, his goodness and spirit still rang through as a testimony of the life he lives and the work he does. It made me sad for those who had written the comments I had read and heartsick for those I love who do not believe.

The Road to Damascus (video)

I wrote this post for my children so that they know that I testify that there is a prophet of God on the earth today. He is here for them to follow. He will lift them and lead them to the Savior, who truly lives and is anxious for them to know Him and love Him. The choice is up to us.

General Conference

October 6-7, 2012 

“Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; 

and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: 

for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”

Isaiah 2:3

Contrary to popular belief...

Be like my friend Fish

Fish recently posted about her time at the new City Creek SLC Cheesecake Factory. Since Fish is all things cool I went too and had this:

Yummmmmm.

I had this too:

It was good, but Chelle had this:

It was one of the best things I have ever tasted.

Heaven bless Godiva.

Emma "ism" for July

Doorbell rings.

Me: (on the stairs in the kitchen) 

Em, I'm going for a quick walk. I'll be back in a few minutes.

Em: (downstairs)

who's there? Is it your 'love interest'?

Me: What did you say?

Em: (still downstairs)

Is it YOUR 'luv interest'? 

Me:

Nope. You should come up and see who it is and say hello.

Em:

I can't. I'm on the toilet.

Me:

Nice. Emma. The Primary President is here.

Em:

Who?

Me:

The Primary President. Sister ____. You should be embarrassed.

Em:

I'm not.

Me:

Of course you're not.

Wait. What did I just buy for you?

Fav Photo for July.

FHE

In Emma's world FHE is a code for "take me to Sonic"

Two very strange but adorable 9 year olds...

My copper head beauty. Playing in the mud. May 2012.

16 going on grown up...

Today, this little guy started an internship with the film crew at BYU.  Inside, I still think he is 8. (Insert motherly sobs here)

What an amazing kid he is.

Em doesn't appreciate - Mah Na Mah Na - like she should...

Birthday Girl. Age 9.

The Em party. :)

The wall of pictures

and

Elijah likes cake. a lot.

p.s. the Valentine Tree is coming down. Hurrah!

mom and her powers

I was driving to work with Michelle today. She came and got me because my car is sick. Very sick. Like me. It's quite sad. Anyway, as we were driving I remembered something Brax had said to me a while ago that made me laugh out loud right there in the car.  I don't even remember what our conversation was about, but I remembered these few words.  Isn't it funny how memories can do that? 

"Mom. Are you disappointed or angry? Because, really, I'd rather go with angry."

Brax - at age 9 or 10

The Valentine Tree

Our Valentine Tree is back in honor of Em's Valentine Birthday and also because I enjoy the weird looks from my friends that seem to say...

"Hey. It's post New Years, almost February. Why do you crazy people still have your Christmas tree up?"

Fun times at home.

Hey! You're cheating!

She really does have the gift of persuasion. She convinced her brother, his friend and his cousins to play "Hedbanz" with her over Christmas break. Not just once, but multiple times. Just so you know, the one with the hippo kept winning and the dice kept standing on the chair so she could see her reflection in the microwave.  The elephant and the paintbrush duo kept giving each other hints. Our horse was the only clean player. 

Fun times at home as always.