Christmas Cookies

This past week as I was talking to my co-worker about Christmas traditions it got me thinking about when I was little all the things my family would do around Christmas. One of my favorite Christmas memories is making Christmas Cookies with my Dad. (Does that surprise anyone? baking rocks) Honestly I think that was the first time I ever baked. It was my favorite day of the month. We would make jelly filled cookies and wedding cookies. I am so grateful for my Dad for teaching me to bake.

Another one of my favorite Christmas traditions is one that we didn't start as a family until I was a little older. Every year on the day after Thanksgiving we go up the canyon and cut down our own Christmas tree. It is a lot of fun to go hiking and enjoy each other’s company. Also having a really fresh tree smells amazing!

12 Days of Christmas

This past week was great! Thanksgiving is my second favorite holiday. All the wonderful food and the whole family together. I was able to start this weekend at the Temple with my Mom. I love it there and I always leave the Temple rejuvenated and full of the spirit. What a great way to start the holiday weekend. On Wednesday we made 13 pies. Talk about a great day! We finished up the week by going up the canyon and cutting down the Christmas tree.

Rizt (Todds dog)

 I am really excited for the Christmas season to start. On my Mission my First December there my companion, Sister Ward and I came up with a 12 days of Christmas. It was really fun and I hope to do it this year. Here it is for any of you that would like to join me. If you start this on Dec. 13 you will do the last activity on Christmas Eve.

 

1.      Luke 1:17 Just like John the Baptist led the way for Jesus Christ, we can all lead those around us to Christ. Make a list of 4 people you know and invite them to either a ward Christmas party or your ward Christmas cantata (Christmas Sacrament meeting

2.      Luke 2:25-34 Like Simmeon we all had the opportunity to see Christ in our life and witness of Him. Write down your testimony of the Savior and The Book of Mormon.

3.      3 Nephi 1:15-20 Nephites looked for the sign of Christ’s birth. Find a sign of Him in your life and put it on your Christmas tree.

4.      Luke 2:7 Is our “inn” too busy for the Savior? Ponder how you could make your life more Christ-centered and set goals to achieve this.

5.      Matt. 2:3&16 Like Herod do we try to push Christ away? Think of one thing  you could change in your life to allow the Spirit to dwell with you more.

6.      Luke 2:15-17&20 The shepherds shared what they knew with everyone. Share what you have – put your testimony from day 2 in a Book of Mormon and give it to someone. (if you can’t find someone find your local missionaries and they will find it a good home.)

7.      Matt. 2:7&11 The wise men gave wonderful gifts to the Christ child. Take a Christmas treat to someone.

8.      Matt. 2:2&10 The star was a sign to all throughout the whole Earth. Preach My Gospel is our guide to bring all to the gospel. Teach a Family Home Evening from Preach My Gospel.

9.      Luke 2:9-24 The Angel proclaimed to all the heavenly message! Go to http://www.mormonchannel.org/mormonmessages and find a Mormon message video that you could share with a friend

10.  Matt. 1:19-24 Joseph was a wonderful example of loving unconditionally. Think of someone that you may be holding a grudge against and forgive them.

11.  Luke 1:27-30 Mary found great favor with God because of her Christ like nature. Review your goals from day 3 and think of someone you know that exemplifies Christ

12.  Luke 2:11 Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. We are all trying to become more like him. Write a note to the person you thought of yesterday telling him/her about how you appreciate their example. Deliver it to them anonymously with a picture of Christ.

Merry Christmas!

Visiting Teaching

This past week has been super crazy. Between work and being sick I haven’t done anything. I did however get the chance to go Visiting Teaching. I love Visiting Teaching. I didn't always love it but the since I have been home from my mission going visiting teaching has been like a little bit of my mission at home. My companion was in charge of the lesson this month. The lesson was on having faith in your trials and remembering you are never alone. Christ is always with you. To be honest I don't remember much about the lesson the medicine I took made me tired. In hind sight I should have stayed home but that bridge has passed, but while she was giving the lesson a scripture kept coming to mind. It is my favorite scripture one that I turned to many, many times on my mission. The scripture is Alma 7:11-13

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him  death, that he may  loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to  succor his people according to their infirmities.

13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

I used to think the Atonement was just for repentance; however it is for much more than that. The Lord takes upon him all of our pain and afflictions. Christ loves us so much He was willing to go through the Atonement. In verse 13 it says the Spirit knows all things. Christ could have known how we feel through the Spirit but he chose to suffer "according to the flesh" so He could know perfectly, so he could help me perfectly through ever trial, pain, and sin. I am so grateful for my Savior and everything He has done for me.

Cleaning

I have spent the day cleaning my room. So far I have spent 4 hours, two bags of trash, one bag for DI, and a pile to take to my family. I am still not done! I am beginning to think I should have listened to my Mom and KEEP MY ROOM CLEAN! :) It is amazing to me as I get older how many times I say that.....my Mom was right. In my defense I am not just cleaning I am going through boxes and putting away summer clothes.

I was going through my mission box organizing it. I remember thinking a few times on my mission how I wish I had more mail (because I didn’t' have something in the mailbox every day I only got mail once or twice a week plus an email every week. I really was taken care of by my family they never forgot me.) Well as I went through this box reading some of the mail, and just seeing how much mail I had, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and love.

I was also going through my cedar chest and read some letters and notes from when I was younger. I came across a letter I had written to “my older self” so that would be me now. I wrote the letter when my brother Benjamin was just born and he is now 9. Some of the things I wrote myself made me laugh. What a great way to spend a Saturday. I think I may be doing the same thing on Monday.

 

 

 

Snow

I am not a huge fan of snow but as I sit here sipping pumpkin spice hot chocolate, (very good by the way!) wrapped in a blanket, I can smell my dinner cooking in the oven, and it reminds me of home. I am ok with snow when it brings great memories! I remember one time the power went out. We lit candles and Mom made us the biggest hamburger ever (she made one family size hamburger that we cut up) After dinner we all "camped" in the living room around the wood burning stove while Mom read to us. I liked the snow that night.

I remember one time my brother, Todd convinced me to go snowboarding with him. I am not a snowboarder! I tried a few times until the last time I fell, hit my head, and got whip lash. Another time our whole family went sledding. My Aunt Melissa thought it would be a good idea to use pizza pans and tarps because we didn't have enough sleds. Well the tarps didn't work at all but the pizza pan work fantastic for a few hours. It worked right up to the moment Noelle and Todd crashed into each other and cut Todd’s face really bad. Not so fun. So do you see why I don't like snow? Not only is it cold, and scary to drive in, but it is dangerous!

This is a picture of Sister Ward and me the day after Christmas 2010. It snowed so much we couldn't leave our apartment for almost a week. I was grateful for the snow that week because that was the week I had a biopsy in my leg. I couldn't walk that much so the snow made it the weathers fault and not mine that we didn’t work.

Pies

I love the fall weather! It has me in a pie baking mood. In the past 3 weeks I have made one banana cream, one pumpkin, and 3 apple pies (don’t worry I shared J) I also had a the opportunity to teach two of my friends how to make pie crust. That was a lot of fun as well even though I didn’t get to pinch the edges. That is my favorite part.

 

I am so excited to open my own bakery one day! Thanksgiving time making hundreds and hundreds of pies and rolls. Don’t be afraid to dream big!

 

 

 

11/5/12

This weekend I got to hang out with my little brother Benjamin. We went to the USU football game against Texas State. We won by a lot. It was so much fun. I love spending time with my brothers.



Taylor, Benjamin, Me.

I took Ben home that night and ended up spending the rest of the weekend with my family. I got to go to church with all of them (all but Natalie, Noelle, and Amanda they were sick all weekend :( ) I am so glad I was raised in a family where God was a part of our everyday lives! Being homeschooled has a lot of advantages but one of the best was having God in our school day. Everyday growing up we started the day with the Pledge, Scripture study and prayer. I know having that every day is a huge part of how I got my testimony and how it is so strong. Thank you Dad and Mom for bringing us up so well!

 

Satans Lie

               I want to share one of my favorite scriptures from The Book of Mormon.  It is found in Alma 47:10-19

              A little back story on these verses: Lehonti fled with a small army from the Lamanite king. They are camped on a hill. Amalickiah chases them with another small army and camps at the bottom of the hill.

             "And it came to pass that when it was night [Amalickiah] sent a secret embassy into the mount Antipas, desiring that the leader of those who were upon the mount, whose name was Lehonti, that he should come down to the foot of the mount, for he desired to speak with him. And it came to pass that when Lehonti received the message he durst not go down to the foot of the mount. And it came to pass that Amalickiah sent again the second time, desiring him to come down. And it came to pass that Lehonti would not; and he sent again the third time. And it came to pass that when Amalickiah found that he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount, he went up into the mount, nearly to Lehonti’s camp; and he sent again the fourth time his message unto Lehonti, desiring that he would come down, and that he would bring his guards with him. And it came to pass that when Lehonti had come down with his guards to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the night-time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti’s hands, if he would make him (Amalickiah) a second leader over the whole army. And it came to pass that Lehonti came down with his men and surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke at the dawn of day they were surrounded by the armies of Lehonti. And it came to pass that when they saw that they were surrounded, they pled with Amalickiah that he would suffer them to fall in with their brethren, that they might not be destroyed. Now this was the very thing which Amalickiah desired. And it came to pass that he delivered his men, contrary to the commands of the king. Now this was the thing that Amalickiah desired, that he might accomplish his designs in dethroning the king. Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader. And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died. Now, when Lehonti was dead, the Lamanites appointed Amalickiah to be their leader and their chief commander."

                   The reason I love this story so much is because it is a parable of our lives and Satan. At least when I read it that is what I see. We are like Lehonti we are high on a hill, protected. When we are doing what we should and follow Gods commandments we are promised protection from the adversary.  Satan is like Amalickiah. He is at the bottom of the hill sad and lonely and mad. He wants nothing more than to get us down there with him. He cannot get us to come all at once. But when he meets us half way we find ourselves rationalizing. It’s just one lie that won’t hurt anything. I can miss church this week. I am only hanging out at the bar I don’t drink. It’s only a candy bar I can just stick it in my purse no one will know. So many lies Satan tells us, he makes it sound like a great plan to go down with him. Then when we least expect it he “administers poison my degrees” until it is too late and we are trapped in a place we never thought we would be. I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but if I can remember this when I start to rationalize I hope I will be smart enough to tell Satan no and stay at the top of my hill.



Stay on top of the hill!



The Beginning

I never wanted to have a blog, however as I was sitting on my couch after work this morning thinking about my life I felt inspired to start one.  I know it was inspiration because the idea came out of the blue. I am not sure what I will put in it except like the tittle of my blog I will make a lot of fuss about nothing…just whatever is on my mind. I am excited!

I have been home form my mission (In Virginia) for almost a year now. Many people have asked me what my plans are and make suggestions on how to “improve” my life. This just pushes my buttons. I know at first glance I haven’t done a lot with my life in the past year, however if you sit and take a good look (the way I see my life) a lot has happened. I love my life and I wouldn’t change one thing about my life right now.

I have a wonderful family! I go home as often as I can. Almost every weekend. I am so grateful I live close enough to do that. I am also grateful for all the memories I have made with my family this past year.

Dad, Mom, Brecklyn, me, Noelle. Below Bethany. Some of my family

 

I live with my brother, Taylor, I love that. We didn’t always get along when we both lived at home. Living with him now has been such a blessing. We are closer than ever before and that is wonderful.

Taylor

 

 

 My only niece, Bridgette was born while I was on my mission and this past year I have gotten to know her. She is almost two years old now and such a cutie pie. I have been able to get to know my sister-in-law, Marissa better. She married my brother, Todd just a few months before I left on my mission and I never got the chance to hang out with her. This summer while Todd was at basic training Marissa and I took an institute class together. Although we couldn’t make it every week it was fun.

Bridgette

I have a great job that is a blessing. It may not be my dream job but it is a job. I was worried before I came home from my mission that I wouldn’t be able to find a job. It only took two and a half months to find this job. It is graveyards but I have full benefits.

I have learned a lot about myself this past year. As my family has gone through some very hard trials I have been able to lean on the Lord. I know I have a long ways to go and I will continue to grow my whole life, but I have come a long ways this year.

 

Me

            I know I have had many more wonderful things happen this past year but this was it in a nutshell. Like I said I am way excited to start this blog and share my thoughts.