Sunday, February 28, 2010

Lessons from Sunday School/R.S.

I don't know where to begin!  So much is going thru my mind right now.  Today was so good as far as the messages that were delivered.  I know that they were inspired from our loving Heavenly Father.

First, Bishop spoke about how Satan can grasp our hearts and how subtle he works.  He talked about the usage of facebook and how Satan uses that as a tool to lead us to do other things.  He spoke about how we shouldn't let that or anyother means of social networks come between what matters most to us, our family.  I know that our Stake President said once in a Priesthood meeting that he very much dislikes FB for he has seen more marriages broken up because of it being used improperly.  It does have its good points, like anything else we need to use it in moderation and for wise purposes.  He said all Satan wants to do is to get us to merely look in a direction that we shouldn't be looking and then it just goes downhill from there.  That is all he tried to get the Savior to do, just to simply look at the temptation and then he would have control.  I pray that I can do better at the little things so that I am not tempted at the big things.

In S.S., the lesson was on how we can be useful and become better because of our trials and that the thing we need to learn is what I am supposed to learn about myself thru the challenges.

In R.S., was about how to show love at home, to our spouses, children and parents.   It goes beyond teaching by example.  There were so many good ideas that were brought up.  One of the things that was said was that if Moms are too busy, we are raising lazy children... meaning if I am too busy cleaning all day, my kids don't learn to do anything.  That one hit home!! I have a lot to work on there!!  What are our family values?  Am I consistent in my parenting?  What am I teaching my children?  Children need to feel appreciated, as do spouses.  Am I good about showing my appreciation for what they do do right?  OR am I constantly nagging them on what they don't do and don't do right?  Definition of nagging: asking more than once.  Oh boy, am I ever guilty of that one!! I need to invest in alot of duct tape or have the tip of my tongue broken in from bitting it!  Do we have sincere prayers and seeking to learn from the Scriptures each day?  Ummm...not like I know we should.  What is it that I need to work on? 

A typical day at our home goes something like this: Wake Jerry up at 6:30, oh, now 6:40...ok still too early so now it is 6:50 am.  I hurry and go back to bed, he comes in at 7:07 for prayer and then leaves for school.  Try to go back to sleep before getting Raelene up.  In comes Brayden, turn on the t.v. get Raelene up in time for her to feed dogs, watch tv then read a couple of versus of Scriptures.. then prayer.  She leaves, then have breakfast and back to the tv.. who doesn't want to watch Curious George?!  I let him watch it all morning while I clean.   Ok.. we get the picture.  Have a lot to work on here!  I need to spend more time teaching Truth and Light, investing in my children's future.  Create more memories with them, lower voices in the home... Nope, not perfect by any means.  But, I do know what I need to work on.  I want to be better. 

I love going to Church.  I needed to hear everything that was spoken in Church today.  I need to be more like Abraham and get up early and do what the Lord asks me to do when he asks me to do it.  Not wait for the right time in my perspective.  I love my family, but I need to show it better.

We are going to have a family meeting tonight about what we can do as a family to improve things around here and how to have more love for each other.  How to be more of a Team.  I want my heart so lost in my Savior that my husband needs to seek Him out in order to find my heart. 

Friday, February 26, 2010

Team Picture

I am quite the photographer...yeah..you would want to hire me..I am really good at remembering the camera too..hehe. Of Jerry's 10 basketball games, I remembered the camera only twice and then the only picture that turned out was the Team Picture.  I have realized that I need a better camera, especially if Jerry is going to be in sports...one that takes a picture right as the moment happens..not 2 seconds later and then  you missed the shot you wanted.

Jerry played his first Sport ever and loved every minute of it.  He is following in his Dad's footsteps.  Ross has such natural talent with Basket ball, Jerry is quickly developing this as well.  We didn't miss a game and are so grateful for all who supported him.  They won 8 and loss 2..so I would say they did a pretty good job.

I have a feeling that he is going to accel at whatever he puts his mind to.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Learning is a constant blessing...

I love to learn new things.. especially when I can create something fun out of what I just learned.  I am thankful that I am able to learn something new each day.  I just learned how to do some digital scrapbooking from some sites that I was able to get free stuff from.. have had so much fun playing around with it.  This is my kind of scrapbooking.  No mess to clean up and don't need to try to find space for it.. very limited on that one! So I created the header and the background from the digital scrapbooking supplies.. and a friend told me how to change the font..
It is so much fun and an outlet for me.  I can't wait to create more things... not a pro by any means.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

I love you more...

I can't believe we have been married almost 14 years!! I love my husband more now than I did when I first met him.  He just gets better every year with being so sweet and so handsome!! It is hard to imagine him being any better than he already is. 

Last night we went to his Sister's house for dinner and there was another couple there.  It was a wonderful dinner... their three oldest served us our wonderful 3 course meal. Then we went to the Stake Sweetheart's Ball up at the Stake Center.  It was fun, although the music was not what we expected, but we had fun dancing...and realized today that I am not as young as I used to be.

Tonight we are going on a double date with his brother and sister in law and I can't wait! I am just happy to be with him no matter what we do!

Happy Valentine's Day to all we love!!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Remembering Grandma

Celebrating the life of a loved one is always a joyous/bitter sweet occasion.  That is how it should be at funerals.  For we have such a blessing as Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, that families are forever and that the death of our mortal bodies is not a permanent thing. 

For me personally, I have never been comfortable at funerals, especially the viewing.  It was very hard for me as alittle girl when my Grandma passed away when I was only 9.  In fact, I didn't cry at her funeral, not until several days later when it finally sunk in that my favorite person was gone.  I also wasn't a member then.  At my Grandpa's funeral, I still could barely bring myself to look at him at the viewing.  It is extremely uncomfortable for me to do so.  I think in some ways I just want to remember them in a different way.

Grandma Ethel's service was a beautiful one.  So many of the family and friends were there to celebrate her life and remember the wonderful things that we love about her.  Each family was represented by a grandchild to talk about some of their favorite memories of her.  It was so wonderful to hear things that we all knew very well of her and to learn somethings we didn't know.  Sondra represented the Jerry Stevens family.  It was so beautiful the way she expressed the memories of the family.  She only had 8 minutes to share which could have taken 3 hours and would have loved to hear all of the memories.

But the things that were in common amongst all the family were: How much Grandma and Grandpa love one another and were always together, how much they love family and how much the Gospel means to them.  I only hope to be able to emmulate alot of Grandma's characteristics and her loyalty and dedication.  We will always remember her and will honor her with our actions and words.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

A case of the Giggle Bugs...

I don't think that any other film depicts laughter as being the best medicine and contagious as the scene from Mary Poppins!! After watching this short clip, how could you not laugh?

I was reading in a book last month that Laughter is the best Medicine.  I was also reading this during a time of debilitating pain.. so I figured, why not?  Gave it a shot and it worked!! The pain was gone while laughing and the effects from it lasted quite awhile.  And why don't I do this more often??

Laughter, good ole fashion, belly aching laughter is actually the equivalent of running a mile!! Wow, so now when someone asks me if I run, I can say that I try everyday!!

IT is also very, very contagious!  It is called the Giggle Bug.  It symptoms usually start like this:
1. You find something strange to be very funny, then you start to feel a funny sensation all over.
2. Your cheeks start to break out in a smile
3. Before you know it, you are laughing so hard you about wet your pants!!
4. You can't stop, no matter how hard you try, you just cant and then comes the worse thing of all..
5. Everything from that point on causes you to laugh... can be totally off the wall stuff and then what happens next?..
6. The people next to you have caught the Giggle Bug and begin to be symptomatic..
7. Now all of you are laughing at the silliest things and before you know it,
you will be floating in the air like Uncle Albert from Mary Poppins!!

Be careful now.. because the Giggle Bug will bite you when you least expect it and you will soon break out into some silly laughter that is very, very contagious!!  Besides, those who laugh often live longer!! I hope that I will be infected with it and spread it around to all I know!  Now that is a Bug we all should have!!