Vote for Mitt on Tuesday...

Do you know that sinking feeling that you get in the pit of your stomach? That is the feeling I get when I think of John McCain as president. I will admit to not knowing who we wanted to vote for in the very beginning. I wanted to know the facts. I started listening to viewpoints, weighing them with what I thought, and of course discussing it all with Garth. I am one of those that LOVED Ronald Reagan and have wanted another one of him. Every election I find myself looking for a Ronald Reagan. Not that he was perfect, but he was a great man. And finally, we have found someone with the integrity and values to hold a candle to Ronny. :-)

The conclusion: Mitt is our guy. I love that there isn't controversy as to if he has cheated on his wife, how much of a raise he will try and get (Did you know he donates all money earned to charities that he is paid for public service?), and of course the big one-he knows money and our government is in dire need of a big financial fix.

So, for those that haven't looked into Mitt just because he is a "Mormon," please do! Visit his website at www.mittromney.com and check out what he believes, what his experiences are. Decide if you want someone that can balance our budget, someone that has actually worked in the United States instead of just "representing" those of us that work, and someone that has class and will continue to support our troops instead of demoralize them with negative comments. Check out what he would bring to the White House. And then form your own opinion.

As for us, Mitt is our guy!
Vote Mitt Romney on February 5th!!

Oh, and for those that were for Fred Thompson...good news...guess who a bunch of his supporters have switched to...you guessed it:

A Farewell to a Beloved Prophet

My sweet sister Jenna called Sunday evening to give us the news that our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, had passed away . I love this man. I love him for his example in living a Christlike life by being an example of loving all, serving all, and doing everything with a smile. I know that he is rejoicing that he is able to reunite with his sweet wife. I just wanted to share his testimony as well as a couple of pictures and a quote on marriage (with a link to the entire article).

President Gordon B. Hinckley's testimony:

"I hope that all of you will remember that on this Sabbath day you heard me bear my witness that this is God's holy work. The vision given the Prophet Joseph in the grove of Palmyra was not an imaginary thing. It was real. It occurred in the broad light of day. Both the Father and the Son spoke to the boy. He saw Them standing in the air above him. He heard Their voices. He gave heed to Their instruction.

"It was the resurrected Lord who was introduced by His Father, the great God of the universe. For the first time in recorded history, both the Father and the Son appeared together to part the curtains and open this, the last and final dispensation, the dispensation of the fullness of times.

"The Book of Mormon is all that it purports to be—a work recorded by prophets who lived anciently and whose words have come forth "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations" (Book of Mormon title page).

"The priesthood has been restored under the hands of John the Baptist and Peter, James, and John. All the keys and authority pertaining to eternal life are exercised in this Church.

"Joseph Smith was and is a prophet, the great Prophet of this dispensation. This Church, which carries the name of the Redeemer, is true.

"I leave you my testimony, my witness, and my love for each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

President Gordon B. Hinckley
April 1, 2006, Sunday morning session of the 176^th Annual World General Conference

on marriage:
"...They are partners.
They are companions in this great venture that we call marriage and family life..."
(Ensign 10/03)

Baking...

This was taken with my cell phone camera since my camera has been MIA since before Christmas. I have a recipe for some very yummy chocolate cookies (I actually haven't tried hers-but Kerity says they are terrific) that a friend at church gave me. Last time I made them they didn't seem to turn out quite right (which was a bit frustrating), so I decided to try and tackle them again today while Starlee and Ryden insisted that we play in the family room. So, I am off to take a plate of these to Kerity to see how they compare. Then, if they are actually closer to what they are supposed to be, I just might post the recipe (the just might depends on if I have time). Anyway, wish me luck...

*As a side not, I did make Jenna's chocolate cookies with the peanut butter center last night and can't believe how much I like them each time I have them! Thanks Jenna for a GREAT recipe!! :-) We made 62 of them last night and are trying to figure out how many to give away, keep, eat, etc. ;-)

SPT Tuesday 1-7-08

So, I am going to try and do the Tuesday SPT every week by Lelly! It seems such a great way to reflect and think about things. This weeks item is what is my "new you resolution?" (in one word)

I have been thinking and thinking about this. Every year I write down things that I would like to better about myself, the things I do, etc.-but this year I would like to go even farther. Maybe actually accomplish at least 75% of the list-something drastic like that. I would like to be more organized, more spiritual, more tone, more thoughtful, more loving, and just more. I would like to put into action all the things (or most of the things) ;-) I think of instead of trying to just get as much done every day. I would like to be more proactive instead of reactive.

That being said, I love Lelly's idea of choosing a word for myself to symbolize what I would like to accomplish this year. So the word I have been thinking of is thought.

I would like to give more thought to everything. See things from the other perspective. Take a minute and smell the roses. For someone that likes to have a million things going on, serious thinking doesn't always happen before the action. So, for 2008 I am going to think about it. I am not going to be as impulsive (which has been getting better and better every year anyway), I am going to think about it. Am I going to take as long as Garth or Shelby at a card game? Probably not! ;-) But, I am going to think about who I can help today, whether we really need something or not, if my family is getting all of the healthy food it needs, if spiritually I am progressing or stagnant, and if I am remembering the humility necessary to progress at all. So, here's to taking the time to think about it!! :-)

PS The picture above is obviously not a self-potrait or even a good portrait! (sorry Lelly) I still can't find my camera and my short arm is too short to hold my camera far enough to get a decent picture and Trevon seemed to cut off part of my head (and I thought 5'2" was short enough that it didn't warrant the goal of shortening things) ;-). So, here I am Christmas morning thinking how lucky I am to have such a great family, to be surrounded by those I love, to have the knowledge that my Savior loves me, to have a terrific husband that treats me far better than I deserve or could ever imagine, and wondering why we didn't change the clocks to get them to sleep until 10:30 instead of 8:30. Oh well! :-)

New Years Reflections 2008

When

Garth and

I were married

we had an inter-

view by our Stake

President in the weeks

shortly before. He gave us

some of the greatest advice

that we reflect on every year at our

anniversary as well as New Years

(sometimes we include birthdays too-it is

the list maker in me). The advice was that

this marriage of ours is a partnership with the

Lord. That it is like a triangle-imagine the Lord at

the top point and then our names at the bottom points-

forming a partnership. As we head into the New Year and

think of the different things we wish we did better or reflect

on the few things that we feel went well, we realize every year

that it is when we are fulfilling this partnership that things do or

will go right. So, we are looking forward to 2008 and hopefully becoming even better at this partnership between us and the Lord in this thing we call our life! Happy New Year to all of you!

(and if you want to go even farther-add some boxes under the triangle for kids and callings, etc. to show where everything is supposed to be prioritized)