Ground Control to Major Tom

Yep, we're still here. Just nothing fun and fancy to report. No fun pictures to post. Oh, I guess we DID do our jack-o-lanterns last night. Maybe I'll get those up later. Oh, and we did get family pictures taken. You can see them here. Click on "Galleries" then our name. The password is friends. I do not exactly love the angle some of the shots were taken at. Most of them are pretty cute though. Especially the ones of Brady. You can even order your own prints if you want. The prices are very good.

So that's all for now. Halloween posts are just around the corner!!

Yep, it's true.

God STILL answers prayers. I'd like to share two recent ones for me. Nothing HUGE and SUPER SPECTACULAR, but AWESOME none the less.

#1- I have been wanting to get a white button-up collared shirt for Brady. I hadn't seen them in stores before. Even if I did, I didn't want to pay that much to have him outgrow it so quickly. We have had 3 children's clothes consignment sales in the past month or so. I was hoping to find one there. I did. It was $5. I didn't want to pay that much. I'm a tight-wad on somethings, I know. I saw the same shirt at the 2nd sale. Nope, still not going to get it. The 3rd sale was a bust. I figured I'd have to hunt one down and pay retail for it. Enter blessing. A friend from MOMS Club had some clothes her son has grown out of. She piled me up with the items. One of them was a WHITE BUTTON-UP COLLARD SHIRT!! A woo-hoo!! I know that was definately an answer to my silent prayer. BTW, I did see some at Target for $8. I paid $0 for mine.

#2- Getting up to run has been a struggle lately. It's not all warm and shiny outside at o'dark-hundred anymore. It's dark and cold and sometimes foggy. My Bro-In-Law has been a good encouragement. Keeping tabs on me. He asks if I've been running and praises me for my efforts. He tells me sometimes I'm looking good. He's a nice guy, but is he saying it JUST to be nice? That guy could come up with a compliment for a bag of rocks. Today as I was running I thought, "Man, I really want someone to tell me I'm getting skinny." It's hard working hard when no one acknowledges it. I had put it out of my mind after getting dressed. Telling myself I don't need outside approval to feel good about what I am doing. Enter blessing. As my visiting teaching companion and I were getting into our cars she said, "You look smaller. Are you still working out?" HOLY MOLY!!! That was EXACTLY what I prayed for in my heart.

Thanks to Heavenly Father for sending me those Angels who, possibly without realizing it, listened to a prompting. Thank you to the Angels who listened.

Yes, folks, God still does answer prayers. He may not always answer the big ones that you find most urgent and important when you want it. He does answer those you need, when you need them.

Hello? Are you in there?

I picked up an orange caterpillar a few weeks ago. It had made a chrysalis. And it is still in there. I'm planning on doing a neat little blog on it when it emerges. Q, one of the boys I tend after school informed me yesterday and caterpillars take two weeks to turn into butterflies. I asked him what kind of caterpillar I have since it is still in its chrysalis. He said, "That's called a Dud caterpillar."

A Favorite Quote

I shared this on Facebook, but I also want to share it here, where it it less easily forgotten.

I think Elder D. Todd Christofferson said it very very well when he said, "Lack of internal control by individuals breeds external control by government...Which leads to diminished freedom for everyone."

This is absolutly true!! Think about it. If people would have a good amount of integrity in their actions we would need less law enforcement. If people would feel more compelled to earn their own living, no matter how meager and hard it may be, those that REALLY need government assistance would recieve it. I believe the number of those that recieve it would go down, and thereby decrease our taxes allowing us to have more freedom over how to use our money. That's just one way to look at it. I'm sure there are hundreds of other examples.

So let us all have a little more integrity and control over ourselves and our desires and actions.

Conference

LOOOOOOOOVE IT!! Just two weeks ago I was wallowing in my own self pity. The world was falling down around me. And now I've figured out why. That sneaky little devil, Satan, was trying to bring me down. He was hoping I'd break this time and fall off the deep end. Then I wouldn't be around (or paying attention) to hear all the wonderful truths General Conference has for us. Well TAKE THAT Satan! HA! I watched the morning session (yes, in the comfort of my own home here in Arkansas. Thanks Dish Network) while Brady told me time and time again that he wanted to color even though I had TWO coloring books, a notebook of lined paper, crayons and a pen to use. Even a tantrum throwing child couldn't stop the Spirit from testifying to me. Brady did eventually give up the fight and played with his toys elsewhere in the house. So here are a few of the notes I jotted down from this morning:

• Even after receiving inspiration we should ask if that is all God has for us to know. That's His way of making sure we're listening. If we ask if there is more, and there is, He will show it unto us, until there is no more at that time.
• We should take time everyday to be still and know. Be quiet and free from distraction so that we can hear and feel the promptings the Lord has for us.
• When we receive truth we will be saved by it BECAUSE we ACT upon it. Faith without works is dead.
• In regards to a testimony of the Gospel and its principles: Bear it, mean it, live it.
• God desires that we draw near to Him so that HE can draw near to US. With God, that which is difficult becomes possible. That which is possible becomes habit.

Wow, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. And that was only ONE of the Five sessions!

Carl and I organized our food storage during the first part of the afternoon session. I wasn't able to take notes at that time. Thank goodness for DVR! I haven't finished it yet, but I've already been spiritually fed by the messages I've heard. People, I'm telling you, I want to stand on a mountain top (if there were any out here) to let the world know and feel what I know and feel. It truly, truly is amazing. I could not argue with a single thing I heard today. Not because I'm brainwashed or know no different. I'm a smart girl and can think for myself. No, I had a witness in my heart, in my soul of the truth. Now I pray that others may listen and desire to know. I pray that I can share and not be afraid to offend as I share in the spirit of love.

I hope those of you who readily have Conference available to you will partake of it. It is such a blessing. I am happy that we decided to make it a priority to listen as much as possible (see, Carl had A LOT of homework and he needed to get it done today so he could NOT do it tomorrow) in our home. How wonderful it is to have the voices of the prophets in our own homes. I don't think of it as eight hours of speakers, but an abundant opportunity to hear what God wants us to know today, now, in our very life. So, if it is ever Conference weekend and you stop by during the two hour blocks that Conference is aired, we'll be watching/listening as opportunity provides. Eight hours of my time is a small price to pay to learn the eternal truths that God wants me to know and live by. After all, He gave me life, my life is His.

I do bear my testimony that prophets are on the earth today. That God speaks to us still, and forever will. That Joseph Smith did restore the True and Living Church of Jesus Christ to the earth. I am grateful for this knowledge. In the name of my Savior, my Brother and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Return to Innocence

Or just return to adolecence. I am breaking out. I know you all wanted to know that, but I couldn't help myself. I haven't had this problem for a while now, so it's really irritating. I think I'm going to have to tie my hands behind my back so I don't do anything I'll regret later. Especially since family pictures are in a couple of weeks! Please pray that the zit gods will take their curse away by then......thank you.