Uplifted and Edified

Today I listened and watched the first two sessions of the 183rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  It was a glorious four hours.  What a blessing it is for me, a member of the church to feel the spirit and receive instruction, guidance and inspiration from living prophets on the earth today!  There were many talks that I really enjoyed.  Sister Dalton, was one, what a great example to the Young Women and Women of the church.  I personally am so grateful for her service and dedication to the Young Women's program.

I also really enjoyed folding laundry and watching the programs in the middle of the two sessions.  If you missed them, you should really watch.  I really enjoyed The Tie: Be Thou an Example.

I was really touched to hear the statistics of the church.  14 million plus members of the Church!  Two more temples announced.  60,000 plus current full time missionaries, with 20,000 called but have not yet entered the mission field and another 6,000 with their papers in process.  That means soon we will have around 90,000 full time missionaries!!  That truly is an Army, God's Army.
D&C 6:2 "A great and marvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men."  This scripture has always been a favorite, and it just echo's in my mind even more now.  The church is growing, the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in it's fullness, it's here on the earth today, it is true, I'm blessed to be apart of it and I love it!

I can't wait for tomorrow!  You can read or watch for yourself here !!

Nightmares

I live in Utah.

We don't really have these...

Tornado's, destructive storms.

Just seeing the footage of these makes me sick.

My heart breaks for the people all over the mid west.

They are being hit by these destructive storms.

They are suffering from excessive flooding.

And it is expected to continue for a few more weeks at least.

It makes my complaining about the rain seem ludicrous.

I live in a place where the fear of destruction

would likely come from earthquakes.

But do I have nightmares about earthquakes?

No.

I have nightmares about tornado's.

I have never seen one in real life.

Never personally known anyone who has been in one.

But truly, I have nightmares about them.

Have had them since I was young.

Usually it is about seeing one coming down the street

and wondering where I am going to hide.

Now it's where will I hide with my kids

Usually under the stairs.

I don't know why.

Is this even a safe place during a tornado?

Strange.

The things we dream about.

I just hope and pray for good weather across the country.

So those living my nightmare can have some peace.

Loose Change

Today while making a quick stop through a local drive through..
The car in front of me dropped some change
while paying for her purchase.
Of course, not getting out and retrieving the change
she just reached over into what I'm assuming was her wallet
and got some more.
Loose change, lying on the pavement
right outside the drive through window.

I started to wonder...
how many times a day do you think this happens?
At how many different drive through establishments?

So here I give you...
a part time job for your unemployed teenager.
Traveling from place to place
every evening
retrieving the loose change that is sure to be found.
Might not make him rich...
but would give him/her some loose change. ;)

On a serious note..
I mentioned to the worker of said establishment
I'll bet at the end of the day you could gather a few bucks
worth of loose change from down there. (indicating the pavement)
Her reply..
We actually see people walk through the drive through
gathering the loose change.
Go figure.

Winding Down

The air is crisper
The days are getting shorter
Summer seems to be winding down
In ways I am excited for fall....

The harvest of my garden gets into full swing
The weather cools down
The kids go back to school
Bowling starts
Yard work decreases
The leaves change to bright bold colors.

In ways I wish the summer would last a little longer....

The kids go back to school
I will miss them, our summertime activities
and our summer hours
More summer means putting off Bailee going to college
It will soon be time for jeans and shoes
No more flip flops
Late night movies and chats
Fresh watermelon and cantaloupe
Bright warm sunshine
Flowers
and the list goes on

It's a double edged sword
this changing from summer to fall

I am truly a person who loves and looks forward

to all four seasons.

This is one of the main reasons I love living in Utah

we have all four distinct seasons.

But...I still feel melancholy at the end of each one.

I guess it's the passing of time.

The changes of life that comes with the passing of time.

I just wish it didn't have to pass so fast.