flash update

LDS General Conference 

there are two weekends of the year I love most and neither are my birthday or Christmas. 

I love that for the past several years I've been able to attend two sessions each year, this is how I will always remember general conference. One day Bronson and I walked to school and shared with each other our favorite Conference memories we have. I remember when I was 10, my parents made an exception to take me instead of when I was 12, and I remember where we were sitting, what I was wearing, and the most defining feeling, when President Hinckley walked through those wooden doors. I instantly knew that He was a prophet of God. And I feel that overtime about President Monson. I love it more each time I go. This year, I got to sit with the Gardner Family and spend Saturday with them! They fed me so well, let me intrude on family time, and shop with Michelle and Jessica. Sunday, Bronson and I enjoyed an Easter dinner by the Johns Family (how do they always make the best food?) and an Easter program. Weekends like these, shouldn't ever end. 

Mom's 63rd Birthday! 

Another great part of April Conferences, is we always get to celebrate mom's birthday, and it is a day to be celebrated. Mom would never selfishly seek attention of her own--but she is a stalwart lady. 

Despite her several physical/health challenges, she serves dad faithfully as a Stake presidents wife, a weekly Temple worker, and weekly temple patron, mother of 9, grandmother to 23, and sister to everyone. One of the cool things about my mom is that she makes being a "mom" her full-time job. Theres a lot of things my mom can't do, and couldn't do growing up, but that never hindered us from having a strong relationship. It was dad we played basketball with, but it was mom who read to us, cuddled with us, and made dinner for us (oh and so much more). 

I'm still working on my mom's birthday card, but I would tell her : thank you for every single day. Every email she wrote me on my mission. Every breakfast, sack lunch, and dinner. For attending every violin lesson, and orchestra rehearsal, for driving me to every piano lesson. For ignoring my messy room, and unmade bed, and still doing my laundry. Its impossible not to love my mother for all she's done. "I love her, because she first loved us." 

I am more excited for the Resurrection for my mother, than I am for myself. I can't wait for my mother to experience one day without pain. For this reason and more, I am grateful for God's perfect plan for His children. 

Other Really Unimportant Events: 

 Someone's boyfriend (clarification: not mine), decided to put dish soap in the dishwater instead of detergent. #icleaneditup #men

Secondly, one day, Bronson and I matched, unintentionally of course. Obviously, need to work on my sefie skills.

There was the one time where I spent more time with my roommates in one week than I had all semester, and it was so fun. I realized I need to spend more time with them, not for them, but for me! They made me feel so much happier this week. #reallygoodfriends

And then way back in February, Bronson and I attended the "Second Chance Dance." Luckily, we got to go together instead of find each other there. Costa Vida was catered, and I ate to my hearts-but-not-stomachs-content. (imagine: I felt so full, as if i was pregnant, that Bronson and I had to walk around the building a few times, I couldn't handle it!) Luckily, Jessica was there to help us with our rusty dance moves--considering it was my first dance post-mission.

thats it folks.
I have 2 days left of classes. And only my 3 hardest finals are scheduled within a 24 hour period, on the FIRST days of finals. whoever did final scheduling really failed in that category.

President Thomas S. Monson

I am privileged to be in a "Living Prophets" class this term and to study not only the biographies of these wonderful men called of God, but to also study their talks. Just in case my computer gets stolen one day...i'll have at least a small record of what I have learned. 

Did you know....

--When he was born on August 21, 1927, his mother said to her husband while holding Thomas, "here is the next bishop." And wasn't he a bishop. 

--He was called to be a bishop at age 22 for 5 years. The main demographic of his 1,000 person ward were widows, who he never failed to visit every year at Christmas. 

--He was called to be an Apostle at the age 36--and yet still went back to school (BYU) to get his masters. How would you like to be his professor... ;)

--Something neat that others have said about President Monson, "If you have a friend like President Monson, you have a life long friend indeed."

An experience that President Monson had that really was a life turning point and what we like to call "Life Formulation" experience--His was following the promptings of the Spirit without delay. Here are 3 stories of President Monson acting and following the Spirit.

             "Never never never postpone following a prompting."

Life Formulation: Promptings of the Spirit

1--In a stake meeting and the Stake President was speaking, during the meeting, he had a distinct prompting to leave and go to the Hospital, but as soon as the speaker ended, he ran to the hospital, and she had already died, and she was calling out his name. 

 2--He was on his way to a  meeting, but he felt a prompting to go visit Ben and Emily, less actives in the stake. She answered the door and was so excited that he came….he didn't even know why he was suppose to go though. When she opened the door, she exclaimed, "I've been praying all day that someone would come but no one has....How did you know it was my birthday." President Monson went inside and prayed with them and talked to them. Ben and Emily were reactivated in the gospel. Hearts were touched and lives were gladdened.

 3--Stan, a dear friend, who was once very athletic became very ill. President Monson was swimming in the Desert Gym (which is now where the conference center is) when he had a thought while doing the backstroke, "Here you swim almost  effortlessly, while your friend Stan sits in a wheelchair. Go to him and give him a blessing." President Monson went running to his room, only to find him not there, he frantically asked where he was (thinking he was too late again like the first story) but then a nurse notified him that he was at the therapy pools--near where President Monson was previously swimming. He found Stan in his wheel chair near the end of the pool. Stan beamed when he saw President Monson.  Pres. Monson gave Stan a blessing, and now Stan has learned to walk again. Stan was in the gulf of depression….and thought even of committing suicide that day, but then at the moment he saw President Monson, and recommited to living life again that day.

Here are my thoughts of his talk in the Priesthood Session of Conference.....

“Willing and Worthy to Serve” President Thomas S. Monson

Instructions or Counsel

            “Let us be willing and worthy to serve. Let us in the performance of our duty follow in the footsteps of the Master. As you and I walk the pathway Jesus walked, we will discover He…is the greatest teacher ever to live. May each of us do likewise….” (p. 69)

Warnings

            “I urge you to contemplate those duties and then do all within your power to fulfill them. In order to do so, each must be worth. Let us have ready hands, cleans hands, and willing hands, that we may participate in providing what our Heavenly Father would have others receive from Him. If we are not worthy, it is possible to lose the power of the priesthood and if we lose it we have lost the essence of exaltation. Let us be worthy to serve.” (p. 67)     

Prophetic Statements

            “How blessed we are to be here in these last days, when the priesthood of God is upon the earth. How privileged we are to bear that priesthood. The priesthood is not so much a gift as it is a commission to serve, a privilege to lift, and an opportunity to bless the lives of others. “ (p. 66)

Doctrinal Clarifications or Interpretations

            “I had learned the practical application of the adage “Do [your] duty; tat is best; leave unto [the] lord the rest…Brethren, the world is in need of your help. Are we doing all we should?” (p. 69)

Favorite Quotes

            “Miracles are everywhere to be found when the priesthood is understood, its power is honored and used properly, and fait is exerted. When faith replaces doubt, when selfless service eliminates selfish striving, the power of God brings to pass His purposed.” (p. 68)

            “There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save. The blessings of eternity await you. Yours is the privilege to be not spectators but participants on the stage of priesthood serve….’be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.’” (p. 69)

General Conference!

8 days.
192 hours.
11520 minutes.
691200 seconds.

until.......GENERAL CONFERENCE.

My most favorite time of year--and lucky for me, it comes twice a year--is General Conference.

My memories of General Conference include all the kids piling in the big ugly burnt-red-chipped-paint van to the Hogan building were we occupied a large row (and more) to sit and watch Conference projected in the Chapel. It was always dark, yet we still managed to take notes, draw pictures, endless games of MASH, and the inevitable I'll give you a back rub if you give me a back rub.

I looked forward to my 10th birthday solely because that meant I was able to attend General Conference with my parents. I loved it. Everything was surreal, especially at that age. I sure don't remember what talks were given, or what temples were announced, but I do remember the exact place I was standing as I watched the Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley walked into the Conference Room. I still remember what it looked like and felt like--and I've always had testimony of the truthfulness of the prophets. They are men who are called of God. They are prophet, seers, revelators, and I am truly humbled to be able to sit at their feet next week in the Conference Center and listen to their words.

“Decide now to make general conference a priority in your life. Decide to listen carefully  
and follow the teachings that are given. Listen to or read the talks more than once to better  
understand and follow the counsel. By doing these things, the gates of hell will not prevail against you, 
 the powers of darkness will be dispersed from before you, and the heavens will shake for your good.” 
 - Paul V. Johnson, “The Blessings of General Conference,” Ensign, November 2005, 50


Let us not forget that although, the apostles and Prophet will be speaking to millions of people, and speaking on general topics to a general amount of people, we can make this conference a SPECIFIC conference for you and me. Prepare now by pondering & praying about questions you may have and seek answers for. After all, it is usually though another than our prayers are answered. :)


so excited....
here are few ideas for Conference Helps:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4

oh the weekend

hello again friends.
can i just say how fantastic this weekend was.
spiritually uplifted and celebrating my mothers birthday.
i absolutely love general conference. i just want to be a sponge and soak everything up. each talk. each song.
if you want to be inspiried, watch here. it is what I love forward to most in the whole entire year.


"It is a small voice, it whispers not shouts. And so you must be very quiet inside."

- Henry B. Eyring

When my life and world around me seems to be going 88 miles per hour, and always loud and confusing...i was able to be quiet this weekend. So quiet that I could listen to the sweet small voice of the Spirit.

"Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words."--St. Francis of Assisi

For history sake--i needed to document this life changing event. I got my hair did. But i'm sure you are sick of this hair crap. don't worry me too. But not to worry, its over. so end of discussion.

the many many faces of Daisy A!

and look at my momma! happy birthday to her! can you believe she turned 59!? She doesn't look older than 29 right? I love my mother, immensely. Actually, i wish you all knew my mother, because she makes me a better person just being around her. I love you mom!

this week has promises of a good week. because when this saturday comes--it'll be my last day of work! and than julia (sister 2 of this blog) comes home a week from today. so hooray to all things beautiful in this life!
more blogging to come soon....and hopefully in a much more timely manner--i've only been doing like once a week.

p.s. i'm registering for college classes tonight for BYU. can you just say....AMAZING.
woah, i never thought this day would come!
and...my blogging friend--no more like a blogging sista just got accepted to BYU too! so...=PARTY!