Copy and paste to your blog and bold the ones you have done. (And all of these questions about Italy and art are so sad because I wish I could say I have done them, but someday I will get to live my dream.)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (fish)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Truman Madsen, was friends with his grandkids, Talked with Virginia Pierce, Pres. Hinckley's daughter when I was on Seminary Council, met a few apostles, Elder Ballard, Elder Wirthlin, Sister Okazaki and a few LDS authors and musicians)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (Two)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

General Conference

This last weekend was the 178th semi-annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I love this time of year, every spring and fall. I love hearing from our leaders about Jesus Christ, about love, hope, family and the many things I need to be doing to improve myself in being a disciple of Christ. It is also a time to be with family. I always try to write notes during each talk, but with kids, I don't always reach that goal. I always feel the love of the Lord when I hear the prophet speak and also to know that none of the speakers are given subjects, but that they pray about what they should say. But the talks given often mirror one another. This one was the same, many talks on being able to handle the trials in life. How the Lord does not leave us in our struggles, but will come to us when we call. I also just adore the music, done by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir I loved when they sang this, one of my favorite hymns, I Know That My Redeemer Lives.

I always find comfort too that the talks are reprinted in the next months Ensign so that what I missed, I can read through. These are the notes I did get to take and some of the important things I remembered:

Elder L. Tom Perry talked about not being able to predict what our struggles will be. And that often living a simpler life of health, eating right, getting enough sleep, can help with managing our stress. And being sure to live within our means. To be sure to be prepared for the hard times with food storage and to save for a rainy day. But also to be prepared spiritually.

Elder Dieter F. Uchdorf spoke about his life as a child living through WWII. His father who was made to fight for the German army and his mother who tried to protect her children. While they were on a train, she left to find food for her 4 hungry kids and when she came back, the train was gone. She was scared, but she acted and prayed and was able to find them safe, even though there was a chance she might never see them again. "We have hard times, but hope is powerful. Overcome the temptation to loose hope. Despair strengthens sickness and deadens the heart... There are things to hope FOR and things to hope IN. The things we hope IN can sustain us in our daily walk. We hope in Jesus Christ. In times of distress we can hope that all things will be for our good... The Lord is the hope of His people."

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin spoke of similar things and said that everyone has heartache and sorrow and the Lord does not shield any of us away from it. "The rain falls on the just and the unjust". Laugh, seek for the eternal. The dial on the wheel of sorrow must eventually point to us and no one is exempt. "Along with every tear today will be answered 100 fold with tears of rejoicing."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke about angels and how the Lord has sent them through out the scriptures to help his children. And he still sends them today to aide us. They are here to comfort and in the course of life we all have dreary times and these times are very difficult and these angels help us as they helped Jesus Christ. "Be filled with faith as the Lord will fight our battles". Angels can also be one another as we can be the angels in each others lives.

Elder Russel M. Nelson talked about the plan of happiness and the importance of choice. There are "patterns of the shopper", some look for quality, durability, others for bargains and others for price. Others cast aside personal integrity and steal what they want. These patterns can be applied to marriage. Couples choose marriage of high quality or lesser types that won't endure and others steal what they want as "marital shoplifters". Marriage between a man and a woman is sacred. Gender is an essential part of the plan of salvation. A temple marriage is not just between husband and wife, but in partnership with God.


There were many wonderful talks that I remember and loved. I was so grateful to hear from the Prophet Tomas S. Monson as he said how we teach in our meetings by the Spirit of the Lord and I definitely feel that especially during this special time. The Lord is mindful of the challenges we face in the world. And as we obey His commandments, seek Him through prayer we will be blessed. Be good citizens and neighbors, be honest with one another and have integrity. If we work together we can alleviate suffering of others.

There were also 5 new temple buildings announced. Kansas City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Calgary Alberta, Canada, Cordoba, Argentina and Rome, Italy. I love the blessings of the temple and am always so happy to hear of new temples being built for the saints to have those blessings too. Not to mention how much I love Italy and now this is a new incentive for me to visit. *chuckle* I love Conference and am so grateful for it and look forward to the upcoming Ensign.

Sickies- AGAIN- This Time with Spots

Okay so it's not fatal. But I thought that was so cute and funny. We have some weird virus that comes with faint spots. Emily only had some on her bottom, I had a few here and there, but Lindsey has them on her face, arms and legs and bottom. They don't look like any pox- chicken or other- but to be sure I took her to the doctor. It comes with a nice week or longer dose of diarrhea so they said it's a virus with a weird spotted rash. Interesting. Hopefully it will clear up soon. Lindsey has it the worst so far. Any time you see spots though, it gets you thinking. I don't know how every sickness under the sun has decided to find us, but that is what has happened. So far we have had colds, chest colds, barfing and now this weird one. We are off to a great start this year! Maybe I should be grateful and this is as bad as it will get and everyone will be well for the rest of the year. I will stay optimistic.

"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit."~Helen Keller

Missionary Mishap

This is hilarious! I had to add it to my list of funny videos.

Consignment Sale

There is a consignment sale at the Methodist church where I live- well 20 minutes from where I live- and those of you who haven't heard me talk about it, count yourselves as fortunate. I become a little obsessive. Probably because I LOVE a good deal and probably because I am very limited in my income and there is NO WAY I could outfit my kids if I bought retail and this is the BEST thing I have found to help me find a way to do it. So those who HAVE heard me talk about it, I will now prove to you just how awesome this thing is and now that I am back from the hunt, I claim bragging rights.

I decided to volunteer this year and because of that I was able to go to the pre-sale reserved for only the volunteers Thursday night. Wow was that fun and tiring! Women from all over the state and from all different walks of life waited in line with baskets and buckets. When the doors open- chaos! But everyone is really nice and courteous. My sister-in-law Lori joked that men would never understand the madness of women + sales. The real sale was this Friday morning promptly at 9:00 a.m. and if you aren't there when the doors open, you miss half the stuff. Half of my finds were from the pre-sale and the other half was from the next morning at the actual sale.




Emily's shirts and sweaters, 15 total. All were $4 and under, some were $1. Like that purple one- $1 and the striped one with the buttons on the side- $1. Many were brand names, like Gap, Gymboree and a Nordstrom sweater for $3.


She now has 6 pairs of pants. VERY cute and all under $5- a couple were yes, only $1.


Two more under $3 shirts and a Gap coat for $6.


This one was my favorite find. When you volunteer, if you work the clothing floor you get to pretty much shop while you help. You go through the racks and put clothes back that don't belong and you find gems and stick them in your own pile. This one was missing the top and it goes together. Well, we found it. It is Gymboree and was only $3!


Lindsey got a few things too. All of these were also under $3.


The picture doesn't do justice to how beautiful this coat is and the price was $4. The outfit next to it was a Gymboree $4 find also.


Beautiful jeans under $5 and a blouse for $1 and a red jumper for $3.


This sale is every Spring and Fall for both the winter and the summer seasons. Most of the time there are a million dresses and this time, not so many. Last fall I came home with 10 dresses for Emily. As you can see, I didn't have that luck, though there are a few that will work. I was kind of surprised by that. But Emily did get a red and black polka-dot jumper for $4 and a $1 blouse to go underneath. But Lindsey scored with this $6 Christmas dress.


I have to mention, this sale is not just for clothes, but shoes, toys- big and small- books, movies, baby items, furniture, etc. There are women who come JUST for the pre-sale of the toys which is apparently ceiling to floor full of stuff and they have to be in good working order. This year one person sold 700 items altogether of clothes and toys. The seller gets 70% and the church gets %30 and what doesn't sell is donated to charity. I have never gone for the toys, though I still find great ones. I bought my Basset crib and dresser set from them in perfect condition for $350 the first year I ever went. This year, no furniture for us. I bought a diaper bag though since ours was falling apart, this almost brand new black diaper bag was $3, Lindsey's boots were $3, Emily's white dress shoes were $2 and Lindsey's ballet flats were $4- they were too cute to pass up.


This twin bed set for Emily- someday she will have room to be in a real big girl bed- was $10, the books were $1.50 for 3 Usborne game books and .75 cents for the phonics book and $2.50 for the indoor children's tent. Perfect for Christmas and the cold winter months when the kids are inside.


And the last item I got was a little kitchen for the girls for Christmas. It will fit nice in whatever small space we end up in and Lindsey and Emily LOVE to pretend cook. This one was $20 which is a little more than I wanted to spend for a used kitchen, but it is perfect and has all the food with it and the electronic stuff still works. It is being stored in Grandma's basement until Christmas. ;) SHhhhh... I think this was a successful sale, don't you? I spent $150 total and came out with more than I ever could have buying it new.

Cousins

Two weeks after Lindsey was born she came to visit her Aunt Lori, Robert's sister, who was pregnant with her little girl. The night Lori held Lindsey she went into labor and her daughter Sienna was born. These two have become such good friends. They just love each other. When we come to visit, they get so excited, they hug and play, occasionally they fight over a toy, but they are great friends. Sienna calls her "Zinzie" and Lindsey calls her "Yenna". When Lori and I talk on the phone and I put her on speaker phone, Lindsey knows immediately that Lori means her beloved "Yenna". Lori and I didn't plan to have girls around the same time, but I think the Lord did. They are such good friends and there is something to be said for having a cousin your same age. We now have a beautiful blond little girl and a beautiful dark eyed little girl. They are both getting so big and will soon turn 2. It makes us both a little sad that our babies are getting bigger. They both are talking more and more these days and are showing their own personalities. Lindsey and Sienna are our sweet baby girls who are instant friends.

"Fret Not"

This has become my new motto. *Edit*: We are still going to do the house buying hunt. The more we look at renting, the more it seems it would be just as good for us in our situation to buy. So we will keep going and along with my new motto, I will not mention it again until whatever DOES happen, has happened already. I sure hope to be out of here before Christmas! We will have to see how things work out in our favor. As I am working through this, I read a really great talk by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin about prayer and in the talk he says this:

"Fret not" is the first step. To Fret means to worry or to brood about something. The first thing we must do is to stop worrying. When we worry about the future, we create unhappiness in the present. Righteous concern may lead us to take appropriate action, but worrying about things we cannot control can paralyze and demoralize us. Instead of worrying, focus on all that you can, and then leave the worrying to your Heavenly Father. If your heart is right with Him, He will take care of the worry and fear."

Therefore, my motto is to "fret not". It will work out when it works out. Until then, wanna see what made me happy today? My awesome friend has an aunt who was selling tons of duplicate scrapbooking stickers for $1! Not $5 like normal, but $1! I was surprised at my discipline in only spending $21, but I do have kids to outfit for the winter and I will have THAT fun update when it comes! Here is just one of the kinds I got for- you guessed it ONE DOLLAR!