Be a cork

It seems like there is a lot of change around me lately and I find myself wishing my own life could change. I usually am wishing that we could fast forward  the next 10 years to when we will be settled!
With these thoughts in my head I have read a few talks lately that have help put things back into perspective.
One of my favorites I read was "finding joy in life"  by Richard G. Scott. I love listening to talks by Elder Scott- his voice is so loving and tender. When I was in YSA in lethbridge Elder Scott came to visit and it was also that night I met Rope, so that might also be part of the reason he has a special place in my heart.
A few of my favorite quotes from his talk were...
"Do you take time to discover each day how beautiful your life can be? How long has it been since you watched the sun set? The departing rays kissing the clouds, trees, hills, and lowlands good night, sometimes tranquilly, sometimes with exuberant bursts of color and form. What of the wonder of a cloudless night when the Lord unveils the marvels of His heavens—the twinkling stars, the moonlight rays—to ignite our imagination with His greatness and glory?"

"A pebble held close to the eye appears to be a gigantic obstacle. Cast on the ground, it is seen in perspective. Likewise, problems or trials in our lives need to be viewed in the perspective of scriptural doctrine. Otherwise they can easily overtake our vision, absorb our energy, and deprive us of the joy and beauty the Lord intends us to receive here on earth. Some people are like rocks thrown into a sea of problems. They are drowned by them. Be a cork. When submerged in a problem, fight to be free to bob up to serve again with happiness."

"Find the compensatory blessings in your life when, in the wisdom of the Lord, He deprives you of something you very much want. To the sightless or hearing impaired, He sharpens the other senses. To the ill, He gives patience, understanding, and increased appreciation for others’ kindness. With the loss of a dear one, He deepens the bonds of love, enriches memories, and kindles hope in a future reunion. You  will discover compensatory blessings when you willingly accept the will of the Lord and exercise faith in Him."
This last quote was my favorite! Exactly what I needed to hear! Instead of focusing on things I think we deserve and are being deprived of I need to think of all the MANY blessing we do have and enjoy. Accepting the will of Heavenly Father is something I have been and will probably always be trying to get better at.

So for now I'm going to be a cork and enjoy the season we are in literally and figuratively. :)

Simplicity

As I have looked over my notes this week from the past weekend General Conference I can't help but notice a theme in the notes I had taken...
Simplicity
So often in my life I get very stressed and worked up about how things are going and how they may not be following my personal timeline. I am a HUGE planner, I come home with pockets full of sticky notes after work listing all the things I need to be doing! However I am learning its ok to not be in control all the time. It's most important for me to be doing the things that will strengthen myself and my testimony and my marriage.
In this way I could use some simplifying
I am going to work ok having more faith in the future, even if it's not going according to plans! 
I paid special attention to Sister Jean Stevens this conference as she is the General Primary President and i am currently serving as our ward's Primary President.
One of my favorite quotes from conference came from her talk when she said 
" We can trust that He will help us, not necessarily in the way we want but in the way that will best help us to grow. Submitting our will to His may be difficult, but it is essential to becoming like Him and finding the peace He offers us."
This past year has been a major growing year for me, I have been stretched beyond what I thought I was capable of handling. It has been through this stretching that I have learned so much about myself and about becoming like the Savior. 
I hope that as I work to simplify my life and focus on the things that matter most I will continue to be strengthened and receive peace. 
A few other Conference Favorites Included: Linda S. Reeves, Russell M. Nelson, Robert D. Hales, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, President Monson and actually everyone else! There were sooo many good ones {as usual} that applied to exactly how I have been feeling, I love how personal it makes each talk feel :)
I can't wait to read and re-read them ALL!

out with the old and in with the new

2013 was full of ups's and downs for us.
We have enjoyed our time in Saskatoon, Moved to a bigger and brighter house, had an awesome summer with each other and our families and have enjoyed our ward and new callings.
This year however we lost two special members of our family- My cousin Brynn and Rope's Grandmas Dixie both after battling cancer. We are so grateful for the wonderful example they gave us of loving and living life to the fullest everyday.

With this in mind we start the new year with a renewed motivation to always be improving ourselves. This year I have learned so much and have grown spiritually. I am more aware of how much I need and rely on my Heavenly Father everyday and this has helped me to develop a better realationship with him. I am grateful for the experiences I have had in my life and how they help me to recognize and appreciate all the ways I am blessed.

We had a wonderful Christmas in Alberta! We went to the movies, out to eat, watched Basketball games at the sugar bowl, played monopoly, catch phrase and heads up and ate a lot of treats.

We had some good laughs and some good cries- we are so blessed with such amazing families.

We are excited to see what 2014 has in store for us.

Annual Christmas Eve pyramid

One of my Favorite gifts this year- a homemade
dough artnativity from
Ropes Mom

My other favorite present from my Mom.
Rope LOVES the red and I can't wait to use it :)

Trying out Rope's present from his parents

I guess we're hunters now :P

a great week

Lately I have been trying to fill my time with better activities.
Since I'm working full time there is nothing I hate more then sitting on Sunday night thinking back on the past week and realizing I really did nothing..
I aboslutely love our IPad that we got for Christmas but unfortunatly I feel that is where I lose most of my time..
BUT...
All this has started to change!
Instead of playing a pointless game I listened to conference talks on my new favorite Mormon channel app
Instead of aimlessly browsing kijiji for a new place to live I got a few new things to beautify the place we are living in now.
Instead of scrolling through Pinterest wishing I had a different wardrobe I made another batch of freezer meals
And instead of creeping people on Facebook I went out with my husband
What a great week I've had!