Waiting on summer

It seems like this year summer is taking its sweet time getting here! Maybe it's 

always been like this but I feel like we are still trapped in the eternal winter.

Despite the not so summery weather we still headed out camping last weekend up to Northern Saskatchewan! After driving for about an hour I felt like we had transported into a different province, We were surrounded by trees and lakes and it was gorgeous!  I loved spending the time in nature and with family- two of the best things ever :)

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!

sisters... sisters...

Let me just start off by saying I LOVE MY SISTERS
I don't know how my parents managed to do it but we all get along!.. and with 5 girls who are all different that seems like a miracle to me!
Of course growing up {and sometimes still} there was some drama {who took my shirt?!... my turn on the computer!} but we always worked though it and ended up "best sisters" again.
I think now that there are more siblings out of the house then at home it has made me appreciate them even more and love the times we all get to be together again.
I love group chatting with them and catching up on the lastest funny thing trey or claire did/ysa activity/basketball game/sleepover. It's just like when we were all living together and we would have sister meetings with the Barbie airplane intercom :)
Somehow we survived many loooooong road trips together all in the same vehicle without seriously hurting each other- again good job Mom and Dad!
I wouldn't change a thing about my childhood with my sisters, all the forts, Barbies and made up movies! Even when we found out Abby was on the way! {I can only speak for myself though :P}
I love laughing with them! Some of my funniest memories are with my sisters being silly.
I know I can always count on them to cheer me up or to just be there to talk- Sisters make the best friends!
I can't wait to get to watch them all continue to grow- for my younger sisters to graduate, make life plans, get married, start families. For my older sister to continue to build her family and for the chance I have to be such a big part of her kids lives :)

I don't know how people can go through life without a sister.. and I'm even luckier I got 4!

 

Loves

With the day of love {Valentines Day} right around the corner I'd like to share some of the loves of my life...

~ climbing into a bed that has just been made with a fresh set if sheets and all the corners are still tucked tight

~ surprising Rope

~ smelling and kissing a new baby.. More specifically baby Brigham at the moment

~ freshly steam mopped floors

~ a new funky necklace

~ when Rope surprises me! With a treat!

~ sleeping in when it's cold outside

~ mini wheats for breakfast.. Or lunch.. Or supper

~ starting a new book

~ being around kind and uplifting people

~ crocheting

~ when the sun shines!

Don't forget to tell your loved ones you LOVE them this Friday... And everyday!

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

Christmas time

One more week till Christmas Day! We are so excited to finish up school/work and head back to Alberta to celebrate with our families... Can it be Friday yet?!?

Merry Christmas everyone!