We Seek After
These Things
Recently returned from serving the people of Honduras for 3 years

Sunday, August 28, 2011

I Heart Faces Challenge - White

My oh my oh my . . .

 Been just tooooo busy around here lately - but all good.  I've been so blessed.

But I'm so excited to come play today - with the


photos challenge for this week

"White"

Isn't she just too adorable . . .

She takes my breath away!

addison d.1-5 kk

Girls in Pearls

Little girls are made of daisies and butterflies and soft kitty car purrs
and all the precious memories of times that once were.

Little girls are made of angel's wings and giggles and a firefly's glow
and all the happy feelings, deep inside, that we all know.

Little girls are made of cinnamon and bubbles and fancy white pearls
and snowflakes and rainbows and ballerina twirls.

Little girls are made of sunshine and cupcakes and a fresh morning dew,
And these are the reasons, little one, why everyone loves you.

Here's to you - sweet baby Addi

Friday, August 19, 2011

President Monson . . . a great inspiration!


my experience at BYU education week these last couple days has me thinking about - 

President Thomas S. Monson
President and Prophet of the
Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints
Inspiration and Example


Pres Monson c kk

This is a man who has been photographed MANY times!
(but this photograph is truly my favorite!
source - Brian Tibbets Photography
Wikipedia public release)

This is a man who has the weight of the world on his shoulders . . .
and he looks like THIS!



Born - August 21, 1927
(his birthday is Sunday!)

age 22 - he became a bishop
age 32 - a mission president
age 36 - an apostle
age 38 - a member of the 1st Presidency
age 80 - Prophet, Seer & Revelator

The secret to the twinkle in his eye, the light he radiates, his exuberance and endless energy at age 84 -
Positioned on the wall of my office, directly opposite my desk, is a lovely print of the Savior, painted by Heinrich Hofmann. I love the painting, which I have had since I was a 22-year-old bishop and which I have taken with me wherever I have been assigned to labor. I have tried to pattern my life after the Master. Whenever I have a difficult decision to make, I have looked at that picture and asked myself, “What would He do?” Then I try to do it. We can never go wrong when we choose to follow the Savior." - President Thomas S. Monson


In "Christ and the Rich Young Ruler" by Heinrich Hoffmann, Jesus tells a rich young ruler what he must do to have eternal life. The young ruler was unwilling to offer full obedience. 
(just my best guess as to the photo by the way . . .)


In life we all have special moments we treasure . . . . moments too personal to speak of on a casual basis. I'll always remember one such moment in my life when I was blessed to be in the presence of our Prophet, look into his eyes and hear him speak. He personally testified to me that our Heavenly Father intimately knows each one of us, he is always aware of our needs and directs our paths.  He shared  a story which I have searched for and found published here.  I'll always remember and treasure his words that day and have them recorded in my journal to read and reread again as he continues to inspire my thoughts, words and actions almost daily.

For further information you might enjoy these articles - 

I know this man to be a man of God.  


Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Not Feeling very Chatty today . . .

I'm frequently not a very chatty person . . .

Especially with the usual "Hi, how are you?" conversations - you'll almost always get a "fine, fine" outta me.  It's not like they have all day . . .  :D  I mean after all, for the most part things actually are "fine, fine".  But I had to chuckle as I passed through the check out line at Costco today . . .

Where amongst other things made this purchase (I can never resist a new French language series on CD!)
(where else can you hear 6 hours of someone speaking in French for only 20 bucks!???)



This unique pack, which includes 2 books and six 60 minute CDs featuring native French speakers, will take you from beginner to fluent speaker in just a few months.



Carefully structured, the week-by-week course will walk you through how to pick up and improve French speaking, writing, reading and listening skills.


Fully updated for the 21st century traveller, it includes contemporary French vocabulary and expressions, so you’ll soon be confident enough to order cafe au lait in Paris and vin rouge in Toulouse!
But anyway . . .

The checkstand conversation went something like this:

checkout lady - oh planning a trip to France?

me - mumble, mumble . . . oh eventually I'm sure (totally not a lie, I'm always planning a trip to France)

her - well, be sure you don't over schedule, you'll want to have at least a week in each country.   The best thing to do is spend a month, if you're going to go all the way to Europe, be sure you have a month.  In fact, I really think you should include travel to Great Britain, Germany and Italy - they have so many of the top sights.  We just returned from there about a month ago.  Don't spend any less than 3 nights in each city, it's impossible to visit the cities properly if you spend less than three nights in a city.  I took all our kids and traveled all over Europe for a month, it was the greatest experience - I know you will love it.  There is so much information online these days, be sure you study up before you go an all the places you want to visit - and so on and so on and so on and on  . . .

me - nod and smile, with an "oh really" every now and then . . . and a few "how nice!"s also!

Not that I could get a word in edgewise . . . . but I didn't really have the heart to mention . . .

I lived in Madrid for six months!  I speak almost fluent Spanish.  I taught myself French over the last 10 years.  In my early 20's I traveled throughout Great Britain, France, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, and Austria riding the rails for a month. My husband and I took our four children back packing in Europe for a month and had a blast!  We later took my parents back to Paris for week.  We again traveled to Paris for 10 days for our 25th wedding anniversary.  Just last Spring, my sister and I took "just the girls" to Paris for 10 days where we had a lovely girls only adventure! 

(there!  now I feel better :D )

But I am impressed she managed to get so much information out in those 3 minutes it took her to scan and box all my items!  Yes, VERY impressed!


DSC05033







Thursday, August 4, 2011

What is it with me and books anywho??

Been putting off tiding this up . . . might as well blog it too!
There's supposedly my desk under here somewhere . . .


my desk


Other observations (while I'm at it . . .)

  • California here I come - family reunion - CANNOT wait!
  • I thought I may never blog again (and you never know this could be the last . . .)
  • Cuddling with baby Addi rocks my world!!!!
  • I sympathize Kelsie, just remembering how intense nursing school is!
  • Helping Karianne & Greg pack up - it's killing me . . .
  • My dogs are CRAZY this week . . .

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