FHE Treat

A little 'Waffle Love' to finish off our Family Home Evening

Feb. BYU Dinner Crew

Kayla & Nathan

Happy Birthday Tariah!  We were able to Face Time with Tariah on her birthday!

Bad motion & quality on these 2 pics - But sweet Rachael and Aubrey signed the Happy Birthday song to her after we had sang it,  That meant a lot to send that message in her 2nd language!

Enjoying the Sabbath

No Cavitites

Another successful trip to Dr. Moffat.  Kayla may be ready to move on from the Pediatric Dentist soon, but for now she still enjoys free donut coupons and balloon animals.

Workout Buddy

Aubs was up for shoulder appointment this morning, so we decided to hot the gym before heading back to Provo.  I love having my workout buddy here.  She has great confidence in my ability's and pushes me to more than I would do on my own. 

FHE Firepit

New Beginnings - 4th Ward

 AS the Stake Young Women's President I get to attend all of the wards special activities - such as New Beginnings, Young Women in Excellence, Camp Kick-Offs, Special Firesides, etc. - along with normal mutual nights and Sunday lessons.  I love to be with these Royal Daughters, and in tonight's case, also my own 3 special Royal Daughters,  Each of these young women bring hope and joy to my heart.  A big thank you to each one of you for sharing something that represents your spiritual journey and to Bishop Miller for teaching us how to pack our spiritual backpacks.

And a special thanks to Brenna - Royal Daughter #5.  Thanks for always supporting me and encouraging me, even when it meant being away from you for a time.  Thanks for being a part of years of young women planning and activities.  You have been a great counterpart for me and will be so prepared to join the Young Women program when you are 12.

The Bishop's Office

One of Robert's tasks as a new Bishop, was to get his office in order.  We started by emptying the room and giving it a good clean.   

 

He wanted everything in the office to be meaningful and to be a bring comfort and peace to all who enter.   Starting with the picture of the Savior - The Good Shepherd, tending His flocks, just as He tenders over and cares for each one of us.  The Savior was also placed over Robert's shoulder to help and guide him as he serves as an instrument in His hands .

The vase in the corner, though it is hard to see in this picture, is actually a vessel with cracks running through it.  It is representative of  how we are all  Like a Broken Vessel as David teaches us in Psalms 31:12.  

President Jeffrey R. Holland also shared these words in his October 2013 Conference Address, " Though we may feel we are “like a broken vessel,” as the Psalmist says,10 we must remember, that vessel is in the hands of the divine potter. Broken minds can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being merciful, nonjudgmental, and kind."  

This broken vessel is filled with white flowers and greenery, representing the 'Tree of Life' . The tree of life is a symbol of Jesus Christ. He is living evidence of divine love and is the source of eternal life and joy. God's greatest desire is to give us each the gift of eternal life, and because of His love for us, this blessing is available to all through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

A picture of the Temple - The House of the Lord. All roads in the gospel of Jesus Christ lead to the temple.  The temple is a house of God; a place of love and learning. A place of refuge from the storms of life and a place of revelation and respite to commune with the Lord.  In temples we are taught from on high, make sacred covenants, and are promised cherished blessings.  It is where families are organized and sealed together, including both living and deceased members.  It is a place of beauty and love. 

                               The Youth - South Jordan 4th ward's Priesthood Men and Royal Daughters - Pressing Forward with a Steadfastness in Christ.  We have such a love for the Youth - for their goodness, their strength, examples, and testimony's.  They are all surprised the first time they come in and see themselves on the wall.

A wonderful space for ward members as they visit with the Bishop.

Bean Musuem

When Aubrey was little, we use to go to the Bean Museum on the BYU campus often with her friend Aubrye Lyn and her mom Carrie.  Aubrey now lives on that BYU campus and her apartment windows look out over the Bean Museum, and next year Aubrye Lyn will be joining her.  Their lives have come full circle, so we thought it was time to visit the newly remodeled museum.

I liked the butterfly displayed made from many small butterflies.

The girls liked the hippo and really liked checking out the scars he had on his back side, wondering who or what attacked him?

Look at the hippo's teeth.  Seriously? That is crazy!

 Brenna always loves seeing the giraffe's, though I think she prefers living giraffe vs. taxidermy.

                                            Everyone thought the Otters were super cute

Kayla loved the "Sea Life"

Emi was okay with the big bushy buffalo.......

but did NOT like the lion taking down the yak.

Brenna tried to explain to her that this is The Circle of Life, like in the Lion King movie, but she wanted nothing to do with the killing or eating of other animals.   I think Emi prefers the zoo - with the living animals, and may pass next time we say we're going to the Bean Museum.  

Valentine's Hearts

Sending love to everyone this Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Scavenger Hunt

  Brenna prepared a scavenger hunt for us on Valentines day so we could find the notes she wrote to us. It was a family activity  but it was more like 'who could find the clue first, with possibly a little pushing and jockeying for position.  At one point we were all in Brenna's room and she said something about being a Super Hero and we all got our own personal super hero mask and we had to fly to the next clue. If your mask fell of or you took it off you couldn't get the next clue.  We had lots of fun with the scavenger hunt and reading the cards Brenna wrote for us. Happy Valentines Day! We love you B!

Happy Valetine's Day

We got to celebrate with this ginormous cookie from Nic's family.  Thank you Nielsen's!  

B's Valentine's Party

Valentine's Day in Elementary School is the best!  Crafts, food, fun, and valentine's make everyone pretty smiley. 

Brenna - In the picture we were making bow and arrows to see who could get there arrow the farthest. I tried to make an arrow but it just broke before I could do anything. I gave up and got a straw and a toothpick and blew. I won the contest!

 It is always fun to be a part of these parties.

Provo City Center Tempe Tour

Today we were able to take a tour of the new Provo City Center Temple. The structure was built as a Tabernacle back in 1885. Throughout the years, the tabernacle once served as a baptistery for the pioneers and has since been used for thousands of religious, community, and cultural events. In December of 2010, the community was heartbroken  when a fire destroyed the interior of this special building.

  

10 months later.... "During his opening remarks at the Saturday morning session of the 181st Semiannual General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson began his temple announcements by stating, "First, may I mention that no Church-built facility is more important than a temple. Temples are places where relationships are sealed together to last through the eternities. We are grateful for all the many temples across the world and for the blessing they are in the lives of our members." He then announced that the Provo Tabernacle, which had been devastated by fire the previous December, would be rebuilt as a second temple for the city of Provo. "

The Provo Tabernacle would be restored. not just to it's original grandeur and glory, but to an elevate state as a Holy Temple - A House of the Lord.   

Learn more about the special transformation of the temple here: Provo Temple Tour

It has been an amazing process to watch this beautiful building go from Tabernacle to Temple.  This transformation has been very symbolic of our own journey through mortality.  We all experience the 'refiner's fire' - but as we turn to the Lord, trust in Him,  and use His Infinite Atonement, He can help elevate us to a higher level.   

Sweethearts Response

You may have noticed, dance proposals and dance responses happen often in this house - I'd say at least every 4-6 weeks.  Tonight Kayla got answered by her friend Jared - It would be Spoontastic to Shake it at the dance with you! 

Sister Love

A little Sister Love with Em and Brenna.  I have always been grateful for how close the girls are to each other - both in age and in their relationships.  There where many times when have 5 girls under the age of 9 was hard and taxing, but I wouldn't change it for anything.  They've grown up together.  Up until last August, when Aubrey went away to college, they had always shared a bathroom (yes -  5 girls in one bathroom) shared rooms with at least other sister, shared the breakfast bar and  the comics every morning.  Shared endless stories and countless hours talking and laughing together.  They really are each other's best friends and I hope that will always be the case.   NEC Family.

One Good Man - Bishop Miller

Robert and I have been preparing for this day for about a month now.  Our journey has been laced with tender mercies, personal revelation, and confirmation - which have been recorded in our family journal.   They have brought comfort and guidance as we have recognized some of the changes that will come to our family as he accepts this call to serve as our Bishop.  He has served as the 2nd counselor to the Bishop for the past 5 years, but will now take the helm of leading our congregation.  

 Here's a little about a bishop's role:

A bishop is the leader of a local congregation (known as a ward) with duties similar to those of a pastor, priest or rabbi. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this position is unpaid.

Each bishop is assisted by two counselors. Together, this bishopric oversees the spiritual and social needs of their ward members. The bishop helps each member of his congregation in their efforts to follow Jesus Christ. In addition to spiritual matters, a bishop helps members who are struggling financially or in other ways to become self-reliant through welfare assistance. A bishop also oversees practical matters such as records, reports, finances and the meetinghouse where members meet.

Bishops typically serve for about five years. Bishops report to stake presidents, and these local leaders have a significant amount of local autonomy to make decisions regarding the members in their wards and stakes. 

Robert and I started our day with a small testimony meeting with the prior bishopric and their wives and the stake presidency.  It is always such a blessing to hear the deep feelings and beliefs of others and to have the spirit testify to your own heart of the truthfulness of those things.

  

From there, we headed to our church building for our normal church services.  All members of the bishopric were released by the stake president over the pulpit and the congregation was able to express their appreciation by the uplifted hand.   Robert was then called as the Bishop of the South Jordan 4th ward in the South Jordan Stake of Zion followed by the calling of his 2 counselors - Al Stosich and Chad Carlson. The congregation provided a sustaining vote.   The remainder of the meeting was devoted to testimony's of the Savior. 

Immediately following Sacrament Meeting, Robert was set apart by President Maxfield, with President Conrad, President Bronson, Steve Sandquist (high counselor serving with 4th ward), and his 2 new counselors.  It was a very tender blessing for all of us and we we're able to record some of our thoughts and feelings on our 'other plates' - aka. our family journal. 

  We are thankful for the opportunity Robert has, and our entire family has, to serve the Lord by serving those around us.  We have a testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and continue to see it change us and shape us for the better.  

4th Year High Adventure

As Stake Leaders we have the chance to take all our 4th year campers on a High Adventure prior to Girls Camp, regardless if it's a stake or ward camp.  We normally do an overnight adventure, but with scheduling issues, we chose to do a 1-day camp this year and took all the girls Rock Climbing at The Quarry.  For many of them, it was their first time climbing.  Luckily, we have 1 instructor for every 6 girls (3 pairs) so that was super helpful.  We did our orienteering all together where they taught us all about knots and belaying. It takes a lot of teamwork, trust, and good communication with your partner before heading one of these rock walls.  

We also spent some time on side walls and a small ninja warrior wall.  I have to admit - it looks a a lot easier on TV than it actually is.  I guess I have no grip strength.

Some of these girls were much better at it than I was.

After The Quarry we had lunch together at the Pizza Factory - famous for their twisted bread sticks on skewers.  Such a great group of Royal Daughters!  Love you Girls!