Brynja's Birthday!

Brynja is now 4! She was very excited to have a birthday this year and asked every day for 3 weeks if it was today. She was also way excited to have a friend party for the first time. I think they had fun, we made magic wands, played Angry Bird bowling thanks to Daddy, had Angry Bird cake balls etc.. Thanks to Aunt Sal for bringing her good friend Livia up and to Aunt Jill for that gift card she is looking forward to picking herself another gift! Thanks Papa and Nana too for your money but that goes to the bank. She is already looking forward to her next birthday, it will be a long wait.

Nov and Dec goals

Sorry this is so late but better late then not at all!!!!!!
For the November goal we read the talks. We like to read a talk each day.
For the December goal we are reading the New Testament for our scripture reading.
Also Ron I discovered that the savior never never never got angery. That is what I have personnally gained for your goal. I guess I always knew it but did not think about it enough.
Life is a challege but worth it. Follow the Savior in all we do!!!

Food Storage sale again

Most of us are focused on having a good supply of food storage. I calculated out the recommendations on the church website and I think our family has enough grains and beans for a one year supply. So, I decided we'd focus on meats, fruits and veg. this year. Freeze-dried is a little more expensive than dehydrated, but maintains better nutrition, looks and texture.
I was looking at the Emergency Essentials sale ad for the month of Jan. and noticed some good deals.
They usually have a few group buys every month.
Here's the ones I was interested in:

1. Freeze-dried Roast Beef 25 oz. $41.99 or +6 = $39.99
(this may seem expensive, but FD meats are not cheap)

2. FD peach chunks 17 oz $16.99 or +6 = $16.49

3. FD strawberry dices $14.99 or +6 +$14.19

I know we've done the peaches and strawberries before, buy why wouldn't you want more of those two?

4. FD seasoned white turkey 18 oz. $38.99 or +6 = $37.99

5. Strawberry flavored apple chips $9.99 or +6 = $9.49

Of course there are other things if you want to check out the website beprepared.com
This deal goes until the end of Jan, but is also subject to first come, first served style. Don't wait too long to respond to this.

Dad's January Goal

Did You Think to Pray?

This hymn is on page 140. Because we are already commanded to pray each morning and each night I thought this would be a good song to focus on. I want each of us to make a special effort to be sure to pray each morning and each night. Try to think about this song throughout the day. Also, I would like you to memorize it.
Dad
p.s. Jill IS my favorite daughter, just in case any of you were wondering.

2012 Goals

Ok everyone. Leesa told me I was in charge of this again so I will assume you all want to continue to do it. If anyone doesn't want to, to bad...we are all in this together ( or so the blog title says).

I thought for this year we could base our goals off of a primary song or hymn. This way we can learn the church songs better and pay more attention to what they mean. If someone else had a different/better idea let me know ASAP.

Jan. Dad
Feb. Dan
Mar. Jason
Apr. Jill
May. Leesa
Jun. Skip
Jul. Mom
Aug. Ronald
Sep. Ronda
Oct. Sally
Nov. Steve
Dec. Skip

(it is done in alphabetical order if you can't tell)

December Goal

John 3: 16-17

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved.

As the celebration of the birth of Christ arises, so does the world marketing and commercializing. I want to make a goal for this month to really focus on the Savior.

#1) Have your FHE lessons, focused on how we can be like him.

#2) With your family pray about a way you can serve like Christ did, (ex. Helping a family in need, doing service for others)

# 3) Read some scriptures out of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and report something you learned about the Savior or an attribute you want to improve on.

If we can focus on being like Christ and not on ourselves and the gifts we are receiving I know we can be come closer to him and remember why we have Christmas.

Report back and lets see what we learned.

Jill's Fav Quote (well one of them) for November Goal

This quote is from Elder Neil l. Andersen's talked titled "Children." I read this talk when I was having a really bad day with Preston.

Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get. Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.

Obviously none of us have issues with "if we should have children." But this quote reminded me of all the other things I want to do and sometimes neglect the children I do have. It was a great reminder that motherhood is MY calling in life. This is what I wanted since I was a child and I need to take advantage of the blessings I have been give. I hope each one of us will remember that this is what God gave us time for. I always think of how many older women tell me to cherish them while they are little because it goes by so fast. Some days seem like an eternity, yet when I look back at pictures from the past or their little clothes they once wore my emotions start to go crazy as I think of all the time I have wasted NOT spending time with them, scolding them for childish behaviors, and pawning them off onto something else. Let us each remember to give our children the individual time they truly need from each of us parents. I love you all and I thank you for your great examples to me.

New Blog Background

Sorry if someone doesn't like this new background. It reminded me of all the mints we bought dad at Christmastime when we were younger. Hope you are all safe and well and enjoying this holiday season.

sorry to everyone due to the big storm here on Thursday and required OT for Ron at work
he has not had time to publish his goal, he will do it though.
so everyone knows we were sent home from church early today due to continued
clean up efforts in our ward and stake and with another very bad wind
storm coming we all needed to work hard to pick up the garbage before it hits
again. Hope we will have power all day but if not sorry if Ron can't post tonight.
He is out with the priesthood working right now and hopefully will be in and safe
before it starts tonight.

Jill's 3rd talk

I read the talk "A Time to Prepare" by Elder Ian S. Arden. Here are the points that stood out to me.
1. Set goals and learn how to master the techniques to achieve them. I think we all do well at setting goals and then lose sight of it because we haven't figured out a "game-plan" to achieve them.
2. Giving our time in the service of God is pleasing to God and that will draw us nearer to him. I know that if I spent more of my time serving others I would feel happier and more at peace.
3. Time is never for sale; time is a commodity that cannot, try as you may, be bought at any store for any price. Yet when time is wisely used, its value is immeasurable. I think it's important to pay attention to how we spend our time and remember that we won't get lost minutes back.
4. We are all indebted to God for the ability to use time to advantage, and he will require of us a strict account of its disposition. This part really struck me when it said we will have to give an account of our time. I'm pretty sure that a lot of my time has not been spent wisely.
5. We must be sure that being busy also equates being productive. As I've thought about that I keep thinking how often I say, "I'm so busy,' yet when someone asks me what I did today I usually say "Nothing!" Why is that?
6. How sad it would be if the phone and computer drowned out the simplicity of prayer to a loving Heavenly Father. Let us be as quick to kneel as we are to text.
7. To have the peace the Savior speaks of we must devote our time to the things that matter most, and the things of God matter most. As we dedicate our lives to keeping the commandments we will be blessed and have a great relationship with our Father in Heaven.
8. And lastly, he "invites us to identify the time-wasting distractions in our lives that may need to be figuratively ground into dust." I keep thinking of things that take me away from my callings, my church assignments, and my family and I have been trying to spend less time on those things that really won't matter next week.

Ronda's 2nd talk

Of course one of my talks is Forget Me Not by President Uchtdorf pg. 120
I used this one for my visiting teaching message this month but still wanted
to share a few quotes.
"If we spend our days waiting for fabulous roses, we could miss the beauty and
wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us."
"the happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket;
they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure
the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments. They are the ones who,
thread by daily thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder throughout
their lives. These are they who are truly happy"
"please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself"
and my favorite:
"You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious
Being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting
time! He who created and knows the stars knows you and your name-you are the
daughters of His kingdom."
I also used this one for FHE and bought candy bars and played the clip about
being happy now. It was a fun little object lesson for FHE.

Sally's Goal

So in following the rules and doing one of the 6 I decided to share a few thoughts that stood
out for me in my first talk.
The Privilege of Prayer by Elder J. Devn Cornish pg. 101

"I am led to believe that our Heavenly Father loves us so much that the
things that are important to us become important to Him, just because he
loves us"
"Please believe how very much your loving Heavenly Father wants to bless you.
But because He will not infringe upon our agency, we must ask for His help."
"The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves
and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made
conditional on our asking for them."
"It is contrary to the economy of heaven for the Lord to do for us
that which we can do for ourselves."
"The Lord is much more pleased with the person who prays and then goes
to work than with the person who only prays."
"Miracles are wrought through prayer"
I really enjoyed reading this talk and being reminded of the importance of praying and
how much our Father in Heaven loves us and is just waiting to bless us with miracles
in our lives.