This is Melissa. Yes, I hacked into my mom's blog. I'm going to leave this post to see how long it takes her to notice it. Let the game BEGIN!

Prioritizing

I love Sundays! Talk about a day for rejuvenation! We talked about 'prioritizing' in RS/Priesthood combined meeting today. I really fall short in this area. But it made me feel ok knowing that I certainly am not the only one. Wow... when someone that you think has it all together and then they make the same comment that I've just been thinking..... it's great to know that we're all in the same boat, sailing the same rough waters. I especially liked one quote by Thomas S. Monson when he was a mission pres. "Attitude = Altitude" Think about it!! Our attitude and pride is what will keep us out of the Celestial Kingdom and our Heavenly Father's presence. It was a great lesson. Thanks Brother Holt. I also came across something else that was said in a lesson quite a while ago that I wrote in my quote/spiritual lessons learned in church book that I really like. The 3 Essential Components for Happiness:
1 Someone to Love
2 Something to do
3 Something to look forward too
Thanks Brother Dodge for being a great 'discussion leader', as you like to put it. I'm thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows just what I need and when I need it and places me where I will hear it.

The Draper Temple dedication was another spiritual high for me. We had Stake Conference that day, came home for dinner and then went back to the Stake Center for the dedication. It renewed my want and need to go more often to the temple. I feel so much peace when I'm there I can't figure out why I don't make the time to go more frequent. There's that prioritizing again. I've actually made a short master list of my priorities:
1 God/Spiritual
2 Family
3 Work/Home/Exercise
4 Fun
If I try to involve my family in all 4 areas then we should become closer as a family....family, for those of you that know me, they are very important to me. I seem to find myself caught up more with the mundane things of life and that is not even on my master list. I think that the Higher Source is going to have to help me out with my list and my getting things in perspective.

The wedding of my lovely niece and her boy Chuck was fabulous. I especially enjoyed the sealers comments. Another day to take a picture with my heart. My sister Diane looked beautiful. I hope that we can start doing more together. Family... it's very important to me. All of my children were there and it seems such a rarity when that happens. They grow up soooo fast! Where did my little babies go? Today at the dinner table there was so much quiet that I just had to comment that you could tell that Kallie was gone, or for that matter any of my girls! I said that I didn't know how I would get through the next 3 years if this was what is was going to be like. Trying to get a conversation going with two 15 year old boys was really quite painful and eventually I gave up. This too I shall endure. I miss my girls. Kallie is in NY right now on choir tour and it is very quiet here. Well, until next post. Keep smiling Ü

A Great Time with Family

Wow! Ü I had a great time in Florida with my mom and my sister and neice. I'm sorry Amy that things were so hectic for you, being that it was your last few days as "Belle" and leaving one stage of your life behind. But you are going to have a great new adventure starting now and I am so very happy for you. Chuck is simply the BEST! Ü



We did everything from Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom to Nemo in Animal Kingdom. It was great visiting the French Pastry Shoppe at Epcot for dinner. Diane and I will be working that dinner off for a while. The fireworks at Epcot and Magic Kindom were fantastic and the beach at Cocoe Beach was amazing. Now I can say that I've dipped my feet in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.... no big deal to some... but I thought that I never really would in my life time, thanks mom. Memories of mom on her scooter will never be forgotten Ü ♥ remind me of them when I get older (Norway at Epcot and the display stand Ü). Even though I was with family.... I still kept thinking of my little Naters and how much fun he would have had at Magic Kingdom and Disney Studios where Amy worked. He's just at the age when the magic is still so real. I missed my children and somehow felt very guilty for having fun without them. I did take lots and lots of pictures!! I'll share when I get a chance.



Last but not least I like how Amy and Kallie have their Sunday Sunshines and Bethany has her Friday Flashbacks so I just might have Monday Memory's or Tuesdays Thoughts.... I'll think about it. It might get me on here a little bit more. I love reading everyones blogs, it keeps me up on things that are happening with friends that I haven't seen for a while. Luv ya all... until next time

Glad to Still Be Here

I had a very frightening but spiritual experience yesterday. I was traveling home from doing an insurance medical exam on a woman that lived in the Brickyard area of Salt Lake. I was making a left turn onto State St. from 33rd South. I was the first car waiting for my green arrow to turn. I got the green arrow and started to pull out into the intersection. All of a sudden I heard this voice in my head telling me to stop... so I did... I looked again at the green arrow and said out loud "the arrow is green" so I started again to go when all of a sudden this car heading north on State St. ran his red light (VERY RED LIGHT) going at least 45 to 50 mph. Needless to say he would have tee-boned me in the driver side door had I not stopped. I feel very blessed that I had that warning and that I listened. I truly feel that I may have been killed or very seriously injured if I had not stopped. The people behind me I think were amazed that I stopped as well. When they passed me a while later on State St. they both looked at me and smiled. Thanks for the Holy Ghost and the promptings that we receive and thanks to a loving Heavenly Father who offers these experiences for our growth, no matter how frightening they may be. Again I want to say how much I love my family. I came home and hugged all that was here and later just held Abi for comfort. I didn't want to drive the rest of the day. Later while Mike and I were watching the news there were 2 traffic accidents reported and Mike commented that "that could have been you". Again thank you Heavenly Father for more time with my family.
On a lighter note! In two days I will be flying to Florida to see my beautiful niece in her finale Belle performances. It is hard for her to see it all end but she has a very cute prince charming here waiting for her and she's excited for that. Thanks mom for this opportunity!! Ü

My Heart takes a picture

Sunday was one of those special days that your heart takes a picture. It was Abigail's blessing day. I had the privilege of holding my precious little granddaughter in my arms during Sacrament meeting and the sweet memories of holding her dear sweet mother in my arms the day she was blessed came flooding back so vividly to my mind. Abigail has the same sweet face that her mother did at her age and just holding her brings back the sweet memories of when I was a new mother. It's these special memories that keep all the wicked things of the world at bay for me even if it's a short time. I've been thinking a lot lately of what it means to be a mother of such wonderful spirits of my Heavenly Father. What did I do to be so lucky to have such wonderful blessings in my life. I love my children so much that words cannot describe the feelings accurately. They bring both my most cherished memories and my biggest heartaches. I've decided that being a mother is my biggest test in this life. Sometimes I wonder if I'm quite up for the task. I feel very inadequate at many times. I am lucky though because I know at these times I can listen to that still small voice of the spirit and feel the promptings and advice from a loving Heavenly Father. At times though I find that my pride gets in the way and blocks that sweet advice and the advasary starts in with the frustrated feelings of inadaquicy that he loves to provide. This life is definetly a test of wills. I long for the day when all is well. I have been blessed with very wise and choice spirits. I need to trust that Mike and I have taught what is needed to survive the cruel pleadings and enticements of Satan. I see my children each day fight him and his followers. I am so proud of their willingness to do what is right. I see some struggle and slip but they are willing to push forward. I see Melissa and the wonderful mother that she is and I wonder where she learned all that she knows. She is absolutly resilient in her teaching of right and wrong. She most definetly is a Mother in Zion. Thank you Father in Heaven for giving me the opportunity to learn from such valient spirits.
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I really need to get an updated picture of the family!! Ü This is the only picture that we have Ryan in but it was taken in Oct. of 2005. We have since added Nathan and Abigail. Matthew has shot up to 6+ ft. and Ryan no longer looks like a little boy. Kallie hates her hair in this picture but it will do until we get another one. Any suggestions on good photographers that don't charge an arm and a leg?

My Three Girls and Me