Puppy still has to go out...

Something we got to experience was winter with a puppy. Everytime he had to go outside we got to venture into the tundra with him because we don't have a fenced in yard. We kept Steve's thick down coat by the back door and his boots because everyone could slip into those and brave the cold with the curious puppy.

Some walks with Pippin were warmer than others, and we tried to be sure he went for a walk in the late afternoon, when things were a tad warmer.

Sewer problems...

Yes, we had our sewer pump give up the ghost. We had to contact the company out in Salt Lake and send a technician to replace it. It costed a pretty penny, but we won't focus on that. It's just so nice to have working plumbing!

The next morning after our pump died, the house started to smell like sewage. We opted to go elsewhere to eat. First, though, we all had to use the bathroom, so we drove to the hotel down the street where my mom works and used the restroom. When we got there, we could smell the most delightful continental breakfast. Mom asked if we could pay to eat there, and her boss let us go ahead and just eat for free. God bless them and that hotel! We seriously wouldn't have had a better breakfast buffet than what they served there.

Amara loves the waffles

There were so many delicious options!

Lily also loved the waffles!

Amara made us a reminder sign on the bathroom door so that no one accidently flushed!

Stake Relief Society Fun...

Know what's awesome about being in the Stake Relief Society? You get to go to activities with the entire stake and enjoy getting to know the sisters! We were asked to speak at the Relief Society birthday parties in the Uinta River ward and in the Tridell ward.

Uinta River ward's theme was Oh how you are "Souper Kneaded!" We gave talks centered on that theme and then we had a delicious soup dinner with home made cinnamon rolls to take home!

Below is my talk for your reading enjoyment. I'm not sure why it's formatted with a center alignment, which is distracting to me, but oh well!

Aloha Sisters!

Listen to these pleading exclamations from our prophet President Russell M Nelson. My dear sisters we need you! We need your strength, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices!
No one can do what a righteous woman can do!
Women shape the future!

Jeffrey R Holland stated, “May we labor side-by-side with the Lord of the Vineyard giving a helping hand with his staggering task of answering prayers, providing comfort, drying tears, and strengthening feeble knees.”

Our prophets understand that there is a labor to be performed and they are delivering the message that the Lord really needs us!

Do you believe that? Do you believe that the Lord can really use you? Do you believe you are good enough and wanted? Do you believe that the God of heaven and earth really wants your imperfect efforts and limited abilities? I find it interesting to note that God who can do everything and anything chooses to use us to accomplish his work. Yet, as we have observed in nature, one tiny effort done by many accomplishes amazing results. And as we have observed through accounts in the scriptures, and possibly our own lives, imperfect people working in tandem with God accomplishes miraculous things!

One way the Lord "kneads" us is in ministering. When you’re making bread do you know what kneading is and why we do it? Kneading is when you work the dough usually by hand for the purpose of developing and combining the proteins which adds strength to the final product. The kneading process warms and strengthens these protein strands eventually creating a springy and elastic dough. If it is not kneaded enough, it will not be able to hold the tiny pockets of air and will collapse. In hand kneading, the dough is placed on a prepared surface, pressed and stretched and turned repeatedly until the dough is elastic and smooth. You know you have kneaded enough when you can press your thumb into it and the dough bounces back.

I like the imagery of this. Kneading is a work worth undertaking to achieve a dough that is strong enough that it won’t collapse. Can you see how we are like dough and how the Lord takes the time to work us to develop us and give us strength? Can you see how when the Lord works us in ministering that we are both warmed and stretched by his hands? As we are placed in a prepared assignment, the working begins and it can press your time, stretch you out of your comfort zone, and turn you about repeatedly, yet we all desire the strength it will give us.

Many of you are going through hard things in your lives. Perhaps you lack the feeling of security, perhaps you’re adjusting to the loss of a loved one, perhaps you feel your life is out of balance and you have great life decisions to make, perhaps you’re raising children and trying to establish good habits, perhaps you have health challenges, perhaps you’re feeling inadequate in your calling, or perhaps you have people who are dear to you who have turned away from God. My dear sisters you need the Lord! You need his strength, his conviction, his ability to lead, his wisdom, and his voice. No one can do what the Savior can do! Women may be the ones who shape the future, yet the future depends on if we women allow the Savior to shape us!

Sisters, let’s act! Let’s work with the Lord! Let’s get in there in his vineyard with him and begin nourishing in any way we can. This does not mean to begin adding countless items onto your to do lists! It means doing as sister Joy D Jones said and “seeing each task that you all are already doing as a privilege and opportunity to serve the Lord whether you are in the midst of deadlines, duties, or dirty diapers.”

Take what you’re doing and turn it into a way to glorify God. It is this small change in attitude that will nourish all those around you. It is the essence of living a ministering lifestyle.

Sister Michelle Craig said that resolving to follow the Spirit’s promptings changes the way I think about “my time“ and I see people not as interruptions but as the purpose of my life.

Our stake president has also offered a similar sentiment emphasizing that we need to remember to place our priority on people before our projects.

In Galatians chapter 5 verse nine we read that “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” With that in mind, may our ministering alongside the Lord allow us to recognize our growth within ourselves, like leaven, and spread to all those around us. May it afford us the strength that we all so desire. May we offer ourselves to be kneaded or “worked” in this grand effort that the Lord needs us for.

Me and my 2nd counselor, Carol.

Tridell ward focused on planting the words of the prophet deep in your heart. They had us come and bear our testimonies concerning the restoration. We got some flower seed packets and had a delicious dinner and desserts. I loved getting to know everyone.

I brought my mom with me! She loves these activities as much as I do.

Yummy brisket, sweet potato casserole, veggies, and a roll.

Judging the 5th Grade Science Fair...

I had the chance to judge the science fair at Steve's school again. I love seeing all the projects and listening to the children describe what they did.