when a picture makes your day

last week was a good week in pictures.

I mean, you can have good hair days, I even declare some days good handwriting days, so why not a good picture day?

I decided to document one of my favorites in a layout, all for that one pic. it will probably make an appearance in the weekly project life layout too, but it was just so good, I decided that two showings for it would be just fine.

(supplies used: maggie holmes “styleboard” mini kit, template h, heritage paper, stitching from anna aspnes, tags and button from queen of quirk, arrow paperclip from sahlin studio, and the glitter from ikari designs.)

and the most awesome thing is that this ^^^ isn’t the only beautiful thing about life lately!

I have had so much energy, so much motivation, my list of things to-do is longer than I have time to accomplish.

I care about life!

I know (I KNOW) that my little corner of the world (at least my perception of it) has so vastly improved because of prayer. prayers of family, loved ones, caring friends, and my own.

it’s sweet..

president eyring spoke just to me (I swear!!!!) at women’s conference. it was aimed right. at. me. even better? I was able to get 3 tickets pretty much last minute for me and lynn and ash to be able to go to the conference center. (answered prayers again..)

I wish I had recorded ashley’s facial expression when I told her she would be in the same room as the prophet. think = priceless.

the only thing that could have possibly made that night better would have been if peyton were 8 and able to attend with us.

but let’s not hurry that along too much…

we also had conference weekend. there were great things that weekend, as there always are. again, I tell you, president eyring spoke right. to. me.

(I mean, you can think it was to you, but.. well…)

I am working on my studio and being just as ocd as ever about ever last detail.

my biggest problem?

committing where to put my table…

Day 16.

I am thankful for the scriptures, for words from living prophets.

I set a goal this year to read the Book of Mormon (again) and to take my time, really studying and pondering what I read.  I wanted my study to remind me of my days in seminary, when my scriptures were all marked-up.  I may not be very far into the book, but the knowledge I have gained exceeds the amount of pages that could be bookmarked.

Today, as I was reading, a light was turned on.  There was something that was new to me.  Something that meant more to me than it did in previous readings.  It gave me great hope and comfort.

As if to prove a point, I was reading later in the Ensign, and the same thing happened.  I was reading a conference talk by Elder Bednar.  It was one that I listened intently to during this last conference, but in reading it, promises given to us stood out as if in bold font.  Another great blessing.  Another comfort.

I am so thankful to have these words, this encouragement and guidance from a loving Heavenly Father.   

Birthday fun...

I got this gem finished just in time...
Before ripping into the gifts...
While ripping into them...
One for each... got them on clearance, 2 for 1, and they love them, so do I. All the fun of a puppy without the chewing, peeing, pooping, and dog food smell... bleh!
Her Dorothy cake. I think I decorated this in less than 15 minutes... it shows, the frosting is bleeding, she is missing her arms... she looks a bit like the Joker... she was delicious.
All in all, had a good day. Went to mom and dad's for lunch. Ate with grandpa W. too. He's so sweet. Peyton was so excited to see him. So was Ash. Those two love to play together. Lunch was yummy! For some reason, it always tastes better when she cooks... we enjoyed the second session of conference together and then ate that mess of a cake.
After the monotony and business of this past week, today was just what I needed. I loved Elder Eyring's talk and have it in my head to be more positive... if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all!
As for Merrill... it sure will be weird to have him home, now that the girls and I have our own little set up. Don't get me wrong, we miss the heck out of him, but it feels like it's been so long, it will be weird. He's been crammed full of information, he just prays he'll retain it all.
Cutest conference moment, yesterday, when the primary choir was singing, Hallie, Sophie, Lynn, and Ashley were all singing along too. It was so sweet! Then Lynn had to go and throw in her own made up silly word "conkie" and wreck the sweet mood and turn it into silliness... cute while it lasted though.
Oh... had fun yesterday Jacks! Thanks for breaking it up for me...
I have a blogiversary coming up... watch for a give away :)

Funny story... last night Ash was saying her prayers. She asked Heavenly Father to have Jesus keep us safe so Michael Meyers won't come and get us! Halloween was on AMC in AUGUST... what a memory. Merrill did used to have the mask, I'm not sure where the memory came from but Merrill and I had to hold back the laughter.
Today, on public radio, they addressed a talk that Sister Beck gave in conference. I remember her talk, I remember feeling reaffirmed in what I am doing with my life. But apparently some women, inside the church and outside the church, felt very offended and even put on a guilt trip. I was a little leery of listening in. I didn't want to hear any contention. I felt like it would turn into stay-at-home moms against working moms, which her talk didn't even get into. She spoke about the role of mother, and that we need to get back to what mothering really is. Keeping a clean home, nurturing our children, playing and interacting with them, home-making... I have to say that I was in no way offended. I could imagine some women that I know who might feel a pang or two of guilt, but for the most part, I felt it was encouraging and uplifting. People are saying that she is outdated and out of touch with the times... I am no June Cleaver, but I know that the Spirit dwells in my home, and it is because I work my butt off to make sure that my home is a heaven.
I also felt very blessed because there was a BYU professor who kept stressing that in today's economic conditions, there needs to be two income households in order for families to have the "American Dream". She said that in Utah's economic climate, in order to get a median home, you need to bring in $70,000 a year! First of all, since we have had children, this household has been a single income household. Secondly, I can say, we have NEVER earned that much a year, but we have a home. We do what is right, we do what is asked of us, no matter how difficult it sometimes seems, and we are blessed. I think that it takes faith in order to do what we are told, and it is because we show our faithfulness that we are blessed.
I think about how our leaders go about deciding what they address in conference. They fast and pray, just as we are to fast and pray for answers to the questions and concerns that we have. The answers come to us in the forms of these conference talks sometimes. I just wonder how many women, mothers or not, prayed for this talk.