Think positively by Rickenbacker

Think positively and masterfully, with confidence and faith, and life becomes more secure, more fraught with action, richer in achievement and experience.

~Eddie Rickenbacker 1890-1973, Decorated Aviator and Businessman

New Header...

I finally took time to make a header. Yes, it is 12:24am but sometimes it is worth missing sleep to get important projects completed.

The header is compiled of pictures that Carrie Stroud took at the wedding. To see her work, go to carriestroudphotography.blogspot.com.

Left Picture: Sydney and Conner at the wedding reception holding pinwheels.
Center Picture: Is of the beautiful box that my niece Brianna made for Billy and I as a wedding gift. It went so very well with the theme of the 4th of July. The saying is so true, "Let Your Love Sparkle".
Right Picture: Billy and I leaving the reception heading to the honeymoon suite at Brasstown Valley.

More pictures of the wedding will be posted soon. Yes, more pictures. It was great taking them, so got to share them!!!

Throwing a baseball

Saturday night, Billy got Conner a new baseball glove. He has been breaking it in this week. This evening, he was playing with the glove and saying that it was almost ready. I said let's go and throw the ball back and forth. So we did.

The best part was watching Billy's face as we started throwing. He had this grin on his face. I asked why he had that face. He responded that he was impressed that I could throw and catch. Made me feel good. All those years of playing little league softball proved itself tonight.

Notes from Stake Conference

Billy and I attended the Saturday night session of Stake Conference in Tallahassee. I took notes and below is what I got from the speakers. The spirit was very strong, I felt.

First Speaker (Topic: Firm a Foundation)
- Only in Jesus Christ can we have peace.
- Be of good cheer for I am in your mist.
- The more we know of the savior the more we can with stand our trials.
- I will ease the burdens that are on their backs.
- The lord will have a people that have been tried and tested. The trials will
be different.
- Trials and troubles come to all of us and we don't want to trade with anyone
else.
- When have trials we should ask yourself...
1) What would the lord want me to do with the situation
2) What am I to learn from this
3) Know that theses will give experience and strength
- Why trials... maybe it is because we are showing the lord that he can trust
us.
- Sometimes we can help others with the troubles that they go through.
- Quoted a song, "How Firm A Foundation" that goes along with talk....

How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

Second Speaker (Topic: Joy in studying the scriptures)
- Study the scriptures so that you need them
- The Lord knows us and He knows what we need. Important to rely on him because he knows us and by name (1 Corinthians 13)
- The scriptures are a way to speak to us.
- Ask as read, what would god have me do or feel.
- Go to the scriptures with a purpose.
- Going to the scriptures for what to do/Go for help.
- The Lord put HELP in the scriptures for us. They have they
answers for what we need.
- As read a scripture journals is a great way to recall what have learned.
- Set a time for self, like in the morning or evening. Once get used to regular scripture study will be missed if don't read. It's like food, we don't miss a meal.
- As we make the scriptures part of our lives, we can look forward to the scriptures becoming a part of us. For example, will begin to quote scriptures or use them in our lives daily.

Third Speaker (I chose to live by faith not fear)Billy liked inspirational quote
- True faith must be centered in Christ.
- Faith is a principle of action.
- Moroni Ch 7, discusses have faith.
- God is always faithful. He never flees.
- This speaker discussed a hymn that made a bunch of sense with faith and fear called, “When Faith Endures” hymn 128

I will not doubt, I will not fear;
God’s love and strength are always near.
His promised gift helps me to find
An inner strength and peace of mind.
I give the Father willingly
My trust, my prayers, humility.
His Spirit guides; his love assures
That fear departs when faith endures.

Fourth Speaker (Topic: Harmony)
- Many different stages of life.
- By power of Holy Ghost you shall know all things.
- Need to go to the Lord and ask what should do.
- Discussed what Harmony means
- Harmony, consider what struggle with and listen and feel.
- What could do to improve?
- Expects us to be unified as parents and have patience.
- Desire of harmony should help be more patient.
- Our responsible is to make each other be happy and not point out faults.
- Do best when serve those we love with peace.
- Speaker mentioned that whatever seems unfair will be made write in Gods time.
- Should anticipate the need to forgive....
- Story from Ensign in August 2011 “The Lords Grace is Enough”
- The atonement has no bounds, if willing to repent.
- Our imperfections can become our strength because with the Lord’s help able to overcome.
God loves us and forgiveness is progression.
- Come to understanding that we have weakness and as we strive to be better we can.
- Anticipate the need to forgive and forgive.

Cornerstones of a Happy Home by President Hinckley
- Have Mutual Respect (stop looking for faults but for virtues. Ask can you say anything good about me), an ideal wife is anyone that has an ideal husband. Husbands and wives respect one another.
- The Soft Answer (Proverbs... a soft answer turneth away wrath) when raise our voices a mole hill turns to a mountain. Might not seem raised to one but could be raised to someone. He that is slow to anger will bring peace.
- Financial Honesty (Malachi pour out a blessing. Those that are honest with god will be honest with our dealings. Isaiah 58 speaks of blessing as does Malachi 8
- Family Prayer (Kneeling together with family in prayer and the big storms will not be as big when take to Heavenly Father. Relationships will strengthen through the years and feel the security because of the spirit that lives in the home. Will mature and grow with faith in the living god of children in home. As we live in harmony we can identify what is missing in our lives but not of our spouse.

Choose your love and love your choice.

Financial Insight

"It is only when people shake off the baggage of financial misinformation they have acquired from their parents, teachers, friends and past financial disasters that they are able to advance themselves financially."  Todd Dean

I find much truth in this statement.

First day of Middle School

Sydney wouldn't poise for a pictures before school so I took it while she was walking with her new homeroom teacher, Dr Palmer.

2 kings 5:1-14

What I got from this...
Sometimes just showing up is half the battle.
Sometimes what is asked really not that hard.
Allow God to act in our lives.
Recognize him as he walks with us daily and let his providence in our lives.

My Matzo Ball Soup

Yummy. I made Matzo Ball Soup today because Billy and Conner are sick.  However it was a great reason for me to cook the soup. Ive not had any since NYC last summer.  Oh, how I love the memories that this soup makes me remember.  My dad would make this soup for us growing up. I love the memories of him cooking. A lot of times that I cook on Sunday are days that I remember my dad.

He also loved to shop for bargains so I am happy for share that I got 6 boxes of the soup for $.99 each regularly over $3.00 a box.  So that was one more additional memory of my dad. 

I hope this helps everyone feel better.

Also, this is so easy to make that it is an item that I am considering adding to food storage.

Santa Rosa Beach

We went to the beach Saturday with family. It was to celebrate the August birthday's and it was the last time for Billy to go since the teacher's come back on Monday so we could really relax and have fun.  Had a really great time spending time everyone.   Conner and Billy had the first  opportunity to spend time with my side of the family which was great for me to watch how well they fit in and are so loved.