Nattie

Copy Cat

My two and half year old pretty much copies anything he hears so even when he loves whats for dinner, he still cries and says, "that's disgusting, I not like dinner."
Today while I was changing his little brother, he looked over at us and said, "I just love that baby so much. He is the best baby."
He says awesome thing all the time, like a few days ago while he was eating breakfast I came down stairs for a second before I brought the baby down. He asked me, "You not bring my baby? I need my baby? Go get my baby."


Also today while we were out we stop by the store and on the way out of the store I accidentally step on his shoe and it fell off. He handed it to me, and since I was holding his little brother and it was a dry day I thought he could walk the 20 feet to the car without a shoe. So I held his hand and kept walking, he hopped on one foot all the way to the car. It was stinking hilarious!

Personal Ministry

About 8 years ago I was listening to my brother talk to my mom about General Conference. I started to get confused, I said you don't ask specific questions do you? He said yes I do. I said no, how could you get answers to questions specific about just you during General Conference? He said, I went to conference and expected to get the answer to What I should do in my (his name)'s personal ministry?

I always think about that before conference but I don't always have extremely specific personally questions before conference so I don't always put it into practice.

Well last summer was probably my hardest in my life. So as conference rolled around, I thought I have the very specific thing I NEEDED to know. I was going to seriously put my brother's practice to the test instead of half heartily think about questions.

I sat through so many sessions of conference and nothing. Really great talks, that taught me important things, but I did not get the answer to my one question. Just one question that I had. Then Sunday afternoon rolled around, I thought now or never. 
Two talks went by... 
Then finally as I sat there hand sewing a Halloween costume, 

Elder Carlos Godoy started his talk, The Lord Has a Plan for Us! 
It was the answer I was looking for. And then as an extra added piece of humor, Elder Hugo Martinez got up and gave, Our Personal Ministries. Say what? That is the question my brother asked seven and half years ago, what should he do in his personal ministry.

I feel like I have more study to do on the this concept of a personal ministry.
Elder Martinez said,

Our prayers were answered by their personal ministries. The faces of those three brethren reflected the love that Jesus Christ has for us, and their service—in other words, their personal ministry—brought much more than drinking water into our lives. To every son or daughter of God, knowing that people are interested in and watching out for his or her welfare is essential.
I testify to you that Heavenly Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ, know us individually and personally. For that reason, They provide what we need so we will have the opportunity to reach our divine potential. Along the road, They place people who will help us. Then, as we become instruments in Their hands, we are able to serve and help those They show to us by revelation.
In this way, the Lord Jesus Christ will reach all of Heavenly Father’s children. The Good Shepherd will gather all His sheep. He will do so one by one as they make good use of their moral agency—after hearing the voice of His servants and receiving their ministrations. Then they will recognize His voice, and they will follow Him. Such personal ministry is integral to keeping our baptismal covenants.
Likewise, being a good example of a disciple of Jesus Christ is our best letter of introduction to those with whom we can share His gospel. As we open our mouths and share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, we become “His undershepherds, charged with nourishing the sheep of His pasture and the lambs of His fold”; we become “the weak and the simple” “fishers of men.”
[..] We have the special opportunity to be instruments in His hands. We can be so in our marriages, in our families, with our friends, and with our fellowman. That is our personal ministry as true disciples of Jesus Christ.

Spain

Have I mentioned Spain on here?
I honestly can't remember what posts I write, and what I only write in my head, and what I posts I never even pretend to write.

We would like to spend a year abroad with my husband working in Spain. His co-worker who works in Spain would come work here. We have been planning it for more than a year. His boss approved it back in January, and sent it to HR. If I pieced things together, they are ignored it until April because they have more pressing matters. Once they start working on it, it will take usually 8-10 months to get a work Visa. Not only that, it could be longer because we need two sets because it only works when Brent is trading places. We have mentioned it to people we know that we are hoping to go to Spain. Which means people keep asking me progress. I know they are well meaning but its starting to grate on me, I've given up hope, because I'm so sick of trying to explain to people that working Visas take 9 months. People have no concept of what I'm talking about. We only know people that work abroad for the military or who have been to Mexico on vacation. Military visas are completely different as is vacation in Mexico.

Sunday Quotes

General Conference is only a few weeks away and I'm so not prepared. But in effort to catch up here is a Sunday thought from President Utchdorf, in his talk Living the Gospel Joyfully, during the General Women's Session.

"...those who see attendance at Church meetings as a personal way to increase their love of God, find peace, uplift others, seek the Spirit, and renew their commitment to follow Jesus Christ will find a far richer experience than those who simply put in their time sitting in a pew."

"Walking in the path of discipleship does not need to be a bitter experience. It “is sweet above all that is sweet.” It is not a burden that weighs us down. Discipleship lifts our spirits and lightens our hearts. It inspires us with faith, hope, and charity. It fills our spirits with light in times of darkness, and serenity during times of sorrow.
It gives us divine power and lasting joy."

"He [God] loves you today with a full understanding of your struggles. He is aware that you reach up to Him in heartfelt and hopeful prayer. He knows of the times you have held onto the fading light and believed—even in the midst of growing darkness. He knows of your sufferings. He knows of your remorse for the times you have fallen short or failed. And still He loves you."

Let me assure you I know this last quote to be true in my life. After months of postpartum depression that put my brain in the depths of hell, I know President Utchdorf is speaking truth.

Cake Bossin' it at our House

 For the Blue and Gold Cub Scout Banquet this year my husband decided to go cake boss style. He BUILT a stand for it.

They baked the cakes in old cleaned soup cans.

Then they stacked it up.

 Covered it frosting.

 And then ended up with a Lighthouse cake! My husband is such a fun scout dad.

My son also led the color guard. I was very impressed. I'm shocked and amazed at the amount of growth my son has made in the last year. I don't want to get into it all here, but I honestly can't believe the progress and he is definitely thriving in the cub scouts. 

If you click on the post and scroll down, you'll see their cake from last year. Their chess cake.
Speaking of chess, he placed in the district chess tournament again. Last year in second grade he got third place, This year in third grade he got second place.

Sometimes its rough to follow in your older brother's foot steps. She dreams of getting a trophy, yet she is nothing like her brother.

Winter Reading Program

Our local library has an adult reading program in the winter. 8 books in 8 weeks. Last year I read 8 books in 4 weeks before the baby came so the baby wouldn't bog me down. As the year progress the baby really did bog me down, but no time like the present to get back into gear.
I started the program late because I was worried I would fail.

The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun by Gretchen Rubin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. I'm not quite sure what my complaint about it was. In a way I thought it was too wordy, which is thick coming from me. Sometimes I wondered if I didn't like it because her personality seemed to have too much in common with me. I probably would have quit half way through if it wasn't for reading it for the library reading program. I wanted to prove to myself I could read something that wasn't overly entertaining. I didn't like the way she quoted/referenced things. At the same time the book definitely made me think about my actions. I definitely considered what my passions in life where. How I sound to strangers and my children. Am I more concerned with talking myself or listening? It was very thought provoking. I am an obsessive goal setter and always trying to improve different aspects of life, and over analysis my actions. I would probably recommend it to a friend, but with caveats. I'm a little hesitant to write this review because in the end of the book she talks about how for whatever reason our culture views negative reviews as more profound than positive. Lastly, I couldn't stand reading about her marriage. They both seemed selfish and it bothered me to constantly read about it.

Swindle by Gordon Korman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun book about a bunch of 6 graders, but I'd hardly say I loved it. My 9 year old very much enjoyed reading it and is now continuing in the series. I love heist stories so I was hoping I would enjoy more than I did. I might read more books in the series to bond with my 9 year old. But then again, I might not make time. Definitely a kid a book.

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely fast and an easy read. I found the book surprisingly unpredictable. This book is the best one in the series so far. I guess since Cammie is getting older and the plot and storyline is becoming more complex.

Persuasion by Jane Austen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I reread this book for book group. I love this story. I think 6 years later I had a different perspective, since the first time I read it I was in my early twenties. Almost the same gap between the beginning of Anne and Wentworth's love story and most of the book. I love that they are still in love with each other almost a decade later. I love Jane Austen's works, and this one is one of my favorites. I was a little shocked, the ladies at book group said the movies were better the books, because she was such a wordy author. Emma is definitely a wordy book, but other than that I don't Austen was wordy, just a different time period. I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinions but it definitely a ignorant sounding opinion.

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I can't tell if I liked this book better or the first. I thought it was better written but I enjoyed the plot of the first better. I felt like the ending of this one was much more abrupt then the last. I guess I hope that one day we come back to Zach because Carter left us hanging. Her mom is starting to get on my nerves, is that suppose to happen? I guess Carter is getting in my mind to think like a 15 year old.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I was in Middle School I liked this book better than Huck Finn, but rereading this time was different. Probably the difference of being an adult and a child. The beginning of the book it said, Huck Finn is a Great American story, while Tom Sawyer was the Great American Children's story. I kind of felt like too much time had past for me to love this book anymore. At the same time this book made me pity modern children, they miss so much with the screens, video games, and code of conduct for not allowing children to be alone/free.

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My biggest complaint with this book is in the plot the main character Cammie says their uniform skirt is down to their knees, but the picture on the cover is a girl in a mini skirt. This was a cute book, but not overally amazing. It is very clean and would be great for a 12 year old or so to read, but I honestly was surprised it was in the teenfic part of the library because it was so simple. (I'm not sure simple is the right word.) It was cute though. I'll pick up book 2 from the library. 

Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book. The first in the series I was luke warm about but this I loved, when I finished I wanted to start all over again. The series isn't finished but it seems to be starting the Disney fairytale ending, I sure hope at least, because lets being honest Carriger is writing Soap to be so dreamy. I honestly don't follow all the sci-fi nuances in the book, but the espionage part of the plot is enough I can ignore some of the sci-fi knowledge I'm lacking. I'm also enjoying the development of Sophronia and Dimity's best-friendship. I wished there was more explanation on Soap's arrival

I did not read this book for the reading program. I read it last summer.
The One by Kiera Cass
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I know I read this book, but I don't have a review. I can remember the ending. I can remember all the plot being a little anti-climatic. A little too dramatic for nothing happening. A little too teen fiction. A good teen fiction in this 30 year old's opinion is one that makes being a teen sound fun and relate-able. Not a one that reminds you how stupid teenagers can be. Now that I think about it, that was part of my complain with The Match series. I don't want to listen to whiny teens, I would rather read/re-experience that feeling of the whole world is waiting, and I can do anything I want. Now at 30 I know I won't do anything, because there is a whole lot I don't like to do. But at 17 you think you can, America did not capture that. She instead captured the "but I like so and so why did you talk to him? He is mine. Blah Blah Blah," annoying teen age girl drama. But I did feel heavily invested in the plot after the first two books. I did enjoy the first two.


View all my reviews