Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Reese's Puffs



I have always thought these would be disgusting in the morning.  Chocolate and peanut butter first thing in the morning...  Or even for any time of the day, I just thought chocolate peanut butter cereal sounded kind of nasty.  Steve, on the other hand loves it.  And we found a coupon for it last week.  Steve made me try a bowl of it and.....I actually liked it!  I really liked it.  I want to snack on it all the time now.  I want it for breakfast every morning and that's just bad because it's not necessarily a nutritious breakfast.  But it's SO good!

Monday, April 23, 2012

Parables and TV shows

I was able to apply a parable from the Bible to a TV show...let me first give some background:

Today in one of our church meetings we discussed Elder Holland's talk from General Conference.  You can read it HERE.  I loved it when I first heard it and I really enjoyed hearing other people's perspectives on it today during Relief Society.  If you didn't hear it or you're not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...read it!  It was really good and was about a parable found in Matthew 20.  A quick summary is that some people were hired at different times of the day to work in a vineyard.  So some worked all day, others a short little while, but they all got paid the same amount in the end.  They all had initially agreed to their wages, but when those who worked all day realized that the others were getting the same amount...it just didn't seem fair to them, even though they still received a generous amount.  So....to sum up what Elder Holland says about it, here are some quotes:

"This is a story about God's goodness, His patience and forgiveness, and the Atonment of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is a story about generosity and compassion.  It is a story about grace." 

"Why should you be jealous because I choose to be kind?"

"We are not diminished when someone else is added upon"

"Coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image.  So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind.  It is a happy way to live."

"The thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don't expect it and often feel they don't deserve it."

The talked is full of more quotes just as wonderful as these, but these few are the ones that lead to my point.

Now, I hope no one thinks I'm disrespectful to Elder Holland's talk by this, but I thought it was an interesting application.  So, laugh if you want to, but please know that I'm not really obsessed with the Biggest Loser show, I just enjoy watching it every week, and we can apply Elder Holland's words to last week's episode.  For those of you who don't know, this last week the final 5 got all worked up because the producers decided to have a challenge where one of the eliminated players could win a spot in the finals (Hooray!) It even warns them in the contract they signed that it would be happening.

Well, they get all worked up and threaten to leave the show because "it's just not right and not fair."  They are the ones who have been working SO hard at the BL ranch, not everyone else. The others don't deserve a chance to be in the finals and win.  :)  Doesn't it fit this parable well?  Anyways, 3 decide to stay and 2 leave to go home saying that they don't want to but they have to stand up for what's right.  Here's the funny part, the 2 that left are Pastors.  That makes me giggle a little, maybe I ought to send them a little note to read Matthew chapter 20.

In all seriousness, I really liked the 2 that left; I was hoping they'd be in the finals.  I was completely bummed they left.  I do think it was a bit selfish and foolish of them to leave when the show is supposed to inspire viewers to lose weight at home not on a ranch (which is why they let someone come back.)  But oh well.  I wish those 2 luck in life.

And in all seriousness again, I really enjoyed Elder Holland's talk.  It's definitely something that I can apply to my own life and not just the silly reality tv show life. Elder Holland is a powerful speaker, as are all the Apostles, and it's because they truly are speaking the Lord's words.  I am grateful for them and for the specific instructions they give us so we can better follow the teachings of the Savior.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Combed hair

The Nate obsession continues....


I used mousse and combed what little hair he has and I just couldn't resist sharing this handsome picture :)

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Wonderful Weekend!

Friday: Family date night at mini golf





Sunday: Easter Sunday!

We enjoyed great church meeting, lots of chocolate, jelly beans, and colored tootsie rolls, and dinner with cousins.

We struggled to get those 2 little ones to look at the camera .  But we liked this too with them looking at each other :)

Monday: Birthday spoiling!
Good work Steve-o! I love nutella!

Nikki took me to lunch at Olive Garden for soup and salad.  It was delicious and very fun!  I'm sad I didn't get a picture though! So just trust me...we looked good and the food tasted great. 

Traditional birthday dinner at Red Robin!  Gotta love a free Gourmet Burger!

Cake and Ice cream :)  I tried to make this rootbeer float cake.  It didn't turn out quite like I had imagined, but still was tasty.

So to sum up our life: It's so good :)



Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The significance of April 10th


Steve and I officially met on the 10th of April.  We had been in the same place several times before but never actually met one another for who knows what reasons.  My guess is we are SO meant for each other that the devil tried to keep us from one another (Laugh if you want...I think it's true!) But April 10th marks the evening of our first date.  


A special thanks today goes to Melanie Merrill for giving Steve my phone number and also to Emily Ainian for telling Steve that I really was a nice, good girl :)  Thanks girls! You made my life sweet by helping me win the heart of the most awesome man alive. My life truly is sweet because of the people in it! 

The two match-makers ;)


Friday, April 6, 2012

Scootin'

Nate has officially become capable of going where he wants to.  Which is nice because now he just goes instead of screams when he wants something a few feet away.  But it also scares me.  I have to be a little more careful what I leave laying around.  We've learned that the two things he wants the most are our computers and our Harry Potter books.  Both Steve and I have been reading them, so they're always out and Nate notices and boy is he a determined little man when he sees one within reach.



He looks so old to me here :)  He loves standing up and is a strong guy, just has no balance yet. 

I find him like this ALL the time. I spread the blanket out all nice and smooth and go into the other room for a minute and come back to this.  Little goober. 

The Beautiful Day of Easter!

Today being Good Friday and Easter just a few days away, I got thinking about Christmas and how it's such a big deal to the world.  I'm glad that it's a big deal since it's the celebration of the birth and life of Jesus Christ.  But this Easter season really should be just as special and sacred of a time for us.  We get to remember and celebrate that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, that He lived and died for us, that he was resurrected on the third day, and that He lives today!  What a wonderful thing to know is true!  As I was studying a little, I ended up gathering and watching a some Easter messages and I thought I'd share them with you wonderful people :)    

Sunday Will Come

His Sacred Name - An Easter Declaration

None Were with Him


Apostles' Testimonies of Jesus Christ