Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! That's what I feel like yelling, I am so happy right now!
This morning, just about a half hour ago, the church presented President Thomas S. Monson as the 16th President of the church! This was not a surprise but what I found WAS a very happy surprise was his choice of counselors. I had no idea who to expect. All of the apostles are so amazing and wonderful! But when I saw them walk through the doors, I was just beaming!
President Henry B. Eyring has been called to serve as 1st counselor and now President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has been called to serve as 2nd counselor.
I love all three of these men! I love hearing their words. I was kind of surprised to see President Uchtdorf as 2nd counselor. But it was such a wonderful and happy surprise! I have loved him since he was first called to the Quorum of the 12 Apostles.
As Rori and I watched the press conference, I told her to look at our new prophet! This will be the prophet she grows up with. I am so happy and excited for her! And I'm happy and excited for us!
Cause we just got served a big ole fat piece of humble pie tonight! lol
It truly was a historic game - the biggest NFL upset in history! A wild card team taking out an 18-0 team! Crazy!!
It was a great defensive game! But the offense just came up short - big time. It was half Brady's fault and half, the offensive line. They just kept letting Brady get rushed! He took some big hits, over and over again! And then, they started playing their game and Brady goes and ruins his chances of making history. Over throws, under throws... you can't afford those in the SuperBowl. I think he just let it all go to his head. He seemed far too confident. And confidence is good, don't get me wrong, but if you're gonna be confident, you had better back it up! And he didn't! It was so frustrating to watch!!!
And to top it all off, Samuel dropped that ball that would have clinched the game. As far as I'm concerned he can leave now. I'm done with him and his attitude. He has been the only player on the team who was only out for himself. At least everyone else on the field is a true team player, even if they do choke sometimes.
The sad part is, the New England Patriots have still made history: No other team has ever gone 18-0 in a single season in the NFL! But no one will care about that. It won't make any bit of difference. Because when it all comes down to it, they lost the Super Bowl.
But the good news is we'll live. lol And besides, there's always next year.
We had a really nice day at church. I love the first Sunday of the month! I love hearing the testimonies of those that I know and care about. I am grateful when I have the chance to share my own testimony because it really is so important to me and I know that when I share it, I strengthen it.
Today we heard wonderful testimonies. I don't know what I expected, I knew we would hear a lot of people share their feelings about President Hinckley but I guess I wasn't sure if that was going to be the overwhelming theme or not. It wasn't. And to be very honest, I am glad. You see, our church is not founded on any man - it is founded upon our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And I know that MY testimony is based on Him, not any other person. I do have testimonies that certain people have been called of God to lead us and I have a testimony of the good things that they do and have done to further the work of the Gospel, but my testimony is based completely on the rock of our redeemer, Christ the Son of God. And I am grateful that I am surrounded by others who feel the same way.
We got home and I quickly fed the girls and put Rori down for her nap. I threw together a 7 Layer Dip to bring to our friends' house in a little bit and then I sat down to read my scriptures. I blogged last night that I've decided to take a 97 Day Challenge and I started that challenge today. I love reading the scriptures and I love how sometimes when I read, I just get carried away in them. I want to keep reading and before I know it, I've passed my stopping point for that day. There is no rule saying you can't read more and so sometimes I just go with it! I just continue on, reading and soaking up all the goodness that is contained in the words on those pages. It sure does bring a good spirit into my life and into our home.
And now after all that good church stuff, I'm going to become very irreverent. lol After I finished reading, I got changed, put on a Patriots jersey, talked to my FIL a little about the game (he's predicting a blow-out, I favor more of a solid win, not close like last time, but not a complete blowout like the games early in the season. I say it will be somewhere between a 7 to 10 point spread. But we all agree - it will definitely be a Pats win! lol), and now we're getting ready to go over to our friends' house to watch the game. I'm afraid there will be much loudness and I'm expecting to act a little unlady-like (jumping up and down, yelling at the ref, cheering loudly when we make great plays)... I'm afraid my mom would be very disappointed.
Just think of it this way: I am a very passionate person with more than one interest. I have my priorities, of which I hope that no one who knows me doubts what they are. First and foremost is God and my personal relationship with Him, followed by my family, and then by my church. After that, it's a free for all! I love (in no particular order): my friends, music, LOTR, killer whales, good food, and the Patriots! I will not skip church to attend a ball game and I will not cuss or use the Lord's name in vain while cheering, but I am sure looking forward to cheering on my team as they win the SuperBowl and make history today!!! lol
I found out about the 97 Day Challenge and I've decided to take it! What better way to honor the prophet?
Some of you will remember that we extended the 99 Day Challenge to our youth a couple of years ago. Just a few weeks later, President Hinckley issued a challenge for everyone to read or reread the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. We were so excited to have already had a jump start to that challenge! And the youth (as well as us leaders) had such a wonderful experience as we finished reading the Book of Mormon on General Conference Weekend at Temple Square.
My plan is to follow the same guideline as the 99 Day Challenge and I invite you to do the same. In the 99 Day Challenge, there are scheduled "catch up days", so if you stay on track, you'll be able to skip two of those catch up days and you'll easily meet your goal of reading the Book of Mormon in 97 days.
There is a permenant link in my side bar labeled "99 Day Challenge", feel free to use it to help you along. :)
Like so many others, I have felt like I am on some sort of Yo-Yo, emotionally. Life goes on. We move forward and continue on with our lives, trying to be the best that we can be. For me, that means trying to be the best wife and mother I can be, friend, homemaker, neighbor, etc. And really, I have had a good week. But every single day this week, I have had moments where I just feel sad. I cannot express how much I love President Hinckley and how much I will truly miss him! I know that there are so many who can relate to this right now.
I am so happy for him! I am so happy that he is reunited with his loving wife, the woman he adored and who he has missed so much these last couple of years. I am so happy that his body is no longer slowing him down. I am so happy that he is able to continue in the work that he loved, now on the other side of the veil. I am so happy that we have his words and teachings and that we live in an amazing time where so much of that is easily accessible with just a click of a mouse. I am so grateful that I was privileged to sit in his presence and hear him speak. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to sustain him as my prophet, while looking directly at him. I am grateful that Acadia had the opportunity to do the same thing and I know it was important to her, she wanted to see him so badly! I am grateful that Acadia didn't hesitate when she wanted to write him a letter a few years ago and that she now has a letter back from his office, thanking her for her letter and drawing. I am so happy and grateful that I have all these things to help me feel joy, peace, and comfort!
Still, knowing all of that and feeling so much joy and gratitude, I am sad! I am so selfishly sad. And I think there will always be a part of me that will feel that way. I just hope that I can "stand a little taller" and be the best person I can be so that when it's my turn to be called home, I will be able to enter the same place that he has now entered. I hope that I will someday get the opportunity to shake his hand, and perhaps even give him a hug, and thank him personally for the example he has been for me.
Today, his body will be laid to rest. I want to bear my testimony that Gordon B. Hinckley was a man called by God to serve, and that is what he did. He served, whever he went and whomever he met, he served. I know that he was a living prophet, that he received revelation and that through him, the Lord let this church. He loved us so much and you could see it and feel it when he spoke. He worked so tirelessly. Up until the last days of his life! I have a friend who's brother received his mission call this week. The mission call was signed by President Hinckley on January 25, 2008 - just two days before he died! He never stopped, not until the Lord finally called him home. He has set the bar a little higher for all of us.
I found some really nice tributes to President Hinckley and wanted to share a couple. Okay, not just a couple... there are actually four that I want to share, but each is fairly short and, I think, worth watching. The first three are very touching and beautifully done. The final one is too, but with a different feeling of rejoicing. Even though the tempo is quicker and the music is lighter, it still shares the same message and I think it's the way I want to remember him most. (And for those of you who may be reading this who didn't know of the prophet and what a great man he was, I think you will get a feel of that by watching these, the first two especially.)
We love you, President Hinckley! God be with you 'till we meet again!
*Footnote: The funeral service has just ended and the procession is on it's way to the grave site. I am so grateful that we were able to participate in the service via satellite, in our home. I loved hearing the speakers, their memories, and testimonies. I especially appreciated President Monson's words, particularly when he spoke to the family to "Remember, he still lives." It's true. President Hinckley still lives, his spirit is just on a different mission now, in a different world. We still are blessed with his memory, his words, and the eternal blessings that have come from all the service he has rendered here. :)
As you know, I just got my Brady jersey! It's a women's jersey and is cute and fits nice and I like it.
Acadia is now the only one in our family without a jersey. But that was her wish. We repeatedly asked her if she wanted one, so we could all match and be a Pats family. But she insisted that she HATES football! We kind of made her watch some of the Championship game with us two weeks ago and had the chance to explain a little about the game to her. She was mildly interested and then went to bed. Fast forward to today. Out of the blue she declares that she LIKES football, now that she understands more about it and, SHE WANTS A JERSEY TOO! I couldn't believe it and I just looked at her in disbelief. I wasn't shocked that she wanted one, though I was pleasantly surprised. I was shocked that she waited until the LAST MINUTE to ask for one! Does she know how hard it would be to find a jersey with this short of notice??? The Super Bowl is in less than two days!!!
Tonight Cadi and Ryan went on a "Daddy/Daughter Date". Her school was showing a movie and they went together. Afterwards, Ryan needed to go to Sears to get some tools for work. While they were at the mall, they checked the sporting goods stores to see if there was a youth sized Brady jersey available. Surprise, surprise... there wasn't. There weren't any jerseys her size. Ryan looked through the larger sizes but there weren't any Brady jerseys in any size. Her second choice was Moss. (Good choice!) Ryan found her a medium and they decided to get it. It's a medium jersey - in MEN'S SIZE!!! It's bigger than my women's size jersey!
Now, we'll probably order her a youth Brady jersey but clearly that won't come until after the game. So the question is: Do I want to keep the Moss jersey since it does fit and I do like Moss... or do I return it and not have a jersey for Cadi to wear on Sunday. And if I do keep it, which jersey does she wear on Sunday and which jersey do I wear? I like Moss but I LOVE Brady. Both jerseys fit me great. Both are big on Cadi but the Brady jersey is a closer fit than the Moss jersey. Should I let her wear my precious Brady jersey while I settle for Moss? Or do I make her swim in Moss so I can wear my Brady? Hmmm...
I really can't decide... it's just gonna have to be a game day decision.
•A Disney order I had placed a couple of weeks ago (I'm a sucker for a good sale!)
•Ryan's new work laptop
•My late Christmas present, just in time for the Super Bowl - a New England Patriots Brady jersey! :)
The first two were coming via UPS, the third was coming through the postal service.
In the past, some of our UPS deliveries have been made to the wrong house so we were a little concerned about that. Plus, Ryan's laptop would need my signature. And the last (but not least) package was the one I wanted THE MOST and especially before this weekend. So, I have been keeping an ear out for the door all day.
But I needed a shower. Really bad. I had to wait until Rori was down for her nap first. She had lunch and I laid her down, I could finally hear that wonderful sound of silence coming from her room and I knew this was my chance to get my shower. But I still hadn't received any of those packages.
Dilema. Do I risk it and take a shower? Or do I wait and possibly give up my one chance for a shower today?
I looked out the window. No sign of any delivery trucks. Hmmm... Okay, I'm gonna take the fastest shower I've ever taken. I get everything ready, look out the window one more time, and quickly jump in the shower. Wash my hair with a 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner (that saves me having to go through he motions twice), quickly soap up and rinse off, and JUST as I'm finishing I hear a "THUD" right on the other side of the wall. (My shower is right next to the front door... nice, huh?) CRUD!!! I jump out and grab my towel to dry off and outside the window I hear a UPS truck starting it's engine and driving away.
What are the chances???? I swear! They make deliveries ALL DAY LONG and he had to come in the 3 minutes that I was unable to answer the door! Ugh.
Well, I think to myself... Ryan's laptop needed a signature, but my Disney stuff didn't, maybe he at least left that. So I quickly dress (no make-up or hair drying) and rush to the front door. Both boxes are there! Wow! That's great. Except, what about needing my signature? Don't get me wrong, I'm SO GLAD that he left them and that Ryan wouldn't have to wait until Monday for his laptop, but so much for the extra security. :S It's a good thing I really was home and got the boxes just a couple of minutes after they were left - instead of being out running errands and not getting home for a couple of hours!
So now I'm two down with one left to go... But I am now showered and ready for that knock on the door. And I know that the mail carrier knows EXACTLY which house to bring it to. I feel fairly confident that there will be no more timing issues. :)
