Merry Christmas!

Love,

John, Sara & Jacob

2009

What Will You Give?

Here is another wonderful message for Christmas. Also, I posted a wonderful video of a selection from Handel's Messiah last year, which continues to infuse me with the wonderful message of Christmas with it's powerful music and prophetic words.

Christmas is so wonderful. We do wonderful things around and at Christmas. We carol, give gifts, decorate, sing songs, attend and throw dinners and parties, and cook up a storm just to name a few. At this time of year many of us also focus more on the Savior, His miraculous birth, life, and death. I always feel a twinge of guilt though....in the back of my heart, because I feel guilty that I may not take His name on me in the same way through out the year. Am I being hypocritical to make a big fuss at Christmas and Easter? Well, I've come up with an answer, maybe not the whole answer, I'm sure I'll learn more to add to this idea as the years continue.

Celebrating the birth of our Savior through acts of charity, kindness, love, and cheer is not hypocritical at any time, and not at Christmas. BUT....... I have thought of 2 ways I can continue to take His name on me and share the light He brought to the world through His birth, death, and Resurrection. Let me illustrate them through 2 stories that come from my parents' lives.

1. When my mother was 10 years old, in El Salvador, she was roller skating in the neighborhood with two girls. The 10 year old girl asked my mother, "have you ever heard of the Mormon church?" To which my mother responded, "no." The 8 year old pipes in, "would you like to know more?" Of course the story has many more details, but it comes down to the faith and love of those two girls. They were ambassadors of Jesus Christ in such a casual and unassuming manner, but what they did saved lives, more than they would ever know. And guess what? It wasn't Christmas time!

By sharing the gospel we can share and feel the "Christmas Spirit" through out the year. The story of these little girls shows how simple it can be.

2. My dad was just telling me that there was a time in the late 1970's when he was very poor. He had almost nothing. He was remembering fondly and lovingly all the people who came out of the wood work to help him. While he was reminiscing, my mother asked, "how did they know you were in need of help?" My dad said he never knew, he was just always so humbled and thankful for people's desire to give to him, no questions asked and so happy to do it.

People all around us are in need. In need of monetary things and even more people are in need of emotional support. So many people have periods of being lonely or feeling unnoticed. We can be ambassadors of Jesus Christ, who knows all His sheep, by showing love to one another all year. If it is to take dinner to someone, pray for someone, make a phone call, remember someones name and something about them, or give of our belongings to someone who has none. Attending the temple for endowed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is a wonderful way to serve those who cannot help themselves. What ever the need may be, and whatever capacity we can help......we can keep the "Christmas Spirit" all year long through love and charity.

I hope each of my family and friends can come up with ideas different or similar to these to help them feel the love of the Savior and love for Him all through the year. That Christmas may be just a special time to punctuate our year long honor of Him with beautiful decorations, wonderful music, and fun parties.

Look Who's Two

I know this awesome person, we are very close. Well, actually he is more of a kid, baby actually. He's only 2 really.....but he is definitely his own person. Anyway, he is awesome for so many reasons, but one reason that really stands out to me is, so far in his life people who know him love him. His personality draws people in and he makes them happy and comfortable. He is interested in all people and what they have to tell him or teach him. He has cousins that range in age from 14 to 2 and each one of them in their own way have a special relationship to him, and he loves each of them. I'm so lucky to be his mom, since I'm the most ensnared by his web of pleasant personality.


Happy Birthday to my wonderful son. I know you will be an amazing big brother, with a personality like yours, how can you not be!?!

2007

2008

Today

Family Birthday Party

Who wouldn't want a car on his cake?

What? Something is on my car? Wait, let me get

that clean. What....oh something on my lip too?

Cousins partying = Sugar High

P.S. Someone in our house likes to floss, I'll give you ONE guess, and it isn't John!

"Children are the epitome of innocence, they are the epitome of purity, they are the epitome of love, they are the epitome of hope and gladness in this difficult and troubled world." (Behold Your Little Ones, Gordon B. Hinckley, January 23, 1994)

2009 BYU Women's Conference

PHOTO DELETED, PER REQUEST. GOTTA DO WHAT YOUR

MOTHER SAYS, OR YOU GET IN BIG TROUBLE. I LEARNED THAT A LONG TIME AGO!

Can you believe this? Think of all the husbands and family members tending children so these women could be here! I know I had wonderful husband and family who helped me!

There was an amazing concert on Thursday night, with music from Reflections of Christ featuring an amazing tenor Jason Barney. Eclipse, an A Capella group, was great...I even danced! Jenny Oaks Baker was AMAZING on the violin. Hilary Weeks closed the concert with her funny and thoughtful music.

I was able to go to BYU Women's Conference again this year. I went with my mother and her sister, Maria. We had a wonderful time. The conference was once again inspiring. Almost 20,000 women trying to glean every word of encouragement and knowledge they could to take home their families. It was great. Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke in the closing session. He spoke of his respect and confidence in women. He spoke of our responsibility to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There will be a delayed broadcast of many of the sessions from Women's conference on May 14 & 15 on BYU TV at www.byubroadcasting.org. Everyone who can should watch some of the sessions or read the transcripts when they are available.

I was able to attend classes and listen to talks the topics of:

• The Temple. How do focus our families on the Temple
• The spiritual and temporal benefits of keeping house and teaching our children
• Teaching Reverence to Children
• Increasing Faith, Decreasing Fear
• Nourishing & Defending the Family
• Parenting Lessons from the Book of Mormon
• Being Savvy about Financial Matters
  

One of the common misconceptions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that the church disrespects or diminishes the strength and vitality of women.

This couldn't be farther from the truth! Women's conference is one strong argument against this false concept. The entire theme of this years conference was "Strength in the Lord." Here is a quote from Sandra Rogers, Chair of the BYU Women's Conference Committee:

The scriptures repeatedly remind us that when we put our trust and confidence in the Lord’s strength we can be prepared for any challenge, do any hard thing, face any difficulty, and feel at peace in any circumstance. At a time when the world attempts to entice women away from fundamental and eternal truths, we have the reassurance that the Lord’s promises are sure. As David sung in Psalm 27, “The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid.”

Enduring

" With enduring comes a willingness...to 'press forward' even when we are bone weary and would much rather pull off to the side of the road."
Neal A. Maxwell

April 2009 General Conference

General Conference ended today. It was wonderful. Life gets so busy, insignificant things fill my mind everyday. Conference jolts me back into reality. Reality:

• Heavenly Father loves ME
• I have something, a lot actually, to share with my friends and neighbors = Love.
• I need to serve more, both in action and word.
• As I take time to listen to the Spirit in my daily life, and ignore the urgent "rush" from the world around me, I can be happy and encourage those around me to be happy too.

The doctrine taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has brought nothing, NOTHING, but happiness in my life. I am so thankful to be able to count myself as a member of that church, but I am more grateful to call myself a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ. I hope, after what I have learned and been reminded of during this conference, I can be kinder to everyone I come in contact with. I hope I can eliminate "garbage" from my life...all the extraneous stresses that remove my focus from my family and from my faith. I hope I can attend the temple more often. I hope I can share my love of the Savior with everyone I know.

I invite everyone who reads my blog to read, watch, or listen to the transcripts of General Conference when they are available.

I am thankful for a living Prophet and for his careful and relevant guidance in a world of treacherous pathways.

My Understanding

When I write these blog posts I always smile. It is a great way to share what's on my mind, even though it seems like such randomness when I put it online. I guess it just shows the many sides of ME.


Like many of you, this morning I watched the news to find that the DOW closed yesterday well below 7000. The news casters were very grim, as well they should be. It is not a laughing matter, indeed it is very serious and has real implications for so many of us. But I didn't want that news, and the comments of the commentators to start my day off with a bad attitude. So, I turned to my scriptures to find encouragement. I'm so thankful for the scriptures and for the words of President Monson in this month's First Presidency message. I hope this scripture to can bring my friends and family the same comfort and confidence that it brought me today.


"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."
Proverbs 3: 5-6

Hopeful

So, in the spirit of addressing a problem and having hope in finding a solution, here a few links to some great blogs, articles, and talks.

I really think that we can each have joy in our homes and lives as we strive to do what is right.....or as we struggle to figure out what "right" is.


I'm so thankful for a Thomas S. Monson, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His leadership and hopeful attitude give me energy to keep trying to "figure it out."


Elder L. Tom Perry gave this talk in October. This spoke to me like no other talk has done in a long time.


Links to thrift and simple living blogs


Get Out of Debt


Constant Truths for Changing Times

Purposeful Living

While I was pregnant with my son, the scriptures in the Old Testament, that recant the story of Hannah and her son Samuel impacted me very deeply. Hannah covenanted with the Lord, if He removed her inability to have children, and blessed her with a son, she would give that son to Him. She consecrated the life of her son to the service of the Lord. Samuel was blessed, because of his mother's faithfulness, to be sensitive to the Lord's voice even as a young boy. He heard the Lord calling him and was quick to respond.

Link to my life: When I strive to consecrate my life, my day to day living, my thoughts and actions to following Jesus Christ I am blessed with increased sensitivity. I become more sensitive to hear the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. I am more sensitive to notice the needs of those around me, more sensitively quick to patience, more sensitive to find joy in my surroundings. Sigh. This ideal of heightened sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is not a constant quality I possess. I fail A LOT. Here is the true LINK from ideal to my life.....the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Each day, I beg for forgiveness as I lay my head down, each morning I pray for the opportunity and desire to show Christ-like attributes.

I want to be a mother like Hannah, for so many reasons. One is so I can have the sensitivity she instilled in her son. The ability to hear the whisper of God, even when life is roaring around me.

When my son snuggles himself in between John and I, with a look of complete happiness and innocence on his face, I hear that whisper, the call of a loving Father in heaven.....calling me, urging me, telling me He loves me like that...times infinity.

Can you hear the Whisper today?

"And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul..." Helaman 5:30

Peace on Earth

I watched the national news this morning. As many of you know, it is scary. Washington has finally agreed with what I've already known for quite sometime, that yes we are in a recession. Governors, mayors, and auto executives are all asking for money, that our country does not have. As I listened my mind kept working out new plans and refining plans John and I have already made, to make our family safe, to make our jobs safe in the face of economic and political uncertainty. It is scary, becoming a parent has heightened my need to care for my family......in a way I can't fully explain.

Than this morning, as I listened to Handel's Messiah, tears filled my eyes and my heart was full with the message. Over two thousand years ago angels proclaimed a joyous message, long before that Isaiah in the Old Testament prophesied the good news. Handel, in 1741, created music to accompany the most wonderful message on earth. I have nothing new to add to this peaceful message, but I do want to pass it on. I want to be counted with those who spread the great news of Jesus Christ.

This is going to be my focus this Christmas season, amidst all the fun frippery and froufrou, that I can feel peace in my home and in my heart, even as I face uncertain and frightening times. My family, and yours, can go forward with strength which is given to us through Jesus Christ as we follow his footsteps.

Please enjoy my favorite selection from Handel's Messiah, and as you listen, allow your heart to feel the peace and comfort of this wonderful message.

Food Storage

I did a search this morning of "home food storage ideas" on google blog search.
Check out the blogs, they each have many links to other great blogs, websites, and files. Here are my Favorites:


University of Utah Extension These are PDF files with info on storing, how much, when, where, why, and it is all research based. This is the MOTHER LOAD.

Food Storage Calculator Next best find this morning. As our family grows, this will be invaluable.

The Pantry Panel

The Prudent Homemaker This blogger is quite "elevated" when it comes to food storage. I'm just thankful that I don't have to be so creative with my $$. But this blog helps me see how I could be if I had to.

iPrepared Blog with tutorials on getting yourself together

Safely Gathered In

National Center for Home Food Preservation

Provident Living (of course)

Okay, now for my commentary. I'm no Granola! I'm a consumer. Just last night the mall ate my spending money! But since I became pregnant, my husband and I have felt the strongest pull to making our family more "poof." I've talked about it before.....Finances, Physical Health, Food Storage, Emergency Preparedness, Spiritual Reserve.

I have a wonderful grocery store locally, with great prices and I bag my own groceries. I used to (earlier this year) be able to get out of the store weekly (with a loosely made meal plan) for $70 -$80 for the 3 of us. Now, I can't get out for less than $90-$100. I know.....I need to start being more strict about what I put in my cart, having a more firm meal plan, etc. But the increase in price has made me realize what a blessing being able to cook out of my own pantry is. I feel so great when I bust out something I've grown, or something I've preserved, or something locally grown. It tastes better.

I could go on....instead....look at the links.....and see what your family can do.

Greener, Cheaper, Safer, Self Reliant.

Provident Living

I've mentioned this before, but I wanted to refresh every one's minds.
Recently there have been many devastating natural disasters across the world, and now with stock market in the United States at it's lowest point since the Great Depression, people everywhere are looking for ways to "tighten the belt."

I have gained such a strong testimony of provident living. In the last year my husband and I have shifted our focus to paying off debt, establishing a food storage, and preparing our homes, bodies, and testimonies as we have been counseled by our church leaders. In the last year, we have found more happiness in our home and more security in our financial position. We wouldn't trade that happiness for one vacation, car, or piece of furniture. We still have a long way to go, more student loans to pay, more food to store, more emergency plans to create, and more time on our knees to become more faithful people.

Join me, no matter what religious affiliation, in becoming a more provident person. I'm crazy about the website www.providentliving.org It is a great starting place, with very simple advice that can be applied to all homes, situations, and incomes. I just discovered on the website some financial calculators that may be interesting to many of my friends and family.

Also, on this topic. I'm looking for a good, daily use wheat/grain grinder. Any suggestions?

Some of my readers may not know that I believe with all my soul, in a living Prophet of God. Just as the people in ancient times were sent prophets from God to guide, warn, and teach them; I believe that the world today is in need of, and has a true Prophet. One who leads, guides, teaches, and warns as the prophets of old. I'm so thankful for Thomas S. Monson, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his humility in undertaking his great calling, to lead me and my fellow brothers and sisters in the gospel.

These are times of uncertainty and fear, not just in the United States, but all through out the world. This weekend, a Prophet of God called all people to repentance, called them to come unto Christ, and gave us counsel and teachings to alleviate us from uncertainty and fear.

I was particularly touched by the talks I heard in the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which spoke of living a more simple life, allowing us to live the gospel of Jesus Christ more completely. I was inspired by talks given on heartfelt prayer and gratitude. And I was called to repentance by the living apostles of Jesus Christ, who spoke on the essential need to serve all those around me, to make sure I do everything I can to make sure there are no poor among us.

As I listened and watched conference this weekend, I felt the power of the "still small voice" of the Holy Spirit, as he testified of the divine calling of Thomas S. Monson, prophet, seer, and revelator.....as well as the divine callings of the 14 other men who are called to be apostles on the earth today. I hope that I can go forward, a new person, with a changed heart, to live more closely a life emulating my Savior's.

These words from the Savior keep resonating in my mind, an answer to my prayer concerning the fears and uncertainty I felt as I watched world events unfold: John 14:27 " Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

I felt that peace this weekend. My heart is untroubled and more resolved. Resolved to be better, stand a little taller, and to love my neighbor more increasingly.

Transcripts from this weekend's conference can be found at this web address starting Thursday Oct 9th. http://www.lds.org/

Thomas S. Monson

President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

A Prophet’s Warning

I was happy to read President Henry B. Eyring's talk in this month's ensign. One part in particular highlighted a learning moment for me.

"When the words of prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention"

While I was attending BYU Women's Conference President Monson came to speak. His talk was almost the same as the article from April 2008 Ensign and from the Priesthood session of April General Conference. My first reaction was disappointment.

I thought, "I've already heard this. Too bad."

But then, thankfully, the words of the Holy Ghost whispered to me, "No Sara, this must be THAT important. You need to listen very carefully."

John and I still often talk about President Monson's article in the April Ensign. This last year has given us a couple major reasons to learn from lesson's past, find joy in our present life, and prepare for our family's future.

Please read President Henry B. Eyring article this month. I'm thankful for a Prophets Voice in my life, and I can only pray I'll continue to listen carefully.

Motivation

Once again, I'm trying to follow the counsel of Elder Ballard.

During a conversation with some of our friends, John and I were made aware of an untrue myth some others have about our LDS gospel teachings.

It was put forward, and thankfully a misguided myth, that LDS people do good because of fear of the consequences; instead of doing good to follow Jesus Christ.

I was reading Mosiah chapter 4, from The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, the following, which is only one of the many places in scripture that teach of the joy we feel when we follow Jesus, and receive a remission of our sins.

"11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true."

The highlighted words are words that are cross referenced in the actual scripture.
I'm so glad for the opportunity to feel the exceeding joy in my soul as I come closer to the Savior, and that joy must be shared. It cannot be hid. I just wish I could be better at it. I'm trying!

BYU Women's Conference

May 1 -2, 2008. BYU Women's Conference.

What a wonderful experience. I went to Women's Conference with my mother in 1999, and I enjoyed it, buy I mostly enjoyed spending the time with my mother and aunt. But this year, I loved it! What an uplifting experience.

What did I love you ask? Well, I'll list it out, since this is the way I list my thoughts anyway:

• President Monson spoke Friday afternoon. What an uplifting talk! We sat 50 yards away from him, but regardless the Spirit was in the room with all 23,000 women and few brave men no matter how close they were.


• I got to learn with my close friends and family, My mom, Sister Rebekah, Sister-in-Law Natalie, Friend Bergen, Friend Cheilah, and several of my cousins.


• I was uplifted and encouraged by people who only wanted me to succeed. I felt bolstered in my attempts to live a temple worthy life, in my decision to stay home with my children, and I was reminding over and over that I am valued and important as a daughter of God.


• I attended workshops on mothering, spiritual patterns in my home, learning, being prepared physically and spiritually, nurturing my marriage.


• Sister Sheri Dew gave a talk about the influence of women and mothers. She encouraged us to live the truth, and not be embarrassed about it.

It was a wonderful trip. Jacob did pretty good, even though his sleep was not as good as normal. Gennifer came to watch Jacob while we were at the conference, and she liked visiting Utah. All of us were happy to return home to our families, renewed with the desire to follow our Savior more closely. But shouldn't that be the goal of any meeting or class we give our take.

Transcripts from selected talks given at the conference will soon be available at the following website. http://ce.byu.edu/cw/womensconference/archive/transcripts.cfm Enjoy a few pictures from the conference.

Pic: Bergen, Natalie, Me, Rebekah, Esperanza Sorry about your head in the pic Nat. You sure did look cute that day.

The woman in the picture with my mom at the top was Silvia Allred, in the general Relief Society Presidency. She gave a wonderful talk at Women's Conference. She is also my mother's last missionary companion. My mom was her trainer and they had wonderful experiences together.

Provident Living

My wise father encouraged me to be bold and follow the counsel of our church leader, Elder Ballard, and share some of my testimony on the Internet.

Last year a lesson taught in church, by Lonnie B, struck a chord, that I have been mulling over for some time. I have come to have a personal testimony of it, and wanted to share this ever important principle with my readers. Don't get me wrong, I'm such a novice in this area, but I'm filled with a desire to follow after the goal of Provident Living.

The lesson can be found in the "Teaching of the President's of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball"
Chapter 11: Provident Living: Applying Principles of Self-Reliance and Preparedness,” Please take a few minutes to read this lesson: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=88021b08f338c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=ae39862384d20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

I guess I know I am growing a strong testimony of this principle, because I don't feel intimidated any more, I just feel determined and empowered. I'm so excited about it.

The lesson states: "No amount of philosophizing, excuses, or rationalizing will ever change the fundamental need for self-reliance. This is so because:
'All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, … as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence.” (D&C 93:30.) The Lord declares that herein lies “the agency of man” (see D&C 93:31), and with this agency comes the responsibility for self. With this agency we can rise to glory or fall to condemnation. May we individually and collectively be ever self-reliant. This is our heritage and our obligation.7' "

How interesting it is, that to be truly self reliant we must be 100% understanding of our dependence on Jesus Christ. Such a dependence leads to total self reliance. How is this? I don't know that....yet, but I do know it works.

Here are our family's first 3 goals toward a more Provident Life:
1. Get out of Debt
2. Food Storage
3. Physical Fitness, improve and maintain

If any of you are interested enough to read more on this topic, please read the lesson above and also visit www.providentliving.org

"Let’s do these things because they are right, because they are satisfying, and because we are obedient to the counsels of the Lord...But if we live wisely and providently, we will be as safe as in the palm of His hand." ~ Spencer W. Kimball, Oct. 1977