Starting Again

Today I went and visit taught Crystal since last week she had to leave for her grandma's funeral.  We went and got a drink together while we visited and then we went to her house and I did a workout with her.  I hurried home and changed first and I was glad. (I worked up a sweat)  I'm out of shape...I knew that....this was hard and I followed the gal that kept it easy.  It was a good "boost" for me though.  Yesterday I walked and today I did this 25 minute workout and I feel good to get going again.  Exercise really does make me feel better.  I just got out of the habit of doing something every day.

I think it's time to pull out the video's I have and give them a try.  I know that exercising will improve my blood pressure and the every day stress that we all get.  I'm going to make it part of my day again.  I appreciate Crystal for inviting me to join her.  She told me how quickly she was able to see improvement on her exercise.  I couldn't keep up with her.  I'm excited to improve and get healthier!  It's never too late to start again...that's for sure!

I treated myself to a pedicure after.  I love pedicures.  I tried a new place that my friends told me was really good.  It's called T Nails and is by Planet Fitness.  It's been there for 20 years and today was my first time there.  I think for a first time pedicure this would be the place to go.  They are very gently and the ladies speak English. ☺  I still like 99 Nails though because.  I like having my feet and heels worked on a little more.  This place had hot rocks they rubbed on your legs and that was nice.

Kimi suggested that our family go see Miracles from Heaven tonight and so we did.  It is a really good movie and story.  It made me think about all the miracles around us...all the things we have to be grateful for.  I also thought that we all get trials for a reason.  We become stronger because of the trials we get.  God helps us through our trials.  There are always people that will love and support us but there will always be someone out there that no matter what will be judgmental and cruel.

It was a great day!

Tuesday with Larry aka Temple Tuesday

It's snowing today and the Ogden Temple is closed for cleaning.  However, it is Temple Tuesday with Larry and so we drove to Logan.  We were going to try to get in the 3:00 session at the Brigham City Temple but it was 2:50 when we reached Brigham City and we didn't think we would have time to park and change and so we continued to Logan.  Our car windows completely fogged up going through and canyon.  We turned the fan on high but I still opened my window a few times just so I could see.  That was the worst part of it.  The roads weren't bad going or coming home. I thought the snow was beautiful....big flakes.

I love the Logan Temple.  It's unique and has a wonderful feeling all around it.  I have heard some cool stories about it when it was first built and it is the Temple Larry and I attended when we were first married, living in Malad and Samaria.  So, I'm glad that every now and then we decide to go there.  I love Logan...it's a cozy place.  I always thought  it would be nice to live there.  We made the 3:30 session.  I love going to the Temple with Larry and look forward to our Tuesdays!

Larry's mom called while we were in the Temple and needed a Priesthood Blessing.  Larry and Jaydan gave her one when we got home.  She sounds terrible and has been fighting bronchitis all winter.  I hope she will get better now.  I finally got a blessing too.  I only had to ask 3 times and wait a month but it happened. ☺ I hope my attitude doesn't hold back the spirit from blessing me. I realize we struggle for a reason.  Having my hands bother me for months made me realize that as annoying as it has been to me and the reasons (stress) for the reaction have already been felt through Christ's atonement. He experienced my discomfort long before I did.  This experience has given me a little perspective (teeny tiny) of the pain, I alone have caused our Savior.

A Wonderful Surprise at My Front Door

The door bell rang and when I approached the door I couldn't see anyone through the little windows in our door.  I thought it must have been the UPS man leaving something.  When I opened the door there wasn't a UPS package but our cute Behrenger and everything he'd need for a few hours.  What a pleasant surprise!  It wasn't long and Kimi peaked around the side of the house.  We laughed and laughed. Kimi told me that she's wanted to Door Bell Ditch me and leave Behr for a long time.☺ I love that Kimi brings Behr over to play every now and then.  He is starting to recognize me and smiles and laughs now at me.  Oh my these babies are such blessings.

Behr and Kimi went with me to the dentist so I could get my night guard.  It was snowing today while we drove.  I hear people complain but it doesn't bother me.  It's how our springs are here in UT.  I think people forget because the last few years have kind of gypped a few of the seasons.  We've gone right from Summer to Fall with no Winter and back to summer completely leaving out Spring.  This past year we experienced all the seasons and I guess that gives people the opportunity to complain.  Spring is a season of Sunshine and Rain...maybe mixed with a little snow at times.  It is what it is....complaining doesn't change the weather only the complainer.

I enjoyed Kimleighel and Behr.  I love watching Kimi with Behr....she's a natural caregiver.  She is so loving and kind.  Behr loves his Aunt Kimi.  Behr is growing up so fast.  He is starting to crawl or at least try.  He sits, rolls,  scoots, jabbers and drools.  He is absolutely darling!  Having them over was a nice surprise.  I had nothing to do that couldn't be put off.

I Taught

About a month ago Jodi Merril asked me to teach her lesson for this month.  Right away I started reading and studying for it.  It was on the Atonement and the Resurrections.  It would have been a perfect lesson for Easter Sunday, which by the way is one of my favorite Sundays of the Year.  Since it's a few weeks before Easter I decided to focus more on the Atonement, hoping that the Resurrection will be the focus on Easter.

I learned a lot about the Atonement.  I grew up thinking that the atonement was just for our sins if we repented.  That is a huge part of the Atonement but it is so much more.  The Atonement is also for our hurts and disappointments.  It's a healing power for absolutely everything.  As I studied I thought about the hurts, and sins in my life.  I thought about how I ached inside and how painful some of those things were and then I tried imagining experiencing those few things at the exact same time.  Whoa.....a little of the reality of this wonderful act of love hit me hard.  I don't think  it's possible to understand what Christ really did for each of us individually.  No wonder he bled from every pore, the pain was excruciating to say the least.  I am thankful for Christs Atonement.  I am sorry for the pain that I caused Him.  I am thankful that I can repent and be forgiven of my imperfections and that I will be able to live with my Heavenly Parents and Christ again.

I am thankful for the Wonderful Miracle of the Resurrection!  From the darkness of the Atonement to the Lightness of the Resurrection is amazing and wonderful.  The Resurrection is a free gift to everyone ever born.  We will all be Resurrected just like Christ was.  We will all return to our bodies and be glorified in God.

Our life is a test that will bring us closer to our Savior.  We will continue to have challenges so that we can grow and progress.  Dallin H. Oaks taught, "Our needed conversions are often achieved more readily by suffering and adversity than by comfort and tranquility."

Jesus is "our" advocate with our Father and has paid, in advance, for our faults and foolishness we often see in the exercise of our freedom.  His atonement also was for our suffering of every kind, sickness, wrongs, and pains of the world.  We need to accept His gift and repent and follow His commandments in order to take full advantage of this Redemption.  We need to let go of our wrongs and hurts which is hard to do but through faith and work it can be done.

A few quotes about the Atonement:
"We understand that the Atonement of Jesus Christ gives us the opportunity to overcome the spiritual death that results from sin and, through making and keeping scared covenants, to have the blessings of eternal like." Dallin H. Oaks

"You and I in a moment of weakness may cry out "no one understands, No one knows." No human being perhaps knows, bu the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He felt and bore the burdens before we ever did." David Bednar

"The Savior's Atonement lifts from us not only the burden o four sins but also the burden of our disappointments and sorrows.  Our heartaches and our despair.  I promise you He is not going to turn His back on us now.  When He say to the poor in spirit, "Come unto Me," e means He know the way out and He knows the way up.  He know it because He has walked it. He knows the way because Hi is the Way!" Jeffrey R. Holland

"The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and remove the burden of our sins.  His Atonement allows us to leave the past behind and more forward with clean hands,a pure heart, and a determination to do better and especially to become better." President Uchtdorf

"However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed,,, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talent you think you don't have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of Divine Love.  It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's Atonement Shines!" Jeffery R. Holland

"When yo do you part, the Lord add His power to your efforts." Henry B. Eyring

"Making, Keeping & Rejoicing in our covenants will be the evidence that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is truly written in our Hearts." Sister Burton

Saturdays

Kimi got up early and went and had her hair trimmed.  She was excited to have it all even on the bottoms.  She was excited to have me color her hair since she decided she likes her original color better than Jet Black.  Well we learned that it's impossible to cover jet black hair.  We put the dye on and waited for 45 minutes and washed it out and she looked exactly like she had before we put any dye on her hair. Except now she had stains on her forehead and ears. ☺ The good thing about this lesson was that Kimleighel posted it on face book and a guy she is interested in commented on her post.  So it was worth the effort and price of the dye!  Kimleighel will just have black hair until it grows out.  Before the color we went to my mom's just to visit her for a bit.

While I was at my mom's Larry called and told me that he had tickets to the U of U game that was in Las Vegas.  He was so excited and was ready to leave shortly.   I reminded him that I was teaching for Jodi M tomorrow and there was no way I could go. (because I'm dependable) I suggested he ask our boys and I even suggested a few of his friends.  Kevin and Jared were able to go and since none of our other boys could he invited the grandsons.  He didn't get a hold of Zaden but Parker was able to go.

Kevin liked both of the teams playing and so it was a great game for him. (U of U and the Ducks)  The guys had a great time.  They stayed with Jerry and Darinda after the game.  I had tried getting in touch with them earlier to see if they had made it and I couldn't get one of them to respond.  My mind did the "ol' what if" thing.  I was a little worried that they might have been in an accident and was experiencing a little of the grief I would feel if that were truly the case.  Thank goodness Kevin ended up checking his phone and noticed I had tried calling and had sent a text.  He called me and relieved me of my fears.

 I noticed a little later on Instagram that Trichelle's cute family had gone to a Hockey game.  I was glad that Larry didn't get a hold of them and that Zaden didn't have to choose.  He belonged at the Hockey game with his family.

My Boy is Strong

Jaydan goes to Cross Fit and is pretty stinking strong.  Tonight we went to a competition that he participated in and I got light headed just watching him.  He lifted 75 lbs over his head 10x and then had to pull himself up on a high bar to his waist 2x and then repeat.  I think it was for 10 minutes...maybe 7.  I'm not sure how many times he made it through each repetition but I think it was 5 or 6.  I'm so impressed with his strength and endurance.

Jaydan wanted to me to join Cross Fit since my friend Suzie goes.  I don't want to. It's expensive and I don't want to spend my time doing that.  Suzie's niece owns the place and she doesn't have to pay since she also takes a few turns in the nursery a few times a week.  It's a great past time if that's how you want to spend your time but right now I'd rather be with friends socializing.

I couldn't help but think about an earlier conversation at book club.  Susan had to have her shoulder repaired and the other ones needs to be too.  Her doctor and her were talking about her life and what she has done that could have caused the damage in her shoulders.  Ummmm......hauling hay, riding horses, yard work, water skiing, hunting, snowmobiling are all things Susan has done over the years. I know all these things can be good for you but they can also be harmful.  I'm  thinking at my age strength exercises would be great but lifting probably not.

Wise Gals Book Club

Today I hosted Book Club and had it at my house.  I decided I wasn't going to stress about the food.  I made Chicken Crack and we had sandwiches and since I remembered Susan can't swallow bread I had crackers and plenty of veggies that she could have with the Chicken Crack.  I also had grapes and a cupcake.  It was simple but filling.  Shanna goes all out and I decided to just be me and keep it simple.  Now I hope that the others won't feel pressure if they decide to have Book Club at their house instead of going out.  I liked going out since everyone could order what they like and can eat but I like the coziness of having Book Club in someone's home.  No one is as rushed and we are able to visit and share with each other.  We talk about health issues.  We talk about spiritual things and we talk about books.  We started today at 11:30 and it went until just after 3:00.  Shanna was happy because that's the kind of book club she enjoys.  I have to agree with her. I prefer to be together for a few hours too.

I love hearing others report about their books.  I really love listening to Susan.  Susan can sell a book because she remembers so much and is able to share such good points and details.  I really admire that in her.  She shared things about the book I took for her to read "The Lion and the Lamb" and now I need to read it again because I couldn't remember some of the things she shared.  I really learn a lot from these "wise gals".  Belonging to this Book Club has been really good for me!