This is my last post as a public blog. I've decided for the safety of my beautiful family that I need to make my blog private. This will not affect anyone receiving blog updates via email. The emails will still be sent to you, you just won't be able to type in the blog address and view the blog without logging in or being invited. So, I'm going to email everyone on my list an invitation to be able to view the private blog. All you have to do is click on the link in the email and enter your google account information. If you have a gmail account, that will work. If you don't have a google account, they are free, and you don't have to get a gmail account to have a google account. I think the email or blogger will tell you how to set up a google account if you don't have one, but if not, you can email me or call me and I can walk you through it. I hope this doesn't keep anyone from viewing the blog. I love you all.
Brina
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Ahh! The Holidays.
You can take that as either, "Ahhhh! I think I'm going to pull all my hair out and then sit down and cry, The Holidays," or "Ahhh! It's so relaxing to spend time with family and finally be done with Christmas shopping, The Holidays." You pick. :)
It's been a crazy month, and for most of it, I was the first one. I told my mother that I can see why some people hate the holidays. Next year, I vow to not make myself and my family crazy for three weeks before Christmas because I've over-scheduled myself.
My livingroom after Christmas:
I think the 12 Days of Christmas went well. I ended up doing it for 2 ladies, and getting another mom to split the days of dropping things off with me. One of them caught us, I think, because we couldn't call her to let her know her stuff was at her door because she has caller ID and knows both of our numbers. So, in the process of knocking and running away one night, the other mom is pretty sure she was spotted. The second lady we could call, and it worked out really well. We didn't tell her who did it, so I can't tell you if she liked it or not. :)
Emilia has been SO cute all month, and I keep meaning to get on and blog it, but usually by the time I get to my computer at night, I'm so tired, I fall asleep because I'm warm under a blanket and the computer heats up. So here are some pictures and some of the stuff I remember. (This ended up being longer than I thought, but I wanted to have it written down, because I KNOW I won't remember in 20 years, let alone next week. So if you don't want to read ALL of it, I'll forgive you. :))
For Christmas, Emilia got some play food, and stuff to take care of her "baby" and a Fisher Price Animal Sounds farm, among other things. (Thank you everyone! You were very generous!) The other day, I got out the little kitchen I found for her at DI (thrift store), and the play food. She immediately went and got her "guys" (that's what she calls the Little People) and had them hide out in the kitchen. She stuck some in the fridge and some in the microwave and the oven. Then she had a few of them climb it like it was a mountain. When she got bored of that, she got out the cutting board from the food set and set a few of the guys on it, then found a spoon and a cup and began feeding them all. Haha.
Ever since she could crawl around, Emilia has found it fun to sit in boxes full of stuff and move it around. (Don't ask me, I have no idea why this is fun!) She did it in a box of Lego's at Alison's house when she was like a year old, she does it at my mom's house all the time in a box of blocks, and the other day, she decided she needed to get into the tub I keep her toys in. The toys almost buried her, though it's hard to see in this picture.
The first time it really snowed here was one of the first Saturdays in December (December 2 to be exact--it was my birthday). We had to go outside anyway for something, so Steve and I got Emi bundled up and took her out with us. Me and Emi all bundled up:
This is her standing in the snow after she took about three steps. Then she stopped, looked up at me, and said, "Ew, gross!"
She hated it! Still does. Poor child. She hates having her coat on, she hates having socks, and long sleeves, and especially gloves. She just needs us to move to a warmer climate! The one thing she does like is her hat. She is always pleased to be wearing a hat (although around the house, her hat is one of those throw-away tupperware containers--I have to have one dedicated to being her hat, because she wears it every day!).
She also loves playing in water. Since we can't go outside much (it's been really cold this year--negative 5 degrees the other night), she's been asking to take a bath almost every night). Here is a picture of her just playing in the sink. She especially likes the bathroom upstairs because she can make faces at herself in the mirror while she plays.
Also, Emilia loves phones. The thing I find funny is that she thinks it's really fun for other people to talk on the phones. She'll push buttons either on my cell phone or one of the play phones and then hand it to me, or whoever is available, and say, "Hedo!" which means we're supposed to say hello and keep talking. She will do this ten times in a row or more if I let her. Also cute: if I ever hand the phone back to her and say that they want to talk to her, she'll take the phone, hold it up to her ear, and say, "Hedo? Yes." Every time. Hello and then yes. Haha! And it's even cuter when you've heard her say "yes" before. It comes out more like "Szesssss," with a definitive, single nod. She is so funny!
She has also picked up the words, "no," and "wait" from Signing Time. She'll yell "WAIT!" whenever she wants our attention, but has to wait because we're busy, which I think is ironically hilarious, and when she really knows that she doesn't want something, she'll say, very calmly, "No." and do the sign with it. Otherwise, she'll just say, "Uh-uh," and shake her head.
It's been a crazy month, and for most of it, I was the first one. I told my mother that I can see why some people hate the holidays. Next year, I vow to not make myself and my family crazy for three weeks before Christmas because I've over-scheduled myself.
My livingroom before Christmas:
My livingroom after Christmas:
Emilia has been SO cute all month, and I keep meaning to get on and blog it, but usually by the time I get to my computer at night, I'm so tired, I fall asleep because I'm warm under a blanket and the computer heats up. So here are some pictures and some of the stuff I remember. (This ended up being longer than I thought, but I wanted to have it written down, because I KNOW I won't remember in 20 years, let alone next week. So if you don't want to read ALL of it, I'll forgive you. :))
For Christmas, Emilia got some play food, and stuff to take care of her "baby" and a Fisher Price Animal Sounds farm, among other things. (Thank you everyone! You were very generous!) The other day, I got out the little kitchen I found for her at DI (thrift store), and the play food. She immediately went and got her "guys" (that's what she calls the Little People) and had them hide out in the kitchen. She stuck some in the fridge and some in the microwave and the oven. Then she had a few of them climb it like it was a mountain. When she got bored of that, she got out the cutting board from the food set and set a few of the guys on it, then found a spoon and a cup and began feeding them all. Haha.
Ever since she could crawl around, Emilia has found it fun to sit in boxes full of stuff and move it around. (Don't ask me, I have no idea why this is fun!) She did it in a box of Lego's at Alison's house when she was like a year old, she does it at my mom's house all the time in a box of blocks, and the other day, she decided she needed to get into the tub I keep her toys in. The toys almost buried her, though it's hard to see in this picture.
The first time it really snowed here was one of the first Saturdays in December (December 2 to be exact--it was my birthday). We had to go outside anyway for something, so Steve and I got Emi bundled up and took her out with us. Me and Emi all bundled up:
This is her standing in the snow after she took about three steps. Then she stopped, looked up at me, and said, "Ew, gross!"
She hated it! Still does. Poor child. She hates having her coat on, she hates having socks, and long sleeves, and especially gloves. She just needs us to move to a warmer climate! The one thing she does like is her hat. She is always pleased to be wearing a hat (although around the house, her hat is one of those throw-away tupperware containers--I have to have one dedicated to being her hat, because she wears it every day!).
She also loves playing in water. Since we can't go outside much (it's been really cold this year--negative 5 degrees the other night), she's been asking to take a bath almost every night). Here is a picture of her just playing in the sink. She especially likes the bathroom upstairs because she can make faces at herself in the mirror while she plays.
Also, Emilia loves phones. The thing I find funny is that she thinks it's really fun for other people to talk on the phones. She'll push buttons either on my cell phone or one of the play phones and then hand it to me, or whoever is available, and say, "Hedo!" which means we're supposed to say hello and keep talking. She will do this ten times in a row or more if I let her. Also cute: if I ever hand the phone back to her and say that they want to talk to her, she'll take the phone, hold it up to her ear, and say, "Hedo? Yes." Every time. Hello and then yes. Haha! And it's even cuter when you've heard her say "yes" before. It comes out more like "Szesssss," with a definitive, single nod. She is so funny!She has also picked up the words, "no," and "wait" from Signing Time. She'll yell "WAIT!" whenever she wants our attention, but has to wait because we're busy, which I think is ironically hilarious, and when she really knows that she doesn't want something, she'll say, very calmly, "No." and do the sign with it. Otherwise, she'll just say, "Uh-uh," and shake her head.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
12 Days of Christmas
I decided to do the 12 days of christmas for a lady at church who is alone during this holiday season who I thought could use some extra love. I did a lot of work and a little research, so I thought I'd share with you, in case you're in the giving mood this holiday season.
On the 13 of December I will leave this stuff on her doorstep along with a homemade ornament (the poem will be separate from the history):
Twas the first day of Christmas and all through your house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
When lo on your doorstep you heard such a clatter,
You sprung to your feet to see what was the matter
This gift and this note that you found by your door,
Are firsts in the line; you’ll be getting twelve more.
Each one will have with it a verse and a scripture.
We hope by the end, you’ll get the big picture.
Tonight the first night, this sign you’ve been given,
One ring of your doorbell, not six and not seven,
But from every night hence, one ring of your phone
Will signal the gift out in front of your home.
A Little History
To truly celebrate the The Twelve Days of Christmas, we would have to wait until after our American version of the holiday is over. Contrary to much popular belief, these are not the twelve days before Christmas, but the twelve days between Christmas the Epiphany (January 6th). And although I think it would be wonderful to celebrate the Twelve Days this way, I wanted you to feel loved before the big day arrived, so we’re just going to have to acknowledge that we’ve gone off track and move on with our lives.
But before we do, I thought you might be interested in a little of the history behind this celebration:
In the Western church, Epiphany is usually celebrated as the time the Wise Men or Magi arrived to present gifts to the young Jesus (Matt. 2:1-12). Traditionally there were three Magi, probably from the mention of three gifts in the Nativity story, even though the biblical narrative never says how many Magi came. In some cultures, January 6th is observed as Three Kings Day, or simply the Day of the Kings. In some places it is traditional to give Christmas gifts for each of the Twelve Days of Christmas, in others, they give gifts only on January 6th. It is purely American to give all the gifts on or before Christmas.
The popular song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is usually seen as simply a nonsense song for children with secular origins. However, some have suggested that it is a song of Christian instruction, perhaps dating to the 16th century religious wars in England, with hidden references to the basic teachings of the Christian Faith. They contend that it was a mnemonic device to teach the catechism to youngsters. The "true love" mentioned in the song is not an earthly suitor, but refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person who is part of the Christian Faith. Each of the "days" represents some aspect of the Christian Faith that was important for children to learn.
Whether the song has religious origins or not should not prevent us from using the song in celebration of Christ at Christmas. Now when we hear what we once thought was only a “nonsense song,” we can be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.
The rest of the nights, I will leave the gift in parentheses, the poem verse, and the meaning behind the original gift as outlined below.
Poem verses:
Night 1 (pears)
Tonight calls for a partridge along with a tree,
But partridges are tough catches, you see.
Now, how 'bout some pears, instead of the bird.
Indeed they taste good, or so we have heard.
Night 2 (chocolate turtles & dove chocolates)
Tonight you’re supposed to have wee turtledoves,
But chocolate is something that everyone loves.
So instead of two birds who might look cute and coo
we’re leaving some candy especially for you.
Night 3 (chicken plate with goodies)
Night three arrives, but we’re not in France,
And French hens aren’t something you come on by chance.
But chickens are popular here in the States,
And along with some goodies, you can find them on plates.
Or (fast food certificate)
Night three arrives, but we’re not in France,
And French hens aren’t something you come on by chance.
But French fries are quite common here in the States,
You can have them with burgers or just a milk shake.
Night 4 (bird ornament)
The four calling birds we just couldn’t make out,
The species of bird was not beyond doubt.
We’re hoping the real ones are small, white, and pretty,
Because that’s what we got you to put on your tree.
Night 5 (bagels)
On the fifth day of Christmas gold rings are the fare,
But gold is expensive, and we’re not millionaires.
One ring for each finger seems too much anyway,
And these golden rings taste much better, I’d say.
Night 6 (fresh eggs with recipe)
Six geese a-laying-- an interesting sight.
One of them squawked and they all took to flight.
You’ll see what they left in their nests with a look,
And this recipe’s great if you use them to cook.
Night 7 (goldfish)
On this day of Christmas, how nice it would be,
If seven swans a-swimming you could look out and see.
But the pond was quite empty since the swans have gone south,
We only found goldfish to put in your mouth.
Night 8 (jug shaped vase)
On the eighth day of Christmas, the maids were out shopping.
Their milking, in haste, was clearly forgotten,
Their empty milk jugs were all left in the hay,
We filled one with flowers to brighten your day.
Or (movie certificates)
On the eighth day of Christmas, the maids were out shopping.
Their milking, in haste, was clearly forgotten,
The cows were upset that they got left behind,
And are sharing some moo-vies to help you unwind.
Night 9 (Christmas CD) extremely
Nine ladies dancing would be such a crowd,
And the music they dance by would be awfully loud.
Instead we have brought a CD full of songs,
So you can be merry the whole season long.
Night 10 (grandpa’s butter caramels)
Ten lords a-leaping would be a grand gift,
Too bad they got stuck jumping through a snowdrift.
In honor of the poor lords’ sticky plight,
We made you some carmels to savor tonight.
Night 11 (hot cocoa mix)
Eleven pipers piping makes us think of our plumber,
Though to leave him as a gift would be a real bummer.
Instead use your pipes to make some hot water,
‘Cuz cocoa can make hearts and hands a lot hotter.
Night 12 (small nativity set)
One dozen drummers would be a grand sight
On this 12th day of Christmas (and our final night)
But the noise of their drums would make such a ruckus,
That we chose something else as a last gift from us.
As you open the wrap you will see it’s a scene
Of Christ’s birth here on Earth, so low and so mean,
His mission in life was to love and to save us;
May we all reminisce on the real meaning of Christmas.
We hope you felt loved during the holidays! Merry Christmas!
Origins of gifts from the song:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that risks her life to lure predators from her helpless nestlings, just as Christ gave his life that we might be saved from sin.
Luke 13:34
Two Turtle Doves
The Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness of Christ’s divinity.
John 5:39
Three French Hens
The Three Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity.
1 Corinthians 13:13, Alma 7:24, Moroni 7
Four Calling Birds
The Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Mark 1:1-2
Five Gold Rings
The first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch.
John 5: 46-47
Six Geese A-laying
The six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world.
Genesis 1
Seven Swans A-swimming
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-11; Doctrine and Covenants 46:11-26
Eight Maids A-milking
The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake.
Matthew 5:3-12; 3 Ne 12:3-12
Nine Ladies Dancing
The nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
Ten Lords A-leaping
The ten commandments.
Exodus 20:1-17; Mosiah 13:12-24
Eleven Pipers Piping
The eleven Faithful Apostles. The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus to the Romans.
Luke 6:14-16
Twelve Drummers Drumming
The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' (or Nicean) Creed.
In the LDS church, it would be 13 for the 13 Aritcles of Faith.
Pearl of Great Price: A of F
On the 13 of December I will leave this stuff on her doorstep along with a homemade ornament (the poem will be separate from the history):
Twas the first day of Christmas and all through your house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
When lo on your doorstep you heard such a clatter,
You sprung to your feet to see what was the matter
This gift and this note that you found by your door,
Are firsts in the line; you’ll be getting twelve more.
Each one will have with it a verse and a scripture.
We hope by the end, you’ll get the big picture.
Tonight the first night, this sign you’ve been given,
One ring of your doorbell, not six and not seven,
But from every night hence, one ring of your phone
Will signal the gift out in front of your home.
A Little History
To truly celebrate the The Twelve Days of Christmas, we would have to wait until after our American version of the holiday is over. Contrary to much popular belief, these are not the twelve days before Christmas, but the twelve days between Christmas the Epiphany (January 6th). And although I think it would be wonderful to celebrate the Twelve Days this way, I wanted you to feel loved before the big day arrived, so we’re just going to have to acknowledge that we’ve gone off track and move on with our lives.
But before we do, I thought you might be interested in a little of the history behind this celebration:
In the Western church, Epiphany is usually celebrated as the time the Wise Men or Magi arrived to present gifts to the young Jesus (Matt. 2:1-12). Traditionally there were three Magi, probably from the mention of three gifts in the Nativity story, even though the biblical narrative never says how many Magi came. In some cultures, January 6th is observed as Three Kings Day, or simply the Day of the Kings. In some places it is traditional to give Christmas gifts for each of the Twelve Days of Christmas, in others, they give gifts only on January 6th. It is purely American to give all the gifts on or before Christmas.
The popular song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is usually seen as simply a nonsense song for children with secular origins. However, some have suggested that it is a song of Christian instruction, perhaps dating to the 16th century religious wars in England, with hidden references to the basic teachings of the Christian Faith. They contend that it was a mnemonic device to teach the catechism to youngsters. The "true love" mentioned in the song is not an earthly suitor, but refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person who is part of the Christian Faith. Each of the "days" represents some aspect of the Christian Faith that was important for children to learn.
Whether the song has religious origins or not should not prevent us from using the song in celebration of Christ at Christmas. Now when we hear what we once thought was only a “nonsense song,” we can be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.
The rest of the nights, I will leave the gift in parentheses, the poem verse, and the meaning behind the original gift as outlined below.
Poem verses:
Night 1 (pears)
Tonight calls for a partridge along with a tree,
But partridges are tough catches, you see.
Now, how 'bout some pears, instead of the bird.
Indeed they taste good, or so we have heard.
Night 2 (chocolate turtles & dove chocolates)
Tonight you’re supposed to have wee turtledoves,
But chocolate is something that everyone loves.
So instead of two birds who might look cute and coo
we’re leaving some candy especially for you.
Night 3 (chicken plate with goodies)
Night three arrives, but we’re not in France,
And French hens aren’t something you come on by chance.
But chickens are popular here in the States,
And along with some goodies, you can find them on plates.
Or (fast food certificate)
Night three arrives, but we’re not in France,
And French hens aren’t something you come on by chance.
But French fries are quite common here in the States,
You can have them with burgers or just a milk shake.
Night 4 (bird ornament)
The four calling birds we just couldn’t make out,
The species of bird was not beyond doubt.
We’re hoping the real ones are small, white, and pretty,
Because that’s what we got you to put on your tree.
Night 5 (bagels)
On the fifth day of Christmas gold rings are the fare,
But gold is expensive, and we’re not millionaires.
One ring for each finger seems too much anyway,
And these golden rings taste much better, I’d say.
Night 6 (fresh eggs with recipe)
Six geese a-laying-- an interesting sight.
One of them squawked and they all took to flight.
You’ll see what they left in their nests with a look,
And this recipe’s great if you use them to cook.
Night 7 (goldfish)
On this day of Christmas, how nice it would be,
If seven swans a-swimming you could look out and see.
But the pond was quite empty since the swans have gone south,
We only found goldfish to put in your mouth.
Night 8 (jug shaped vase)
On the eighth day of Christmas, the maids were out shopping.
Their milking, in haste, was clearly forgotten,
Their empty milk jugs were all left in the hay,
We filled one with flowers to brighten your day.
Or (movie certificates)
On the eighth day of Christmas, the maids were out shopping.
Their milking, in haste, was clearly forgotten,
The cows were upset that they got left behind,
And are sharing some moo-vies to help you unwind.
Night 9 (Christmas CD) extremely
Nine ladies dancing would be such a crowd,
And the music they dance by would be awfully loud.
Instead we have brought a CD full of songs,
So you can be merry the whole season long.
Night 10 (grandpa’s butter caramels)
Ten lords a-leaping would be a grand gift,
Too bad they got stuck jumping through a snowdrift.
In honor of the poor lords’ sticky plight,
We made you some carmels to savor tonight.
Night 11 (hot cocoa mix)
Eleven pipers piping makes us think of our plumber,
Though to leave him as a gift would be a real bummer.
Instead use your pipes to make some hot water,
‘Cuz cocoa can make hearts and hands a lot hotter.
Night 12 (small nativity set)
One dozen drummers would be a grand sight
On this 12th day of Christmas (and our final night)
But the noise of their drums would make such a ruckus,
That we chose something else as a last gift from us.
As you open the wrap you will see it’s a scene
Of Christ’s birth here on Earth, so low and so mean,
His mission in life was to love and to save us;
May we all reminisce on the real meaning of Christmas.
We hope you felt loved during the holidays! Merry Christmas!
Origins of gifts from the song:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that risks her life to lure predators from her helpless nestlings, just as Christ gave his life that we might be saved from sin.
Luke 13:34
Two Turtle Doves
The Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness of Christ’s divinity.
John 5:39
Three French Hens
The Three Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity.
1 Corinthians 13:13, Alma 7:24, Moroni 7
Four Calling Birds
The Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Mark 1:1-2
Five Gold Rings
The first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch.
John 5: 46-47
Six Geese A-laying
The six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world.
Genesis 1
Seven Swans A-swimming
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-11; Doctrine and Covenants 46:11-26
Eight Maids A-milking
The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake.
Matthew 5:3-12; 3 Ne 12:3-12
Nine Ladies Dancing
The nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
Ten Lords A-leaping
The ten commandments.
Exodus 20:1-17; Mosiah 13:12-24
Eleven Pipers Piping
The eleven Faithful Apostles. The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus to the Romans.
Luke 6:14-16
Twelve Drummers Drumming
The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' (or Nicean) Creed.
In the LDS church, it would be 13 for the 13 Aritcles of Faith.
Pearl of Great Price: A of F
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
My favorite Reuben Sandwich recipe
I don't even like Reubens and I like these! Steve says they're pretty smashing, too. :) And they are quick and cheap!
Ingredients
Sandwich
10 slices Russian rye bread
2 cups grated mozzerella cheese
2 - 2 oz pkgs Buddig corned beef (or deli meat if you can afford it)
2 - 2 oz pkgs Buddig pastrami (or deli meat if you can afford it)
1 -15 oz can sauerkraut (again, you can get higher quality if you want)
1/4 cup Russian Dressing (recipe below)
butter or margarine
Dressing
Combine the following ingredients. Makes one-half cup.
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 Tbsp ketchup
1 1/2 teaspoons spicey brown mustard
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Butter one side of the bread. Spread Russian dressing on the unbuttered side. Place 1/5 of the corned beef and 1/5 of the pastrami (about four slices of each) on top of the dressing. Sprinkle mozzerella cheese on top of the meat. Use the top of the can to squeeze out as much of the saurkraut juice as possible; spread 1/5 of the kraut on the cheese. Top with a second piece of rye and butter the top. Fry in a frying pan until browned and mozzerella starts to melt. Enjoy!
To Tristan's comment that my daughter looks more like an Ewok than Princess Leia...
I say: WHATEVER! :) She totally looks like Princess Leia
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Hooray! It's here!
Each April and October our church holds a semi-annual General Conference. The leaders of our church, through satellite broadcast throughout the world, speak to the members about subjects that they feel are important to our happiness and spiritual well-being. In May and November, these addresses are published in the church magazine, the Ensign. We have a subscription to the magazine and I LOVE getting these two special issues, so I can read the words that I heard again and try to apply them in my life. And our November issue just arrived. Yea!
They also make the addresses available online both in written and video/audio format at www.lds.org. I haven't had a chance to read many of the addresses yet, but one that I liked especially can be read here. It is titled "The Love of God," and it talks about the love that God has for us, and how we can become better disciples of Christ by increasing our love for Him. A quick quote: "We increase our love for our Heavenly Father and demonstrate that love by aligning our thoughts and actions with God’s word. His pure love directs and encourages us to become more pure and holy. It inspires us to walk in righteousness—not out of fear or obligation but out of an earnest desire to become even more like Him because we love Him."
Thinking about a way to explain General Conference to my family members who are not LDS, I decided on this analogy: It would be like, if you're Catholic, the Pope and the Cardinals and the Archbishops (you can correct me if I'm not getting the hierarchy correct--I don't know a lot about the Catholic leadership), all getting together, choosing a number of them to address the church, and then speaking to a body of the members about matters they see members struggling with. These addresses would be recorded, and then made available so that they could be shown instead of regular church services at any Catholic church in the world.
You can imagine how great it would be to be able to hear the leaders of your church directly every six months. And that's why I was excited to get the Conference issue of the Ensign. If you're interested, I hope you check it out.
They also make the addresses available online both in written and video/audio format at www.lds.org. I haven't had a chance to read many of the addresses yet, but one that I liked especially can be read here. It is titled "The Love of God," and it talks about the love that God has for us, and how we can become better disciples of Christ by increasing our love for Him. A quick quote: "We increase our love for our Heavenly Father and demonstrate that love by aligning our thoughts and actions with God’s word. His pure love directs and encourages us to become more pure and holy. It inspires us to walk in righteousness—not out of fear or obligation but out of an earnest desire to become even more like Him because we love Him."
Thinking about a way to explain General Conference to my family members who are not LDS, I decided on this analogy: It would be like, if you're Catholic, the Pope and the Cardinals and the Archbishops (you can correct me if I'm not getting the hierarchy correct--I don't know a lot about the Catholic leadership), all getting together, choosing a number of them to address the church, and then speaking to a body of the members about matters they see members struggling with. These addresses would be recorded, and then made available so that they could be shown instead of regular church services at any Catholic church in the world.
You can imagine how great it would be to be able to hear the leaders of your church directly every six months. And that's why I was excited to get the Conference issue of the Ensign. If you're interested, I hope you check it out.
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