Youth Conference

Nothing like jumping into my new calling with Youth Conference right around the corner! I am not entirely sure how it got planned for October this year (postponed from the summer) but it was, and we had a lot to prepare for. Our BYC basically consists of the YM president, the 3 YW class presidents and me (we have like 4 YM right now, most of them deacons). This meant my Laurel president and Mia Maid president were asked to plan so much: choose the theme, assign activities and talks, and plan things to share themselves. I have to say I was extremely proud of them and the time they took to make so much happen. I have no recollection of doing anything like that when I was a YW so I appreciate their involvement and willingness to work so much!

Our whole crew on Friday night including the bishop and brother Stokes (bishopric) and his wife

Our theme was "Building a Temple of God" inspired by the intro in For the Strength of Youth. Our brief weekend began by heading up to my parents' cabin. The youth were loving it up there the minute we pulled up. I was so happy to have an amazing place to convene when I knew it was hard for those kids to give up their Friday night. I knew they weren't thrilled to be heading to Youth Conference instead of the high school football game, but I think we managed to change their minds by the end of the night! (I was sad that 3 of my YW are on the HS drill team and had team obligations and couldn't come. When we are so small every single person really makes a difference.)

 

While dinner cooked in the oven we pulled out some fancy modeling clay and everyone sculpted something(s) that helped them build their testimony and draw them to the temple. Then the kids indulged in skee-ball and air hockey and jamming on guitars until we ate dinner. After, we gathered for our fireside where my newest counselor gave such a great talk on temples, why we build them, what sacrifices have been and are made for us to worship there, and how we need to be focusing on the temple and making and keeping sacred covenants.

 I made Sister McCleary re-enact her talk so I could snap a pic :)

The rest of the night was spent playing crazy games (good, wholesome recreational activity to be sure but still super silly and hyper :) We did Noah's Ark and One Truth and 2 Lies, until just before midnight. Those teenagers are such fun and so energetic! We were all laughing and having a great time. Then off to bed. The girls all slept in the big bunk room together and the boys shared a room far off in the basement. I think those YM stayed up until like 2:00 am playing skee-ball while we were all slumbering upstairs (those YM leaders are saints for hanging out with them so late!)

In the morning we had an awesome breakfast and then watched a video about temples before heading out on a hike. I was so nervous about the hike being a total disaster as it had been pouring rain the whole night, was definitely still very cold and wet when we woke up, and we were basically surrounded by a thick cloud. It was so gorgeous up at the cabin with all the fall foliage and I wanted our youth to be immersed in it and enjoy the natural beauty as we hiked. I thought about canceling it or changing it off and on in my head all night, but instead just hyped it up and made like we were planning on it all along, rain or shine or fog or whatever.

And it was beautiful. The fog rolled in and out and the trail was a little muddy, but the leaves were still glorious, the scenery enchanting and spirits so high. We had 2 short talks given by the YW class presidents in a clearing on our hike and they even had laminated handouts with the temple and a great quote on them for all of us (I was so proud :) 

because we're cheesy like that

I thought the forest and colors and everything surrounding us was stunning. 

I just had to keep taking photos (as you can see)

 

Back at the cabin we ate our lunch, cleaned and packed up, and were home by about 3 in the afternoon. I was elated that 1) we had done it! and 2) it turned out to be such a positive, uplifting, bonding, and teaching experience. The youth could not stop talking about it at church the next day and they had such enthusiasm in their comments. Cool. I took a 2 hour nap on Sunday to recover from it all :)

**I left my littles in the best of hands with my amazing hubby. On Saturday they all built a mega fort together in the front room and had it all cleaned up and put away before I got home. And Cares made me the cutest little picture—melted my heart and made me so glad to be home with her again.

(note on the side says: "to mom, from Cares. I hope you had a good time. Did you have candy?")

Fall Break in Sunny G

On Wednesday my sister and I packed up all our kiddos (9 total!) and drove down to St George (in 2 cars). It was so fun to meet up on the road in Fillmore, anticipate our big weekend, and then finally arrive! We unpacked and within minutes all our children were immediately playing together on scooters and trikes, finding fun toys unique to the SG house, exploring the yard and brush for golf balls, and rediscovering my parents' beautiful vacation home. It was next to impossible to get the kids to bed that night—they were just too excited.

During our stay the girls slept together, the boys slept together, and the babies slept in their cribs!

and the dollies slept together too of course

On Thursday my sis and I did bike rides in the morning (taking turns staying home with the kids) and then Cec took the 7 older kids to the Sand Hollow pool while the babies napped at home with me. Then we popped over to Target for our traditional "small prize outing" and dinner at In N Out.

This trip was boy heaven for my Bentley. Eth and Will are the coolest big kids to him and they are awesome at playing iPad games, Legos, and catch outside, and basically saying any and every silly thing to make each other laugh.

Friday was our busiest day. After my morning bike ride, we packed everyone up and went for a hike in Snow Canyon. 2 moms and 9 kids! It started out great but my Olivia quickly lost steam. She was a bit of a challenge but we pressed on. We found a fun lava tube to climb around in and then hiked back to the car. Livs was so slow during the hike back that I finally threw her on my back and carried her piggy back while I had Luke in the Bjorn on my belly. Wow—that was an awesome workout! Ethan took over for me during the last section which totally saved me. And then we went to the playground to eat lunch and hopefully wear the kids out even more!

Soon after we welcomed my parents and the hubbies who had hitched a ride with them. After getting settled, all the other adults went for bike rides, Ethan babysat sleeping babes, and I took a big group of kids to the Sunbrook pool. We also had a fun "late night" that night with everyone (minus Luke) gathered together watching Madagascar 3. Great movie! I had never seen it—I'm pretty sure I sent Joseph with the 3 big kids when Luke was tiny and I was dying for a good nap :)

Saturday morning we hit the Rosenbrunch Wildlife Museum where we saw millions of dollars worth of "taxidermied" animals (NOT stuffed animals like they teach you at the place :) I think my kids have been there at least a few times but it was a first for me—pretty cool place, especially if you have Chandler the animal expert there to offer up 101 facts about the wildlife. After lunch Joseph and I went for a bike ride but 1) I was fighting a chest cold, had laryngitis and couldn't breathe too well, and 2) my rear tire was having issues and kept losing air. I was hoping to venture up Snow Canyon with Joseph but it just wasn't meant to be that day. I did get 12 miles in so that counts for something. Next time I am down there I'll do it! In the later afternoon we sent our hubbies and big kids to Hotel Transylvania (I heard they all loved it but kids aren't very harsh critics :) while we shopped at TJ Maxx with the babies. Once the kids were in bed for the night, Cec and Chad and Joseph and I even escaped over to the hot tub on a quick double date leaving my parents to listen for any wakeful kiddos.

 

On Sunday we went to church (an hour of stake conference which we didn't know they were holding) packed our cars to the hilt, and drove home.

The whole weekend was busy and active and beautiful. We loved the warmth and sunshine, the happy sounds of kids playing Legos, dolls, and the iPad, and riding golf carts and scooters in the garage. The view from the house of red rock and Pine Mountain against the rich blue sky was as gorgeous as ever and a favorite sight of mine. So glad we could indulge in few more days of summer-like weather with so much family before returning to the north and the cold side of autumn.
 

10 Months

Busy, busy boy! He climbs up on everything lately which leads to lots of bonks and falls—growing pains :( He also likes to stand up in his crib before sleeping time but he doesn't know how to get back down yet—means I have to go in and adjust him at least once before naps/bedtime. I think it's actually pretty funny when he's so mad that he's standing up but just wants to be sleeping—he's so happy when I lay him down again and give him his soft blankie.

At this age Luke adores stairs, my hair and earrings, iPhones, and basically anything that is not one of his toys. And food of all kinds. He will sit in his high chair for almost an hour if I keep giving him new things to nibble on. It's the perfect way to keep him contained and entertained when I need to get things done.

Luke also thinks his siblings are the coolest people on the earth. They can get him giggling and so hyper—even as they carry him around like a sack of potatoes. I honestly don't know how the brother and sisters even do that—he is a heavy little guy and looks huge compared to them. But Luke loves the attention and playtime he gets from the kids. They are very helpful with him too which is a lifesaver for me—sometimes I just need to change the laundry or do the dishes or blow-dry my hair without worrying about what Luke might get into while I do so!

 

 First time swinging during our SG getaway this past weekend

The busy stair climbing babe

New Calling

Oh my goodness, life has pulled a big change on me. Last month I was called as the Young Women's President in my ward. I knew a change was coming as I was already serving as the 2nd counselor when our president told us she was moving. But I was really surprised and so humbled to get called as the president...really? me? I was in tears at the bishop's office to be given that calling, mostly because my heart suddenly felt like it would burst with the love I felt for my young women. I have been serving with them for almost 3 years now and I know them all so well. We are a small ward (after a split that happened in January) and I only have 11 girls, but they are amazing.

So far it has been such an incredible experience. I have never, ever prayed like I've prayed in the past 6 weeks. Calling counselors and organizing the leadership was totally new for me and I felt so much help from Heavenly Father. I have the most wonderful women serving with me and one of my counselors I had never even met before—but I knew I needed her as her name just kept coming to me again and again. And she has been the best help for me thus far too—so reliable and such a good, good person, and so excited and willing.

I love the other women I serve with too. The day we were all set apart together in the bishop's office was one of my favorites. The spirit was so strong and the blessings offered so beautiful and personal. A few of my leaders are experiencing rough trials right now and our bishopric was so sensitive to their righteous desires in the prayers they offered. It felt like the perfect beginning to our journey together.

I truly feel so much responsibility for the beautiful girls I get to serve. I keep thinking that one more prayer in their behalf has to help somehow, that one more visit when they are feeling low, one more cheerleader at their swim meet or dance performance will be good for them even if it's in the smallest way. My young women are strong and talented and smart. But they have real struggles and really hard things in their lives too. I worry for them so much and my heart hurts for them too. I am realizing how powerful prayer can be lately and I am so grateful I can call on my Father so often and that I am learning more and more how to rely on His help. I cannot solve the things that are hard for these girls but I can pray like crazy for them and ask Heavenly Father how I can be a force for good in their lives. And I'm armed with 6 other women who are eager and willing to do the same. Wow, did I ever have any idea what my Young Women leaders did in my behalf? The answer is not in the least! But I am seeing now...hindsight huh?

(5 of my amazing young women at youth conference this past weekend)

I attended my first ward council yesterday morning, have held 2 presidency meetings, attended a few extracurricular events for my YW, held youth conference this past Friday and Saturday, and attended the regular Wednesday activities like always. Coming up we have stake training next Tuesday night and Young Women in Excellence to prepare for in November. This calling is quite a busy one. Plus, every time I open my computer I have emails to send, reminders to give the girls, notes for my presidency and calendaring items to figure out. I think I'm going to carve out a 30 minute period every morning to get all that YW business dealt with each day, and then not worry about it again until the next day's allotted time. Hopefully that will help me stay on top of everything (quarterly reports! annual budgets! calling a camp director! new class presidencies!) but not overwhelm me. I still have this crazy gig as a mommy of 4 which needs most of my effort as it is.

I think this lovely blog is going to feel rather neglected in the future but I don't want to lose it as our family journal/album. It may just be a more sparse record than I'd like! Even now I am making Olivia watch a Barbie movie just so I can get this post done while Luke sleeps. No matter that I have been wanting to write this post for more than a month!

Conference Quotes

“If ye love me, keep my commandments,” Jesus said. So we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord. We can’t quit and we can’t go back. After an encounter with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it was before. The Crucifixion, Atonement, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ mark the beginning of a Christian life, not the end of it. 

To all within the sound of my voice, the voice of Christ comes ringing down through the halls of time, asking each one of us while there is time, “Do you love me?” And for every one of us, I answer with my honor and my soul, “Yea, Lord, we do love thee.” And having set our “hand to the plough,” we will never look back until this work is finished and love of God and neighbor rules the world.

—Elder Holland, The First Great Commandment

A testimony is spiritual knowledge of truth obtained by the power of the Holy Ghost. Continuing conversion is constant devotion to the revealed truth we have received—with a heart that is willing and for righteous reasons. Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. We should know the gospel is true and be true to the gospel.

—Elder Bednar, Converted Unto the Lord

This is the exchange the Savior is asking of us: we are to give up all our sins, big or small, for the Father’s reward of eternal life. We are to forget self-justifying stories, excuses, rationalizations, defense mechanisms, procrastinations, appearances, personal pride, judgmental thoughts, and doing things our way. We are to separate ourselves from all worldliness and take upon us the image of God in our countenances. 

Brothers and sisters, remember that this charge is more than just not doing bad things. With an engaged enemy we must also act and not sit in “thoughtless stupor.” Taking upon the countenance of God means serving each other. There are sins of commission and sins of omission, and we are to rise above both.

—Elder Rober C. Gay, What Shall a Man Give in Exchange for His Soul? 

Parents, the days are long past when regular, active participation in Church meetings and programs, though essential, can fulfill your sacred responsibility to teach your children to live moral, righteous lives and walk uprightly before the Lord. With President Monson’s announcement this morning, it is essential that this be faithfully accomplished in homes which are places of refuge where kindness, forgiveness, truth, and righteousness prevail. Parents must have the courage to filter or monitor Internet access, television, movies, and music. Parents must have the courage to say no, defend truth, and bear powerful testimony. Your children need to know that you have faith in the Savior, love your Heavenly Father, and sustain the leaders of the Church. Spiritual maturity must flourish in our homes. My hope is that no one will leave this conference without understanding that the moral issues of our day must be addressed in the family. Bishops and priesthood and auxiliary leaders need to support families and make sure that spiritual principles are taught.

—Elder Quentin L. Cook, Can Ye Feel So Now?

50 Miles

To celebrate 13 years of marriage, I asked my hubby to ride 50 miles with me—my first 1/2 century. It's a goal I've had in the back of my head all summer and I've been training a lot to get ready. I aimed for 2-3 rides a week all around 16-20 miles with some longer "Saturdate" rides with Joseph closer to 30. It has been incredibly fun riding this summer, and with my favorite app (Strava) I can track all sorts of nerdy things about my rides. Since early July, when I started using Strava, I have ridden 497 miles, been on 26 rides, ridden for more than 35 hours, and climbed 20,325 ft in elevation...see what I mean?

Now 50 miles may not seem too hard—boy scouts whip those out like no big deal all the time! But I wanted to ride 50 miles and feel good through the whole thing. I didn't want to be pooping out during the last 10 miles or having jello legs when I needed to make it back up to my house in the foothills. And I wanted to be in the right shape to enjoy the journey with my hubby who is turning into quite the strong cyclist. So train I did.

A few weeks ago we rode Emigration with our friends the Hayes. It was a stunning fall day but with our busy families and trying to fit in a last minute double date we could only do it right at noon on a 90 degree day. It was not my finest ride (I was slow) but it was awesome to chat with Heather while we rode—the time flew by and suddenly we were done! It was 7 miles of climbing but only about 1.5 of them are steep. It was sweaty and hot but beautiful with fall in her glory up there. And of course we made time for some Ruth's Diner on the way back down :)

 

 

 the beautiful (and very fulfilling descent!)

Another date ride from our house over to Butterfield Canyon and up about 3.5 miles for some more fall colors (about a 20 mile ride altogether). There are definitely advantages to living in the country—this road is usually pretty empty during the weekdays and feels so quiet and secluded.

Heather came out to ride with me last Wednesday and we had a great time...and a minor crash! But only because I cut her off and we both lost balance—whoops! I jammed my wrist pretty hard but it healed up quickly Thursday and Friday...ice, compression, elevation, repeat. And some leftover prescription ibuprofen from Luke's birth :)

And then it was Saturday—our day to ride. My big sis had my 3 oldest for a sleepover the night before and Nanny had Luke overnight with her so we got an excellent sleep and were on our way by 8:30 in the morning.

Glorious! It was a huge success. I think we just did everything right for that ride. We ate homemade Corner Bakery cold oatmeal for breakfast and made it 20 miles before stopping at the Ranches on the way to Eagle Mountain to refill water bottles and buy another Gatorade. Then we rode just a few miles back into Saratoga Springs and had a calorie filling breakfast sandwich at McDonalds :) It seemed weird to only be about half way done at that point but I still felt great and knew the way home had a lovely, long, downhill stretch that we'd climbed earlier in the morning—and that's always fun! We took a long way home detouring around Daybreak lake to add some extra miles and then we came home—51 miles total.

The crazy thing is that after 45 miles, on a stretch Joseph and I ride all the time, I rode it faster than I ever have and Joseph got his 2nd best time. It seems silly that we hadn't done better there in the past but I was thrilled to see that 50 miles hadn't done me in and that we'd found a really good pace to maintain for the tail end of our ride. And of course Joseph was feeling fine and dandy—he rode a 100 miler about a month before so 50 felt about perfect to him.

And then it was back to our kids and a busy Saturday and living the crazy, beautiful life we have created together over the last 13 years.

We did manage to have a pretty awesome Friday night date night too with the Eberhardts, Los Hermanos, and Cougar football. The weekend as a whole was one of my favorites. 

 

13 Years

A lot of changes come in the course of 13 years—it's crazy how we've grown into a full family:

This marriage has been a good ride, a really really good ride. I feel incredibly blessed to be married to such a worthy, loving, and hard-working man. The older I get the more rare those qualities seem to become in the world and I know I ended up with one of the best. But I also feel so lucky that Joseph and I are so happy together. Somehow we just get each other which makes everything easier, especially when it comes to parenting and what we want to teach and experience with our children, how we want to love and cherish them, and how we discipline and help them too. It truly is a team effort which I thrive on having 4 littles who need us so much. I am sure the 20 year old version of me had no idea what I needed in the future father of my children but my husband has definitely stepped up to the plate.

I truly love him like no other and he's my perfect match, enough said :)