The Feeling of Fall

If you could package up fall and the excitement that is in the air, I think THIS is what it would smell like!!!

I love everything FALL  :)

My birthday is September 22nd...AND it's the first day of fall. :)

The leaves are changing

The air is cooler

And conference time is HERE!!!

Last Saturday I went to the church to watch the broadcast of the Women's General Relief Society meeting and felt SO much peace, love, and encouragement...which is so completely opposite from most of the messages that surround us these days.

As I sat taking notes, I tried really hard to NOT write down just the words that were "said" but rather the words that I "heard" through the Spirit.

I believe that Heavenly Father can tell me things specific to my needs and the needs of my sweet family.

I LOVE to  receive those special messages that He has just for me.

I loved the meeting last week and am looking forward to the next 2 days and the feeling that comes with the spiritual feast and gifts that we receive.

Happy listening and Happy Weekend!!!

:)

Gentle "Nudges"

I love the gentle little "nudges" that we get from the Spirit.

Yesterday was such a busy day and I really wondered how I would be able to accomplish everything that I had written down in my planner. I considered which things weren't "necessary" and maybe I could do without...I learned very quickly from the "nudges" that I got, that taking time to see the kids at the school was definitely a MUST. :)

It's funny how when you keep prayer and Heavenly Father a part of the agenda, all of the important things always seem to get done. :)

Kambriella and Gavin were running in their Road Runner Rally at the school ...

Kesslyn and I were happy to join them for a little bit and cheer them on as they ran and ran and ran!

I loved how Kambriella would go from a leisurely walk to a full on sprint as soon as she could see me. :)

There is something about people being there to cheer you on 

that makes the work a little easier to do. :)

Kesslyn LOVES these kids and THEY LOVE HER!!!

It was so rewarding for me to see how happy they were to see each other!

As I was out for my run this morning I listened to the song "Love At Home."

The words..."making life a bliss complete, when there's love at home" struck me like they never have before.

THAT is what we are doing...making life a bliss complete...BECAUSE we have love at home...

and I LOVE it!

:)

Temples

It's Wednesday! 

For the last 3 and a half years I have been fortunate enough and blessed to be able to serve in the young women's organization of the church. The highlight for me of course was getting to be with Kierra so much and to have had some life changing experiences together...but also just getting to spend every Wednesday and Sunday with our amazing youth.

Today we will be visiting the Oquirrh Mountain Temple with the girls and strengthening our testimonies of the temple and of eternal families.

This is one of my favorite things to do...go to the temple.

We live about 3 miles from the Jordan River temple and are very fortunate to get to go there often. Right now though, the temple is under renovation and won't be open for about a year and a half.

Sooooo.....

We have decided to take advantage of this opportunity to go and visit some other temples too!

(Did you know that by the time all of the currently announced temples are completed there will be 175 temples dotting the earth?)

This summer, Clint, Kierra, Carew and I had the amazing opportunity of going to the 

Palmyra, New York Temple.

It was literally a sacred experience, as you can stand inside the temple and gaze out a large picture window into the actual Sacred Grove. The same Sacred Grove where Joseph Smith had the First Vision and saw the literal Son of God and Heavenly Father himself.

Also this summer, we have visited the Logan Temple. This temple has extra significance and special meaning to me as it is the temple where Clint and I were sealed for time and all eternity. 

           My parents and Clint's parents were also sealed in this beautiful temple...yes...VERY special!

And after 22 years of marriage to this amazing man, I am more in love with him today than ever.

It just keeps getting better and better  :)

We also visited the New port Beach Temple this summer with Kierra, Carew, and Dallin.

This was very special to me to be with all of my family (that's old enough) and to feel the special spirit there and participate together in saving ordinances.

 This MUST be how it will feel to be with loved ones in heaven...

We also went to the Payson temple and witnessed the marriage of this beautiful bride.

Amelia has always been the big sister to Kierra that she has never had, and really like a daughter to me.

I love that the temple blesses our lives in so many ways.

This month we will also be going to the Mount Timpanogos temple...

And just for fun, here is a list of the temples I have visited:

Anchorage Alaska Temple

Laie Hawaii Temple

San Diego Temple

Newport Beach Temple

Mesa Arizona Temple

Idaho Falls Temple

Brigham City Temple

 Logan Temple

Ogden Temple

Bountiful Temple

Salt Lake Temple

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

Jordan River Temple

Draper Temple

Mount Timpanogos Temple

Provo City Center Temple

Provo Temple

Payson Temple

Manti Temple

St. George Temple

Las Vegas Temple

Palmyra New York Temple

Boston Massachusetts Temple

Orlando Florida Temple

They are all amazing and beautiful and each one brings the same

 peaceful feelings of "heaven on earth."

They are a "refuge from the storm" and a great blessing in my life, and also something that I try to pattern my home after. I love the temples so much and am so grateful for the eternal promises that I have made and those same promises that Heavenly Father is keeping with me.

I LOVE THE TEMPLE!!!

Swiss Days ~ Our Labor Day Weekend Tradition!

Every Labor Day weekend our family loves to take a drive up the Provo Canyon 

and head on over to Swiss Days.

There's a fun fresh feeling of fall in the air up there in Midway. With all of the sights, sounds, and smells in the air, it is the perfect way to begin Autumn time! AND...for me, it also marks the beginning of all of the holiday seasons and starts them off with a BANG! :)

(If the size of these scones are any indication of how much we LOVE going there...Then enough said!!!)

:)

Each of the kids saved up their money to buy themselves a treasure at the booths, but the only one who ended up buying anything was me, and Kambriella! 

She bought a Candy Corn Witch costume for her American Girl doll, and I bought some new earrings.

( I have to build up my collection again now that Kierra has moved out to BYU for college! We used to share ALL of our things, but of course a good mommy lets her daughter have it ALL. ;)

We enjoyed the stroll around the quaint little Swiss style town and just laughing and talking about this and that...You know, it doesn't ever really matter where we are going or what we are doing, 

we just really like doing it together. :)

So excited for the seasons!!!

(And I just finished a big batch of homemade cinnamon vanilla syrup...

Bring on the Pumpkin pancakes!!!)

...and EVERYTHING pumpkin.

:)

"Short and Sweet!"

This little gift is "Short and Sweet!!!" Literally! :)

But it was oh so good for my sweet tooth and tummy! Yum!!!

This was an Edible bouquet that I received from my sweetie for my 40th birthday!

(Did I just admit that??!! 40?! :)  ;)

But you know what?? 

I AM SOOOOO HAPPY!!!! 

 Life continues to move forward at an ever increasing pace... I literally wake up in the morning and RUN all day, and fall into bed completely exhausted at night ~ 

But oh so excited to get up and do it again the next day.

WHY ???

 Because this life is so good.

I have a loving Heavenly Father who blesses me continually and I'm so grateful to have so many amazing people in my life to enjoy this amazing journey with.

#1 being my sweetheart Clint. Our cute family to go right along, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ as our guide.

I love this life and I love the feeling of peace and happiness that accompany each of us as we find true joy and happiness striving to do what's right, love those around us, 

and serve with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. 

I've really been counting my blessings, and don't ever want to forget them or take them for granted.

So, I have goals to try and record these everyday awesome experiences as they come. Whether they are "short and sweet" like my fruit bouquet, or not...each day is a gift and I am so grateful!!!