Highlight of My Weekend!

 The highlight of my weekend was an overnight date with my sweetie! I love to get away with him and have uninterrupted time to catch up on everything that we don't get the time to talk about during the week.

 We spend so much time taking care of  children and other important priorities that sometimes the little things can get left behind and lost in the shuffle of life..BUT, it's the little things that I LOVE and that together make up the BIG things! So, I love our time alone to catch up on all the little things...:) and to cuddle of course...;)  ;)

 There was also no elementary school on Friday because of parent teacher conferences, so I took the little girls and a couple of friends to the Children's Discovery Museum at Thanksgiving Point.

 They had fun playing and exploring and I was happy to get out with them and do something fun! Especially since the weather has been so rainy lately...it was a fun day. :)

Smiles all around. :)  :)  :)  :)

Exhausted and Sweet ;)

It has been a busy busy week and when I got home late last night this was the picture of sweetness that I found...

after Basketball games, Region Drama competition, a wedding reception, and my sweet sweet evening of The Musical Parable of the 10 Virgins, we all crashed in our beds and felt grateful for such amazing blessings in our lives. 

I'm telling you, I'm a lucky momma and one lucky wife!!! :)

XOXOXOXO

Happy Friday!!!

A Little More Light :)

Yesterday my blog post was titled "Gathering Heavenly Light."

Today, my littlest angel is giving a whole new meaning to my day of "gathering heavenly light!"

Right when we arrived home from preschool and grocery shopping, she unbuckled and climbed up in the front of the car with me, found the button that opens the sun roof and asked, "Mommy, what does this do?"

I proceeded to open it and her eyes AND smile became SO wide!!! WOW!!! :)

She was so happy to find such a cool place, and to be able to see the pretty blue sky.

It has been raining off and on here for the past few days and the little break in the clouds was heartwarming for both of us, and we were both literally gathering in that "heavenly light."  :)

Yesterday I had helped set up for the stake Relief Society activity that is culminating tonight, and as I left the church parking lot, there was the biggest rainbow stretching across the sky! I tried to capture it in a picture, but it was just too big...but I do love what I did see, and again I was literally gathering in "heavenly light," just this time in a different way...;)

Then today, once again in preparation for the stake relief society activity that is taking place tonight, I had the desire to attend the temple again, and gather in yet a little more of that "heavenly light."

I had a neat experience sitting in a spirit filled room with other sisters who were there for their own various reasons, but as I prayed, visited, and even had the chance to help a sister that came in with a specific need, I felt an abundance of love from Heavenly Father, and I really did feel so much light in my life.
I testify that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the true and everlasting gospel here on the earth, and that daily gathering in of  "heavenly light" in whatever form you may need, will bring a great peace and understanding to life. I know who I am and what my purpose is, and when I keep that eternal focus I feel so happy.

I'm grateful for the temple, that I live SO close to so many, and that I have a knowledge, understanding, and a deep testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ.

I am grateful for ALL of the heavenly light that He shines down on me!

Gathering Heavenly Light

 I am excited to be going on this special journey to gather "heavenly light!"

Our stake Relief Society is putting on this wonderful program tomorrow, and each day leading up to it we have been challenged to participate in each of these events...

-A special fast

-Understanding the Relief Society Declaration

-Praying with a purpose

-Studying the scriptures

-Seeking Jesus

Today these scriptures are ringing in my heart:

D&C 33: 17-18

17 Wherefore, be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom—18 For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that I come quickly. Even so. Amen.

D&C 45: 57 

57 For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.

D&C 133: 10

10 Yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom; behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord.

I am excited for tomorrow too for the culmination of this event, a musical parable, and hopefully a spirit filled room that will touch and move hearts. I know mine will be.

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and my Savior and Heavenly Father. I am grateful for the companionship of the Spirit and the love and light I feel and see in my life because f them. I am truly blessed and grateful beyond measure. I am seeking Jesus, and am excited for Him to come!

Happy!

This is pretty much how I feel about today...

:)  HAPPY!  :)

XOXOXOXO

This Ride is the BEST

 Over the weekend Clint spent a good 3 hours with his tractor plowing our snow filled driveway so that the scouts can go to our cabin for an overnight retreat this upcoming weekend. 

We have gotten more snow this winter than I can remember in a long time, and with all of it piled up now it seems to be 5 feet or more of snow!

I watched Clint at work from inside the cabin and wished I could help him with his big job, so I made him a nice cup of "warm" chocolate :) Because if you know Clint, you would know that "hot" chocolate would be too hot...;)

 I also learned after taking him his hot chocolate, that this was a chore that he was thoroughly enjoying, and that I shouldn't feel bad that I wasn't "helping!"  ;)

He was having the time of his life, just like a little boy digging in the sand with a dump truck. ;)

He asked me if I wanted to try and drive, but I told him that he was doing a great job. ;) But I did climb up in the seat beside him and ride next to him for a little bit while he worked. It was a lot bumpier of a ride than it looked, that's for sure! But it was fun and satisfying watching him get the job done. I actually stood in the drive way for a long time watching him work, and I distinctly remember thinking to myself, "This ride of life we are on together is so much better than I ever dreamed it would be..." 

I knew it would be great...but being with him is literally the BEST.

Away With My Sweetie...

 Our week away has come to a close and I have loved every minute of attention and togetherness that I have had with my sweetie. I LOVE getting away with him, and I LOVE coming home. :)

We have such a good and happy life together and I feel blessed in so many ways to be able to share it with him...

The majority of our time was spent visiting with people and eating good food. ;)

We had the Sound Off awards dinner at a Brazilian Steakhouse...and I guess this is the year of the Pig??

Yesss...there were lots of pigs everywhere we went...they are supposed to represent a year of prosperity and good fortune, so we shall see! ;) ;)

But honestly...these are some very good people that we got to spend our time with.

Doug and Karen Baker, and Wayne and Julie Weiser.

Good good people that always made you feel good being around them. (And I even found out that Doug and I share the same birthday! :)

 We shopped and ate at this darling little Italian Market place called The Eataly...

It reminded me so much of Carew and I almost thought I was in Italy and not Las Vegas while I was in there! 

 This little car from Sicily topped off the Italian feel...;)

 We went to 2 Cirque De Soleil shows while we were there too...One called the "O" and the other was  "The Beatles Love." Very entertaining, but verrry different!

 We walked through the gardens at the Bellagio where we stayed...

 ...and through lots of shopping malls...

 We enjoyed watching the fountains and hearing the fun music at night...

 ...and one of my all time favorite things we got to do...go to the spa!!!!

Being pampered and spoiled and relaxing my body and mind for an hour and a half was seriously soooo rejuvenating! SO good for my soul! :)

 We were treated to one of the most expensive dinners I've ever had...which in my opinion is CRAZY...but it was very fun and yummy for sure!

We had seafood on dry ice for an appetizer with steaks for dinner... 

 ...and Butter Cake for dessert! Clint even won himself a new interior light bar and Aftershock from Sound Off for finishing off the bowl of whipping cream that was brought to the table! ;)

I thought he was going to be sick after eating it all, but he did good, and we had fun, and I really did feel so spoiled. After shopping and spending all of our room credits that were given to us on souvenirs for the kids, we were happy to come home and be together as a family once again. Like I said before...I LOVE getting away, and I LOVE coming home! It's so good to be home!

Happy Friday!