Just some thoughts

My delightful, 14 year old daughter, Jessica, attended a yearly church youth trip we call Youth Conference last week for the first time.  This year, our stake had scheduled a trip to Nauvoo, IL a wonderful church history site.  She thoroughly enjoyed it and has been talking of little else ever since she got home.  She came home with a crush on a "very cute" boy, took 154 pictures, bought a t shirt, and spent good time with the other youth and wonderful youth leaders in our stake. 

I am grateful she still has those righteous desires and was able to attend this Youth Conference and feel the Spirit that undoubtedly exists at those wonderful places.

On another note, she has been sharing (I both love and hate that I'm the parent that gets to know these things) some things that have been going on with her.  Particularly some of the things she participates in while she is not at a church event.  Just some of the clothes she wears (which she knows are not allowed at my house, so they stay at her dad's), some of the music she listens to, and movies she watches.  I try to be the cool and hip mom that allows her  the room and safety of exploring things and being able to be who she is, but I'm getting concerned.  She will not do scriptures or pray with me anymore, and I find it troubling.  She also shared some things about some of  the other youth in the stake and things they deal with at home, and it brings to my mind the question:

Am I the only one that is not a "Sunday Mormon"?  Am I a "Sunday Mormon"?  Am I expecting too much? 

I do really square things like not watching rated "r" movies, or wearing immodest clothing or, use foul language (although there are some infrequent occasions where my head explodes).  I read scriptures each day or try to, I say my prayers and try my best to be what I am supposed to be.  I see testimony building experiences in my everyday life.  I receive answers to prayers.  I love the church and I love righteous things.

I have a friend or two who are no longer active in the church and seem to no longer believe in such things and if all of these things are going on around me and I have been ignorant to them all of this time, what does  that say about me?  I am happy and do sincerely love the gospel and feeling The Spirit around me, so does any of this even matter?  Interesting thoughts I suppose, but when it comes down to it, I believe whether the people around me do or not, and I will continue to do my best to be who I believe my Heavenly Father wants me to be.  I guess these are the reasons such things as Youth Conference exist--to help the youth build their testimonies and feel The Spirit in spite of the shortcomings of all of us adults and the imperfect beings that we are. 

On another note, the singing group "Vocal Point" was performing in Nauvoo while the kids were there and it is the understatement of the century to say that they were a big hit!  I have tried and tried to upload a video Jessica made of one of  their songs, but it is not working, so you will just have to use your imagination of an accapella group singing "Beat It" with my daughter and her friends screaming in the background.  Trust me, it's cute. 

As well as a picture of my daughter and one of her good friends.  Doesn't it look like they were having fun?  I have so many similar pictures of me and my friends on a bus barreling towards the temple or Youth Conference.  Isn't it a rite of passage??? 

And how can we forget the cutest guy from Vocal Point?  I believe his name is Keith.  What a cutie!

Potato Happy Dance

As you  can see, my potato plants (all 8 of them!!!) have turned into a little potato growing patch!  YAY!!!  While I did pass a farm field Saturday and notice that my plants are not nearly as "bushy" as the farmer's, I am still hopeful that we will be eating home grown taters later this year!  Also, a friend advised me to put some Miracle Grow on them and I plan to try it out tomorrow.  So proud!  I've never grown anything before.  I already have plans for a bigger garden next year.  Much to my husband's eye rolling chagrin.  "Don't you already have enough to do?" He sighs.  I don't care.  I love growing things (as long as it continues to work for me anyways)

That Frodo had some great friends!

Yes, I was watching "Return of the King" again. Yes, I know I have a problem, but bear with me, will ya??? 

Let's think about this for a minute.  Frodo's friends went on a cross country hike with not enough food or water, fought off goblins and trolls with swords bigger than they were, did battle with gigantic spiders (shudder), fought the urukai (mutated beings born from tortured elves and goblins) many times each time thinking they were going to their certain death, put up with his weird obsession with jewelry, and when the burden became too great--even carried him so that he could complete the task at hand. They were all ready and willing to die right there with him so that he could complete his earthly mission. How many of us have friends like that?  How many of us ARE friends like that??? 

I have many friends who do those things for me many times over (of course I'm speaking symbolically--I do know that The Lord of the Rings is a work of fiction!).  I feel so much love and support.  I have been  blessed and blessed to have friends who will leave me alone when I need it and smother me with attention when I need it and set me straight when I need that too! 

What a wonderful blessing friendship is!  I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father for placing the most wonderful people in my life so that I could benefit from their awesomeness!!!!  I only hope that I can do for them a small fraction of what they do for me! 

Just some of the most wonderful people on the planet!!! 

One of my favorite places to relax

This is my good friend's house.  She lives in the country on a little road where it really is an issue if two cars want to pass.  Especially in the winter.  One of my favorite things to do is sit on the back porch and visit and watch the wildlife.  We'll throw in a few of my favorite folks as well.

Dogs are folks too, right? I am obviously not the fun one since I sat on the rock instead of "striking a pose".  But at least I'm in the fun group, right? 

Excellent program on personal revelation

This takes a few minutes to listen to, but is well worth the time.

Personal Revelation

Sister Julie Beck--General Relief Society President  for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Yummy dinner!

Here is a photo of what we had for supper last night.

Oven baked quesadillas.  I got the idea from having dinner at a friend's home last weekend, and just kind of made up a recipe to try it.  It's super yummy!  I just made taco meat, put the cooked meat on half of the tortilla, added a ton or so of shredded cheese, and folded the lid over then baked for about 12 minutes at 350 degrees.  The baking made the tortilla crunchy and turned the cheese into melted gooey goodness.  I smeared sour cream all over the top eh "voila!"  It wasn't exactly the same as what I had at my friend's house, but super delicious nonetheless!