SugarDoodle

Any one who has a calling in the church knows how stressful it can be at times!! Especially when you have a lesson, sharing time, and parties, to plan for all at the same time!!! I used to just get really frustrated with my un-creative brain! But alas, Heavenly Father is truly looking out for all of us!! Because SugarDoodle is here to save the day!! Thanks to Jonathan's wonderful cousin, she was seriously inspired!! For those of you who have not heard of this before, it is a WONDERFUL website where many LDS women (and probably some men, maybe) have come together to swap and share their ideas for lessons, sharing times, activities, family home evening lessons, parties... basically everything!!! It is possibly one of the best websites you will ever visit, because it is fun and helpful!! The funny thing is every Sunday morning as I finish off my lesson for that day I see that 372 other people are also logged in and finishing off their lessons!! I love that! Thanks Melanie for your ingenious idea!! I would be lost without Sugar Doodle.

Easter and Jerusalem

For Easter Jonathan and I spent most of the day with his family, because we were also celebrating his bday for the family. It was a wonderful dinner, and so much fun. I brought a chocolate fountain for dessert (I can't believe I didn't take a picture). I brought the Choc Fountain because Jonathan really wanted one for our wedding but I had already chosen a bunch of desserts so we decided against adding it to the list. Anyway, since we were also celebrating his bday I decided it would be a great time to whip out the fountain for Jonathan. Thanks mom for letting me borrow it!!  

Once dinner was over, and we had celebrated Jonathans bday. Oma shared a very special experience with all of us. A few years ago, Oma and her sister Dina, traveled to Jerusalem. She said they had the most marvelous experience of being there in the streets that Jesus had once walked. She explained to us that there are 5 places that she feels sacred about. The home, the church house, the Temple, the Sacred Grove, and Jerusalem. She told of a wonderful experience of going past the Jordan River and feeling a great spirit, she even was able to witness a few people having the opportunity to be baptized in the River! She then spoke of her experience in going to the tomb where they believe Jesus was buried.  

After Oma shared her testimony Jonathan and I felt the spirit so strongly and we declared that we must make it to Jerusalem! I would love to have the experience of being in that wondrous city! To see the culture, the architecture, and most importantly the sacred places that belong to the town. So we have decided to start saving "our big bucks" to take a trip!! I am so excited to go! It will be a wonderful experience! I can't wait!  If you too are interested, I have found a man who does tours.  Just looking at the itinerary makes my mouth drool! He also has an option to go to turkey and Egypt while you are out there! Ooooh! Egypt and Jerusalem, here I come!! (In a few years :) ) 

*By the way the picture above is Jonathan with Raquelle, Angela and Rob's newest beautiful addition to their family! Isn't she gorgeous! And Jonathan is so cute with her, he will be such a good dad!

A man who walked in the light of Christ

Our beloved President Gordon B. Hinckley, what a marvelous man he was, and always will be. I am so saddened to hear of his passing away, although I admit it did not hit me until we returned home and I turned on the TV and I saw his wonderful face, and heard his voice and I realized I would no longer hear his voice in person. And that was when the tears came, fast...
I still remember the last time that I heard him speak personally. Jonathan and I had the opportunity to attend the last general conference. An opportunity that we felt was very special. We did not have tickets but we went anyway and decided to wait in line to try to get a seat. We arrived very early, but still found a VERY LARGE line to get into the line to wait to hopefully have the experience of actually being in the building where inspiration and love and guidance would be delivered. As we waited in line, we were certain that as time passed we were still very far away from the door and we had come to the decision that we might as well leave and make it home to watch the session there. Just before we took off we were approached by a couple who asked us if we would like to use their tickets, they went on to explain that they were from out of state and that they felt blessed to be able to go to every other session and felt strongly that they should give another couple a chance to be at the last session. Jonathan and I eagerly accepted the tickets and quickly made our way to the building. We found seats in the last row; we thoroughly enjoyed our time being there. To hear the words in that magnificent building, and hear the word of God come directly from the mouth of our beloved leaders is an amazing experience. Yet I will never forget the last 5 minutes of that meeting. The closing song of the session was "We Thank the Oh God for a Prophet", I will ABSOLUTLEY NEVER FORGET the feeling in that room as each and every latter day saint gathered in song to honor our prophet, our beloved Gordon B. Hinckley. The man of a thousand smiles, a friend, a man who embodied the very aspect of walking in the light of Christ. His guidance and Love will never be forgotten. A man who has arguably done more for our church than Joseph Smith himself, our prophet seer and revelator. It was as if time stood steel and he touched each and every person’s heart in that building, and testified of the truthfulness of the gospel. It seemed simultaneously everyone rose from their seats to honor our beloved prophet. It seemed as though we each felt that special feeling and felt the need to let Him know of the love we have for him. I will never forget as each apostle rose in their seats, and as Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley rose in his seat slowly, but with a smile, strong in spirit, and proud as can be. I will never forget that moment. There are rare moments, outside of the temple, that the spirit can be felt so strongly. That was one of those special moments, and I shall never for get it. I can't express how happy I feel for him that he is now with HIS beloved Marjorie. I can't imagine spending a day in another world from Jonathan, his strength, and sadness in being separated from her were both quite obvious. Having said that I love President Gordon B. Hinckley very dearly and he will be missed sorely. Yet I rejoice in the remembrance of the life he lived, and in the happiness I know he feels to be with his wonderful wife, and the Father and his Son. I know that he was a true Prophet of God, and I greatly look forward to the day that I get to see him again.
I have posted some links (on the side bar) to some special videos, pictures, and articles of Gordon B. Hinckley. Enjoy