Needed a Place to keep these until I can do something with them!

“As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.” 
― Henry David Thoreau

“Much more surprising things can happen to anyone who, when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into his mind, just has the sense to remember in time and push it out by putting in an agreeable, determinedly courageous one. Two things cannot be in one place.” 
― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” 
― Gautama Buddha, The Dhammapada: The Sayings of the Buddha

“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” 
― Peace Pilgrim

General Conference Preppers:

Easter is coming! I am so excited! But so is General Conference!

I am so excited for that too.

I stumbled upon a very interesting quote by Elder Dallin H. Oaks in the Book of Mormon Institute Manual that has the little wheels in my brain reeling:

“Last week I was talking with a member of the Quorum of the Twelve about comments we had received on our April conference talks. My friend said someone told him, ‘I surely enjoyed your talk.’ We agreed that this is not the kind of comment we like to receive. As my friend said, ‘I didn't give that talk to be enjoyed. What does he think I am, some kind of entertainer?’ Another member of our quorum joined the conversation by saying, ‘That reminds me of the story of a good minister. When a parishioner said, “I surely enjoyed your sermon today,” the minister replied, “In that case, you didn't understand it.”’

“You may remember that this April conference I spoke on pornography. No one told me they ‘enjoyed’ that talk—not one! In fact, there was nothing enjoyable in it even for me.

“I speak of these recent conversations to teach the principle that a message given by a General Authority at a general conference—a message prepared under the influence of the Spirit to further the work of the Lord—is not given to be enjoyed. It is given to inspire, to edify, to challenge, or to correct. It is given to be heard under the influence of the Spirit of the Lord, with the intended result that the listener learns from the talk and from the Spirit what he or she should do about it” (“The Dedication of a Lifetime” [CES fireside for young adults, May 1, 2005], 1, www.ldsces.org).

Are we preparing to listen to conference with the same fervor as those who are preparing to speak to us? Are we prepared to be moved to action? To be inspired, to be edified, challenged or even corrected? Or are we simply excited to enjoy it?

Food for thought!

Some ideas for preparing for the event:
1) Fast the Sunday before that you will be receptive to the individual messages that you need to hear.
2) Write down any questions you would like answered or specific inspiration you may be needing in your life right now.
3) Prepare your family at FHE the Monday before by discussing these suggested points on lds.org!
4) After Conference, be sure to revisit the talks! We are humans, we need reminders! One woman who's family does an excellent job at this is Jocelyn Christensen. She is incredible and her blog is FULL of FHE ideas and General Conference ideas as well! Definitely spend sometime and look around.  You won't regret it!

On a less serious note:

This year we are also doing something fun for Conference:

Fantasy General Conference

Yeah this is going to be awesome :) I will let you know who wins!

Caden Turned 2!!!

It is so weird to think I have a two year old again! 

We had a great party with family on Saturday and it was shark themed.

I figure this is the last party theme I get to pick before he actually cares.

(I have to give an honorable mention to Doodle Monkey Designs for the super cute invites!! To order your own,
click here!)

(This was the party scape! My sister did the streamers, I thought it was brilliant!)

(This is our little shark cake! It ended up being smaller than I thought it would so we made a
bunch of cupcakes to compensate! For directions to make your one click here!)

(Each of the kids got to make a shark hat!)

(I am a happy two year old!)

My husband also brilliantly picked up some turtle sundae ice cream that had little chocolate turtles in it! Sharks eat turtles so it
totally worked!! All in all it was a great party!!

Goals for March:

This month is crazy! But as it's name suggests, I am March-ing through!

We have a baby who is turning the big 0-2 on Friday and I am busy planning

for that. (More on that next week!) There is also some springin' forward that I am nervous to navigate. I have stuck to my workout/diet and I am feeling great about myself!

For the first time (I'm not kidding, the first time EVER) I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a 

window and I actually liked what I saw. My body isn't as toned as it was before two pregnancies but I love it more now than I did. As I have been actively working (sometimes struggling) to take care of my body I am learning to appreciate what God has given me and it feels wonderful. It's not perfect but it's mine and I want to keep it going strong for MANY years to come.

This year I have also decided I am going to start a tradition! My goal is to read Jesus the Christ by Elder James E. Talmage before Easter! I've only got a short time to do it this year. I plan to actually start reading it again every Christmas and have it finished by Easter each year.  I can't think of a better way to really grasp the Spirit of Christmas and keep it going to Easter!

It is one of my absolute favorite books! You can actually download the audio version of this book right on lds.org!!! If any of my friends want to do this with me, let me know and we can do it book club style! I would love to have someone who I can bounce thoughts off of!

Have a great day!