Stake Conference, Elder Stone & Elder Holland

This past weekend was our Stake Conference. It was amazing! I showed up 45 minutes early for the adult session of Stake Conference only find myself sitting on the hard chairs. That left me completely whiny and ornery!! I told myself that I would only stay 15 minutes and then I was leaving. Okay, that is what I told myself--but in all reality--I knew I was not going anywhere. So, like I said, it was simply AMAZING!! Elder Stone (from the 70's) spoke on faith. It was very powerful and it was awesome to feel the spirit so strongly!!! His stories were powerful, he was powerful, the spirit was powerful. (I am glad I stayed longer than the 15 minutes that I granted myself.)

Then, Elder Holland spoke. I am going to quote from Gerb's blog--She writes,"Elder Holland spoke of the many trials that any one of us could be facing, and the challenges that come with those trials. We can, in a sense, feel broken. He then shared with us that God loves broken things and knows how to fix them. We only need to have faith in his love and let him heal our broken hearts and broken spirits. He reminded us that clouds must be broken to shower the earth; grain must be broken to produce bread. So when we feel like all hope is gone, like there was never a time we have been truly happy, we need to just endure & save ourselves for the days of happiness that are inevitably ahead." Thanks Gerb. You wrote it so nicely!

I just loved his one liners such as:

"Pull up your socks & quit worrying!"

"Work hard & do your best!"

"Hang on & be believing!"

"Endure & save yourself of days of Happiness a head!"

"Tough it out!"

"Endure--sit-up, stand straight, and be big people!!"

"When you are in the roughest sea and there is a huge storm, stay in the boat! Don't bail--where are you going? What are you going to do- doggie paddle!"

"I could just SPIT!"

He told us to NEVER say that God does not love me. One thing that really touched my heart (well, everything touched my heart--I knew I was suppose to be attend and feel what I felt) was when he said that God gave us his greatest lamb--He knows what it is like to hurt. He spoke of the tragedy in Lehi. He told us to hang in there even in the darkest night.

On Sunday, we had our new Stake Presidency sustained. Elder Holland spoke quite while on sustaining of leaders. He said what goes around, comes around. Someone might not have been sustained today as a Stake President, but he might be the one the next time. Then, he spoke to the youth of our Stake. He said that (once again quoting from Gerb's blog) the gospel of Jesus Christ can be summed up in one phrase for the youth of the church - the title of a Bryan Adams song, "Everything I do, I do it for you." Leaders, parents, isn't that what it's all about?"

It was an amazing two days. I am grateful that I was able to attend. I love the feeling of my heart when it gets a little bit of the most needed thing in the world--the touch of the spirit from our Heavenly Father.

Gerb, I hope you don't mind if I use some of your notes in my talk in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. Yep, I get to speak once again--it was only 3 weeks ago that I spoke in my ward about Christmas and now they are asking again. CRAZY!!! What are they thinking!!

...the secret--clue #1

I have had a lot of people ask about "the secret". I did not realize how many people really read my blog. I was so excited about "the secret" that I needed to share--but can not share until... Anyway, THANKS--you all have made me smile!! But, the secret is still a secret--at least for the time being. Gerb asked me on Saturday, if she could have a hint--just one hint!! So, Gerb and all others out there...here is your hint.

hint #1: "the secret" will take place during a summer month.


Oh, PS...HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVEN!!! Today is my brother's birthday!!! YIPPEE SKIPPEE!!!

a christmas party and a fire truck--they do not go great together

A Christmas party and a fire truck--they do not go great together. I am glad that they did not happen together. UGH!! That would have been a nightmare!!! See, tonight, we had a Christmas party. Yes, I know Christmas is over and done with, but we had one more party. I did not have to decorate since the decorations are still up!! I have been waiting to take them down after our Christmas Party. Actually, we had planned this party in December, but December became so busy that we had to hold off until January. So, tonight was the night!!! I was so excited to take pictures. I took the before pictures... the formal table setting. We had Chicken Cordon Bleu (thank Melanie!), potatoes (thanks Sariah), delicious green salad (thanks Lisa), yummy green beans (thanks Mary) and the most delicious drink (thanks Celeste).

For dessert, we got out my Chocolate Fountain and had delicious marshmallows, angel food cake, cinnamon bears, cookies, and fruit all dipped in chocolate!! So much delicious-ness!!

We talked, laughed, talked, and laughed so more. It was great fun!!! At around, 12-midnight, our guests were leaving. We had just shut the door to the last guest, when our GAS explosive alarm went off!!! OH HOLY CRAP!!! YEP, that is exactly what I yelled!!! We could not reset it--so 911 was called. If you had read one of my previous blogs--you would have noted that this has happened to us before. My roommate hands me the phone and I call. This time, the 911 operator was a tad big ornery!! After giving her the information, she tells me to evacuate the building and that help is on the way. As we were standing outside (in the cold), she asks if we feel safe. I said, "um, yes." Then, she tells me that help is on the way and that she is going to hang up. As I heard the dial tone on the phone, I looked at the phone--a tad bit surprised. This was definitely not the same 911 operator I had before. This one did not seem to care at all.

Finally, another 5 minutes goes by and the fire truck and ambulance show up. One of the dudes gets out of the fire truck and asks if I called 911. I told him that I did and he said as he is looking around--"Then, what is the problem?" Confused--thinking that the 5 minutes on the phone with 911 would have been transferred over to the fire dude!! I told him what was going on. Okay, by this time, I have decided that these guys are not happy to be here nor do they want to really help. For the next 15 or so minutes, these guys were rude and very condescending. They did get the alarm to shut off--wow!! I was proud of them for that (but that is about all I was proud of). It was apparent that we woke them up. One was leaning against the door with his eyes closed. I guess, the 'better be safe then sorry' does not go well with them. I could go on and on about this--but it makes me furious. I know that next time, I will think twice before calling---but I know that I will call. Thanks to the previous fire fighters for their nice-ness. As for these 4 that showed up tonight, I am truly sorry that you were woke up from your slumber and hope that I never need your help!!

As I am retiring to bed tonight...I am thankful for my awesome friends--their laughter and happiness and most of all, I am grateful that we did not have the alarm go off until AFTER they left!!! Oh, sorry neighbors, for scaring you all once again with the fire truck and ambulance!!!

the remote control

Have you ever been watching something on television and was completely 100% involved with it and then, someone takes the remote and changes the channel with not even thinking that there is someone already involved in the show being televised? Well, that happened to me tonight!!! My mom and I headed to the gym. Mom went for the treadmills, I opted for the bikes today. I checked all the televisions and found the one that I wanted to watch. About 7 miles into the program, I found myself not thinking about biking but about the television show, when all of a sudden, a girl comes from nowhere and turns the station and finds her treadmill. I first thought to myself...did she notice that maybe the other 20 people in the gym was watching the other 10 televisions--or does she own that television and has let us (fellow gym goers) use it when she was not there. Well, I finished the last 5 miles of my biking watching the story about Britney Spears. UGH!!!

As my Mom and I were driving home. She said, "What television show were you watching?" Then, we both started to laugh. We had been watching the same show. So, at least 2 or the 20 people did not know the ending of the show. We were flabbergasted on how the girl did not even turn around to check to see if the 20 people in the gym was even watching the show. But, I will give the girl here proper credit--she probably picked up pennies in the parking lot until she had enough money to purchase the television and then, donate it to the gym.

just a tad bit crazy!!

If you know me, I am a tad bit crazy!!! I dislike circle foods. I do not like being cold!!! I think Tuna Fish Casserole is completely disgusting!! I really do not like Spaghetti!! I do not like contention and go to any length not to confront the person causing the contention!! I have a difficult time with heights--I get scared of falling!!! Sometimes, I let fear take advantage of me because I do not want to fail!! I love to curl up with a good book, a warm quilt and sit before a warm fire. I love homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies! I love little children's giggles and the sound of laughter!! I love to turn my radio up loud and sing!!! I love visiting and having fun with friends!! I love ice cream--strawberry is my favorite!! I love to make cards--but most of all I love to send cards in the mail. I love spending time with my family! I love being around the youth in the church--they are full of fun, entertainment and wisdom. I love to learn!! I love to write in my journal. As the list could go on and on...one thing I really like is HOT DOGS!!!

YEP!! Call me a tad bit crazy!! My favorite hot dogs are at the J-Dawgs on BYU campus!! They are the most delicious hot dogs ever tasted!!! YUM Deliciousness!!! But you can not go to J-Dawgs every night of the week--so, for Christmas, my brother and sister-in-law gave me....

a hot dog toaster!!!

Well, I tested out my hot dog toaster and let me tell you....it was simply delicious!!! Plus, it was so easy!!! It did not take a lot to learn how to work the hot dog toaster!! In fact, it is as simple as making toast!! YEP!!! It is as easy as 1-2-3!!! Such deliciousness!!! If you are in need of a hot dog, call me and we will do dinner!!!

HUGE SECRET

I have a huge secret and I am bursting to tell...but you have to wait until everything is in place and I will let you all know what it is!!!! Just thought that I would share that much!!!!

"good goodness"

I have this friend that is probably one of the nicest people that I have met. His favorite phrase or I should say the phrase that he uses quite frequently is "good goodness!" A simple phrase as "good goodness" can sum up a day in just two words. But, the most important part is how you say it. If you sigh and say it, your day is probably not going the greatest. If you have a smile on your face, "good goodness" could be an expression of sincere delight. But on the other hand, when you say it with a disgusted sound in your voice---well, you see how this is going.

One day, this friend of mine left a message on my voice mail with most delightful sound in his voice when he stated, "Good goodness Michelle!" I have left that message on my voice mail for quite sometime because there are days when life just needs that extra delightfulness of 'good goodness!" It is interesting how 2 simple words can brighten someones day. Thanks Zach for being completely hilarious to talk to and for leaving a delightful "good goodness" on my voice mail!!