PRIORITIES!!!!

I'm usually not one to just write a post about what's on my mind...but today it seemed like the message that the Lord was trying to teach me is to PRIORITIZE and since this blog is like my journal I better write what is on my mind so I can always remember this lesson that I am learning! The Stake President spoke to us today and really emphasized the need, then Matt and I had lengthy discussions on it today, when I talked to the Relief Society President in our ward and asked her what the lesson was in Relief Society that I missed because I'm in YW, she said it was on prioritizing....and then tonight I was reading over the lesson that I have to give in Young Womens in a couple of weeks and wouldn't you know it is on "Avoiding Crisis Living" or PRIORITIZING!!!! Hmmmm is Heavenly Father trying to get my attention or what????


My friends and I do some of these triathlons together and we are really good at encouraging each other to work out everyday to prepare for them, etc. but I am realizing that we need to help encourage each other EVEN MORE in the things that really matter eternally! The Stake President mentioned that going to the temple once a month is NOT enough! The R.S. President made a good point that it is great if we can have the time to run 6 miles a day or whatever, but is that when our scripture study is already done, and our Visiting Teaching needs are met???? OR are we putting those things off to get in shape, watch our shows, read our novels, or have a good time socially???? These things have really hit me today and made me want to make some changes...maybe I won't let myself train or work on the next triathlon until I am 100% visiting teaching, I have read the scriptures FIRST in my day, and I have been going to the temple a couple of times a month. It is so important to have the important things put first in our lives because as we all know time FLIES and sometimes the important things are the first to go!

Here are a few quotes that hit me from my lesson I am preparing that really hit me....

Keith K. Hilbig, “Quench Not the Spirit Which Quickens the Inner Man,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 37–39
"The beckoning invitations of the world attempt to divert our attention from the strait and narrow path."

It is interesting how some of the beckoning things of the world are actually good things, but they need to come AFTER the BETTER things! Like in Elder Oaks Oct. 2007 talk Good, Better, Best.

Another quote:
Keith K. Hilbig, “Quench Not the Spirit Which Quickens the Inner Man,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 37–39
"We determine the level of our current personal contribution by examining our present choices and priorities against questions such as these:
· 1. Do I spend more time with sports than Church attendance or callings?
· 2. If I have a free day, do I choose to attend the temple or to visit the mall?
· 3. Do I resort to computer games or surfing the Internet rather than offering meaningful service to others in my home and community?
· 4. Do I read the newspaper religiously but find it difficult to read the scriptures daily?
There are other questions you might formulate which will reveal the appropriateness of your current choices and priorities.
Whatever level of spiritual development each of us may presently have, there always exists a higher level within our reach. Time is a most precious asset. Would you consider investing more of your time in the things of eternity in order to merit the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and to benefit more fully from His influence? "

Another quote from the YW lesson manual..."President Spencer W. Kimball said: “Jesus … taught us how important it is to use our time wisely. This does not mean there can never be any leisure, for there must be time for contemplation and for renewal, but there must be no waste of time. How we manage time matters so very much, and we can be good managers of time without being frantic or officious. Time cannot be recycled. When a moment has gone, it is really gone. The tyranny of trivia consists of its driving out the people and moments that really matter. Minutia holds momentous things hostage, and we let the tyranny continue all too often. Wise time management is really the wise management of ourselves” (“Jesus: The Perfect Leader,” Ensign, Aug. 1979, p. 6)."

And the last from the manual "Life gives us two precious gifts—time and the freedom to use that time as we wish. The way we choose to use our time largely determines the type of life we live."

There you go do you feel like you were sitting in my YW class getting lectured to???? Now I have it down on paper (well in the computer on a post). This is for me to remember my goals!

Daddy's Home!!!!

Today they put in the new bishopric and NO Matt is not bishop! (Thank goodness!) So this morning they cancelled bishopric meeting and so Matt actually got to ride to church with us! As Matt was dressing Gavin he kept saying "Daddy Home!" He couldn't believe Daddy was actually around to help us get ready :) So Matt is able to enjoy a week without a calling! We'll let you know what next week brings!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

What a GREAT Thanksgiving! We miss being able to spend it with ALL our family, but it was so awesome to have Kim and Morgan and their 2 girls Savannah and Maggie here for a couple of days! First thing when they got to our house the girls immediately started coloring and drawing. It's so fun they have the same interest! That is what they did the whole trip!


Then on Thanksgiving morning Matt, Morgan and I got up and ran in a Turkey Trot 5K! My goal was to beat Matt because he hasn't really been training and I thought this would be my only chance....it was a deja vu of the last 5K I tried to beat him! I was ahead of him the whole race and then the last 50 yards when the finish line is in sight I saw out of the corner of my eye a person SPRINTING!!!! Sure enough it was Matt trying to sneak to the outside to beat me! I started sprinting too but realized when we were just shy of the line that I had to stop sprinting or I would throw up at the finish line. So I slowed a little bit and decided to swallow my pride and let Matt beat me AGAIN! But then Matt's guilt got the best of him and he slowed too and put his hand out and grabbed mine! So we both came across the finish line with the time of 26:09! Not bad, but I still didn't legitimately beat MATT! Oh well :)

Then that afternoon we went to our friend's the Lopez family for our Thanksgiving dinner! The Dowdy family was also there. It was so much fun with a lot of GREAT food!

I love this picture of my little niece Maggie on the trampoline with some major static hair! :)

My cute little sis and Me!

The host and hostess - John and Amy Lopez

Ashleigh Dowdy, Luke, Carver Lopez, and Caleb Dowdy

Emma, Savannah, Gavin and Maggie all made a big sign to thank the Lopez's for having us over.

I thought it was so cute to see Maggie and Gavin folding their arms for the prayer!

Like I said...Emma and Savannah were constantly drawing and coloring and so they made each person there a "Thanksgiving Day Card" and they asked me for a basket to put them in. They walked around passing out a card for each person...CUTE!

Boys wrestling

Girls reading!

Then we had a whip cream eating contest! The kids thought that was the coolest thing they have ever done!

Even the dads got in on the action!




Cooper and Gavin were so cute perched up on the bar stool looking at the computer together!

The rest of the trip.... we had a blast playing Rock Band with Morgan and Kim and playing at the park!

Luke was best buddies with Maggie...he thought everything she said and did was adorable! Here's a cute picture of them dancing together

AND....

while they were watching a movie she put her cute little arm around him :)


We HATED to see them leave!

Talk about a party!!!

Today was Emma's friend Amber's birthday party...talk about a party! They had a beautiful house with some property and I swear every inch of it was filled with fun things to do! They got to see their chickens and goats. They even collected some of the eggs (which I thought was daring...I was holding my breath hoping Emma wouldn't drop one. I didn't have to hold my breath too long because she dropped and broke one right away :) Then they had a bounce house, a swing set, a trampoline, a tire swing, pony rides and Emma's favorite...their 2 dogs (which of course she was afraid of at first and had to warm up to.) It was a great time! I was so surprised that she actually got on the pony because every year that we go to Matt's family's ranch she will not get on the horses at all! I think our little Emma is growing up and overcoming a lot of fears.

Luke had a birthday party to go to at the same time. It was a karate party (oops no pictures...I had the camera :)

Sharks Last Game!!!

Luke had a great last game of the season...he even scored a goal!!! His coach, Coach Bobby was great and the team really got along well! Part of me hates to see the season end...but not the part of me that wants FREE Saturdays for a while :) Amy Lopez took these cute pictures of the boys!

TWILIGHT IS GIRL'S NIGHT!!!

Tonight I went with 10 other friends to dinner and then we went and saw the long awaited Twilight! We had such a great time together. 9 out of the 11 were from my ward then a neighbor and friend from Matt's work. One problem we forgot our cameras! (What the heck!) So here again is a not so great picture from my phone! Thanks girls for a great night!

Me, Lize, Joanne, Amy, Alisha, Beckie, Migi, Marie, Tracy and Kathleen! (I really do know how to count...we didn't realize one of my friends Mandy ran to the little girls room :)

Classic Elementary Thanksgiving Party...

Last night was Luke's 1st Grade Thanksgiving Program and it was adorable! His class got to dress like football players and cheerleaders (ok not very Thanksgivingish...now I'm thinking it was more of a FALL program :) Luke's part was: "You don't need a team to play...you can play football in your own yard with family and friends". The kids were so wound up before the program started...here are some of the pictures.

Luke and his buddy Dalton

They also had some of their artwork displayed

Then today I got to go help with his Thanksgiving party. It was the classic elementary school party with the pilgrim hats and vests. VERY CUTE! They made Indian corn pins, turkey necklaces, turkey cookies, thankful placemats, played bingo, and the big hit was the Happy Meals they each got! What a fun day!