tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55284507659480800782024-02-07T21:28:43.398-08:00Winks LifeAngelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-31125013806096406722011-11-29T10:43:00.000-08:002011-11-29T10:52:42.016-08:00Life in a nutshellHave you ever felt that life is a roller coaster? Just when you think it is going to slow down you go through a loop? Well that's what it seems for me. Over a year ago my family moved to Utah State so that Devon could go to school and now we are trying to move back. It doesn't surprise me given the fact that every year since I have been married we have moved, so it just feels natural for it to happen again. The part I don't like is the hunt for a job. Being a mother does not give you the qualifications necessary for a desk job and with the economy how it is it is hard to even get past the first filtering that companies do to lower the amount of applicants to look at. If we had the choice of me to continue to stay home, I am more than positive that is what we would do, but sadly the cost of living is not supported by one job alone. My husband and I have to work as a team for it to happen, and I feel we can't do it together without the help of our Father in Heaven. He looks out for my family a lot and with his help things always work out. So I guess all I can do is trust in him and do all the work that I can to help with this transition. Although it may be tough sometimes I am sure that it will be worth it in the end. So I guess what I am trying to say is that I love roller coasters :).Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-18649038719698995542011-05-26T16:54:00.000-07:002011-05-26T17:21:17.708-07:00Life is full of surprisesIt seems like when you start to get comfortable in life that the Lord brings another trial to keep you on your feet. This is what has been going on in our home :). I will start with Jaylee. She is now 3 and more than ever is taking me by surprise. She is so smart and can be such a pain with how much personality she has. We argue all the time and she isn't even a teen yet, but to be on the positive side I am very proud of her. She is very smart and loves to read. We are hoping to put her in a dance class in the fall so that she can get some of that energy out plus we think she would really enjoy it. She also loves to play games and loves her family. She is such a great example to me. The other day she came up to my tummy and gave her baby sister a hug and said " I love you Berdie." So cute. She loves helping me in the Kitchen and she is an amazing cleaner. She makes my chores a lot easier, for the most part ;). As for potty training she is doing good most days. The other days I don't like to talk about ha ha just kidding even then she does fairly well. She also is an amazing artist. Ask her to color a picture and she will, and she will use all the colors you give her. She wants a Dog, but we can't have one yet so she just has to visit family that do to get her animal fix :).<br />Devon is doing well too. Work has been a little slow so he has been getting 1 day a week off of work, which is making our budget tighter, but honestly it has been nice to have him home. He is just as crazy with the board games he likes to buy and since we just had our birthdays he has gotten quite a few new ones. We have started to play Lego Harry Potter together, and it has been quite fun and I don't even care for video games :). Devon has also been enjoying his time off from school. Last Semester was hard, and I am pretty sure the rest of the classes he will be taking for this major will not be easy, but I know he can do it. Devon has also been working on a video for our ward for the 150th year anniversary from when it started. We already showed it to the fireside they had, but now he is getting it ready for DVD release. It has been way great for him to review his editing skills. The only other thing going on for him is that his knee has been hurting him. We went to the Dr today to find out why, and we have yet to find out. All in good time :).<br />As for me I have been going through the Stay at home/ pregnant life. My interaction for the most part is Jaylee and Devon when he is home, so I am getting quite rusty with communication. Sorry if I say any strange things during conversation I am doing my best :). Devon and I just got called to be Primary teachers and I can tell that this will be a challenge, but it seems so far that I will enjoy having a calling with Devon. The kids are fun and I learn so much more when I have to teach. I recently found out that my sugar levels are too high so I have Gestational Diabetes which is not a good thing, but can be controlled, so that is something I get to look forward to when I talk to a dietitian. I am actually excited cause I am hoping that it will make me feel better. Not excited if I have to prick my finger though, but you do what you have to. The baby seems to be doing ok though. She is quite active. For some reason she loves to move when I am driving lol. Last week we started a garden and I am very sad to say that, I am thinking a bunny has eaten all my plants so all that hard work I put in has been ruined. The Zucchini will probably survive, but not sure about anything else. Its the thought that counts, right? I also planted corn so hopefully that will grow too.<br /> Well that's about it one day I will be better with pictures. One step at a time.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-53751053252023478112011-04-01T13:36:00.000-07:002011-04-01T13:48:25.579-07:00What a dayLast night was probably the worst night ever. I kept waking up to pains in the abdomen area and sleep was very hard to come by. It was probably the first night of many nights now that I will have that problem as I am getting further along with my pregnancy. I always heard that when you are pregnant with your second child that you will get so much bigger, and will have more pains because you have been stretched out before. I am now totally believing that. Only 18 weeks along and I already feel big. I know that I will only get bigger. So as I had a horrible night last night I have decided that today is going to be dedicated to taking care of myself. I pulled out my maternity clothes to see if they would fit more comfortably then my regular clothes and sure enough they do. I decided to paint my nails considering soon I won't be able to alone. Later I would like to take my daughter on a walk and I am planning on taking a nice long nap. If I have energy I will worry about my messy apartment and laundry that needs to be done. Its not going anywhere, right? Wish me luck :).Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-59295853590955060462011-03-04T14:21:00.000-08:002011-03-04T14:44:18.830-08:00Goal results so farSo in February I made the decision to make some goals because I was feeling horrible about myself not getting anything accomplished, which considering that I am pregnant is completely understandable. Anyway I had stated that I would keep you posted with how I was doing and hopefully I have done well.<div>1. Give more attention to my daughter and read her 2 books. Well I did improve here I have been giving her more attention, but potty training has been making me a mean mom. My daughter loves to read and she does get at least one a day, but more frequently she has been read to more than that. The TV has been off more too and I feel that has been an improvement in our home. So overall I think this one is coming along well.</div><div>2. Cleaning at least one room a day. Well this one has improved a lot. My apartment looks nice more frequently, but it still has its places of struggling. After all I live with 2 very messy people. Ok maybe all of us are messy sometimes. I have been trying to balance the work out throughout the week so I don't tire myself too much.</div><div>3. Showering every morning and getting dressed. Well this one is still a struggle cause I get distracted so easily and I feel like I have to wait for the best time to get in. for example when Jaylee is watching her show so I know she isn't getting into trouble and it also has to be right after she uses the bathroom. I don't want any accidents while I shower. But overall I still feel better about how I am doing. Even if my showers sometimes have to wait.</div><div>4. Scripture Study. Yeah this one I am not doing as well on. Dev and my study schedule has been ruined by Devon sleeping in, and then we forget to study all together. I can honestly say we haven't given it up though cause we read today :). Take it one day at a time and the habit will start again. </div><div>5. Exercise every day. I feel I am doing ok on this one. I try to do the exercises I learned in a class every day, but sometimes I just forget, but if you consider how much cleaning and taking care of Jaylee that I do, Yeah I am on the right track :).</div><div>6. Getting over my phone phobia. Yeah I still feel I struggle with this one, but I have made a ton of calls this months on things that needed to be done. Its amazing how much better you feel when you are more on top of things. I will keep working on this one.</div><div>7. Taking naps and eating. Well considering that I have to eat to keep my tummy happy I really haven't struggled with this one, but there have been some days where I just don't have time for a nap, and the next day I wish I had. Today I took one, and loved it. Especially since Jaylee was sleeping too :).</div><div>Anyway as an overall conclusion to my goals and results I have to say that I have done well. I feel that my main goal was to feel more accomplished and important. It can be hard when you are stuck inside all day doing nothing while your husband is working his butt off. It makes me feel like a horrible wife to not be taking up that slack to make things easier for him. Devon has been such a trooper and I am so grateful for him and his encouragement whenever I have a bad day or haven't accomplished all that I wanted to that day. Overall I have to say I am the luckiest girl ever. And I am so grateful for opportunities to improve myself.</div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-62431767180730940862011-02-08T12:17:00.000-08:002011-02-08T12:48:19.068-08:00Great News with a twistFor the many people who don't know Devon and I are expecting baby #2 due Aug 30, 2011. Now that I have the great news out here is the twist. As many mothers and soon to be mothers know having a baby is not easy stuff. I am sick a lot crossing my fingers that will leave with the end of the first trimester, but there are never any real guarantees that is going to be the case. As a mother I feel that I should be the support for my husband as he goes to school and take care of those things that he can't do while at work. Add to that being a great mother and to be honest it seems overwhelming to me. I am not perfect and it shows by the looks of our house and the fact that I haven't gotten ready for the day and the day has half way passed. I am tired obviously cause I am pregnant, but I am mostly tired of feeling like I am not helping anyone but myself. I hate that feeling. I like feeling accomplished and that's not happening a lot. Getting me out of my comfort zones is a struggle too. I don't like talking to strangers on the phone cause I feel awkward and my husband agrees, jokingly I am sure, but the point I am trying to make is I need some change, but I just don't know how to accomplish it on my own. So with the help of my Heavenly Father whom I try to communicate with frequently I am going to use this blog as my goal setter/tracker. Now I first want to start with a goal in each area of my life.<br />1: my daughter has to work with me every day and I am tough on her. My goal is to give her more attention and read her 2 books a day.<br />2: Clean 1 room a day or do one big chore i.e. laundry and dishes.<br />3: Shower every morning and get dressed. I always feel more accomplished when I am dressed.<br />4: Study my scriptures rather than just read them.<br />5: Exercise every day. Doesn't have to be huge, but enough to get my heart rate going a bit.<br />6: Call someone especially if it is things needing to be done.<br />7: Take a well deserved nap and eat all the time :)<br />Now I realize that this is a huge list and honestly I could add more, but I won't. This works good for me now. I will try to do a couple of these things at a time, so I don't overwhelm myself, but my goal is to be able to accomplish all of these things by the end of the month. Wish me luck.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-64944662478107947572011-01-05T08:40:00.000-08:002011-01-05T08:52:54.039-08:00The Big UpdateAfter four months of not writing on my blog I decided to finally get on and let everyone know how we are doing. As many of you know Devon and I were looking for a Job in Logan all summer with no success. Around September Devon finally got an interview for ICON as a customer service rep. He left from the interview with a job which was a total answer to our prayers. Within the next few weeks we started the move to Logan. We lost some couch pillows along the way and had to trade our big couch for a Dryer ( which I don't mind at all :)) We also couldn't fit our entertainment center in our apartment so we traded ours with a friend which I feel has worked out for the both of us. Anyway when we first moved to Logan we stayed with Devon's cousin for a couple months to get ourselves in better shape financially. We are so grateful for them welcoming us in with open arms. We are now living in a very nice basement apartment in Logan with great rent. It has been fun having to be in charge of our garbage and scraping the driveway during the winter time. I have a full size oven and stove and have never lived in such a big apartment it is so great. Devon is staring school next week and is working full time. It is hard having him gone all the time, but Jaylee and I make it work. I have been working on my cross stitch project that is going to take me forever to complete, I started reading the Harry Potter series again and for Christmas I made Devon a quilt. Jaylee is as cute and fun as ever. She has gotten into Princess and got almost all Princess things for Christmas. We ask her if she is a princess and she tells us " No I'm Jaylee." At least she is proud of being herself. Anyway I am so glad how things have worked out for us. I know that the Lord has had His hands in all that has happened with us and I know that He will continue to bless our lives.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-8988927199236554912010-08-15T18:56:00.001-07:002010-08-15T19:08:15.312-07:00Change AheadSo I have a lot to write about. As many of you know Devon and I have been looking for a job all summer with no luck. We have been doing everything that we possibly could to not get discouraged and now the time has finally come where change is happening. I feel like I am on a roller coaster the past few months we have been going up the hill slowly and now we are at the point where we are about to shoot down. Ready or not here it comes. Devon got a job at Icon last Tuesday and starts this next Thursday. So within the next few weeks we will be moving. I am sad but also excited. Change is always good no matter how hard it can be. I will miss everyone at the Village and Logan Beware we are on our way. :)Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-46244165849564918962010-06-29T06:55:00.000-07:002010-06-29T08:44:05.071-07:00My WorthI may be alone in this but there are times where I don't feel like I have anything to contribute that is worth anything and if I have something I am not very good at it. Trivia I stink at, spelling and grammer has always been hard for me, Starting a conversation is a struggle sometimes, and even though I sometimes get discouraged with this there is one thing that I can't deny. My Heavenly Father and His Son love me and see my worth. So with that in mind I am greatful for the things I am good at and as Ether 12:27 says perfectly..."And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-87848213182484688122010-05-19T09:10:00.000-07:002010-05-19T10:04:29.692-07:00Trials and blessingsThere is one question that always seems to come to my mind. Why do we go through trials. As many may know. I went into emergency surgery last Thursday. It completely caught us off guard. As I have been looking at the situation that we went through, looking at the events that lead to the surgery I can't help but to feel that the Lord was with me the whole time. Yes the surgery was scary and yes it was serious, but coming out of it I have realized that the many people whole helped me in my times of need. Doctors who worked hard to make sure everything went well. Neighbors and family who have helped and are helping me still. Thank you everyone :). Here are a few of the tender mercies that I received during this trial.<br /><br />1. A couple days before the surgery Devon mentioned that the healing power of the blessing of the sick depends on the faith of the one receiving the blessing. The night before the surgery I received a blessing and so with that in mind I really tried my best to have faith in my Father that everything will turn out okay and it did.What a great Blessing that was and a great testimony builder as well.<br /><br />2. Devon made it back in time to see me after the surgery. He was in Logan. That totally made my day.<br /><br />3. Jaylee was watched over the whole weekend by my wonderful mother in law. That was one less worry that day cause I didn't have to worry about her and I could rest like I needed to.<br /><br />4. Jaylee has been a joy since she has been home. Yeah she is still a 2 year old, but she has been great with the transition of crib to bed. That way I don't have to pick her up to put her in bed. :)<br />and she has been going to sleep for nap time and bed time. Woot :)Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-81721567348513965302010-05-08T09:20:00.000-07:002010-05-08T09:30:39.597-07:00We got a Camera!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1qNeY47OVPbD-Z1qwLr-LgimSnYzhhbkQCGDEsPka8pKfndaPAttqvhyphenhyphenb02izZ85top3gL3qUt-33NN2Q00KgnR32hjv-ZeMtfUdM1UQUsYY45wYHwQD4fZe-CaX0KV2cgdr_YZBXjs/s1600/IMG_0067.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1qNeY47OVPbD-Z1qwLr-LgimSnYzhhbkQCGDEsPka8pKfndaPAttqvhyphenhyphenb02izZ85top3gL3qUt-33NN2Q00KgnR32hjv-ZeMtfUdM1UQUsYY45wYHwQD4fZe-CaX0KV2cgdr_YZBXjs/s320/IMG_0067.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468935722987053506" /></a>How Exciting is this. Devon surprised me with a camera for graduation. So I was able to take pictures. I am so proud of Devon for all his accomplishments. He has done a great job in school and I am excited for him to continue on with his education.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvyzukiQanMAc30dunddmJ3GsYbtX4SOobIdrYBVc0Tuxv0nkYe_wyGg5YoJPuVrKDtqFWSpJcPF56Lo1rYA6h_rjSKy0MnNwQRmnoN_WTxDVGnxRqPAU0mWJZ2rEK272XF4XoZJMIqg/s1600/IMG_0066.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvyzukiQanMAc30dunddmJ3GsYbtX4SOobIdrYBVc0Tuxv0nkYe_wyGg5YoJPuVrKDtqFWSpJcPF56Lo1rYA6h_rjSKy0MnNwQRmnoN_WTxDVGnxRqPAU0mWJZ2rEK272XF4XoZJMIqg/s320/IMG_0066.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468935713542008178" /></a>Jaylee had a rough day with all the graduation stuff. Near the end she just wanted to go play. Luckily grandparents are great for that. I was able to enjoy the whole day and not worry about Jaylee getting restless.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJfLHyXLMB53yea6Oql8Jtpv662uouIXryc4ywzBn1xcqDwlsGSaLTX9-hmxeFksnIOBDfg6N5VF55y5z57VlG1_gPBfl4cXwE-jF-UNYfp9xvm4UKAasDALHW9pHm8qC0WlDyY1aNbY/s320/IMG_0044.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468935697101043650" /></div><div>This is Me and Jaylee waiting for the Commencement to start. She did really good at the beginning of our day.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgOm19TDeXI22y277Tb3buyQtMKTDxTERAoIjgfTvZbA01yOWUor-Vk_JjJj1r1B-tIYZ8ROdPJqAFfNaiprV19VxTyjjod9SrhbfqJxu9XXrM0BX1MjPPSLNTCUVrc-FeuOcJtNU-_E/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgOm19TDeXI22y277Tb3buyQtMKTDxTERAoIjgfTvZbA01yOWUor-Vk_JjJj1r1B-tIYZ8ROdPJqAFfNaiprV19VxTyjjod9SrhbfqJxu9XXrM0BX1MjPPSLNTCUVrc-FeuOcJtNU-_E/s320/IMG_0048.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468935707591259682" /></a>This is a cute picture of her sitting there so good. Didn't last long though. After all she is only 2.</div><div><br /><br /></div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-17014154785273198692010-04-12T11:54:00.000-07:002010-04-12T12:13:49.129-07:00Time FliesFor those of you that don't know, April is Birthday month for the Winkler family. Devon turns 25 on the 26th, Jaylee is 2 on the 29th, and I am 24 on the 15th. One thing is for sure is that it is an expensive month for us. Luckily we save up for the great events. We also do a Winkler birthday extravaganza which is quite fun. Last year Jaylee got to eat her first birthday cake and loved every minute. It is so amazing how time flies though. It seems like yesterday that I met Devon for the first time, then got married, then when we brought Jaylee home from the Hospital now we are on our feet all the time. Jaylee has so much energy and I don't know if I can keep up sometimes. One thing is for sure and that Is I can't imagine my life without Jaylee or Devon. Devon and I will be married for 3 years on the 23rd of May. Wow 3 years went fast. Devon is getting his Bachelor's degree and we are hopefully, if things go according to our plans, moving to Logan. Devon is excited cause we will be closer to his family, and has always wanted to go to Utah State. The plan is that He is going to get a Masters in Computer Science, and then hopefully will be done. We are waiting till school is out here to apply to Utah State and looking for jobs as well. That way the transition will hopefully be less stressful. Until then I am going to enjoy living in the Village. We have loved living here. I have made many good friends and hope that it doesn't take as long to make more when we move. I know that I will be happy with whatever happens. Life is good. Yay for April. Its a great month. :)Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-22531772311228489422010-04-06T06:37:00.000-07:002010-04-06T06:38:10.457-07:00"Making the Right Choices"<span class="featurestitle"></span> I love this fireside talk. If you have time I suggest you read it. :) Angela<br /> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td bgcolor="#999966"><img src="http://www.lds.org/images/spacer.gif" width="30" height="1" /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p> <span class="featuressubtitle">Elder Richard G. Scott</span><br /> <i>Of the Quorum of the Twelve</i></p> <p><i>CES Fireside for Young Adults</i><br /> <i>13 January 2002</i><br /> <span class="featurestext"><br /> Thank you for that beautiful prayer and that hymn of praise that set the tone and Spirit I so much need tonight.</span></p> <p class="featurestext">I express profound gratitude for the privilege and blessing of being with each of you tonight. I thank you for the sacrifice you have made to be here. I know that gathered throughout the world there is a very select group of righteous young men and women who love the Lord and want, above all else, to obey His commandments. While this message is being broadcast from Brigham Young University, it is intended to be a personal conversation with you, individually, wherever you are.</p> <p class="featurestext">I have been blessed to be in the presence of some of you in smaller groups as I have traveled throughout the world. As I have looked into your faces, I have been touched to the very core of my being. There is a radiance, an excitement, an expression of calm assurance, and above all, the aura of purity and righteousness that emanate from you. I am not speaking of physical beauty. I am referring to something far more important—the peace and power that radiate from worthy, righteous, purposeful lives. It is here tonight. You can feel it wherever you are.</p> <p class="featurestext">You are now making some of the most critically important decisions of your life—decisions that will have a profound influence on your happiness, on what you will become and how you will spend eternity. I have humbly, repeatedly sought the help of the Lord to be able to share with you some of the principles that guide correct decisions. I know they are true. They are founded in doctrine, and they have been proven in the crucible of my own life. You do not have the assurance of making the right choices in essential matters without divine guidance. I will give suggestions concerning how that help can be obtained. I have also prayed that somehow while we are together, that you can feel the love of the Lord for you, personally. Also that He will convey a message to your mind and heart through the Spirit tailored to your personal needs.</p> <p class="featurestext">The spiritual moments in your life will often come in clusters when you feel so occupied that it seems difficult to record them. Yet that special effort is powerfully rewarded when you take a few moments to crystalize in a permanent record the sacred impressions of the Holy Spirit. Begin tonight, even if you have to borrow paper and pencil to do it.</p> <p class="featurestext">With all the capacity that I possess, I counsel you to strengthen your testimony that there is in very deed, a Heavenly Father who is in total control. You must come to really know God, through the scriptures, prayer, and the testimonies of His chosen. Then He can guide you in the application of His teachings in every circumstance. He has a specific plan for your life. When needed He will reveal parts of that plan to you as you seek His guidance with faith and consistent obedience. You may have found portions of it realized already in your life. His Son has made you free—not from the consequences of your acts, but free to make choices. Your Father's eternal purpose is for you to be successful in this mortal experience. Be attentive to the personal guidance given to you through the Holy Spirit. Continue to live worthy to receive it. Record it so that you can fulfill it. Then it will be available throughout your life. I am confident that as you pray for that help, some of it will come while we are together. That instruction will be far more important to you than anything you will hear from me.</p> <p class="featurestext">Do you feel overwhelmed, wondering if you can make the correct choices, uncertain of how to proceed? Does trying your best not seem to be good enough? I understand what you are going through. Earlier in my life I have felt the same way. It took me a long time to figure out that part of the plan for our growth on earth is to have periods of life when we have far more important things to do than we can possibly accomplish. You know that feeling when there is more weight on your shoulders than you think you can possibly bear, far more questions than answers. That is a test to teach the importance of establishing priorities. It emphasizes the wondrous treasure of time. When you encounter more vital things to do than you can possibly accomplish yourself, you will learn how the Lord can, through guidance of the Spirit, give you help and assurance. Have you ever had the feeling that the walls are closing in, that you are not in control of your life, that you simply cannot do it? Those feelings of frustration are not from the Lord. They are caused by Satan. He wants you to bolt and run when you encounter a difficult growth challenge. A sacred personal experience may help you.</p> <p class="featurestext">Some divert their best efforts from constructive accomplishment by investing them in mental anguish and continual worry. The Lord has taught me a great lesson about worry that I now share with you. After completing meaningful full-time missions, my lovely Jeanene and I were sealed in the temple. We began life together with every expectation of happiness. I was blessed through the kindness of the Lord to obtain a job in a new, highly developmental pioneer effort to place a nuclear power plant in a submarine. The work was fascinating, challenging, and absorbing. When combined with the natural growth experiences that come with the formation of a new family and Church assignments, I found each day filled to overflowing.</p> <p class="featurestext">Within eight months, I was being examined by a doctor to determine if I had ulcers. For weeks I would return home from work each night with a severe headache, and only after long, quiet periods of isolation could I calm my nerves sufficiently to sleep briefly and return to work the next day. I began to prayerfully consider my plight. All I wanted to do was to be a worthy husband and father and honorably carry out my Church and professional assignments. Yet my best efforts produced frustration, worry, and illness. In time, the Lord led me to a solution. I was prompted to divide mentally, and physically where possible, all of the challenges, tasks, and assignments given to me into two categories. All of the things for which I felt responsibility but for which I could do nothing to resolve, I put in a basket called <i>worry</i>. Then, all of those things for which I had some ability to control or resolve, I put into a basket called <i>concern</i>. For those things in the <i>worry</i> basket, I realized I could not resolve them so I tried hard to forget them. Later in the process I learned that putting them into the <i>worry</i> basket didn't mean they wouldn't be taken care of. They were resolved by those who could best handle them, and most often that was the Lord Himself. The items in the <i>concern</i> basket were ordered in priority. I conscientiously tried to resolve them to the best of my ability. While I could not always fulfill all of them on schedule or to the degree of competence I desired, I did my conscientious best.</p> <p class="featurestext">As I was learning to control worry, occasionally I would feel my stomach muscles tighten and tension overcome me. I would cease whatever I was doing and with earnest prayer for support, concentrate on relaxing and overcoming the barrier that worry produced in my life. I would mentally say, "I am not going to do another thing until I begin to control my emotions." Over a period of time, those efforts were blessed by the Lord. I came to understand how He is willing to fortify, guide, and direct every phase of life. The symptoms of illness passed and I learned how to face tasks under pressure.</p> <p class="featurestext">No matter how difficult the problems that surround you, the Lord knows how to resolve them. As you exercise faith, doing what you can, He will help you handle those things within your capability. He will bring into your path priesthood leaders who can counsel and advise, friends who can give you support, and parents who can provide answers. Through the avenue of prayer and the path of inspiration, He will help you know what to do. It is a process that takes time to master, but knowing that it exists should give you great comfort as you face the difficult decisions you must now make in life.</p> <p class="featurestext">The Lord puts challenges in your path to mold your character. For your own personal growth, He will often let you struggle with a matter for a while, even when you are pleading for help. But as you follow true principles, He will finally see you through. He intends that when you have reached your extremity that you turn to Him for comfort, peace, and assistance. He will send it through the quiet prompting of the Spirit. He will give reassurance and guidance that are essential to correct decisions in your life.</p> <p class="featurestext">You are learning powerful, eternal lessons. Be sure you understand them. The Lord does not abandon your urgent pleas, nor is He ever, for even a moment, unmindful of your anguish and heartache. He hears every supplication. He invariably answers according to spiritual law. Understanding that law will help you appreciate how the Lord answers your prayer. His silence and seeming absence at times are a powerful means of expanding your vision and understanding as you continue in faith to do your best.</p> <p class="featurestext">Consider this example. A race horse may resist efforts to develop his potential to run, preferring to enjoy the beauty and rich green grass of the pasture. Yet, even at times against his will, if the horse will train, there develops a new excitement, a grander pleasure—the incomparable joy of winning. The pleasure of the pasture is not diminished, but his joy of life is expanded.</p> <p class="featurestext">Seldom will you receive all at once a complete answer from the Lord. It will come a piece at a time. Inspiration comes in packets so that you will develop and grow and not remain as a child, given everything. Also, so that you will appreciate it, give thanks for it, treasure it, and apply it. Moreover, it will seldom come as the prayer is offered, rather in quiet moments when the Spirit can most effectively touch your mind and heart. Hence the need for periods of quiet time to keep perspective and to be instructed and strengthened. Discover how a clean, neat, quiet place can enhance spiritual direction in your life.</p> <p class="featurestext">Your capacity is greater than you can possibly imagine. Satan will try mightily to discourage you. Initially he will encourage you to do many worthwhile things, but not the essential ones. Then he will try to lead you through rationalization into grey areas and subsequently into dark ones. Beware of rationalization. It is to twist something you know to be true into a pattern that appears to support a deviation from truth. Rationalization would lead you down blind alleys. It would drain spiritual power. It barricades the path to happiness because it distorts your understanding of truth.</p> <p class="featurestext">When you seek inspiration to help make decisions, the Lord will give gentle promptings that require you to think, to exercise faith, to work, to struggle at times, then to act. It is a step-wise process to finally reach an inspired conclusion. It is unlikely that the whole answer to an important problem will come all at once. The Lord's pattern allows you to grow. Satan's method would make you more bound to his ways, with the resultant loss of agency.</p> <p class="featurestext">I was once present when the Lord inspired mightily a husband as he gave his wife a priesthood blessing. The blessing addressed specific needs in her life. He gave counsel that would bring a solution to her difficulties. It was a beautiful experience, evidence of the power the Lord permits to be exercised through a righteous priesthood bearer. Yet this blessing did not benefit her as much as it might have. She did not write down the promises made. Even shortly after the remarkable blessing she could not remember the counsel given. She did not realize that fulfillment of the blessing would require effort on her part. The truth is we must do all we are capable of doing to help fulfill a blessing. That effort includes the exercise of faith; the consistent, diligent application of counsel given; and abundant, prayerful expression of gratitude to our Father in Heaven, the source of the promised blessings. This truth applies whether it be a priesthood blessing or an impression from the Spirit to our mind and heart.</p> <p class="featurestext">Your efforts to distill truth from reading and pondering the scriptures, from analyzing and striving to understand the inspired messages of the prophets, will provide you with an armory of truth. That truth will protect you from evil influences and lay a foundation for happiness, security, and purpose in your life. It will help you make correct choices. Initially these truths are accepted on faith. The confirming witness of their validity comes as you apply them in your life and as you express gratitude for the growth, maturity, and blessings that come from their use. That confirmation strengthens your capacity to discipline your life to avoid those things you know to be unproductive and harmful. Such a witness provides encouragement and the confidence to center your life in the teachings of the Savior and the plan of happiness of the Father.</p> <p class="featurestext">An analogy will help you understand what is happening to you. I wrote down these impressions as I watched an impressive composer conduct an orchestra of gifted musicians. It has helped me understand more clearly our Father's plan of happiness. The conductor had created the musical score being played. He understood better than anyone else what he desired be accomplished through the music. He had crafted a role for each individual instrument. He was anxious to communicate that vision to the musicians so that working in harmony together, they could make reality what he had defined in a complex musical score.</p> <p class="featurestext">Each instrumentalist or percussionist had their part to play. They were experienced musicians and had polished innate talents through long, tedious hours of practice. They had studied their specific parts privately and attempted to master them.</p> <p class="featurestext">It was not until they began to perform together under the direction of an inspired leader that the full beauty and grandeur of their combined efforts could be realized. The result was overwhelmingly moving and edifying. Each individual carefully followed the conductor, striving to the utmost of his or her capability to play their part accurately, with feeling, emotion, and precision. They were not forced to perform. It was done willingly. While individual performances were outstanding, it was the combined effort of all that created the sublime result. Could you imagine how one discordant note could mar or destroy the power of their combined efforts? How one individual intentionally modifying the musical score could raise havoc and destroy the beauty of the others' performances?</p> <p class="featurestext">I understood with greater clarity how our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son have schooled us in the pre-mortal life, preparing us for this mortal experience that we might make the most of it. As we seek it we can receive individual guidance from the Lord's Spirit, through the Spirit, to perfect our own talents and abilities. We can learn to work together and yield our will to the divine conductor. We become fitted for the unique contribution that we are expected to make in fulfilling His personal plan for us. Certainly those who work diligently to learn truth and to live it willingly will make the greatest progress here. Just as it would be a demoralizing experience for an untrained individual to attempt to play in an orchestra of skilled musicians, so it would be painful punishment to attempt to live in a celestial realm for which you are not prepared. Your personal understanding of truth, the willing obedience to it, and the resulting growth, development, and perfection obtained in mortal life will determine your happiness here and lay the foundation for what your contribution will be in the eternities.</p> <p class="featurestext">A musician can perfect his or her skill with practice and determined effort to succeed—privately, correcting mistakes as they come. That effort is enhanced by the influence of a caring teacher who is anxious to share counsel for improvement and to identify specific areas where performance can be bettered. In like manner the Lord, through the Holy Spirit, can perform those functions in your life so that this mortal experience may yield the development, perfection, and understanding that you should gain in your personal plan of happiness. If you qualify here, you can serve in the celestial kingdom.</p> <p class="featurestext">How can you determine whether an impression is a prompting from the Lord, a temptation from the evil one, or the product of your own mind? One answer is explained in <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/ether/12/6#6" class="featureslink">Ether 12:6</a>:</p> <p class="featurestext">"And now, I, Moroni, . . . would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."</p> <p class="featurestext">If you have a feeling that an impression has come through inspiration, "try your faith" by diligently living it. When it is truly a prompting of the Lord there will be a confirmation that what you have done is right. You will learn what it feels like to have that witness. In time that feeling will become more certain than what you see or hear. A word of caution: Recognize that an individual who is violating commandments of the Lord will find it very difficult to discern a prompting of the Spirit from the powerful emotions that can be stimulated through transgression. I am confident that is one of the reasons that some marriages fail. Two individuals who have allowed themselves to violate the laws of chastity during courtship cannot expect to clearly perceive the answer to their prayer regarding marriage. Under such circumstances, seeking to discern the guidance of the Spirit is like trying to savor the delicate flavor of a raspberry while chewing on a red hot jalapeño pepper.</p> <p class="featurestext">Don't judge yourself by what you understand of your potential. Trust in the Lord and what He can do with your dedicated heart and willing mind. (See <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/64/34#34" class="featureslink">D&C 64:34</a>.) Order your life more effectively and eliminate trivial, meaningless detail and activity. They waste the perishable, fixed, and limited resource of time. Choose to emphasize those matters that have an eternal consequence.</p> <p class="featurestext">Permanent, worthwhile growth is attainable, but not without great effort and the honest application of truth. Worthy accomplishment is founded in integrity. Righteousness is fundamental to happiness and desirable attainment. Righteousness is rooted in a pure heart. And, indeed, it protects one from contamination and the filth of the world. Righteous love is the supreme motivation for constructive change. The examples of our Father in Heaven and the Savior and Their teachings are the perfect source of motivation and direction for life.</p> <p class="featurestext">May this teaching of the Master benefit you as much as it has me:</p> <p class="featurestext">"Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days " (<a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/24/8#8" class="featureslink">D&C 24:8</a>).</p> <p class="featurestext">I know that promise is fulfilled. As you discipline yourself in careful obedience to commandments of the Lord you will qualify to receive inspiration and direction in your life. You will grow in discipline, capacity, devotion, understanding, compassion, and joyous service. Your worthy life will allow you to interpret and apply the inspiration that will come through the Holy Ghost. Your love of Heavenly Father and His Son will increase. It will be a love of reverence, awe, and gratitude of a child to the greatest of all. It will become a love of total willingness to be obedient to Their will. It will result from a pure desire and willing determination to serve Them above all else.</p> <p class="featurestext">In closing I would share some of the innermost feelings of my heart. I do not know when I will have the opportunity to speak to you individually again. Though life now seems difficult, hold on to that iron rod. You are making better progress than you realize. Your struggles are defining character, discipline, and confidence in the promises of your Father in Heaven and the Savior as you consistently obey their counsel. You are so important. You are so needed. There are so few willing to make the sacrifices you are making to live righteously. You will develop the sensitivity, love, and kindness to rejoice within the bonds of an eternal marriage. You will bless your children with an insight the world can never give them. Your example will set the course of their life. You are needed to strengthen the growing kingdom of the Lord, to be the role models for so many more who will embrace the truths of the gospel.</p> <p class="featurestext">This world is in trouble. The nation from which I speak is in difficulty. If you live elsewhere, your nation is likewise struggling also. There is a continual crumbling of obedience to principle, the bedrock of civilization and an absolutely essential ingredient to happiness. Oh, there can be transitory pleasure from power, influence, or material wealth. But true, lasting happiness, the kind that is felt in the early hours of the morning when you are honest with yourself, can only be obtained by obedience to the teachings of God as you are now doing. Honesty, integrity, chastity, virtue, willingness to forego for the moment something seemingly desirable for a greater future good are essential to true success in life. Develop the capacity, when circumstances demand, to lay everything on the altar to defend a principle. There are so few willing to do that. The world needs men and women like you who are willing to place principle above personal gain, businessmen who are honest and morally clean, attorneys who defend justice, government officials who strive to preserve honor and integrity because it is right. You can be that shining light, that righteous influence, the leaven in the loaf to increase the moral fiber of your nation. Your prayers and humble study of the teachings of the Master, with a 24-hour application of those teachings every day of the week, will strengthen your life. They will help provide the stability the world needs.</p> <p class="featurestext">Where can there be a greater satisfaction in life than to defend that part of the line the Lord has given you to preserve? Show those in the world around you a better way. There are some things that are wrong because God decreed that they were wrong. Truth is not determined by what men think, no matter how influential they may be. It was determined by an almighty God before the creation of this earth and it will exist forever. We serve. We make our contribution. We pass on. Let it never be said of you what was recently said of an individual with great potential and resources at his passing: "He left no legacy."</p> <p class="featurestext">Will you prayerfully consider what we have discussed together? If there is a need to repent of some improper action, do it. Likewise, if there is a need to repent from failure to act, correct that. There are so many willing to be led by your righteous example. Because you have been enlightened, you owe it to those who follow the best example you are capable of giving. Not only will they be blessed, but your life will be enriched as well. I have come to know of the great influence for good that flows from individual acts born of conscience and principle rooted in truth. Resolve that each moment of your life will reflect your determination to humbly be an example of righteousness, integrity, and conviction. Keep the Sabbath day holy. Honor and live temple covenants as you receive them. Drink deeply from the fountain of the revealed word of God. Hold fast to His word. You are succeeding in the purpose for which you came to earth.</p> <p class="featurestext">I bear solemn testimony that I have an absolute witness that Jesus Christ lives. As you follow the principles that we've discussed, I bear witness that He will guide you to the correct choices in the critical matters before you.</p> <span class="featurestext">In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.</span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-79313717691571439202010-04-05T10:38:00.000-07:002010-04-05T11:57:05.928-07:00LD SingersAs of this last week I found out that the group LD Singers is changing. For those of you who have never heard of the LD Singers let me explain the best I can. LD Singers is a singing group for the Ephraim Institute at Snow College. The group has changed throughout the 40+ years that it has been around, but it has mostly been a show choir. Every year the group would go on a tour where they would perform concerts and perform at seminaries. It has been a great missionary tool and a great experience for many that have been part of it. Usually the concerts would have a mix between light numbers and spiritual numbers pulled together with intros that related a spiritual message to the songs. Some of the main changes that will be happening, that I can remember are a possible name change( it hasn't been decided yet) They will only sing spiritual numbers, and will no longer be going on tours. There may be some changes that I don't remember. The reason why I am writing this is because this group has been such a blessing in my life. I went to school with no friends and becoming part of this group helped me gain an instant amount of friends that were a huge example to me. I also met my husband in LD Singers. Although the changes will be good in the future and I hope it will continue to help others like me, but it is still so sad to see things that blessed me in my life end.<br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/DISPAT%7E1.USA/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/DISPAT%7E1.USA/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.png" alt="" /><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/DISPAT%7E1.USA/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-48841681616539047082010-03-16T07:16:00.000-07:002010-03-16T07:36:18.766-07:00A Balancing ActIts so amazing to me how there are so many things that you can do throughout the day, but there always seems to be something that gets missed. For example last week Jaylee was teething and kept getting fevers and just wanted to cuddle, so of course my home was neglected, so this week I have been trying to get caught up with the cleaning and now I feel like I am not spending as much time as I should with Jaylee. I have also been trying to take the time to do my calling as best as I can, not to mention read the ensign, study scriptures, do research on my family so we can do temple work. Add in some baking and cooking, and wow time just flies way too fast, and I still want to do a garden, I must be crazy, but the crazy part is that I am really not stressing out about all these things going on, and it may have something to do with what my visiting teacher told me this month. She told me that instead of writing down the things she needs to do that day she writes down the things that she accomplished that day that way she feels more positive about the day and doesn't stress out as much. So I have come to the conclusion that I will do my best and be happy with what I have accomplished. I will start with yesterday ( too early to do today)<br /><br />Worked/ earned money for family<br />did 3 loads of laundry<br /> made dinner<br />made cookie dough<br />went grocery shopping<br />worked on my cross-stitch project<br />played outside with jaylee for a little bit.<br />helped Jaylee unload the dishwasher<br />watched Ducktails with Devon<br />Read my scriptures<br /><br />Not too bad. Considering most of it happened after 2. Yeah, much better than listing those things I didn't do.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-52150083672905500642010-02-11T13:58:00.000-08:002010-02-15T20:28:58.470-08:00Family Update needs to be updated againDevon talked to his brother the Saturday after I made the post before this and completely changed his decisions on what he wants to do, and we both feel that its for the better, as long as everything works out of course. Let me explain. Our plan before was that we were going to stay here for another two years so that Devon could do an emphasis in Entertainment arts and engineering. But lately he has been worrying about his major and where it will bring us financially in the future. So last semester while taking a computer science class he realized that he really likes computer programing, but figured it was too late to change majors. So while talking to his brother Joel he realized that he has basically all the credits needed to graduate with a bachelor's degree and get a masters degree in Computer science. So this is our hope. He has to pass a Spanish test that he will be taking on February 25th, which we won't find out if he passed another 2 weeks to 2 months depending on when the professors from the language department come and correct it. If he passes it he is going to apply for graduation in the fall and then take the GRE test so that he can start on his master's program. During this we will probably be looking for a job in Logan cause he wants to go to school there, which I am okay with because there is family and friends up there. It will also be good for the change. Anyway our future is all a question right now cause he has to take the test and pass it. If he doesn't pass it we will be here for another couple semesters so he can get his Spanish credits. I am sure that things will work out the way that they are suppose to, and I am very proud of all the hard work that Devon has done going to school.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-15571635095144064452010-01-29T06:49:00.000-08:002010-01-29T07:22:56.302-08:00Family UpdateThings have been well in the Winkler home. Devon has started his semester at the U. He is taking 14 credits, so he is keeping pretty busy with school, work, and homework. Especially his Java class. The other day he heard his teacher say that he thought that Calculus was a pre-rec for taking this class, which its not seeing that Devon is in the class as a film major, and the last time he took calculus was when he was in high school 7 years ago. Devon will rise above that though and will pass the class. No worries there. It just means a lot of homework time. Luckily all his other classes are pretty simple to pass. One of the classes is only a half semester as well. Devon is also going to be applying for an Undergrad/internship for Pixar. If he makes it in that will most likely mean he will be going by himself. Luckily its only from June to August so he will be able to start school as soon as he comes back. We have also read that its a paid internship as well, so if he makes it we will be having some big changes in our life for a short while. It will be a great learning experience as well. I am sure things will work out for the best anyway.<br />Jaylee is just a stinker, yet the biggest bundle of joy. On Monday after staying at the Oler's for an hour she decided that she wanted to start going potty on the potty, so every time she wanted to go I let her. I don't know if this means that she is going to be potty trained early, or if this is just a little phase, but its really cute seeing her on the toilet. For the most part she just sits there, but there was one time that she actually went poop, and it scared her so bad cause I was so excited. Her excitement towards the toilet has kind of slowed down since then. Right now Jaylee's favorite movie is Monsters inc. She has to watch it every day. She doesn't even get scared of the movie. every part she will watch. she gets sad when she knows that its almost over. She also loves learning right now. reading, playing games, singing songs, and helping mom are some of the things that she really enjoys doing. Nursery is her favorite cause she loves being around kids her age. I am just amazed at how much they learn so fast. As it is right now with my help she says her prayers, she talks on the phone really well, and the thing that frustrates me the most is when she runs away from me and I have to chase after her. Luckily she doesn't run fast.<br />As for me I am still working at the Maintenance Office 19 hrs a week. After that I am working full-time as a mother. Every tues. night I go with Lisa to Institute Choir with Bro Shank and I love it. Its quite interesting taking a class with a bunch of single people, but I love singing and I love the spirit I feel in the class. We have quite a bit of performances this semester and I am way excited for them. I have also started another cross-stitch project, and I many other things that I am working, or planning on working on like bow making, genealogy, making cards, and practicing piano. So between all of that I keep myself pretty busy. Anyway so that's our update. we are doing well.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-11848180574661226602010-01-11T10:07:00.000-08:002010-01-11T10:21:28.862-08:00Preparing for EmergenciesI don't know about anyone else, but have you ever noticed that when something comes to mind, that all of a sudden there are so many things that stick out that has to do with that certain thing. For example this Sunday we had a lesson on preparing for emergencies. It has always been a subject that comes to mind, but never anything that I have really acted upon. Its been a "I hope something doesn't happen or I am in trouble." type of thing. Well since then I have had to fill out an emergency contact form at work, and I am sure that other things will come up. Its like a wake up call in the morning to get up and get to work. Although I have the best intentions, I keep pushing the snooze button, but eventually if I am not careful I am going to be late, or in the case of an emergency be in trouble. So if there is anyone out there that has any ideas on ways to prepare on a tight budget I would love to hear what you have to say. As for what I learned on Sunday, well I will do my best to remember what I learned and act upon it.<br /><br />AngelaAngelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-8931262545209741862009-12-29T11:17:00.000-08:002009-12-29T11:39:28.211-08:00The Joys of ChristmasSo again I have no pictures or footage of Christmas. My Camera is acting funny and so is our video camera, but family members took some so hopefully I can get some from them. As for the big day it was awesome. Jaylee loved opening the presents, and had so many toys she didn't know what to do. It was so cute. when we came home all she could say was toys. We were blessed with many wonderful gifts. There are a few that I would like to mention though. Devon got a new hat from Disneyland and some shoes. both a surprise and he loved them both, Yay. Jaylee loves the new books she got and her new 3 pairs of Disney pajamas, so cute. I got a Cricut and I am so exited to use it and the new Taylor Swift CD which I have already listened through 3 times. I would have to say that our most exiting gift was the new microwave that we found on our doorstep. So Thanks to whomever gave it to us. We love it :)<br /><br />Christmas wasn't all fun and games for us though. That morning my mom got the Stomach flu after we opened the presents. That evening Devon got sick as well and it all went down hill from there. Christmas night My grandma, brother, and I got the stomach flu followed by my other brother, Dad and Grandpa the night after. It ended up working out though, cause Jaylee never got it, and my mom was well enough to take care of Jaylee when Devon and I were sick. We in return were well enough to take care of Jaylee so my Mom could take care of my Dad and brother. I definitely have to say it was a Christmas that I will never forget, but as you can see it was probably a good thing that our cameras weren't working. All of us being sick wouldn't make the best pictures after all.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-84343744162106552112009-12-22T08:34:00.000-08:002009-12-22T08:49:29.356-08:003 days till ChristmasI am so excited this year for Christmas. Not for the gifts I am giving, or receiving, but for spending time with my family. Jaylee is starting to understand who Santa is and the concept of Christmas. The cutest thing that she has been saying lately is we ask her what Santa says and she says "Ho Ho Ho." It is so cute. then we ask her what Santa gives you for Christmas and she says " Presents." Devon thinks that she is saying baby sometimes, but I know better. Although baby is one of Jaylee's favorite words presents sounds way different.<br />Last night we went to the free Caroling event at Energy Solutions Arena. I don't know if any of you have been able to go to that, but this will be the 2nd year that we have been. Last year it was so nice cause we just walked in got a ton of free stuff and enjoyed the whole night, but this year I have to be honest wasn't the best. We got there later and had to wait in a huge line to get in. Then I had to save seats for my father-in-law, brother-in-law, and husband for half of the program so that they could get free hot dogs and coke. Yeah not fun. The highlight of the night was Jon Schmidt. He is awesome. After we left we didn't get as much free stuff as last year, so I guess it was kind of a let down from the year before. We are hoping that next year won't be as bad. Hopefully they plan for that many people. I don't think they knew how many people were actually going to come. It was also fun to see Jaylee watch the program. When Santa and the Bear came on the stage she was just enthralled with what was going on. Anyway I will try and get some pictures on my blog from Christmas. Yay, I am so excited.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-16822346329992230132009-12-18T06:54:00.000-08:002009-12-18T07:17:02.843-08:00ResultsIt has only been a couple days, but so far it has turned out pretty good. On Wednesday I decided to cut my hair short. I guess you can say it was a lot of weight lifted off of my shoulders since my long hair was giving me so much grief. We are still in need of a microwave, but are postponing it until we absolutely need it, at least that is what it seems like right now. It has been an interesting experience. A little planning ahead, a few more dishes, and we are doing okay... so far. Wish me luck on either a great deal on a microwave, or patience till January :). Another interesting thing is how Jaylee has reacted to my more positive attitude ( note I am not perfect yet, but convincing myself to look lighter of situations, and to be grateful for what I have is helping so far) Anyway Jaylee loves to have me read books to her, and loves it when I spend time with her. Although that can't always be the case cause I have chores that need to get done, and dinner that needs to be made and sometimes I need to do something for my sanity. But instead of looking at play time as a chore, and boring I am enjoying it more resulting in my daughter enjoying it more. I don't know if I am just weird or if some of you have done this, but I love turning on some fun Christmas music and dancing with Jaylee. She loves it and is so cute when she dances. That and its a great way to use up energy and just have fun. I am totally putting her in a dance class. She will love it. I am definitely going to keep trying to be happy. Stress doesn't get you anywhere. As a matter of fact for me it causes less to get done which results in more stress. Its actually quite silly if you think about it.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-60269442183125746942009-12-16T06:56:00.000-08:002009-12-16T07:18:39.346-08:00HappinessIt is so amazing to me how easy it is to stress out. I could be having the best day and one thing happens and its like the end of the world. So today I am going to try something new, an experiment I guess you can say. I am going to take everything that is stressing it out and turn it into something good, so that today ends up being a great day. I will start by writing it in this blog. So last night I found out that I get to buy a new microwave. My old one worked a good 2 1/2 years, and did a good job, so I can't complain plus this will help the economy out. After work today I get to have a haircut. I am trying to decide whether I want it trimmed, or if I should just chop it off. I want to donate it, but the idea of having cute hair without all the work sounds so appealing. We shall see, and I will be excited either way :). I have an apartment to clean, and laundry that needs to be caught up, but my presents are wrapped, and my bedroom is clean, which is a rare occasion, so I am quite excited. I think I will try a new recipe for dinner tonight. Wow, I feel better about today all ready. Yay for optimism.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-43483310261349988572009-12-15T09:15:00.000-08:002009-12-15T09:20:33.488-08:00Moroni 7:48As I was reading in the book of Mormon today I came across this scripture and I thought it says exactly what I was trying to explain in my last blog. Here it is.<br /><br />" Wherefore, my beloved bretheren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."<br /><br />Isn't that awesome. I liked it.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-48708679997333548012009-12-15T07:04:00.000-08:002009-12-15T07:38:46.548-08:00The Forgotten CarolsI don't know if any of you have been able to experience going to the Forgotten Carols, or maybe all of you have and it has just taken me forever to have the experience. Last night I was able to go for the first time. I know the songs and love them, but I never knew the story that goes along with it. I won't go into detail just in case someone wants to see it, but there was an aspect of it that I would like to talk about. The true meaning of Christmas. This year has been a very interesting one for me. With Devon in School, Jaylee growing and having more of a personality, moving to a smaller apartment it has been a very humbling experience. What I most want to emphasize on is all of the many things out there this season that have been reminding me of the Savior including the play that I saw last night. I really liked the different perspectives that the songs gave of people that were around during the life of the Savior. Whether the exactness of the perspectives is right that is not important. What I did enjoy about it is that it reminded me of how big of a miracle it was during the Saviors birth. The timing, the people, everything worked out so that the Savior could atone for our sins. So that we can live with our families, and our Heavenly Father and Savior again. How awesome is that.<br /><br />Another thing that has been on my mind lately has been the talks on Sunday. Especially Bro. and Sis. Andreason's talks. I really enjoyed what Brooke said about her family and how those experiences that she went through has helped her find what the true meaning of Christmas is to her, and to go along with that Matt's perspective that Christmas is about love. I don't think there is a better way to explain it. Yeah there are presents and traditions and every family is different with how they do things, but if we have love in our home during the Christmas season, then that is probably the best gift that we can give to our Savior. Don't you think. I hope this makes sense. Sometimes what I think and how I say it turn out way different. Anyway I hope everyone has a great Christmas Season.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-39139526387818906112009-12-14T12:45:00.000-08:002009-12-14T12:56:35.584-08:00Finals WeekIsn't it amazing how everything falls on finals week. The first time I met my husband was around finals week at a choir concert. My daughter was born during finals week between two of my husbands finals. good timing :). This week we have parties, The Forgotten Carols, haircuts, game days, and tons of homework. Don't forget a sick husband. Luckily some elves came to my apartment yesterday and cleaned my house. It was nice considering a tornado named Jaylee went through it first. I hope everyone has a great week and a happy holiday season. I know I will ;)Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528450765948080078.post-46836782203669379692009-12-09T15:40:00.000-08:002009-12-09T15:57:04.637-08:00This is newWhere do I begin. I am not much of a writer especially when I can hear my daughter in the background crying. We are attempting nap time, but depending on the day we either fail or succeed. So far the Cough that she has is causing the nap to fail. My daughter is 19 months old and is very smart. She is always getting into things, making messes,but in the process is having so much fun. It is so hard to get upset at her cause she is so cute, yet it can be way frustrating. Its at times like this where I like to remind myself of what Joseph B Wirthlin says. " Come what may and love it." Which is great advice for me cause sometimes I am too busy stressing over things that I forget those simple things that really matter and help to make you happy. Anyway I am excited to start this blog. It is definitely a great way to vent.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04645776125769003073noreply@blogger.com0