BYU cheerleaders and Mascot coming to work

Women's Conference at BYU!!!!!

I love Women's Conference!!!!!  I can't express how  much I  love it!  The first year I ever went to Women's Conference was when I was a student at BYU in 87.  I was just about to be married and my roommate Diane and I wanted to check it out.  I loved it so much that I have been going every since.  The first year I went there were less than a thousand, but now there are over 15,000 or more.  This year was my 18th year of going. Matt has always been so supportive of me going because he knows I come back  spiritual renewed and rejuvenated!  This year was no exception.  Julie, one of my best friends, and I have been going together for several years now. 

One of my favorite parts of Women's Conference are the sharing stations.  The Sharing Stations share ideas for service in the home/family, church or community, as well as other ideas for personal and family enrichment.  I love how creative women can be.  There is such a feeling of sisterhood at the sharing stations.

Sister Sandra Rogers, is Chair for BYU's Women's Conference.  She gave one of the best talks.  Her talk was on Discipleship and Ministry.   She said that our lives must be a symbol of our dedication to the Savior.  Others must know him and love him through us.  She talked about how he doesn't grade on a curve, he wants us all.  She said our lives are our most powerful sermons we will ever give. 

 I love going to the nightly entertainment they have on Thursday nights and this  year was no exception.  The performers were the following:  Hilary Weeks, Jenny Oaks Baker, Dallyn Vail Bayles, Alex Boyé, Mercy River,

and Michael McLean. 

 

Julie and I ate a lot of our meals at the Cannon's Center right by where our dorms were.   I felt bad for all of the BYU students who took over their campus and cafeteria.   While I was at Women's Conference I was able to see where Coby works and I also was able to take him out to lunch.  Coby is a wonderful son!!!!!!!  We went and quickly checked out  the new exhibit, "Beauty and Belief, Crossing Bridges with the Arts of Islamic Culture." 

 At Women's Conference they also have opportunities to serve others.  On Wednesday and Thursday nights there are opportunities to serve other.  There are countless projects to do and they are all so rewarding and go to countries throughout the world.   It is so neat to see women listening to talks while they crochet, or knit something.  The number of things completed to help the world are astounding. 

Here are some of the excerpts from some of my favorite talks:
depth of preparation=depth of inspiration
Choose to wake up each day and say, "This is going to be  my happiest day ever."
"We don't leave a loaded gun on the counter just  like we don't leave the Internet access open to our children."
"You will be in an onion patch your whole life.  You didn't come to earth for the weeds, you came for the Savior."  
"When bad things happen, they might slow me, but they won't unravel me."
"The tuition of life hasn't changed.  If we want to value and love the gospel we must work at it each day.  Who are you listening to, the world or the Lord?"
Persecution can either motivate us into action or crush us."
"Winning an argument isn't as important as winning a friendship."
"In a world where selfishness and greed are accepted and almost encouraged it is our responsibility as parents to provide opportunities for service." 
"Just focus on the Gospel.  This, too, shall pass." 
"Everything will be okay in the end.  If it's not okay, it's not the end."

“When you are more sensitive about taking his name upon you, seeking the spiritual gifts from his sacred ordinances and giving added care to following him, you feel greater strength,” “You see more clearly, sense more deeply your identity as a daughter of God and realize with greater measure the purposes you have accomplished, are accomplishing and will yet accomplish.”

Coby has been in Jordan for 4 months!

Here are some of the pictures Coby took while in Jordan.  I have learned a lot from having him in Jordan.  It is amazing how similar things are and also how different things are too.  Above,  is an awesome grove of Olive Trees.

The Sea of Galilee from afar.

The Martyr's Memorial in Amman, tribute to Jordan's creation and it's fallen soldiers in wars past.

Memorial to Turkish soldiers who died at the Battle of As-Salt in WWI.

Going through the slot canyons there, that look a lot like Southern Utah.

Climbing on Roman Ruins, they'd never let you do this in the U.S....awesome!

How the Dead Sea looks now.

Jordanian women

Lunch,  hashem, I wonder how it tastes.

There are shops with vendor all over Amman that sell things that are unique to Jordan.

King Hussein Mosque

People around Amman.

Appartently, this is the creepiest mouse you will ever meet.

Coby's favorite restaurant in Amman, Jabri.

Istanbul was Constantinople

View of the Golden Horn

The Blue Mosque

The world famous Hagia Sofia, this building was built around 580 A.D. as a church.

The lunch Menu

A view of the Black Sea

One hand in Europe, the other in Asia.

An underground Roman cistern where water was stored, the biggest in the city. Between all of the pillars there is just water.

Inside the Blue Mosque

Inside the Hagia Sophia

BYU Women's Conference 4-28-4-30

I love BYU Women's Conference. The first year I went was in 1987 when I was a student there and I have been trying to go ever year since, but have missed many~Darn! There are so many things I love about Women's Conference ~~~I love staying at the dorms (reminds me of when I was a student there I love the classes, hanging out with amazing women who believe in the gospel and are trying to do the best they can, I love running into old friends I haven't seen in years, I love eating yummy food, and most of all I love getting my spiritual battery refilled and being filled with gratitude for all of the blessings I have been blessed with!

Above the women gathered to hear the speaker in the Marriot Center. I love living in UT and I am grateful to Matt for keeping everything running at home while I am gone and always being willing to support me and encourage me to take a break!

Favorite Quotes from Women's Conference:
"The Golden Rule is more about being understood as we really want to be understood." Sister Rasband.

"Social media is best when it causes us to do something real -- to pray, to create to write to serve. It's wasted when it causes us to do useless worrying or guilting ourselves, complaining, reading dumb information when it doesn't benefit us, our families, our neighbors, our talents and so on. ... I have to remember to do good, and not just think about it or read about it." Lisa Clark

"Saying yes to someone else often can mean you'll be saying no to your children," Bonnie Anderson

"The nice thing about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others." Erin Meeker

"The swing shift is the most important shift as mothers. Make sure you are not working all three shifts." Sister Beck

When reading the Book of Mormon pose these 3 questions in your scriptures:
1. Who Am I? 2. What are my Responsibilities in the House of Israel? 3. How do I fill my Responsibilities in the House of Israel? Write answers in the blank pages in the B of M. Sister Beck

"Computers are a wonderful tool, but called the web for a reason. Go with a purpose to the internet and the leave when done and leave promptly." Charolette Winder

"When is the last time that you squealed with delight that you received the sacrament?" Sandy Nicols

"The Lord wants us all to return to Him, but not in a straight line."Renata Forste

"Never forget for one instant who you serve, you serve the Lord." Elder Oaks

"No one is any better than you, and you are not a ny better than any one else." Anna Quindlen

Week of 4-11 to 4-17

On Sunday April 11th Coby performed with the German Choir from BYU for a German ward in downtown SLC. Matt and I raced to the sacrament meeting because it was right after our sacrament meeting. I have never been to sacrament meeting where the meeting was in an entire different language. It was a very unique experience and we both LOVED it! The majority of the performance was the choir's which was on Easter. The choir was beautiful and did an amazing performance. Our family went to their performance in December at the Provo Tabernacle and it was very well done, but this was even better. Coby has such a beautiful, rich tenor voice and I am grateful that he loves to sing.

Also, on Sunday night I performed in The Messiah by Handel. It was a very rewarding experience. It is amazing to me that during the summer of 1741, Handel, depressed and in debt, began setting Charles Jennens Biblical libretto to music in just 24 days at a breakneck speed. When you are singing the music you feel such peace, love, and joy for our Savior, Jesus Christ and feel such gratitude for all that he has done for us. I am grateful I had the opportunity to participate in this. The practices were long and took a lot of time, but it was soooo worth it.

Kara became the sickest she ever has been. It started on April 8th and lasted for a whole week. She still has a lingering cough from it now on 4-27. Kara was pretty miserable and sad about missing school, especially since she hadn't missed a full day of school this year. She had an extremely high temperature and it was still at 102 with Tylenol. She was pretty upset because she had planned to try-out for the School Districts National Anthem and also get prepared for the School Talent show, but she couldn't because she had no voice so she didn't even try out for either. The doctor treated it like swine flu! Poor girl!

Colton had a stake court of honor and got all the merit badges he hadn't received in a long, long time and he got a total of 9! We are so grateful for Scout leaders. He is beginning to work on his eagle project right now, which is very exciting! Please ask him about it.

Also, I had book club Thursday night and I was in charge of picking our groups book club and I picked the book, "Same Kind of Different as Me." I had a friend just randomly recommend it on Facebook and I decided why not. I got it earlier and loved it so much that I chose it. I highly recommend it as a wonderful Christian true story of two men's journey of hope and love to find friendship and hope. It is inspiring! On Saturday, April 17th, Matt and Colton went on a 20 mile hike for Boy Scouts. It was the one thing that Colton still needed to accomplish in order to finish his hiking merit badge. They left at 7:30 am and were gone all day long. They did not make it home until 5:30 pm because they went quite a distance to make it there and were with a large group. They were both very dirty, sun burnt and tired when they made it home. During that day Kara had a cast party from her play she did "The 12 Dancing Princesses" and she had a lot of fun. She also had a soccer game. This year her soccer games are much longer and they do not have any extras on her team, which means she plays the whole game.

Coby's 22nd Birthday

Coby above at 2 months.
Coby turned 22 on March 8th. We went down to Provo to celebrate at his apartment. This year for his birthday he wanted: Tomato Bisque soup, Clam Chowder, Shrimp Alfredo, Caesar Salad, and Cheesy French Bread. For his cake I made something I had never made and that was a Brownie/Cake Ice Cream Cake. It turned out really good and was really tall.





We are so glad Coby is a member of our family, he has brought us a lot of joy and happiness. He is great to have as the oldest sibling of our family and has set an excellent example for his younger siblings. We love you Coby more than you can believe!!!! We know this will be a fantastic year for you.