I've been such a whiner lately!

Have you ever just laid in your bed in the morning wishing you didn't have to face the things that you commited yourself too? Well, I have. Sometimes... ok, I always have a hard time saying no to people...and even worse, when I say no and someone argues their point as to why I've made a poor choice in saying no, I totally do what someone else thinks...then I get annoyed. This really bugs me that I do this, so I have been being very stubborn lately. Almost to the point of revolutionary. Yeah! Pretty much I've been a big grump and putting my foot down a lot when it comes to my own opinion.

But, thankfully, someone else is watching out for me and sending me good people to surround myself with. And opportunities to be blessed in spite of my cranky attitude.

What is that scripture? "If you give a gift begrudgingly, it is better that you had retained the gift?"...hmmm! I wonder how many blessings I have missed out on because of THAT one. HA!

Well today I woke up thinking I was in for a day of drudgery...and consequentially, it turned out quite the opposite of that.

I've always been in Young Women so I never knew the difference, but in the Relief Society, there seems to be lots of these little jobs (or big ones) where you seem to be just giving and giving. You know, playing Henrietta Homemaker, and Sammy Service... Totally not me. I know I'm going to sound like a big jerk, but bear with me, I'm just being honest...Compassionate service is not a strong point for me, unless its my idea. The serving random strangers I don't know is more difficult for me. I have a hard time pushing past the "I'm annoyed" feeling in the beginning.

But today I was truly touched and humbled. It was the Sparta Ward's turn to cook a lunch for like 180 Missionaries for their Zone Conference today. We did tacos. After browning half a cow, and driving the hour to the Stake Center, we prepared for 2 hours and then served the Missionaries their lunch. Like I said before, I was having a hard time getting out of bed this morning and facing it. How I have managed to get out of these things for this long I don't know, But I'm so glad I didn't get out of it this time. As these young men are going through the cafateria style line, a lot of them seemed truly thankful that we were there. One of them said, "this is the best food I've had in a long time. I'm tired of living on pop tarts and cereal"...Awwww!!! I was touched that a lot of the Missionaries that had served in our area before and left remembered my name...I had to look at a lot of name tags... Then at the end, they called all the serving ladies in to the cultural hall to thank us.

The army of Missionaries sang us "Called to Serve" and after, yelled, "Thanks for Lunch!" It was kind of cool to look out into the sea of Elders, recognizing the ones that had served in our ward, who looked truly happy to be singing to us. I was touched. What a cool experience it turned out to be when I would have rather stayed in bed. Kind of glad I didn't.

Technology is cool!

I really love how The Church is putting out so much information on the internet. What a cool thing; to be able to watch the things we used to have to get tickets for and drive miles to go see in a theatre. 15 years ago some treasured friends of mine went to a lot of trouble for me to go see one of these films. Legacy was the film that was out at that time. It was fun... Now all I have to do is open up my laptop. So cool! This Joseph Smith Film was something we took a group of Youth to-all the way to the DC visitors center to see it. Now it's right here at everyone's fingertips. Gotta love technology!

I Got to Meet and Apostle of God! A Special Witness of Christ!

Elder David A. Bednar came to our Stake for a visit! I got to shake his hand and he wished Austin a Happy 4th Birthday! How cool is that!?!?!?!?!

Hear him speak Here

and hear a message from him Here

and another Here

Before I forget about it, I wanted to blog about the visit we had from Elder Bednar. He was in NJ for some business he had with the Bishops and regional representatives in the area. So we were lucky to have him come and speak for an hour to us on Sunday. We were given some directions to help us to prepare for his coming. We were asked to go to the temple, invite one of the friends or family members we hold closest to our hearts, and to pray and read the scriptures daily to help our hearts hear the message he had to offer. Dustin and I didn't make it to the temple. We are SLACKERS! I did try hard to pray and read daily. And we did invite a really neat family, which is always such a scary thing for me. Elder Bednar said though, that we were just persistant, not pushy when we invite! I hope that's how it is in my case.... The family wasn't able to attend, but I think being obedient to these things helped me to prepare my own heart for his message. It helped my own testimony of prayer to grow, even if we couldn't share his message with people we love. Some of the things he explained; Explained with the power and Mantle that only comes from an Apostle of God, were explained exactly how I would like them to be said. I get nervous and botch it when I try to explain it. But he said exactly what I would say from my heart, if my mouth was not hinged in the middle. So regardless of the fact that none of our friends or family could come, my prayers were answered and I am so greatfull.

Elder Bednar told a story about a friend of his from his time in Rexburg, ID. This friend wanted a 4WD truck and tried to justify it to his wife by telling her that it was important for him to be able to get to the store in the snow and ice safely to get milk and bread for his family. His wife asked him what the point was in buying the truck was if they couldn't afford milk and bread cause they spent the money on a truck. So, the smart man came up with a solution. He told her he would use the truck to go into the mountains and cut down wood, haul it back, and burn it to save on heat. That way they could afford both.

Does this sound like anyone you know? Noooo...not Dustin!...Not at all!
Dustin always follows the council of his wife, and would never purchase something we could not afford...HA!

So the man gets his truck and sets off up the mountains. It's foggy as he gets into the mountainous terrain, and realizes that this fog is really a snow storm. He continues on because this is exactly what he bought his truck for. He gets to his desired destination and leaves the snow covered dirt road and begins to bog down in the snow as it's deeper in this area. He's not worried because this is the purpose of this truck. He puts it into 4WD and gives it gas, but the wheels just spin. He bogs down more, but he tries again only digging the tires deeper and deeper into the snow. He sits there and says a prayer for a minute cause now he realizes he's in trouble. He probably should have listened to his wife,lol. The thought comes to him, however, that maybe he just needs to go to work. He can't just sit there and freeze and if he's not going anywhere, he might as well make good use of his time. So he goes out and starts cutting this wood and loading his truck. He loads and loads till he can load no more into the bed of the truck. Then, having nothing left to do, he decides to give it another try. This time, he presses on the gas, slowly and gingerly, and miraculously this time the truck moves... It was the load that gave him the traction to get out of the bog.

He read with us the scripture in Mosiah 24:13-15-- And it came o pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God , do visit my people in their afflictions. And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with pateince to all the will of the Lord.

He said making covenants or two way promises with the Lord is key to this blessing!

He spoke to those with disease and with sickness and told them that they should pray for healing, but more to have the strength to endure the process and to learn the lessons that needed to be learned from it. And still more to also pray: Father, thy will be done.

I was deeply touched by this opportunity. As we walked through the line to shake his hand I wished I could tell him how his words answered my prayers and I was so very greatfull, but instead I just said "Thank You." He did ask Austin his name and Austin said, "It's my birfday." He was very kind and asked him how old he was. Austin said 4. That in itself is a miracle as Austin has been very bashfull and rude to adults of late. His usual behavior is to stick his tongue out and spit. That would have been just awful. It was a very touching day, and I just wanted to share before my heart forgets.

Some Funnies!

Smelly Rice Sock!

Our neighbors have 2 little boys and they just got a rice box instead of a sand box that they have in the garage. Yesterday Evan, after the boys had been playing with the next door neighbor came running in saying," Austin is crying outside, and he has no shoes on." I run outside to find him sitting under a pine tree with no shoes on and only one sock. (I think his feet were a bit cold as it's still in the 30's here.) I pick him up to carry him home asking where his shoes and sock were, only to get a very tearful "I don't knooooow!" I figured they were at the neighbors somewhere and would find them the next day.

Later that night after dinner, Austin comes in with a sock filled with rice, a little thread tied around the top, and slaps the rice filled smelly old sock on the table. "Mom", he say's, "I got you this to so you could cook it."....Thanks Little Man. I'll get right to that!

Car rides from H!@#!

The other night we decide to take the whole family shopping: Yeah! I know what your thinking! NUTSO! We aren't even out of the driveway and I hear: Amanda-"Mom! Oh my gosh! Austin just slapped me!" Ashley-"Mom! Tell Evan to stop making disgusting sounds!" Austin: "Nobody doesn't like me!" Me-"Why do guys have to be so evil to each other? Evan-"Mom, you makeded too much kids." ...ya think?

Meet the Suttons!

I want you to meet one of the COOLEST people that I have met while here in New Jersey: One of the things that I would have missed out on if I didn't live here. That would have been very sad!

Meet the Sutton family: Heather, Jayson, Mackenzy, Mady, and Max

This is a link to the story and the beginning of her battle with cancer. What a dear sweet woman, friend, wonderful mother and an adored wife. Watch the News Clip here

As we were sitting in that little basement of that Catholic Church while the addition to our Sparta Ward building was being built, this beautiful family came walking in. I knew immediately they would be people we would want to get to know. I was so excited! Our kids were similar ages. Being here didn't seem so daunting for a moment. Sometimes you don't even have to meet someone to feel their strength. Thats how I felt about the Suttons before I even introduced our family to them. Dustin and Jason became fast friends. We were so lucky to have them here for a short time. Please watch and help if you can. There will be a Bone Marrow Registration drive this Sat. Feb. 5!

9AM - 12PM

Please tell your friends and come if you are in the area and can help!

Location: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

1443 Telegraph Road

West Chester, PA

19380

Click on the links above for more information!

New Jersey!

Reasons I don't like NJ:

1. It gets very cold, and when winter sets in, it seems it will never end

2. I miss the west and my friends and family there.

3. Sometimes people can be very loud and intimidating. (That's not hard, I am easily intimidated.lol) It can be contagious, and I don't like it when I get that way.

4. The Church is small here. Sometimes you feel that a huge weight is on your shoulders to keep the work in this tiny corner moving forward. And I feel so small. People are stubborn.

5. Bears get into the trash, and you have to wrap your trash up like a present for the trashman to take it.

6. All the amazing people that move here always move away.



Reasons I like NJ:



1. I DON'T HAVE TO PUMP MY OWN GAS. So in the winter that is just AWESOME!

2. The seasons are beautiful here and I love to see the changes and the variety in them.

3. We are close to NYC. It's fun to go there and just people watch and see different cultures.

4.We have made some amazing friends here. Ones that you know you will never forget. Treasured Friendships and people who become a huge influence on you.

5. At least in this area of NJ (Sussex County) there is some amazing wildlife. The bears are beautiful, and we have deer in our yard on a regular basis.

6. The schools are awesome! And we have an amazing dance school that gives the girls an outlet to put their energy. It's a wholesome environment that helps them develop their talents.

Looks like we will be here for a while longer! So I will continue to enjoy it! :)

Some things that give me Joy!

Dance

Things that do NOT! Well I guess having a husband who does this so I don't have to does! Haha!

Fun!...Townsend Style!

Sledding with the Whiteheads and Sister Ward!

And when you can't sled outside, you bring the fun inside!