learning at the feet of an apostle.....

I spend a lot of time on this blog, being silly and talking of lighthearted things. Tonight I want to do something different and take a moment to record my feelings I had tonight sitting at the feet of an apostle.

Elder Robert D. Hales is the visiting Authority at our Stake Conference this weekend. I just returned from the Adult session. It was amazing. There was a very tangible feeling of peace there. I loved his candor, he could just open his scriptures and teach from them. He had a great sense of humor. He told a story about his wife, early on in their marriage. Financially they were struggling and she was the one that kept the budget. He wanted to buy her a new dress for Christmas. He had her try one on that was in a store window and told the sales girl that he was going to get it and not to take no for an answer from his wife. His wife tried on the dress and came out to show him, he said she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. His wife smiled at him and returned to the dressing room. Soon the sales associate came out with the dress, walked right past him and put the dress back on the rack. They later walked out of the store,and Elder Hales asked his wife what she said to the clerk, he really wanted to get her something beautiful for Christmas. She remarked that they couldn't afford it, and that she told the sales girl, "Don't listen to him, he drinks!" His humor continued when he talked about how there will be no "mugwamps" in heaven. It was a saying his dad used with him growing up. You may wonder what a mugwamp is, his definition was "someone who sits on the fence with their mug on one side and their wamp on the other." He told us not to take the neutral way, to be firm in our beliefs and make up our minds about what we need to do.

He talked about having no regrets, to live each day productively, and spend our time wisely. He quoted Whittier who said, said, "The saddest words of tongue and pen are those that say what might have been." He talked about light and darkness, that darkness is dispelled where the light is, and that when we dim the light, or turn out the light we invite darkness in. He spoke a great deal about the temple, that we are doing an incredible work for others, freeing someone for eternal progression that couldn't come any other way. He said, "The adversary can't get a temple recommend, we are safe there". He counseled to take the time to enjoy the peace found their with our spouses. Elder Hales talked of prayer. He said we should pray specifically for something, and then to kneel in faith willing to do whatever is necessary when we receive our answer. He said many times when people think they aren't getting an answer to their prayers, they aren't at a point where they can willingly be prepared to do whatever is required.

He said a great deal more, but those are the thoughts that struck me. I wanted to take a moment to record my feelings and impressions of this night. I felt the Spirit very intensely especially when he testified of the Savior. It reaffirmed and strengthen my testimony. How grateful I am to belong to a church that has a living prophet and apostles. What a wonderful opportunity it was to be in the same room and listen to someone so remarkable as Elder Hales. It was truly an incredible evening and I wanted to take a moment and write of my feelings before the craziness of life creeps in.

You know you are the parent of teenage boys when....

they stop asking for matchbox cars and want the real ones.

instead of holding your hand when they cross the street, they go tearing across it on their skateboards.

they don't make eye contact with you in public places.

all the girls don't have cooties, and suddenly it's cool to hang out with them.

showers, deodorant and combed hair are a must, probably because of the cootie free girls.

the best conversations you have with them is in texts on their cell phone.

happy meals are substituted for the entire dollar menu.

they want cash instead of hugs.

a skinned knee doesn't require a kiss but becomes a symbol of toughness for all to see.

driving in a mini van is totally uncool.

they don't want to wake up early and watch cartoons but sleep in till noon.

they revert back to cavemen days and speak in grunts and mumbled phrases.

they outgrow their clothing before they wear it out.

they roll their eyes when they are leaving and you say, "make good choices!"

funny video

My cousin Tyler Harris entered a short film at the 2009 LDS Film festival. He took second place in his category. Here is a link to his video. In honor of the upcoming Valentine holiday, I thought I'd post this as what not to do for a romantic date.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5mPvONObiw

I hope you get a good chuckle. Way to go Tyler!

joys of painting

I am writing this post in the hopes that next time I get an idea in my head to paint I should reconsider. This past weekend the kids and I painted two bedrooms. Actually they were great helpers. Mark helped paint his room from the middle of the walls down, and Josh hung in there for the duration with both rooms. These rooms have vaulted ceilings, so ladders, overcoming fear of heights and prayers were involved. I did make it out alive, with only one mishap, as pictured below. I managed to keep most of my sanity intact. I remember phrases like "don't lean up against that wall....oh well, that color looks great on you!" "Watch out while carrying the paint roller.....oh well, the carpet needed some sprucing up!" "Who let Harley (our dog) in here!" (followed by a chasing scene that could have been out of a cartoon) We didn't get any pictures of the BYU room (Ry and Josh's) but here are some of Mark painting in his new room. Now it's time to catch up on laundry and house cleaning! Although Cass is now talking about painting her room. HELP!

New hair highlights.....I got attacked by a falling paint roller. "Watch out below!"

Recipe for game night at the Christensens

Pour in a selection of games

Stir in lots of silliness

(we apparently inherited the stick out your tongue gene)

Combine with treats

Bake with lots of smiles

Serve warm and enjoy the memories made.

Family Update

What a week. It is always hard to get into a routine after the holidays. After weeks and weeks of craziness with recitals, parties, concerts and gatherings, you would think January would be a welcomed month--yet it has always been the hardest for me. I feel a bit lost which seems strange.

This week was the last week of the semester for Jr. High and High School. So it was full of last minute projects, term finals, papers and so on. Josh has been sick most of the week with a high fever, sore throat and cold symptoms. He was a trooper and went to classes that he had tests and projects in and finished everything. I was very proud of him. Gone are the days, when you are sick, you can truly just stay at home in bed. It's amazing how quickly responsibilities pile on these teenagers, but yet they rise up to the task.

Ryan has been enjoying driving and having the truck fixed and registered. I must admit, I have enjoyed him having his license (did I just say that?) he has taken over many small errands, and has run Cassie and Josh to various things for me. I still give him the same run down of rules, "drive safe, be careful on the icy roads, text me when you get there safely..." he rolls his eyes, but humors me. I still say a prayer every time he walks out the door with car keys in his hand and another when he walks through it again safely. He takes good care of the truck. It is cleaner than his room, he washes it more than he does his clothes. I am amazed. He had to run an errand and had to step in some mud to unload some things out of the back. When he came home he ran in to grab an old towel because he said the gas and brake pedals in the truck were dirty. Of course the same shoes that got the truck dirty he wore walking through the house, but that didn't seem to concern him. Maybe if he had a key to the house he'd think about it differently? :) Today he is with the local Ham Radio Explorer post, they are down in Ephraim helping with a biathlon. He has been a licensed Ham radio operator since he was 12, and has had opportunities to use this skill in church emergency drills and just got involved with this other local group.

Teenagers spend more time away from home than at home. It is a new stage to get used to. I am learning to make the most of their time home and talk to them, the best time for this seems to be late at night. It's a good thing I am a night person. Gone are the days when kids are in bed early and Kelly and I can actually carry on a conversation before midnight. I also appreciate the texting phone feature. I really thought I'd never say that. It's great that Ry and Josh each have a phone and I can contact them when I need them. I appreciate occasional texts during their lunch hour, when they say they got a good grade on a test or just to say hi. I have been preaching cell phone etiquette to them whenever I get the chance, I think they are learning when mom has her lecture face on and have perfected the I'm listening look when really their minds are other places.

Cassidy has started up ballroom dance and her tumbling classes again. Her first ballroom competition is on Jan 24, so that will be fun. I signed up to be the Head mom of her team so I can be behind the scenes, since she is nervous. Lately my biggest frustration with her is finding snow boots. You wouldn't think finding snow boots in January in Utah would be a difficult thing. It's not as if I'm looking for them in July in California for goodness sake! I have been all over Utah county and South Salt lake with no luck. She has a tough size, the largest in the kids section, but not quite to the women's yet. At first I was trying to find something cute, pink and fun. Now I'm looking at every ugly rubber thing on the shelf, trying to decide if she wore ten pairs of socks could she keep this large size on. She outgrew her old ones, and apparently you can only buy new boots in October. Someone just needs to tell feet to only grow in the fall. But hey, the swimsuits just came in, maybe I should buy her a new one now, because by July, they will be out of stock!

Mark can always be found all dressed up in his snow gear doing something outside. He loves to shovel the snow and when it's clean off the driveways and sidewalks, he is shoveling the grass. It's cute. He always comes in with rosy cheeks and a big smile ready for a mug of hot chocolate. He and his friends make snow forts and have snowball fights and anything else they can figure out to do in the snow.

That is an update on our family. I'm sorry I don't have any pictures. I am realizing since I've started this blog, that I don't take enough pictures. I get the big things, but forget the everyday happenings. Memories are made with both and I need to have photographic evidence of both.

New Years Resolutions

I have a couple sayings that I like, that hang on my wall. I think they make good but simple motto's for the year.

"Fear less, hope more;
Whine less, breathe more;
Talk less, say more;
Hate less, love more;
And all good things are yours."
Unknown Author

"He who laughs, lasts."--Mary Poole