Virtue

How I love that word. I went to a wonderful fireside Sunday night and listened to Jodi Robinson, Author of "Women of Virtue". It was a fireside for the Young Women and their parents, so Dan and I took Hailey. Can I just say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE having Hailey in Young Womens?!!! She is such a sweet heart! This fireside really got me thinking about this amazing standard that has been added to the list of value's that the Young Women study. I loved some of the thoughts that Jodi shared. Virtue really is more than just sexual purity, it is purity in all forms and encompasses all of the values: Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works and Integrity. A woman who has Virtue will have have/be and do all of these things. I get so frustrated with the view the world puts on women today, how they must look and not only look but the fact that everything is based on how they should look. Jodi talked about the beauty found in women of character...women who are service oriented who have charity and abound in good works. I can think of some women in my life who are like this...who are so beautiful and virtuous. I like that Jodi helped me to think of these women and how I can be like them, but more importantly, how I can be like my Savior. Anyway, my thoughts are jumbled, but I realized a few things about myself. I find that sometimes I judge too quickly and that I put too much emphasis on the outside. I need to focus more on what Jesus would have me do, how he would have me look, how he would have me act. I need to focus more on others, more on my family. I need to "return to virtue" and not let the influence of the world enter my home and influence me and my actions :)

I like some of these quotes from Elaine Dalton, our current Young Women President:

"Virtue is a word we don’t hear often in today’s society, but the Latin root word virtus means strength. Virtuous women and men possess a quiet dignity and inner strength. They are confident because they are worthy to receive and be guided by the Holy Ghost. President Monson has counseled: “You be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone. Have the moral courage to be a light for others to follow."

"What could be more deceptive than to entice women, young and old, you and me, to be so involved in ourselves, our looks, our clothes, our body shape and size that we lose sight of our divine identity and our ability to change the world through our virtuous influence? "

"I truly believe that one virtuous young woman or young man, led by the Spirit, can change the world, but in order to do so, we must return to virtue. We must engage in strict training. As the marathon runner Juma Ikangaa said after winning the New York Marathon, “The will to win is nothing without the will to prepare.” Now is the time to prepare by exercising more self-discipline. Now is the time to become “more fit for the kingdom.” Now is the time to set our course and focus on the finish. A return to virtue must begin individually in our hearts and in our homes.

What can each of us do to begin our return to virtue? The course and the training program will be unique to each of us. I have derived my personal training program from instructions found in the scriptures: “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly.” “Cleave unto [your] covenants.” “Stand … in holy places.” “Lay aside the things of [the] world.” “Believe that ye must repent.” “Always remember him and keep his commandments.” And “if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, … seek after these things.” Now more than ever before, it is time to respond to Moroni’s call to “awake, and arise” and to “lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.”'

Joe's 6th Birthday

6 Years ago my little Joe was born. He's not so little anymore :( I was so excited to have a little boy. There is 5 years between Joe and Ruthie and during those 5 years, the girls were in school, so I've had lots of time with Joe. I've enjoyed every minute! I miss him now that he is in Kindergarten.

We spent the day going to the Dinosaur Museum. It was so much fun! If you have not seen that museum, you have to check it out! Ruthie loved it too! When Dan came home from work we opened presents, where Joe received his new skateboard and then we all went to the skate park so he could test it out. We all played soccer and softball. BEST BIRTHDAY EVER, as Joe would say, hahaha!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE! I LOVE YOU!

Camping, Reunions, and Birthdays

Don't you just LOVE Summer! How I will miss it! We have been super busy and have been so blessed to enjoy lots of time with family. I'm so grateful for my amazing family! Just a few days ago my sweet Hailey turned 12. Hailey has been waiting for this birthday for FOREVER, as she would say...lol. She is so cute. She partied with some friends from her new school on her birthday (her new friend shared her same birthday and had a party), then Hailey invited her good friend Elle to hang out with her the next night to celebrate her birthday. The girls had fun going to a movie and Kneaders. Hailey went into Young Women's on Sunday. She received her Faith in God award in Primary before she left. I'm proud of her and all she's achieved. She is ready for Young Women's :) Below is a cute picture of her and Elle.

This last Saturday September 4th, I was able to go to a family reunion on my Mom's side. I love seeing distant relatives I haven't seen in ages as well as all the closer family members, my Mom's siblings. We did the Limbo and that was a blast! We also had the yummiest breakfast. Below are some pics of that.

My cousin Tammy and her sweet new little baby Kelsey and my Grandma June

My Mom, distant cousin Marianne and Me

My cousin Erica and Abby

My cousin Mike thought he could beat me in an arm wrestle...he didn't, lol.

My little bro Shawn and me being goofy as usual.

My cousins Erica and Laura...how low can you go?

My Grandpa Dean reading answers to a quiz about our ancestors.

My Mom munching Ruthie, as usual :)

Mike, my cousin and Shawn.

Erica and Ruthie.

This our camping trip. We went to the Spruces up in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It was so much fun for my whole family to make it. My three brothers came and my Dad was able to make it Saturday night. We camped for three nights. It was so much fun. We were rained on pretty good Friday night, so Dan and I and our kids called it an early night but my brothers hiked Doughnut Falls in the middle of the night (cause they are crazy). We had lots of yummy dutch oven, made my brother Matt, lots of roasted marshmallows (my favorite thing). Camping is, really, all about the food. What else are you going to do all day? Shawn, my youngest brother and I took some goofy pictures and we all played lots of games. The kids performed plays and skits and the boys played with the longboards. It was so much fun!

Above: My brother Brent, his son Peyton and my Ruthie

My Mom and Ruthie. Ruth was a champ camping. She loved being outside and snuggling with me at night when it was cold. She is growing so fast! :(

Hailey, Sammantha, and Abby performing a skit.

Our goofy faces.

Matt, my brother and his wife Stephanie

Dan

Matt

Brent

Shawn

Rachel

The kids building...

Dan and Ruthie

Goofiness.