It takes a village

Cooper had an opportunity to share his feelings with a classmate about believing in Jesus.

As per Cooper, it went down like this...

Cooper: "A kid in my class said that he doesn't care about Jesus."

Mom: "Did you say anything to him?"

Cooper: "Oh yeah! I told him that you shouldn't say things like that. Because it's like your soul is salt. It is white and pure but when you say things like you don't care about Jesus then it starts to get dirty like when you put pepper in the salt. And pretty soon your soul is black."

Whoa!! That was good and I was not prepared.

Stunned for a nano second, I didn't say anything in reply.

I was soaking in the object lesson he had just shared with me.

And then I said something like...

"That was so brave of you! Do you realize you were sharing your testimony with that boy?"

Cooper said in a very *it's no big deal* kind of way,

"I just told him what I learned in Primary on Sunday."

So THANK YOU Brother Ostergaard for your salt and pepper object lesson.

It left a lasting impression on my little boy.

And thank you to all those that rally around me and help me raise my children.

You probably don't even realize what you all are doing.

Brent and I are aware and we are very grateful!

Enjoy the differences

When the M&M's were gone for the General Conference bingo game, my boys turned to blocks and Lego's to pass the time.





While Cooper created his version of the Dizzy Dummy...













and the Motivator from Wipe*out...

Davis created his version of the Gilbert temple. Complete with an Angel Moroni sounding his trump!

Definite differences.

Both definitely loved for them.

Wait till you get a look at my pool boy...he's a cutie!

And he doesn't charge a thing!

Well maybe food, clothing, shelter and a nighttime back scratch.

But that's nothing really...

I'd give this kid anything!!

words I thought I'd never say...

GO PACKERS!!

And the best part is playing in the cool morning temps!

Today it was a chilly 64 degrees. Burrrrrrr!!

Finally ~ the weather we live for!

because of LOVE

One of the things I grew to LOVE, because of the LOVE of my mother, was a LOVE for musicals.

Mostly the ones from days gone by. Like this one...

Seen it several times, both on stage and the original movie. You know the one with Howard Keel and Jane Powell. I think me and mom wore out our VHS tape!

Being the only girl in my family, this was mine and mom's tradition.

I remember being small and seeing plays together in the small theatre in Centerville, Utah.

Many nights were spent watching musicals together, snuggled up on the couch, popcorn set between us, two cold rootbeers on a TV tray (remember those??), and a fire crackling in the fireplace.

Mom knew the words to every song and with my head on her shoulder, her voice was a soothing lullaby. At bedtime many nights, I remember her softly singing "Stay Awake" from Mary Poppins. Maddison plays it on the piano often for me now. Circles of LOVE are precious.

Then, as a Young Woman leader full of LOVE, mom started a tradition where she would take her girls to Sundance Theatre to see musicals in the beautiful setting of the Provo canyon.

This was my favorite! Cool evenings & warm blankets. Mom would splurge on rich hot chocolate and the sinful thick sliced homemade bread slathered with real butter and honey.

Because of LOVE, Mom even started taking her grand daughters to the little Centerville theatre when they were old enough. Maddison was lucky enough to see a show with Grandma...The Sound of Music was her first.

I just got tickets for Maddison and I to see this favorite musical at our local theatre here in Gilbert.

Because of LOVE, Mom will be there with us.

Hearts full of all she has blessed us with.

Night time thoughts

The last several nights I have been bugged by Cooper's excuses for not staying in bed and falling asleep. He is losing out on sleep that he desperately needs for survival skills the following day.

"I'm sooooo hot-uh!" (the "uh" is placed at the end of any of his sentences with great emphasis and is used when is he sad, mad or putting the blame on someone or something.)

"There's something in my eye-uh!"

"I'm sooooo hot-uh!"

"I'm sooooo itchy-uh!"

And it always ends again with, "I'm sooooo hot-uh!"

It sounds like I don't run the A/C or fans at my house. Not the case at all. Ask Brent, opener of the electric bill. In fact, because I realize that a cool room will become a factor at bedtime, I make sure that rooms are comfortable and ready for sleep.

No matter. Still the excuses. I've become rather exasperated and short tempered during this inevitable night time scene.

Late last night I watched Nie Nie's story on Oprah and felt a gush of remorse for my actions. And then this morning I read my friend's post about bed time at her house and the sting of tears rolled down my cheeks.

I'll be seeking forgiveness from my little one tonight and I'll linger with a song and back scratch, both of which he loves. And not just any back scratch, mind you. Just the kind that mommy gives.

For my Young Women and reminder for myself

My dear Young Women,

I would just like to invite each of you to make the time to listen to and participate in General Conference this weekend. It might take sacrifice to do so, but I know that as you do all you can to be where you need to be to listen to the words of our Prophet, that blessings will abound. If you still have the conference journals that Sister Short made a couple a years ago for you, get that out. If you don't have one, create one! Use the idea from the cute notebooks we made awhile back. Write down your thoughts and feelings as you listen. Approach Conference with a prayer. Do you need an answer to a question? Do you need peace and comfort? Do you wish for more courage to share the gospel? Whatever you are in need of, if you pray with real intent and faith, the Lord will give you what you seek. Through four sessions of Conference you might be surprised how many of the messages are meant just for you, with answers to your heart's desires.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to "listen to a prophet's a voice and hear the words of God". It is always a blessing in my life. I love the Savior and I know of His deep love for each of you. His plan is for your happiness. May the Lord's peaceful spirit rest upon each of you this weekend.

I love you very much,
Sister Brown

Make General Conference a Priority in Your Life
"Decide now to make general conference a priority in your life. Decide to listen carefully and follow the teachings that are given. Listen to or read the talks more than once to better understand and follow the counsel. By doing these things, the gates of hell will not prevail against you, the powers of darkness will be dispersed from before you, and the heavens will shake for your good."
Paul V. Johnson, "The Blessings of General Conference," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 52

Sacredness of the Prophet's Teachings

"You might ask yourself, 'Do I see the calling of the prophets and apostles as sacred? Do I treat their counsel seriously, or is it a light thing with me?' President Gordon B. Hinckley, for instance, has counseled us to pursue education and vocational training; to avoid pornography as a plague; to respect women; to eliminate consumer debt; to be grateful, smart, clean, true, humble, and prayerful; and to do our best, our very best. "Do your actions show that you want to know and do what he teaches? Do you actively study his words and the statements of the Brethren? Is this something you hunger and thirst for? If so, you have a sense of the sacredness of the calling of prophets as the witnesses and messengers of the Son of God."

D. Todd Christofferson, "A Sense of the Sacred," CES fireside for young adults, Nov. 7, 2004

The end

We enjoyed our last Diamondbacks game of the season.

We got there early to get our Mark Reynolds bobblehead

and see the boys of summer take batting practice.

My boys were hanging over the fence, hoping to catch a home run ball.

Cooper was thrilled to get an autograph...

#35 Clay Zavada

My teenage daughter enjoyed the game with her new phone glued to her hand.

Davis learned the fun of keeping an official score.

It was a great game.

First they were winning.

Then they were losing.

Still losing.

Then they WON in an exciting finish!

Even though the D-backs haven't had a successful season,

we've had fun being in the crowd a lot this year.

After all, if you're a true fan of any sport,

you don't jump around on the band wagons.

(a pet peeve of Brent's - jumpin' on a band wagon!)

So let's hear it for our Arizona Diamonds!

See ya next summer boys!!

post edit: one of my pet peeves - not being able to control my spaces between lines when I post here. UGH!! It just adds a space or takes one out whenever! I edit it over and over and still - the wrong edits. GRRR!!