Sunday, September 27, 2015

Parable of Aunt Rose

A beautiful evening of the spirit and speakers to start off this session of General Conference!

I enjoyed listening President Dieter F Uchtdorf. His words hold great understanding and I love listening to His talks. I feel like it strengthens me every time. He shares amazing stories that help me grow spiritually in understanding. The story of Ava and Aunt Rose was very beautiful.

I think the "Parable of Great Aunt Rose" will forever be in my heart. 
"In this painting, a pioneer girl is skipping along a bright blue path. She has endured many dark and dreary days, but she has a spring in her step and looks optimistic, happy, and hopeful."

The painting is called Joy in the Journey by Salvador Alvarez. You can find it at www.salvadoralvarez.com
"As you walk through life, I hope you will feel a spring in your step as you trust the Lord and continue on your own bright path of discipleship. Faith will lead you to open your eyes to the things Heavenly Father has in store for you. Love for God and His children will continue to brighten your path, even on dark and cloudy days."

"Forever is composed of nows", and "Now is part of eternity." It's wonderful to know that even though our lives may not have gone the way we dreamed or planned, we can choose to "live joyfully now." 

"Focus on the wonders and miracles of life."

"God didn't design us to be sad, He created us to have joy. So if we trust Him, He will help us to notice the good, bright and hopeful things in life. And sure enough the road will remain bright and the road will become brighter."

"Through faith and hope, everything will make sense."

A note from Jeffrey R Holland:

As the general women’s meeting approaches, I have thought a lot about you. I feel a tremendous sense of gratitude for the women in our families, our Church, and our communities. You all have your own needs and concerns, yet you reach out so compassionately to those around you. That is the true mark of discipleship.

Life is not easy. Challenges can seem everlasting, but whatever your burdens—and no matter how frequent your challenges—Jesus Christ understands you. He can heal you from the wounds of life and help you bear your burdens. I hope and pray that our meeting together on September 26 will help you feel Christ’s true love for you.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Quotes From Elder Richard G. Scott 1928 - 2015

It's always sad to see an Apostle pass on. I always knew that Elder Richard G. Scott related to the single people of the church because he's been single for a long time. It's reassuring to know that he's rejoined his beloved wife after all this time. 

Now we will have 3 new Apostles ordained in just a couple of weeks - 
General Conference October 3 - 4.

Here are some great Elder Richard G. Scott quotes:
"A pebble held close to the eye appears to be a gigantic obstacle. Cast on the ground, it is seen in perspective. Likewise, problems or trials in our lives need to be viewed in the perspective of scriptural doctrine. Otherwise they can easily overtake our vision, absorb our energy, and deprive us of the joy and beauty the Lord intends us to receive here on earth."
--Richard G. Scott
 “[Heavenly Father] loves us beyond our capacity to understand. He knows what is best for us. He sees the end from the beginning. He wants us to act to gain needed experience: When He answers yes, it is to give us confidence. When He answers no, it is to prevent error. When He withholds an answer, it is to have us grow through faith in Him.”
 --Richard G. Scott 
 Safeguard your children by arming them morning and night with the power of family prayer. Don’t yield to Satan’s lie that you don’t have time to study the scriptures. Feasting on the word of God each day is more important than sleep, school, work, television shows, video games, or social media.
 --Elder Richard G. Scott - 2014 General Conference Talk 
Adversity is a part of life. We will all have it because we need it for growth and for the forging of our righteous character. I have learned that the Lord has a consummate capacity to judge our intent. He is concerned about what we are becoming by the choices we make. He has an individual plan for each of us. 
--Elder Richard G. Scott
Rather than asking: Why me? Why now? What have I done to cause or deserve this? Ask instead: What next? What am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience? What am I to change? Whom am I to help? How can I remember my many blessings in times of trial? “When you pray with real conviction, ‘Please let me know Thy will’ and ‘May Thy will be done,’ you are in the strongest position to receive the maximum help from your loving [Heavenly] Father.” 
--Richard G. Scott

"You are here on earth for a divine purpose. It is not to be endlessly entertained or to be constantly in full pursuit of pleasure. You are here to be tried, to prove yourself so that you can receive the addition blessings God has for you." 
~ Richard G. Scott, "Finding Joy in Life." April, 1996 General Conference.
Part of that testing here is to have so many seemingly interesting things to do that we can forget the main purposes for being here. Satan works very hard so that the essential things won’t happen... The Lord has told us that we are here to be tried—to be proven, to see whether we will be valiant and be obedient to His teachings... Be wise and don’t let good things crowd out those that are essential.” 
--Richard G. Scott,

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Monthly Meal Planning


It's been a few years since I've had to plan a menu for more then myself. With Jason moving back home, I decided it was time to get back into the groove of menu planning on a budget.

I had to go to the grocery store and stock up on staples yesterday (I was almost out of flour). Before I made my list and went to the store, I made a menu for the month. I did the majority of shopping for everything on this list and hope I don't have to do another major shopping for another month. We will have to pick up milk and perishables like fruit and vegetables, but that should only be small purchases.

I really hate shopping! I find I spend less if I do a major purchase once a month and try to go as long as I can before I have to step foot into a store again. It saves me money. 

I've planned the basic things we usually cook. I need to start checking my Pinterest Recipes and change up our menu next month. 

I loved the printable and EDITABLE menu above from No Ordinary Moments. 
I loved planning for the whole month.

I didn't add breakfast, lunch or snacks to the menu because that doesn't need much thought. 

Breakfast Choices:
Cereal
Eggs, Bacon, Toast
Pancakes
Waffles
Biscuits and Gravy
Oatmeal with fruit

Lunch:
Leftovers
Sandwiches
Soup
Salad

Snacks
Homemade Cookies
Chips
Fruit
Popcorn
Ice Cream

It's nice to cook for more then one person. Plus, this let's Jason know what we are eating. I really want him to quit eating fast food, out to eat or going to the store multiple times a week. 

It's better to be frugal and help him get back on his feet. The goal is to get him into a place of his own  again by keeping to a budget and planning for the future. 

Sunday Motivation: Not Perfect


"Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life."
--Thomas S. Monson

"Respect yourself. Do not feel sorry for yourself. Do not dwell on unkind things others may say about you. Polish and refine whatever talents the Lord has given you. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great and strong purpose in your heart. 
  -- Gordon B. Hinckley
"I plead with you young women to please be more accepting of yourselves, including your body shape and style, with a little less longing to look like someone else. We are all different. Some are tall, and some are short. Some are round, and some are thin...in the Kingdom of God the real you is more precious than rubies."
-- Elder Holland"

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Brady's Zelda Navi Oreo Pops - Nerdy Nummies

Brady is making Nerdy Nummies again!!! I sure love his creativity!
Legend of Zelda Navi Oreos Pops!
Brady said: Can I just say that I hate working with melted chocolate. 
The wings kept breaking and making me sad, but we learn.
Some Facebook Comments:

Connor S: Next thing you know you'll be on one of those TV shows on food network where they make chocolate art competitively.

Brady: I'd rather die than being filmed on national television working with liquid chocolate.

Taylor S: Ahh I saw those on Rosanna Pansino YouTube site and they are so cute!!

Brady: Yup! I didn't do mine out of vanilla wafers though, I did the Baymax oreo idea combined with the Navi one.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Do You Wanna Build a Fire?

My order of 2 cords of firewood was delivered yesterday. I ordered it from someone off of Craig's List. I requested that it needed to be delivered on a Saturday so that I could get it stacked and put away on my day off. 
 After they put off the delivery week after week I was a little afraid it was a scam and I would end up without any firewood. I was understanding and nice on the phone each time he called to cancel the delivery. 

When he called on Sunday letting me know my order would be delivered Monday I scrambled to arrange my work schedule. There was no way I was going to refuse the delivery after worrying about it being a scam and not getting firewood for the winter. 

I didn't get any firewood last year and used up all the remaining firewood I had. I really needed this delivery.

He arrived at 6:45 am Monday morning. I requested that he dump the firewood in the alley behind my house where my garage is located and where I park my cars. Usually I have had it dumped in the front of my house so that it didn't block the alley.

The last time I had a delivery of firewood in the front of my house, the truck broke my curbing along my flower bed. I wasn't going to risk that again and decided I would just block the alley.

Paul, the firewood delivery man was kind enough to unload the firewood out of his truck and trailer by throwing it into the driveway and didn't block the alley. That was really kind of him and it made me relax about blocking the alley.

I loved having the firewood right by the garage. It was a lot easier and less labor intensive to have it delivered there!
 It was nice that Jason was here to help me stack the firewood. I ordered a hardwood instead of pine - which is suppose to burn and last longer. 

Here is the first row of firewood in my garage getting started.
The second row and starting on the 3 row. In order to fit the wood in my garage, it needed to be stacked to the ceiling. 

I ended up with about 20 stumps of big wood that will need to be chopped into smaller usable pieces. Because it is hardwood, it doesn't chop easily. You can see Jason outside the garage chopping some down. We didn't get very many chopped down to size because it is really really hard to split this hardwood. I may just have to throw those big pieces away.

Over all the firewood is beautiful! We were able to get it stacked and put away before it started to rain Monday. 

Now, I'm ready to build a nice cozy fire!

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Royce Family - A Circle of an Eternal Bond

 Maze was born and returned to heaven on September 13, 2015

My sweet niece Robyn into her pregnancy with this sweet little boy. However, he will not survive a life here on earth.
On August 14, 2015 Robyn posted this on facebook:

Jason and I are expecting baby #6. On June 17th we had our ultrasound and found out 2 things:

Our baby is a BOY but he also has a long list of complications.

8 weeks ago today we met with a specialist and they confirmed our biggest fear - our little guy will not be able to survive on his own. 

We were told that because of his condition he could pass away anytime. 

Right now I'm over 29 weeks and our little guy is still hanging on. We are completely heartbroken by htis tragic situation. It is often times more than I can handle but, we draw strength from our faith and from the many prayers being offered on our behalf. We appreciate all of your love and prayers.

Vikki Marie Wiessner did a photo shoot of the family - A Circle of an Eternal Bond

Robyn's mom Cindy said: These pictures are absolutely beautiful. How blessed you are to have someone so in tune with heaven to capture such a sacred bond. I love you and pray for you every day. 
  "Heaven will never leave you unattended during a time when your own power isn't enough.
 Angels will attend you, surround you, uplift and carry you.
You won't be the same when you look back ... you weren't meant to."
Vikki Marie
 "There is a sacredness in tears.
They are not the mark of weakness, but of power.
They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues.
They are messengers of overwhelming grief.... 
..... and unspeakable love."
Washington Irving
 "The bonds of families are not only for this life,
for we are made of the stuff of eternity.
He will be your guiding star,
your focus to make all choices by.
You and your family are in our prayers."
 Family ... truly beautiful and captured so eloquently in this shot. Prayers for that unborn baby .. no matter what lies ahead, that baby has so much support even before it comes into this world as evidence in this picture. 
Robyn and Jason, Halle, Jayden, Colt, Bristol and Kaylor .. words can't say the dept of my sorrow for your family on having to return your sweet angel, Maze back home to Heavenly Father until you can be reunited again. I understand that Maze lived for 10 minutes while Jason blessed him and gave him his name. What a blessing to have that time with him. I love all the pictures Vikki Marie Wiessner captured of this moment of your eternity and a way to always remember him. 4 lbs 2 oz. I'm also terribly sorry for the difficult labor and c-section you had to endure to bring him into the world. May your family be comforted and know that you are loved. Aunt Sondra
This picture of Jason holding Maze moved me like nothing else.
 Colt and Maze. He is the big brother.
 Our lives are the only
meaningful expression 
of what we believe
and in Whom we believe.
And the only real wealth, for any of us, lies in our faith.
...Gordon B Hinckley 
 He belongs with them.
Even though he will be working and living across the veil while they sojourn here on earth, we have the belief that families can be together forever.
The reunion will be nothing short of remarkable.
Love binds us forever....
...and a day.
Baby Maze Jason Royce
Sept. 13, 2015 - Sept. 13, 2015
Baby Maze Jason Royce was born on Sunday, September 13th.  He passed away peacefully in the arms of his mom and dad soon after.  Maze is survived by his parents, Jason and Robyn Royce; his 5 older siblings: Hallee (11), Jadyn (9), Colt (7),  Bristol (4), and Kaylor (2); his grandparents: Kelly and Cindy Jensen (Pocatello), Randall and Dawn Robertson, and Virgil Royce; aunts and uncles: Shane and Kim Royce, Travis and Mindy Royce, Chad Royce, Dan and Chandi Wilde (St. George), Sylvan and Shannon Spence, Brent and Natalie Leavitt, Marc and Kelsey Bybee, Devin and Cortney Limb, Jordan and Allyson Robertson (Provo), Brandon and Zoey Jolley (Pocatello), Brian and Tracy Atkinson (Pocatello),  Jason and Laura Peterson (Provo); and many, many cousins who love him.  

Maze will be remembered at a service for family and friends on Saturday, September 19th at 1:00 pm at the LDS chapel located at 18463 Northside Blvd in Nampa.  He will be buried at Hillcrest Cemetery immediately following.  We love you Maze and find comfort in knowing that Families are Forever.


Friday, September 11, 2015

Never Forget 9-11

It seems like only a few years ago when terrorists in airplanes started a war with United States of America. But, it's been 14 years - which means children graduating from high school don't remember this huge event.

It is something I will never forget. I will never forget the images of devastation. I will never forget watching those buildings fall to the ground.  

The attacks of September 11, 2001, marked it the worst terrorist attack in world history and the deadliest foreign act of destruction to life and property on American soil since the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941

At 8:46 a.m., five hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into the northern facade of the World Trade Center's North Tower (1 WTC), and at 9:03 a.m., another five hijackers crashed United Airlines Flight 175 into the southern facade of the South Tower (2 WTC). 

Five hijackers flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m.

A fourth flight, United Airlines Flight 93, under the control of four hijackers, crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh, at 10:03 a.m. after the passengers fought the hijackers. Flight 93's target is believed to have been either the Capitol or the White House. Flight 93's cockpit voice recorder revealed crew and passengers tried to seize control of the plane from the hijackers after learning through phone calls that Flights 11, 77, and 175 had been crashed into buildings that morning. Once it became evident to the hijackers that the passengers might regain control of the plane, the hijackers rolled the plane and intentionally crashed it.

Three buildings in the World Trade Center collapsed due to fire-induced structural failure. The South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m. after burning for 56 minutes in a fire caused by the impact of United Airlines Flight 175 and the explosion of its fuel. The North Tower collapsed at 10:28 a.m. after burning for 102 minutes. When the North Tower collapsed, debris fell on the nearby 7 World Trade Center building (7 WTC), damaging it and starting fires. These fires burned for hours, compromising the building's structural integrity, and 7 WTC collapsed at 5:21 p.m. The west side of the Pentagon sustained significant damage.

Casualties

The attacks resulted in the deaths of 2,996 people, including the 19 hijackers.

In Arlington County, 125 Pentagon workers lost their lives when Flight 77 crashed into the western side of the building.

Weeks after the attack, the death toll was estimated to be over 6,000, more than twice the number of deaths eventually confirmed. The city was only able to identify remains for about 1,600 of the World Trade Center victims. The medical examiner's office collected "about 10,000 unidentified bone and tissue fragments that cannot be matched to the list of the dead".

I WILL NEVER FORGET

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Obeying the Laws of the Land with Love

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we believe in obeying the laws of the land.

Our 12th Article of Faith says: 
"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."
I also believe in not judging and showing love to ALL people regardless of race, color, nationality, handy cap, sexual preference. It is my duty to "Love One Another as Jesus Loves Me". 

John 13: 34:
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."
One of my favorite reminders is this beautiful artwork from Liz Lemon Swindle

John 8:7

"So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." 

I have a really hard time when someone who goes against the law of the land and say that she is standing by her religious convictions is applauded and supported. I'm am extremely glad that Kim Davis was taken off to prison for not doing her job. I am appalled the Presidential hopeful candidates went and visited her in prison and showed their support for failing to follow the law of the land. How can someone be the President of this nation and support people not following the law? 

I am also extremely happy that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints issued this statement when Gay Marriage was approved as a law of the land:




I just want everyone to show love one towards another, stop judging and obey the law of the land.

Our church believes in strengthening the family - yet when a child comes out as gay they are thrown out on the street and disowned. 

As a people we have to be more accepting and loving. We have to stop hating others who are different. There are riots, killings and hate all over this nation. Children are taught to hate and bully. We have to stop this now. Teach our children to love everyone. Let's bring peace to this nation and to all people. 

Kim Davis was not jailed because of religious beliefs, but from failing to obey a court order. If she won't follow the rules or resign, she needs to be removed.

Don't sit back and support people who are throwing hate around as a religious belief. It is not!

He who is without sin .... cast the first stone!

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Koopa Shell Chocolate Cake Pops! - Nerdy Nummies

Brady made Mario Kart 8 Koopa Shell Cake Pops. He really enjoys making nerdy themed goodies and decorating them. 
He made them for a date, but unfortunately got stood up. So very sad. But he was able to share them with his friends who were able to enjoy them instead. 

His motto is: "Chocolate is medicine and YouTube is Life!"

He has such a great attitude - instead of being depressed about getting stood up!
I'm always impressed that he is brave enough to try out these fun and creative food treats. He gets these ideas from Rosanna Pansino's Nerdy Nummies show. I've included her YouTube video below on how to make these cake pops. 
He made a chocolate cake. added a tub of frosting and made cake rounds. Then added a Popsicle stick and covered with white fondant.
Melted colored chocolate and dipped them. 
Then he piped on some chocolate and made them look like turtle shells. 
Well, not turtle shells but "Mario Kart 8 Koopa Shell Cake Pops"!!
I'm impressed! They turned out super cute. 
I love Brady's passion for life and doing all these fun things!!

Here is the YouTube video from Rosanna Pansino's Nerdy Nummies:

You can see Brady's other creations here: 



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