What-Shall-We-Give?

What-Shall-We-Give?



Merry Christmas!

Big Bday Bloggin

Happy 2nd Birthday Jackson (Nov.17) --the cutest kid in Tennessee! I cannot wait for you and Jay to play together again---remember this?





Don't worry Sara, I won't leave you out! Happy Birthday to you too (Nov.17) --just don't uh . . .fall asleep at the wheel? :) :(


( I have hardly any pictures of you, sis. I thought you looked really pretty in this one though! Hopefully we can celebrate next week!)


last item of business . . .



I'm officially {uninvited} Guest-blogging (shhhhhhhhh! its a surprise) over here today! I feel so Bloggish!


Happy Birthday Jena (November 18)! I sure miss my sweet sister-in-law!



[pheeeeeeewww. did I get everybody? I hope]


(uhhhhhhh, yes. that is my husband on the left with the curlers)

a little cute stuff

p.s. Remember when Eden looked like this???

p.p.s.  Today in Sacrament meeting a man
started saying the opening prayer
 (in the microphone) and Ruby couldn't see
him---so she looked at me with HUGE eyes and
 said,  "MOM!  Is that Heavenly Father talking to
us?"
                 So sweet, so so so sweet.

I'm a Big Know-It-All

I ran across this chart completely by accident when I was looking for my friends blog. Someone else with the same last name had this on their blog and I copied and pasted it because I thought it was a great little diagram of the obvious. ( I lost the address where I got it, so I don't know who to give credit to)






Yes, I'm a big know-it-all when it comes to talking about fixing other peoples problems--and my answers always sound so simple (because I'm talking about your problems, not mine). It is so interesting (and yet so UNinteresting) that many major problems that people have are basically caused by the same things--self-control (actually, lack of it) and selfishness.

Of course I know there are so many hardships brought on beyond our control, but I'm not talking about that. I just thought this was a good reminder to myself. Hope it helps you too! (because if it doesn't, I can tell you what you need to do to fix it--I know everything!)

If You Want to Know What It's Like Driving Home in Our Car . . .

WARNING: this post MAY and WILL contain “potty talk”—so if that offends you, then I really don’t know what to say)
Ruby: eeeeewwwww. Why do I smell onions?

Me: actually, its not onions sweety, it’s the sewage plant. (this is about the 17th time Ruby has mentioned the odor while driving this particular section of the freeway. I don’t know why I decided to answer her tonight, but I did--- and it went a little something like this)

Ruby: what’s the sewage plant?

Me: well, when you flush the toilet, all the poop goes down the tubes and into big pipes called the sewer. Then it goes into a big lake called the sewage plant.

Eden and Ruby: yuck/sick/GROSS!

Eden: but we don’t swim in that lake right?

Ruby: Oh, there’s a poop lake by the park, right?

Me: no—its over there. That’s why you always say that it’s stinky when we drive on the freeway here.

Eden: what do they do with all the poop?

Me: They put a bunch of chemicals that squish up and clean up the poop

Ruby: but with big gloves right?

Me: No, a big machine does it--then I think they put it into a river ????

Eden and Ruby: Gross/DISGUSTING!

Jay: bee-teee (binky)

Eden: uh, but we don’t drink that, right?

Me: uhhh. No? I hope not. (I actually don’t knowif they recycle the secondary water—do you know?)

Ruby: where’s the pee lake?

Eden: they both go in the same place, Ruby. But mom, no people go on the sewer right?

Me: Right. Nobody goes in the sewer

Eden: just the Ninja turtles and Splinter and Shredder—and what’s that girl’s name again?

Me: Is it April? (I tried to recall my knowledge of TMNT back when Vanilla Ice did the soundtrack for the movie—you remember, admit it! BTW, when did Eden watch Ninja Turtles, and how does she remember the details?)

Eden: yeah—I think so.

Ruby: boy's parts are called wee-wees, right?

Eden: wee-NEEs, Ruby, wee-NEEs

Me: (pulling the car into the garage) Okay, time for bed.

first things first

I gave a relief Society lesson today and thought to myself, "Hey, why don't I put it on the blog?". There are some really good quotes in it and who knows--maybe someone has to give a lesson and could use some shortcuts. Thanks to Becca who gave me some great quotes too--and to my Fabulously talented friend Haley who sang "When all is said and Done" by listening to the CD and figuring it out on the piano. (and thanks to clipart for the picture of Mary and Martha).


Elder Oaks gave a talk called Good, better, Best last year. He talked about how as a boy growing up on a farm, they would look at the Sears Catalog to order things they needed. The catalog would give 3 degrees of quality i.e. men’s shoes would be labeled good $1.84, better $2.98, best $3.45. He pointed out that even though a particular choice is more costly, its far greater value may make it the best choice of all.

Our lives are all about choices. Our free agency, or ability to make choices for ourselves was the reason that the Savior is our Savior. If Satan had his way, none of us would have the ability to choose. Today we are going to zoom in on what we choose to do with the time we have here on this earth.

Scripture:
D & C 60:13
Thou Shalt not idle away thy time, neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it might not be known.

This scripture is modern revelation for us—it is a commandment. How can we know that we are keeping this commandment? It’s easy to know if we are stealing or not—or murdering, etc. One talk mentioned that if it comes between visiting teaching or robbing a bank—we know the right choice. But how can we know that we are choosing the “Best” over something that is good?

I want everyone to be thinking right now about how you make this choice and how you have taught this or how you will teach this principle to your family or a friend. We’ll discuss at the end of the lesson

Object Lesson:

Explain that the container represents time - it is a limited thing. We cant make the container bigger. The rice represents everything that we need to get done (work, cleaning, cooking, bills, etc.—stuff that we HAVE to do to survive) and the rocks represent the “best” things (other choices we can use our time on, i.e. temple work, scriptures, time with kids, charity, etc.). Pour the rice into the container and then rocks and try to close the lid (it shouldn't fit). Then demonstrate the other way around with the rocks first and the rice second ice to make sure it gets down around the rocks), and it should all fit in and the lid can be put on. When we choose to manage our time and not let time manage us, and as we put the most important things in first, then everything else that we have to get done will fit in.

Write on the board: “rocks” or “the Best”
We’ll list these as we discuss the following topics in groups.
Should we all have the same things listed? I think we’ll find that sometimes what is best for one person isn’t necessarily for another—but there are basic things that are universal.


*Group work—Discussions*
Split the class into groups of about 5 people and have them discuss their quote and comment about it. I printed the quotes 2x and had 2 different groups do each quote because there were too many people.

Write on the board as the important things are discussed


Closing:

How many times do we complain or hear others say that time is going too fast, or if we just had more time? I have a testimony that what we have learned from the scriptures and prophets today are true—the words that they teach us are inspired of God. Our ultimate priority is to be able to live with Heavenly Father again—and help others as well. If we don’t put the MOST important things in our lives first, then we won’t become who we need to be. I have faith in repentance and I know we can start today to seek out the best and choose the good part for our lives so we can accomplish our goals and become like our Savior.


Group #1

Mary and Martha.
From Luke 10: 38-42. Martha lived in the small village of Bethany, where she “received [Jesus] into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word.” 3Both women loved the Lord. And “Jesus loved Martha, and [Mary].” 4 In fact, their relationship breached convention, for at that time women were not usually able to discuss the gospel with men.
On one occasion Martha was making dinner and, as the scripture says, “was cumbered about much serving.” 5 In other words, she was stressed out!
Mary, on the other hand, “sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word,” 6 while Martha became increasingly upset that no one was helping her. Does that sound familiar? Do you think she was thinking, “Why is Mary sitting there while I’m sweating over this stove?” So Martha turned to Jesus and said, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.” 7
The Lord’s gentle invitation to Martha may have surprised her. “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” 8
The Savior’s response strikingly clarified what mattered most. On that evening in Martha’s home, the good part was not in the kitchen; it was at the Lord’s feet. Dinner could wait.---from a talk given by Bonnie D. Parkin


Group # 2
J Ballard Washburn said in a conference talk:
I hope you will not think it simplistic to suggest that it is the “little things” like family prayer and family home evening that are important. Little things like a father helping his children say their nightly prayers and telling them a bedtime story instead of watching TV. Little things like making time in the family schedule for reading the scriptures. Little things like a husband being big enough to say, “Sweetheart, I’m sorry. I should not have said that. I’m going to do better.” Or a mother saying to a child, “I’m sorry I became angry. Please forgive me.” Yes, it is the little things that we do each day and each week that make the difference.
By keeping the temple covenants, all of God’s children may be exalted. I say again that we go to the temple to make the covenants, but we go home to those covenants.
Group#3
Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord’s kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power.—Julie Beck Nov. 2007


Group # 4
A wise man once distinguished between “the noble art of getting things done” and “a nobler art of leaving things undone.” True “wisdom in life,” he taught, consists of “the elimination of non-essentials” (Lin Yutang, The Importance of Living [New York: Reynal and Hitchcock, 1937], 162, 10). May I suggest that you periodically evaluate how you are doing in this area? What are the nonessential things that clutter your days and steal your time? What are the habits you may have developed that do not serve a useful purpose? What are the unfinished or unstarted things that could add vigor, meaning, and joy to your life?
Sometimes we make the mistake of neglecting the essentials of life. The Savior had harsh words for the scribes and Pharisees of His day: “Woe unto you,” He told them, “for [you] have omitted the weightier matters of the law, [justice], mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done” (Matthew 23:23).--- Elder Uchtdorf BYU Commencement Address 2009

Group #5
Consider how we use our time in the choices we make in viewing television, playing video games, surfing the Internet, or reading books or magazines. Of course it is good to view wholesome entertainment or to obtain interesting information. But not everything of that sort is worth the portion of our life we give to obtain it. Some things are better, and others are best. When the Lord told us to seek learning, He said, “Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom” (D&C 88:118; emphasis added). --Elder Dallin H Oaks

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Ruby's Greatest Hits 2009 (age 5 edition)

Just a few favorite recent shots of our 5 year old. Its been 5 years now since we moved into our house--then brought her home 1 week later. She is 100 % daddy's girl and mommy's best friend while Eden and daddy are gone all day. We love this little wild-card so much! Here are some top 5 favorites about our little gem:

1. She is the best play-by-herselfer. She makes up the BEST names for her characters i.e. Berlaysla, Strayla, Brayla, Lila, FrSalla, etc.

2. She can turn on the charm (if she feels like it) and can be so helpful and sweet. She is the best helper for Jay during the day.

3. Ruby is PASSIONATE [stubborn] and we know that will be one of her best strengths as she gets older.

4. Ruby is about the cutest little thing we've ever seen. Her facial muscle manipulation skills are extremely advanced and she can produce the funniest and most awesome facial expressions.

5. Ruby Loves our family so much (and we love her so much)--she loves trying to do everything Eden does; she loves to be Daddy's shadow (never leaving him for one minute while he's home); she loves talking to me all day and coming up with absurd explanations for things then says, "right?" in her Rubyiest voice; and she loves wrestling, squeezing, and kissing her baby Jay.




stay tuned for a good night's story by the girl-of-honor herself!

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y R U B Y S U

Classic Ruby--including her pointed upper lip

Ruby on her first day of Joy school this fall

This picture KILLS me. I especially love her stance and the church shoes

good times at the splash park

bad times at the splash park

Well, well, well . . .


Look who turned 5


for those of you unable to come to the party--we missed you--and this is what you missed out on:

popcorn

ice cream cones

cupcakes

backyard games (including a very spooky wolf hunting song/game)

and the most animated, excited, sincere present-opener in the world!

look at this stuff, isn't it neat? wouldn't you think this cake collection's complete?
(yes--those are fruit-roll-ups that transform any ordinary barbie into a mermaid! )
p.s. Kat, the cupcakes/hand behind the cake make such a fantastic backdrop :)

backyard smirks

Lincoln loves the cupcakes (or maybe just the frosting)

BFF's Lillers and the Rubester

Jay.

Becca and Katie give the good ol fashioned back to back pose--ne'er gets old

Eden can't wait until February 22nd! (being happy for her sister's presents is still a tough concept to grasp)





Now grab your pillow and let Ruby send you to dreamland with a captivating tale of wonders!

Yellowstone July 2009

Jay waiting around

Joel and I thought we'd try our hand at a good old fashioned family trip--and what says family trip more than Yellowstone National Park? Nothing does. Days off were taken, bags were packed and reservations made. We started off our trip with a luxurious one-night-stay in exotic Layton, Utah. Let me explain. We went to Lagoon all day our first day, then since we were over an hour into our trip we stayed over night there on our way up to Yellowstone. Here are some pics of the not-so-magical kingdom (But hey, we did have fun--the kids liked the Pioneer village best . . . go figure). Followed by some of Yellowstone.

the famous (or is it infamous?) log flume ride. one corner, one climb, one drop, then another corner . . .and . . . done.

one cutey paTOOTHy!

love this Roooobs

Now, try to pose fancily (they succeeded!)

scared or happy?

Old Faithful (all of our first time seeing it!! check!)

Yeah! a picture with Daddy in it! This was at Mammoth Springs (?) in Yellowstone-- I loved how the steps formed coming off the geysers.

Who wants to see Old Faithful when you can look at this cute face instead?

Eden, Ruby and some dude waiting for Old Faithful to erupt

We pulled over to see this Buffalo grazing. We were out of the car for a total of 2 minutes and Ruby received 9 mosquito bites on her little legs. ITCHY! But isn't this place beautiful?

We went on a little boardwalk around this river the first day we were there.

A REAL eagle sitting in her nest--very cool! (So cool, in fact, that she caused a 30 minute delay getting into the park every day!)

Mommy, Deedee and grumper pants

Shhhhhhhh. she doesn't know I'm taking her picture! :)

my 2 favorite gals!

Laying on the dock, just feeding gigantic fish with processed cheese! This was at Big Springs.



We met up with Mimi and Grandpa for a day on our trip-- its always more fun to see big fish when there's little people around! We had so much fun with them--especially when we got to see the wolves howling and the kids (not our kids--we got there too late--rats!) hide food for bears to find (at the Grizzly and wolf discovery center). We also got to picnic together at Mammoth Springs.

Jay was just glad to get home and get out of that suitcase!

Pheeeeeww!

Yellowstone was great--but we always love being home together too!

We had a great time--we loved The grand Teton National Park with its breathtaking jagged mountainous points. We stopped in Jackson Hole then drove on through Star Valley Wyoming and stayed in a motel/cabin where we were so tired that we plopped down and watched probably 4 episodes of Hannah Montana then went out for pizza. It was beautiful and relaxing there--in the middle of farms, rivers and mountains ( I guess I've got some Johnson blood runnin' through m' veins!)

Back to summer nights at home--AAAAHHHHHHH! the best!

In a Class of Her Own

I think its pretty rare for Joel and I to have as many living grandparents (with our advanced age and all) as we do. I still have 2 grandmas and a grandpa, and as of last week, Joel now only has one grandma and one grandpa (on different sides). Over the past 10 years I was lucky enough to develop a sweet relationship with Joel's grandma Huebner.

When we would visit his grandparents, it would always be at Cannon Beach. I don't know how many hours grandma and I talked and talked in the kitchen. I remember feeling so loved because she was always genuinely interested in everything and everyone. We carried on about anything under the sun, except, of course, anything derogatory or mean. This woman was gracious and kind to the core--never heard a mean word come out of her mouth. Not only would she not speak poorly about anyone, but she would lift people up and pick out admirable qualities and emphasize them. And I do mean emphasize--in fact, one of the things I will miss the most is the way she would say, "we just think Joel's ve-e-e-e-e-e-ry handsome", or "that sounds ju-u-u-u-u-u-st terrific".

I will miss seeing her walk around with her crisply set hair, her white slacks, peach blouses, and gold jewelry. I will miss her talking to Aunty Neva in Macedonian and her stories about her family. I will miss her mediating between grandpa and the little kids (or BIG kids too). I will miss how gentle and sweet she was--and her example. I will miss seeing how much she loved my husband, kids, and myself. And I will definitely miss the Happy Birthday phone calls--for everyone's birthday--and how she would get grandpa to sing the whole song with her (even leave it on the voicemail if we weren't home)--the cutest thing in the world.

We were lucky enough to make it up to Oregon in time to see her before she passed away and say goodbye. It was an experience we will remember forever.

We love you and miss you grandma!


here is her obituary, thought you might want to see it:
(isn't she beautiful?)

MARGARET "MARTY" HUEBNER
April 19, 1925~August 29, 2009

Marty Huebner of Vancouver, WA passed away August 29, 2009 at her home, surrounded by her family. She was born in Portland, Oregon on April 19,1925 and left an 84 year legacy of love.

Marty was an elegant, vibrant woman. She radiated happiness to all she touched. We will always remember:
-Her grace and poise, she lit up every room she walked in.
-Almost 62 years of a beautiful marriage to her loving husband, Art.
-Her love of Cannon Beach where her family gathered in happiness.
-The way she made everyone her friend.

We are so blessed to have had the delight of giving and receiving her love every day. She will be loved and missed by her husband Art, children Bill and Su along her husband Fred, 4 grandchildren and their spouses, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday September 3, 2009 at the Fairway Village Club House, 15509 SE Fernwood Drive, Vancouver, WA.

School Already??

This is the third year that I've taken pictures of Deedles in front of our weeping Mullberry tree--2nd grade?? How is this little girl growing up so fast?





I guess she is still kind of little--I mean, she still is growing in those two front teeth, she still played princess paper dolls ALL WEEKEND with Ruby, and (my personal favorite) she still wanted me to take her in to school today-- I even got kisses and a hug in front of the other kids!!! And that's something I know isn't going to last forever.




Eden has been counting down the days for school to start--this girl thrives on a routine. Today she got a juice box, fruit leather and Doritos to go along with her turkey sandwich (all special requests) and I hope she enjoys them while supplies last; it won't be long until those lunches dwindle down to the same old PB & J with a side of some dryish baby carrots!

If you would have asked me 2 weeks ago, I would have said that I can't wait for her to go back (she was so bored) but now I really miss having her around during the day (I'm not missing the MeSsEs EvErYwHeRe quite as much!).






Eden got home safe and sound and happy as a clam! She was excited to do her homework (drawing this picture of her summer vacation--our trip to Yellowtone and seeing bears and wolves at the discovery museum there). Eden LOVED it, apparrantly I thought it was just "OK".
Another catch-up post coming soon about that trip.

Ruby, Jay and I had gotten her balloons, a sprinkle donut, Ariel fruit snacks, candy bracelet, and a homework pencil case all ready for her on the table when she walked in. Then we rounded out the night with her favorite dinner spaghetti with meatballs. We love you so much Eden! We know this school year will be fabulous for you!