Truly Tender: Yoga Mat Royal Treatment

On several occasions, usually when I am feeling extra tired or worried, I have entered a room and unexpectedly found myself walking on my own personal red carpet (actually my purple yoga mat). How special I feel that my own sweet daughter had that idea and has given me my own royal treatment in this creative and loving way. 

As I walked over that special pathway today, I felt loved and I felt very special and very very thankful for such a caring daughter.

Be Inspired,

Truly Tender: "Loving Little Hands"

My littlest one loves lotion.  It is a special treat to her whenever I stop long enough to let her put some lotion on her hands.  I realized that special moment is simple and easy to do and I can still continue with what I need to do afterwards.  The couple of extra minutes gives me some breathing time and it helps her feel loved.  Soft hands are just a bonus.

Be Inspired,

I'm Glad "Sunday will Come"

This talk was inspiring to me when it was given, and still inspires me as I remember the phrase "Sunday will come" when I am having very hard "Friday's" in my life. I know that the Savior would want me to remember that even though my Fridays are not as hard for me as that horrible Friday when he died for all of us, I can overcome my own littler Friday's because he overcame all things for me. And only three days later, Easter Sunday came with all of the rejoicing and miracles. I know Sunday will also come for me because it first came for Jesus Christ, my Savior.

Simply Undone: Morning Walk

I missed my morning walk with the family today. I know it is an important thing to do, but decided to do another important thing today: go to the temple with my husband. (Photo used by permission from Reb Sumner Photos. Check out her other beautiful landscape and temple pictures).

Simply Undone: Dishes

Today I left the dishes undone and what did I do instead? I took a three hour nap with my 7 wk old baby girl cuddled up on my chest. Now really . . .which was more important?

What is a Real Supermom?

The Supermom I believe in is any woman or girl who simply loves and nurtures whoever is around her and has the wisdom to know which things to leave undone.

These are two of my favorite talks which help me to learn to be a better Supermom.
Julie B Beck
President Dieter F. Uchtdorff

February 2010 Goal

So Glad to be back after a computer crash!

This month I was reading a conference talk by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf from last General Conference in October 2009. It is entitled "The love of God." He said that often, "One person's good idea--something that may work for him or her--takes root and becomes an expectation. And gradually, eternal principles can get lost within the labrynth of 'good ideas.' . . . So how do we stay aligned with these weightier matters? Is there a constant compass that can help us prioritize our lives, thoughts, and actions? Once again the Lord revealed the way . . . 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind, this is the first and great commandment.' ( ) coupled with the second great commandment--to 'love our neighbor as ourselves' ( )-- we have a compass that provides direction . . .[

He continues, "[Love] ought to be the center of all. . . we do . . . love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families . . . Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk. When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align." (emphasis added)

So this talk inspired me to use this month to A)study more about what true love really is, B) compare that ideal with the way I personally show love to others and C) choose at least two simple improvements I can make in the way I show love.

Note:
-For the full text of President Uchtdorf's talk click here. To listen to his talk click here.(This brings up a page with options for this and many other talks to watch, read or listen)
-Another great talk on love that I studied this month is "Love and Law" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks ( Also from General Conference October 2010)

Want to help those in Haiti?

My family has spent more time than usual in front of the TV watching the news of the earthquake victims in Haiti. There are several options for donating money which has been given on those news stations. I also wanted to suggest that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is also sending many resources over to help and is an excellent, trustworthy source where individuals can donate money to help in that cause. Follow the link here.

To see articles about how the Church has been aiding those in Haiti, see here and here.

Simply Hair: Mom Style: Fancy Braided Updo with optional Headband

I believe it is really important to use a little time to take care of yourself, preferably before taking care of all those you take care of every day. This looks so fancy but only added about10 minutes to my normal 15 minute hair and make-up personal pamper time.

This is a mid-back length or longer hairstyle. Here is how I did it:

1) (you can leave this part out if you are not doing the front part of the style with the head band or ribbon) separate out the front part of your hair (I use my long bangs) and put it into a clip or rubber band.

2) A) Starting FROM THE BOTTOM (If you start from the top, you will see the part lines all over your head) separate the rest of your hair into three ponytails right on top of each other. To do this, first separate out a lower section and put the rest of the hair (besided the front part already separated out in step 1) up in a clip or rubber band. B)Then use a small rubber band ( the goody black or clear ones work best) and put it into a ponytail at the nape of your neck. C) Then separate about half of the "clipped up hair" from underneath and make it into a ponytail just above the first one--about halfway up the back of your head. D) Finally put the rest into a ponytail at the highest point where you would like your fancy braid updo to begin on your head.

3) A) Separate the top ponytail into two sections (or more if you like especially if you have thick hair) and braid one of the sections all the way down. Then coil it around the rubber band like a bun--or however you would like to coil it--around the top section of your head and secure with several bobby pins. then do the same with the second section of the top ponytail. B) I usually just do one braid with the second ponytail and coil it around and secure it with bobby pins. C) with the last ponytail, I like to remove the rubber band first, then braid it tightly and coil it up and around and secure it with bobby pins. D) Check the style and adjust where you want to and add more bobby pins until it feels secure on your head.

4) (skip this part if you are not doing the headband and braids in the front) A) Tie a ribbon around your head above the ponytails and tie underneath the lowest ponytail at the nape of your neck. (Or you can use a head band). B) Separate the front section of hair (step 1) into three sections and braid the right section (If you braid toward the front it will probably bunch up so braid it in the direction you are going--toward the back over the headband). pull it flat over the headband and secure it underneath the ribbon or headband with a bobby pin. C) do the same with the middle section and then the left section. D) then take each of those three braids and coil them in with the braids already coiled up on the back of your head. E) check that the style still looks good and is all secure with the bobby pins.

5) You can finish off with hair spray or little dabs of mousse where needed.

I got this idea by combining things I had seen online. The hair wrap over the headband is an idea I got from Babes in Hairland, Dressed up Headband Day 1 and the three ponytail updo was another idea she had which she found from this video I combined these ideas and used braids.

Great Kids Book: Alice in Bible land Series.

I love the "Alice in Bibleland Series" by Alice Joyce Davidson. My Mom got these books for our family growing up and I loved them so much that I got them for my family too. My daughter LOVES them! They have been a great way to introduce scripture stories. They are about a "little girl named Alice" who goes through a "magic Screen" and sees the Bible stories come to life. The stories are told in poetry form, easy to memorize, and have lots of beautiful pictures. One of our favorites is "The Story Of Baby Jesus"

"Pink Glove Dance"

I have so many fun things I want to post about! Time is getting away from me! But part of being a Super Mom is knowing what things NOT to do. I am glad to have some time to post this one:
I Loved this video! It was so fun to see the employees all dancing together and having such a good time. That would have been such a fun day at work. Check it out and help a good cause.

A friend sent me this and says...
"Our daughter-in-law, Emily (MacInnes) Somers, created, directed and
choreographed this in Portland last week for her Medline glove division
as a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. This was all her idea to
help promote their new pink gloves. I don't know how she got so many
employees, doctors and patients to participate, but it started to really
catch on and they all had a lot of fun doing it.

When the video gets 1 million hits, Medline will be making a huge
contribution to the hospital, as well as offering free mammograms for
the community. Please check it out. It's an easy and great way to
donate to a wonderful cause, and who hasn't been touched by breast
cancer?"

Check it out Here and help the cause.

Sale on Book of Mormon Little Books

I previously posted about this wonderful set of early reader Book of Mormon books on my blog. So for the full description of why I love these books, click here. to summarize, I loved them because my daughter was able to use them to learn to read in the correct sequence very easily simply by reading these leveled scripture story books in order.

There is a great sale on these books that I just found out about and wanted to share. I received notice that the author is discounting the series as well as some of her other items if you order before December 31st, 2009. She is also offering free shipping. These are wonderful for a family and great gifts for pre-k to first grade age children. For more information or to order these books go here.

My Daughter's Thanksgiving Decorations

I loved it when I saw how my daughter had used my favorite pilgrim decorations in a fun new way. She separated them by what they were holding in their arms and then put that item around it--like the girls were holding apples so she put a real apple by them, pumpkins by the boy holding a pumpkin and dried corn we picked up at the corn maze by the indian holding corn. I usually just lined them all up. It is so fun to walk into my living room and see her creation! I cheers me up and makes me smile:)

I finished the "Miracle of Forgiveness"

I am so happy to have completed my goal to read the "Miracle of Forgiveness" by Spencer W. Kimball. I first started it as a teenager when my seminary teacher Dad suggested it would be a good book to read. I had good intentions :) but never finished it completely--and always felt badly that I hadn't whenever I heard someone mention how good that book is. This year I have been reading it for my scripture study time on Thursdays and it has taken a while to complete but was so worth it. What a great book.

Here is one of my favorite quotes from p. 362 in the last chapter:

There is a glorious miracle awaiting every soul who is
prepared to change. Repentance and forgiveness make a brilliant day of
the darkest night. When souls are reborn, when lives are changed--then
comes the great miracle to beautify and warm and lift. . . And such great miracles will never cease so long as there is one person who applies the redeeming power of the Savior and his own good works to bring about his rebirth.

I am so thankful that I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that he came to earth to live as the Great Example to guide the way for all of us to follow and to also suffer for our sins, die and then be resurrected. Because he did those things, we can all find peace and direction in our lives and have the option to change and repent and become better people. We will live again after we die. I know that when he suffered for my sins he also experienced my personal sorrows and challenges and all other emotions and experiences I deal with so that he can always know perfectly how I feel and how to help me. I know he loves me and is always there for me. I love him and am so thankful for him.

See also: Richard G. Scott "To be Free of Heavy Burdens"

and "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball" chapter 4

Kids General Conference Booklet

I am sooo excited for conference tomorrow! We are finishing up our preparations to have treats and games ready to do while we watch. My daughter usually sets up a tent to stay in while she watches and then she plays conference Bingo or does some other activities related to the conference as she watches.
One of my personal favorites is when we made a "matching game" by having one card be a picture of the Speaker (We just did the First Presidency and Apostles) and the other card be a picture of something He talked about. We got that idea from the Friend magazine and it was really fun to make while listening and then to play later. It helped us remember what each Apostle talked about.
This time I printed out the booklet on the Friend website. Then we can use the information from the activities in that booklet to make our matching game.

Daddy Daughter Date: Home Depot Kids Workshop

I think it is very important to have Daddy Dates. They are an important part of a strong and happy family. My favorite Dates with my Dad were one time when he took me to a dance and gave me a corsage and everything. Another favorite was when he took me to an amusement park just the two of us (There were ten kids so it was really special to have my own time like that)

My hubby discovered the free projects they do at Home Depot. (Here they do it the first Saturday of each month). They are great. They give the kids an apron and each time they do a project they earn a new project pin to put on their apron, a certificate and of course they get to take home a fun free project. The best part is the time with Dad.

Our New Comfy Cozy Reading Room

The Reading Room was already my favorite room in the house and it was pretty nice already, but I was excited to try out what I had learned at Enrichment Nightlast night with Angela, the creator of imginecozy. I so wish I had remembered to take "before" Pics but at least I can show off the results!

The chair with the red blanket on it was brought in from another room, the smaller white shelf was turned at an angle instead of right next to the larger shelf, and I went through the books and moved out lots of them and added some little "doo dads" as Angela would say.

The couch, piano, rug and tables and even the large picture are still in their same places (the picture needs to be rehung when hubby can help me) I added the black chest from another room, the white pillar with the plant from the corner where the shelf is now turned at an angle, and moved two red lamps off of the piano.

The red blankets were already in this room as accents but now I draped one over the back of the couch instead of just thrown on one of the arms, I put the lamps from the piano behind the couch. (I have decided to put them at a little different heights now although that isn't shown in this picture) I didn't have any tables to put them on so I just used a box and a suitcase behind the couch to set them on.

Thanks Angela! That was really fun and didn't cost anything and now it is an even comfier cozier room. And the best part was doing it together with my daughter who has now run off to do the same to her own bedroom.

I agree, President Uchtdorf, Creating maximizes my potential.

This quote is on that has made a big impact on my life and changed the way I look at things since I heard it:
"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.
Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty" President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

There is a great blog called "imagine cozy" which teaches design elements which you can use to create a space in your home that is beautiful without spending any money by rearranging things you already have in your home. I just went to a presentation given by Angela who is the creator of the site. It was so fun and my daughter, who went with me, learned a lot too and said that "I have new eyes now they are like her eyes! I want to change my bedroom now!" The whole time, I felt the words of the talk above going through my mind. The evening was completed as Angela brought up the same talk.

Check it out here. After all, Angela pointed out, designing a home where your family wants to be is one of the best things you can do. She was even featured in a radio interview which can be accessed from a link on her site.

The very best words came from my dd: "All you need to have a beautiful home is three things: love, beauty and service!" She is right.

Moms can have cute hair too!

We decided to go to my favorite hair blog for an idea of a fun hairdo for church today and my daughter picked the messy bun and then wanted us to be matching. It was easy and fast and cute. It is fun for moms to have cute hair too!

Spiritual Gifts

The lessons today at both Sunday School and Relief Society, were about spiritual gifts and talents. The main lesson for me today was to think about the fact that gifts are given to everyone for the purpose of sharing with others and that means they only work in a community, not for just one person alone. We all need to have friends and be friends and then we all can take advantage of the help we each can receive from the use of each others' talents.

I think the reason that is the main part of the lessons that stood out to me is because of my personal experience of depression. I was badly depressed and withdrawn for about three years before I found out about my thyroid problem (Graves Disease) and was able to have treatment and become myself again. During that time it was hard to want to be around other people. I just wanted to be alone. But family encouraged me to still look for friends and force myself to do things with other people. Even the answer to my prayers kept being "find good friends." I am glad that I did.

I found a group of women who met to work out early in the morning. The workout helped me in working through the harder times with my thyroid levels, even after the problem was diagnosed, and gave me a chance to be with friends daily. They also were good listeners and didn't judge me when I was a little "off" and more withdrawn or emotional. I was also able to help care for their children on their turn to go exercise (we all took turns with the kids) and also to listen and be a support for them through their challenges. I know that being with others gave me a chance to benefit from the spiritual gifts of others and to be able to contribute mine as well.

Sunday School Member Study Guide and related scriptures
Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25:14-30