One Dozen to Her Name

It's a little early but we've celebrated another birthday at our house!!! Taking Thanksgiving, General Conference and a birthday and neatly wrapping them all into one weekend has made for a great family weekend!!!

THE BIRTHDAY:
Celebrating 12 years is a big birthday and very important to any youth. Melodee is eager and excited to enter the Young Women program with her older sisters and participate in the weekly activities that they enjoy. After eating a scrumptious Thanksgiving meal, we were all too full for cake so we skipped right to the best part of a birthday... the presents!

 Melodee has a real creative streak and was delighted with gift that support her artistic inclinations as well as some tasty treats from her older sisters.

It wasn't until Saturday following the noon meal that we had the birthday cake making it a full birthday weekend.

The cake was a delicious angel food cake with chocolate pudding for frosting. Well chosen Melodee!

GENERAL CONFERENCE:

Favorite sayings and thoughts from conference:

• Don't wait until you are ready to die to really learn to live.  (President Uchtdorf)
• It's not a race, it's a journey. Find joy in the moments. (Sister Uchtdorf quoted by her husband)
• All the unfairness of life can be made right through the Atonement of Christ. (Shayne M Bowen)
• Gaining knowledge is an eternal principle... we much especially pay attention to increasing our gospel knowledge. (Ann M Dibb)
• Spiritual maturity must flourish in our homes. (Quentin L Cook)
• The greatest gift a child can give their parents is obedience to eternal truths and principles as they live lives of righteous. (Ann M Dibb)
• Lessons taught in the home by goodly parents are becoming increasingly important... Teaching in the home is the most sacred and important responsibility. (L Tom Perry)
• God is mindful of each of us and will never forsake us. (Robert C Gay)
• The Lord knows the level of our efforts... we cannot hide our sins from Him. (Scott D Whiting)
• With faith come trials of faith that bring increased faith. (Neil L Andersen)
• One of the most serious abuses of children is to deny them birth. (Dallin H Oaks)
• There is no burden that Christ cannot ease or remove. He will NOT fail you! (Walter F Gonzalez)
• The Lord is in all of our lives... may we be aware of His blessings in our lives. (Thomas S Monson)
• The Lord will work with us and help us to overcome EVERY challenge! (Marcus B Nash)
• We should know the gospel is true and be true to the gospel. (David A Bednar)

I was thrilled with the announcement that the age for missionaries has been lowered to 18 for young men and 19 for young women. What a wonderful blessing this announcement provides us.

THANKSGIVING:

This year I am especially thankful for family. Each of my children are a delight and a blessing to me. They bring me more joy and satisfaction than any thing I have ever experienced or possessed in this life. My husband blesses my life every day in his care and support of me and the children.