Time Out For Women

I had the opportunity to go to TOFW again this year, and it did not disappoint!  I wrote A LOT of what was said last year, you can read it here.  Last year I was in a very spiritually vulnerable place, I needed everything that was said!  It was about Hope, and I was completely filled with it when I left!  This year the theme was:
Choose to Become
"ALL THINGS are possible to him (or her) that believeth"
Mark 9:23

And this year, the feelings I had were quite different.  They talked a lot about Becoming the person you were are meant to be.  Not adding more to your to-do list, but simplifying.  Finding something, one thing, that you can really focus on.  And by doing so, making your life better, bettering other lives, being happier.  

They talked about talents a little in a video at the beginning, and I have to say, I was suddenly very discouraged.  I am not a really talented person.  I like to do a lot of things, and I'm not bad at them, but I don't have a stand-out talent that I am passionate about and excel at.   

So... there was a lot of thought over the 2 days I was there and continued to listen and learn.  And as the time went on, I started to realize it wasn't all about talents.  It was about finding that passion in something, becoming better at it, and the possibilities that follow. 

My list of things I wanted to Become read as follows:

A present mother
More patient
Self-disciplined
In shape
A supportive Spouse
Better organized

As time rolled on and my list got longer and longer, I kept waiting for one of them to jump out at me.  But instead, very persistently, a quote from Pres. Uchtdorf was constantly on my mind:
"In regards to relationships, LOVE is spelled T-I-M-E."

TIME
If I could manage my time better, just about every thing on that list would become a possibility.  If I got myself on a better schedule, I could sleep more = patience; I'd have more time for things I want to do = getting in shape; I wouldn't always be running from one thing to the next = organized, present mother, supportive spouse.  Imagine the possibilities!  :) 

I should point something out...  I am the worst Time Manager ever!  Don't get me wrong, my kids lives are planned down to almost the minute, but me... ya, well, sleep is optional!  It's that self-discipline thing that's going to be my Achilles heal!   So this is my promise to myself... right here for everyone to see... I am going to get myself on a good schedule!  I am going to go to bed earlier, even if I don't want to.  I am going to take advantage of the quiet moments to pray and read my scriptures.  I am going to eat at normal times and exercise because I have the TIME!  :)  And let's face it, who isn't a generally nicer person with more sleep under their belt!  I am going to become a better, higher functioning, me!  :)  Or at least... I Hope to! 

"We Become what we want to Be, by consistently Being what we want to Become." - Elder David A. Bednar

...That's right, we're in "Fake it 'til ya make it" mode!  :)  But you heard it, right from a general authorities' mouth, it totally works!  So here goes nothing!  :)

Some of my favorite quotes:
"Don't be the one thing standing in your way!"

"Do the thing you think you cannot do!" 
- Laurel Christensen

"Jesus chose to become like us, 
so that we could choose to become like Him."

"A God that requires nothing of us,
will make nothing of us."

"Christ is not only concerned with Saving your life.
He wants to make it better."

Redeem = To make Better 
- Brad Wilcox

"Who I am is who I have always been.  
From the seed to the roses death, it has always contained it's whole potential - It was always a rose."

"Becoming is about Remembering... who we Really are... and Returning."
- Mary Ellen Edmonds

"We have a duty to not only enjoy happiness, but to produce it." 

"We can have a bad day and still have a good life."

"Remember it says 'and it came to pass', not 'it came to stay'."
- D. Kelly Ogden

There was SO much good stuff!  I could just keep going and going!  hahaha.  I had an amazing time with a couple of very wonderful ladies in my ward, and it was a weekend I really needed... for so many reasons!  I am already excited for next year!  :)  

*If you made it to the bottom of this post you should get a gold star!  :D  This is the longest post EVER! 

Swain the Deer Slayer!

The week before Halloween, Patrick had his deer hunt.  It was a lot warmer than usual, so the deer were not as plentiful as they had hoped.  After he'd been at it a few days he started to get a little antsy! (There was even a mishap that ended with a broken scope.)  But in the end... he got his deer!  (He would like me to add that it was from somewhere between 350-400 yds.)

The white tail out here are not very big, I like to tease him about it.  They are like a big dog with antlers!  hahaha.  But they are pretty tender.  ;)  And we are really glad he got one!  :)

HaLlOwEeN!

Yep, I'm behind, so let's get started!  :)

Halloween was a pretty busy day!  I got to go to Jackson's class party to help out for a bit.  He has the best teacher and she went all out... mostly in the form of sugar!  :)  They had witches brew, mud and worms, and made an apple/ice cream cone witch!  He was in heaven!  hahaha.

Then after school, we carved pumpkins.  We waited until the day of for a couple of reasons, mostly so Dad could help.  But it had also been 90 degrees for most of the week and a lot of our neighbors had theirs go bad before Halloween!  But it was worth the wait... we turned on The Nightmare Before Christmas (it's become a tradition) and had a good time! :)

I helped too... that would be me multitasking!  (I don't normally stand like this, I was on the phone!)  :) 

They were very proud!

And then the trick-or-treating!  We actually have a neighborhood this year, which was great!  The boys made the rounds with Dad while Reagan and I handed out candy.  (We actually had trick-or-treaters too!)  And they were pretty happy with the piles they had accumulated!  :) 

Happy Halloween!