Creating Home as a Sacred Haven

From many of the classes I've had at BYU, especially regarding families and interior design, I've learned how to make the home a special place for the family and all who may come in. It's so important to create this haven which can bring the spirit into your home.
This family picture I took two summers ago. Its at an angle so I could get the glare off, but its the first thing you see when friends and family enter. Its big and center, and even has the Bella in it.


This picture was another one I took. We used this for one of our Christmas cards.
This is one of the picture of the Savior I have in my room. I think its so important to have pictures of Him to remember Him and to bring the spirit of peace within your surroundings. Having pictures of the Savior around us can also lead to missionary moments with friends and raising children, along with children recognizing at a young age the importance of the Savior and His role in our lives.
This picture is called Living Waters, with the Savior in our lives He can constantly fill us with His love and we need Him in order to return to our Father in Heaven.


The prophets have asked us to have a picture of the Temple in all the rooms in our homes. This one is in the front room (which I also made and blogged about a while ago) but it also serves as a reminder for goals and where we want to go and partake in sacred ordinances in. We also need the temple to return to our Heavenly Father.

I have always been uplifted from inspirational sayings and quotes and love to have them around me. (Yes I made this sign). I feel that I am uplifted and in better spirits when these "pick ups" are all around me, even if I don't consciously look for them or read them. Enjoy the journey has always been a favorite talk of mine from President Gordon B. Hinckley and also a saying to tell us that each time of our lives there are going to be hardships, but we need to learn that wherever life takes us, are things that can be enjoyed and loved which we should thank our Heavenly Father for.
Mirrors are another thing I love to have to create an increase of space, but the quote at the bottom is another saying I love.. "When the Lord commands, do it" - Joseph Smith. Following the Lord's commandment we are going to receive blessings, come closer to the Lord, and be happier when we are obedient and following the commandments.

"Service is Imperative" - Elder Oaks

I wasn't able to go to Women's Conference this year, but Elder Oaks was one of the main speakers who I would have loved to hear from. Thousands of women came to campus to be uplifted and inspired, I hope that each felt a better strength within themselves and within the gospel to take it to their lives and families.

I read his article and learned so much from Elder and Sister Oaks.

• "When we're centered on Christ and service to our fellow man, we have a standard of right and wrong, and we know what to do about it"
  
• "Service is imperative for true follwewrs of Christ."
  
• "The result of these [financial, emotional, physical etc] stresses is fear, but since faith is the opposite of fear, the answer to the fear caused by all of these stresses is the hope and assurance that comes from the Gosel of Jesus Christ."
  
• "As women, too, we set very high expectations for ourselves. At times we feel mired down by personal inadequacies, both real and imagined, sometimes counting calories more than counting blessings."
• "Remember, Heavenly Father will never allow us to fail. He desires us to succeed."
  
• "Service is the antidote for the amorality and individualism that corrodes our society."
• "It's amazing how much you can get done if you don't worry about who gets the credit."
• Motives behind service: "We may fool our fellow man, and we may fool ourselves about the reasons for our service, but we will not fool the Lord. Unlike mortals, who see only what we do with our hands, the Lord seses what is in our hearts. He knows our motives and our reasons for service."
• "WITHOUT SERVICE TO OTHERS, OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH WILL BE STUNTED. The growth we seeek comes by getting our spiritual concerns and our service efforts outside ourselves, to focus on others."
• Righteous decisions on a daily basis will have large consequences.
  
• "Our happiness and our very salvation hinges on our ability to choose the better part and trust in our Lord... A lifetime of righteous choices will manifest itself in times of trouble. Jesus Christ will protect you."
  

M * I * C * K * E * Y M * O * U * S * E

So when my parents were here for graduation, they stayed at one of our friends condos in Salt Lake City. Its called.. Mickey Mouse and wow it was so awesome I felt like I went to Disneyland for a weekend. Chris and I went up and stayed with them for a few days and they're right by the Conference Center, the temple, Genealogy Center, and of course Energy Solutions where Chris and I popped over to see the Jazz Playoffs.

This is the floor entrance right when you walk in. Mickey Mouse imprinted in the floor

Here's the kitchen which will be zoomed in

Sitting area where we would eat. Mickey pictures, salt and pepper shakers, napkin holders etc.
Sink handles in the kitchen. All of the knives, forks, and spoons had Mickey on the handles

The counters even had Mickey on them along with the oven mitts, toaster, waffle iron, everything!

Here is the Mickey archway going into one of the playrooms. We played pinball for a while that weekend. In the other side they have a window with Mickey curtains and a large glass case with... you guessed it... Mickey stuff

Mickey clocks, mirrors, pictures, stuffed animals, throw blanket on the coach, pillows, figurines, and Disney movies. They used colors of Red, Yellow, Blue, Black, and White to create this Mickey feel

One of the bathrooms. Mickey pictures, Mickey tiles, Mickey and Minnie in the sink, foucet handles, pictures, Mickey Mouse hands holding up the toilet paper and towels, floor mat

Bathroom again. Oh you can see the Mickey Mouse hands which were knobs on the yellow drawers and the Mickey hands holding the toilet paper roll and towels.

One of the bedrooms. Not the best picture but you can guess it was all Mickey and they had a tv in this room that was shaped like Mickey!!! The speakers were the Mickey Mouse ears. Wow

The master bedroom with Disneyland picture over the bed

Corner of the master bedroom with a sitting area of Mickey and Minnie Mouse
Even though its a LOT of Mickey Mouse, boy it was so much fun. We had such a good time visiting and especially my family up there watching Disney stuff and playing some pinball and talking. Thanks!

FHE GAME: Clue + Charades + Telephone

Last night was so fun for FHE. I'm still the FHE group leader this spring/summer and we had our 2nd Counselor visit for a lesson and a game of Clue + Charades + Telephone for our activity which was so fun.
Three people leave the room and the rest of us come up with a person, weapon, and location like in clue. We came up with some pretty weird ones like "It was Yoda, with a prosthetic leg, at an amusement park" or "Donatello (MNT), with a staple, at the gas station."
The FIRST person comes into the room and choses three people to act out one of options for people, place, or weapon. The first person has the SECOND person come in and acts all three out for them. Then the second person does it for the THIRD person who has to end up guessing what happened. It ends up being so funny it was a lot of fun!!! Definitely reccomend it

Chris' Wolverine Graduation

Chris and I both graduated this last week!!! So exciting. This is at his business graduation 4/30/10 at UVU. It was still snowy so we didn't get any awesome pictures outside but here are a few!!!




Before the graduation ceremony. His was awesome, about 45 minutes long.

Getting his diploma. He didn't trip!!

Both of the graduates ~

Lynsi made these for Chris. Graduation cupcakes! So clever and super good

Where I Want To Be

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

— Marjorie Pay Hinckley -

I love this quote so much. My Visiting Teacher's came over to give me a lesson today where we talked about this quote and how important it is to focus on where we want to go, which is to be with our Heavenly Father. When all is said and done we will not have the 'stuff' we do today, we need to remember that the things we can take with us are our testimonies, relationships, families, talents, knowledge etc. The other stuff will not matter.

Jazz Playoffs!!!

Chris and I are having fun watching the NBA playoffs and especially with our favorite team (minus BYU) the Utah Jazz! When my family was in town we stayed right across the street from the Conference Center. We had a great time walking there and seeing the roof especially, going to the temple grounds and seeing a billion brides getting married, seeing the Joseph Smith movie, going to the Lion House and Geneology Center.
Such a fun time. While we were there, we decided to hunt for tickets and were about to get into Game 3!

Chris wearing the Jazz Jersey I got him for his birthday. Most perfect and best gift ever for him!!
Yes we were up there.. but the Jazz could still hear us
Stockton statue in front of Energy Solutions

We found a cool car while waiting for the game

Precious! Us before we found a sweet deal for tickets 5 minutes before the game. The Jazz ended up winning and were 2 - 1 at that time. Good game Go Jazz!GO JAZZ