Book of Mormon Challenge

This summer, our Relief Society decided to issue a 90-Day Book of Mormon Challenge. I just finished and thought I would write a few of my feelings (this is pretty personal stuff here).

I have read the Book of Mormon several times in my life and always believed in it. This time was different, however. For the first time in my life I can say that I am truly converted to it. I don't know what was so different this time, but I am so grateful that I stuck with it (even though I was about 40 pages behind most days!). Here are several things that stood out to me:

• The importance of my baptism. I think we take this for granted when we are baptized at 8, and think of it only as a "first step". It is so much than that. It is the "salvation step" and the true message of the entire book.


• The importance of conversion and missionary work. Every time someone was truly converted, they manifested it in missionary work. The LDS church is truly a church of conversion.


• The gathering of Israel. Christ will redeem his people. The work will go forth and the good guys will win, end of story. The only question is will we remain faithful and obedient to God. Thank you 2Nephi. Though I still dread the Isaiah chapters, you were a revelation to me this time.


• The words of the Savior. I should read 3Nephi every day of my life! Repentance, love, charity, goodness, virtue. How simple is his message. I also love the passage where the Savior prays for the people 3Nephi 17:20 "Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full."


• My Temple covenants. Thanks to Alma 12 I will never look at a temple session the same way.


• The words of Mormon and Moroni. Warrior poets.


• Revenge is no good. A very timely message for me and my family. Just look at the Jaredites.


• The Atonement. An always timely message. Moroni 7:28-"For He hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in Him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore He advocateth the cause of the children of men; and He dwelleth eternally in the Heavens." Everything in the Book of Mormon points to Christ and his Atonement.


• Importance of freedom in the promised land. If our cause is righteous, and if we are willing to fight for it and remember the captivity of our fathers, God will grant us to live in freedom.


• This life is a probationary state and we will be judged by our works. We can get caught up in everything else but that is the simple fact and purpose of this life. Mormon 9:28 "Be wise in the days of your probabtion. Strip yourselves of all uncleanness."

I have truly feasted on the Book of Mormon this summer and am so glad for the Holy Ghost that witnesses the truth of it to me. When I read it, everything is better. I am the best version of myself. I am so grateful for Joseph Smith, and I truly believe he was a prophet of God. I am grateful for my Savior who redeems me daily. Ether 12:41 "And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written...that the grace of God may be and abide in you forever."

Any of you interested in taking this challenge can find it at : http://lds.about.com/library/bl/aids/aids2/bk_bom_reading.pdf

Revisiting the "Wonder Years"

So there I was blogging and stumbled upon some friends blogs from my home town of Moreno Valley. If I didn't feel all grown up before, seeing the girls I remember with husbands and three kids, just about made me grab some tapioca and call it a night at 7:30.

Do you ever have a most random dream about someone from High School that you never even remembered existed before they showed up in your REM cycle?

It's a reminder to me that they are still there. The whole dang breakfast club that you loved, despised, envied, avoided, admired, pined after, are all still there in your psyche and on your blog.

I have always said that I am glad that I moved away from Mo Val, never having to have an awkward conversation with someone from HS whose name I can't remember, asking me if I still love the Beatles and keep in contact with Traci (yes and heck yes).

But I admit that I actually clapped my hands with joy when I found Janea, who led me to Melissa and Ben. Those fellow freaks and geeks who didn't know me from work or a play date (sorry pete), they knew me when I was the McLaughlin girl with big hair who made up funny songs on the guitar and ruled girls camp with my Three-pac skits (get it? Like Tupac? Whatever, it was hilarious at the time).

Strange when the girl you were collides with who you are now. It makes me realize that when I left the old RC, I packed way too light. I took Traci and left everyone else. Lori Pitts, Graham Marsh, Julie Kaio, Ramon Trujillo, Edward Aquilo, Enrique whats-his-face, Meghann Pricer, Leann Purity, Alexis Blackstone... the list goes on. Awesome people who made high school bearable and to whom I owe gratitude.

Who knows? Maybe I show up in their dreams.

Eight Great Years

Today Megan and I celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. I just wanted to take a moment and thank her for being a wonderful wife and mother. Without being sappy I wanted to thank her for all she has done for me and our family. Without her I would not be the person I am today. We have had a great eight years and I look forward to the many more years we have to spend together. I love you.

Boy meets concrete

So we were at the water park yesterday, and I barely get Hank's shirt off before he starts running to the sprinklers. He failed to correctly negotiate the steps and takes a dive. Luckily, his face broke the fall. I pick him up as he is hysterically sobbing, and try to get him settled down. It takes a few minutes, and as he is getting calmed down, I say to him, "Hank, you just have to slow down a bit," to which he started wailing all over again. I guess like the Boss, my boy was born to run.

Why I love my brother Simon:

• The way you sing “The Lord is my Light” like Mariah Carey.



• For being one of the few people brave enough to never compromise your personality and nice enough to never ask people to compromise theirs.



• For your love of all foods greasy, sticky, multi-colored, and age inappropriate. Is there anyone else past nine who could pound a box of Go-gurts?



• For the way you still look forward to finding a drum set under the Christmas tree.
  


• For being funny and kind simultaneously. Not many are talented enough to pull that off, including me.



• For your long Fast Sunday dinner prayers…I admit they drove me crazy at the time, but I love knowing that my baby brother prays for me.



• For not letting a falling piano keep you down. You took it like a man!



• You teach us by the things you do, not by the words you speak.



• For your cockney accent, missions from the Queen, and “A little bit of luck”.



• For giving your tips to Mom and Dad. You truly amaze me.
  


• For making Shane's introduction into our family unforgettable. (And thank you Shane, for marrying me anyway)



• For being the first one to forgive, always.



• For your millions of “Simonisms” including, “I hate the world”, “They can’t keep me from selling!”, “Sorry dad, I wasn’t really paying attention”, and of course, “Don’t mind if I do!”



• For taking all the trials except chubbiness.



• For apple juice and raw hot dogs. (Sorry Derek, for falling on that grenade)



• For bearing your testimony sincerely and frequently.



• For your absolute persistence and utter patience. If only you had been born first and wore Mom and Dad out before the rest of us showed up!



• For never allowing yourself to become victimized, no matter what. You have never begrudged your trials, you simply get through them quietly and honorably.



• For ding-dong non-ditching



• For your huge heart inside that skinny body.



• Your impersonation of raptors, Grandma, and the call of a cougar….freaking hilarious.



• For pursuing your music and the joy you take in it.



• For your love of the Savior and your fellow men.

Slimy-Simy, you are such a blessing in my life and I absolutely adore you. You are an incredible example to me and I am more proud and humbled by you than I can say. You are someone I look up to and strive to be more like. You are a hero to me and I love you more than I can blog.

New Pics of Hank

I have been less than diligent in blogging lately, so will take a few moments to post some pictures of Hank (and thus appease his Nana).

Here are Hank and Nana at Riverfront Park in Spokane. Notice Nana's vice-grip on Hank to keep him from going "Tom Hanks" and becoming a Mer-man. Some nice lady gave Hank a piece of bread to feed the ducks, to which he promptly ate it. Now that's dominion over the beasts, baby!

This park also has an amazing giant red-flyer wagon slide that Hank had a blast on...he just couldn't understand what the other kids were doing on it....

Going...

Going...

Gone!

Hank's new obsession...shoes! He loves plodding along in other people's shoes. It's a way to constantly remind him that he is the first child and therefore holds all our overblown expectations in those big shoes he has to fill....

Here is Hank right before church on the morning of his first trip to nursery! If you weren't in the building or in a 5-mile radius and didn't get a chance hear his hysterically sobbing as they brought him back to me in Sunday School, then you missed out. My apologies to Bro. Linde, as I am sure it was a great lesson up to that point.

So Wednesday afternoon I was in the family room and things had gotten very quiet in Hank's room. I went to investigate and he wasn't there. I did a search of the house and found this: He had gotten into the garage, found his stroller, climbed in and fell asleep (or else passed out from heat exhaustion.) This is especially endearing to me, because my scrapbooks are filled with pictures of me at his age, dead asleep in the most random of places...The dream lives on!

BTW, we are not usually so ghetto...he was in his swimming trunks and no shirt because we were going to the water-park later that afternoon. Okay, we are that ghetto.

Hanks on a Plane!

So we set off once again to Provo to attend the blessing of the sweetest baby ever, my nephew baby Ethan. Here are Hank and Ethan getting acquainted with each other. Look how he is screaming with joy in my arms!


On Saturday, my folks took us to Sundance and Park City to enjoy the incredible weather we were having. Here is Hank taking in the view at Bridal Veil Falls. I loved his face even more than the scenery! And for all of you who think I am horrible for keeping him strapped to his chair while Shane and I got out and enjoyed the view, don't worry. We threw some french frys at him and he was good for 1/2 hour.
We seriously tempted fate and went on the ski lift ride at Sundance with Hank. See how Shane is literally squeezing the life out of Hank to make sure he didn't plummet to his death. The last thing Mr. Redford needs is an ugly lawsuit.

Hail Zion!!

LL Cool Hank

All in all it was a good trip. Derek did an amazing job blessing Ethan, and it was just nice to get away for a while.

A brief note to my family: Sitting in church yesterday and thinking about all the things we have been through these past 6 years, I was filled to the brim with gratitude for my family. I can't think of a better group of people to go through the trials and joys of this life than with you. You make me proud to be a sister, daughter, wife, and mom. I love you all so much, and know there is no force strong enough to take down Team McLaughlin/Johnson/Jones. And, we are seriously going to rock at the Family Reunion Bowling Night.

That's a throwdown Beagley's, Rowley's and Armstongs!!!