Saturday, October 31, 2015

HALLOWEEN

Avast, ye landlubbers!  The DeGooyers are ready for Halloween!
We love Halloween!  We love dressing up!  We love candy!  We love chilli and cornbread!  We love friends and family!  (Key Lime Pie and Kotten Kandy made the pirate tops.)  Check it out:
These beauties are ready for anything!  Savvy?
Yo ho!  Let's celebrate!
Key Lime Pie
Lollipop
Kotten Kandy
These kids are ship shape and ready to trick!
Buccaneer Besties!
Aye, even the dog joins in the fun!
These are my lassies!
Kotten Kandy, Marmalade, Key Lime Pie and Lollipop
Heave ho!
Love these pirate girls of mine!

Friday, October 30, 2015

I'M IMPRESSED

My daughters are amazing!  They sewed, by themselves, four pirate tops for Halloween.  They turned out wonderful!  And they didn't have any help from anyone but themselves....  (I can NOT sew!)  Key Lime Pie read and interpreted the pattern.  Kotten Kandy sewed.  They both cut and ironed.  And they got along splendidly in the process!  We'll look great tomorrow thanks to these two talented, and wonderful girls!  I am truly blessed to be their mom.  (Check out the full costumes tomorrow!)
Kotten Kandy sewing.
Key Lime Pie cutting thread.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

MY TALK IN SACRAMENT MEETING

Scott and I spoke in Bardstown Branch today.  I was asked to speak about our Savior - which is a HUGE subject.  I felt like I needed to personally develop a closer relationship with Him lately... so that's what I talked about it.  This isn't edited or even eloquent, but for anyone who would like to read it, here it is:

Getting to Know Christ


A few days ago I accepted a friend request on FB of someone I had never met before.  What a strange world we live in when we can make friends with someone whom we’ve never seen.  The woman I “friended” needed some advice about homeschooling teenagers, so she messaged me and we chatted for awhile.  It was kinda fun to “meet” someone and get to know them through such awesome technology.  I also REALLY like Pinterest.  My favorite board that I’ve created has different paintings and portrayals of Jesus Christ.  I love to scroll the art and feel like I know my Savior even though I don’t remember actually meeting Him in person.
Technology really is amazing.  Making friends and seeing beautiful art has helped me create relationships with different people.  Technology reminds me that I want those personal relationships and not just with people here but also with my Savior….  Technology helps me to remember that Jesus isn’t just a character in a great book.  He is the creator of this Earth.  He is someone who knew us before we were born.  He loves us and has a deep, personal interest in how we’re doing. He wants us to know Him as well as He knows us. I want to get to know my Savior better, but how do we get to know someone we don’t remember meeting in person?   How can I have a close relationship with Him now?
President James E. Faust once said, “Having a close relationship to our Savior can unchain the divinity within us, and nothing can make a greater difference in our lives as we come to know and understand our divine relationship with God.” 
We should earnestly seek not just to know about Jesus Christ, but to strive, as He invited, to become one with Him, to be “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph 3:16).
1.     So… I decided that the first step to getting to know my Savior is to gather some factual knowledge about Him.  I needed to study “out of the best books” daily.  In other words:  Study my scriptures!
How important, would you say, sleep is to you?

I am a person who tends to *need* sleep like I need oxygen...a lot.  I love sleep, I crave sleep.  I should probably learn to live on less sleep, but it is my thing!

Then I read Elder Scott’s General Conference talk….  I wasn’t sure I read his quote right and had to re-read it to make sure I understood it.  He said, “Don't yield to Satan's lie that you don't have time to study the scriptures.  Choose to take time to study them.  Feasting on the word of God each day is more important than sleep, school, work, television shows, video games, or social media.  You may need to reorganize your priorities to provide time for the study of the word of God.  If so, do it!"

Say What?  Well, even in his kind and gentle way, Elder Scott really is blunt.  Scripture study is more important than sleep.  And therefore I need to do it.  I need to learn about the Savior.  I need to make my relationship with Him more meaningful, even if it means giving up some of my precious sleep.

The best place to find knowledge about Jesus Christ is the scriptures.  I’ve found when I read about Him, and ponder what I’ve read.  I learn a lot about my Messiah.  I even like to journal as I read so that I can record everything I learn about Him. 
I’ve also found modern day scriptures helpful in learning about the Savior.  The official church website has a plethora of articles about Jesus Christ.  I love reading the thoughts of church leaders on Christ.  Their testimonies build mine.  Their stories and thoughts help me apply those insights into my own life, and makes my relationship with Christ closer.
2.     Of course, information about Jesus Christ isn’t enough.  It creates a knowledgeable person, but it doesn’t create a personal relationship.  To have a personal relationship, you must have daily communication also.
I talk to my mom EVERY day.  (Or at least every other day if – one of us is extremely busy.)  Our daily communication has been a blessing in my life.  My mom has given me good advice, listened when I needed her, and laughed over funny stories I’ve shared.  In turn, I’ve also been able to let her know how much I value our relationship.  My mom and I use phones to talk since she lives so far away.
I can’t call my Savior.  But He has made it possible for me to use an even better form of communication to talk to my Heavenly Father through Him.  Prayer!  Daily prayer has brought me closer to Jesus Christ, like my phone calls to my mother has brought us closer.  There have been times when I, like Nephi, have watered my pillow with my tears during prayer as I’ve come to realize how much I value His relationship with me.  As I pray, I try to think of Him as being close by.  I know that He loves me.  He has compassion for me.  He’s willing to help me in my times of need.
3.     Daily selfless service to others also helps our relationship with the Savior.
I have come to learn over the years that God gets his work accomplished through other people. We are all angels to each other in helping along in this life and when the chips are down or we experience a trial, others within our family or close friends can help.  And when we do serve others, I have felt closer to my Heavenly Father.
I LOVE the musical “My Turn on Earth.”   Throughout the show, Barbara is looking for a treasure to take home to her Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother.  She discovers that the treasure she is looking for is love and serving others.  She even quotes Matthew at the end of the musical, “inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these…, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt. 25:40) 
Service to others doesn’t have to be a whole day affair; it can be a helpful hand opening a door, a smile, (especially if they are experiencing trials) a listening ear, an “I care” card for the downtrodden.  There are a number of simple things to do for others besides a more time consuming service such as bringing baked goods to work or hosting a homeless person at your house.
A song from church reminds me of this idea.  “Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad? If not, I have failed indeed. Has anyone’s burden been lighter today, because I was willing to share? Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way? When they needed my help was I there?”  This is a song I need to sing daily – to remind me to think of others before myself.  And in so doing I am building my relationship stronger with my  Brother.
4.     The final step to building a relationship with Jesus Christ is, of course, to do His will.  We need to daily strive for increased obedience and perfection in our lives.
If we’re studying and praying, but then doing anything we want, our relationship with Him is empty and meaningless.  Jesus told his disciples, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Obedience is important in developing a personal relationship with Christ.
I was reading President Monson’s talk “Obedience Brings Blessings” from April 2013 General Conference.  Not only will we build a closer relationship to our Savior from being obedient, but I discovered 25 other blessings from being obedient.  I’ll list them quick:
1.     Receiving truth
2.     Receiving light
3.     A simpler life
4.     Answers to our greatest questions
5.     Successful navigation through our often-treacherous mortal existence
6.     Strength/grace
7.     Physical safety
8.     Spiritual safety
9.     Progress
10.  Prosperity
11.  The privilege of eating the good of the land of Zion in these last days
12.  Happiness
13.  Peace
14.  Feeling worthy to be with the Saints and servants of God
15.  The capacity to be touched and moved by others’ faithful acts
16.  Preparing to be comfortable in heaven
17.  Becoming an inspiration to all who know us
18.  Our seed will bless all nations of the earth
19.  Blessing untold generations
20.  Receiving a blessing at the hands of Christ.
21.  Glorification in truth
22.  Coming to know all things
23.  A fullness (of the Spirit of truth)
24.  Eternal salvation
25.  Exaltation

See? Twenty-five blessings!  Obedience is a big deal!  We really can become closer to our Heavenly Father and the Savior by being obedient.


Just like I made a new friend a few weeks ago on FB, I can “friend” my Savior too.  I can learn about Him and His teachings through the scriptures.  I can develop a close relationship with Him, like I do with my mom, by communicating with Him daily.  I can serve others and know what I do for them, I do for Him.  And I can keep His commandments.  I’m grateful I can get to know the Savior and develop a relationship with Him so that someday when I get to meet my Divine Friend, I will know Him and He will know me.  I hope we can all do the things we need to do in order to draw closer to our Elder Brother….  Testimony

Saturday, October 24, 2015

SHADES OF RED + AIRPLANES + BUNCO = FALL BREAK

What do Key Lime Pie and Lollipop do during Fall Break in Kentucky?  They decide to dye their hair red.  Key Lime Pie went dark red while Lollipop opted for a lighter red.  But they both look beautiful.  Their attempts to get Kotten Kandy to also dye her hair did NOT work.  She is still my blonde, baby girl.  But I love my red heads!  I think they look amazing!
Key Lime Pie's red really shows in the sun!
She's really happy about the color
and has been told it helps make her eyes "pop!"
Lollipop went dark red at first.
She wasn't as excited about it until she added the blonde highlights
(which took a couple of hours to do).
She looks gorgeous!
We also decided to go to the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.  It was a fun day trip!  And Scott even took a day off work to go with us - which made it more fun!  Lollipop wants to be a pilot when she grows up so she was really impressed with all the airplanes we saw.  Of course we took LOTS of pictures.
I DEFINITELY would not have been brave enough to fly in one of the first airplanes.
I don't know how anyone was brave enough to do so....
Scott loved the Stealth Bomber.  It was pretty impressive.
There is something for EVERYONE at an Air Museum...
This is the display of the U.S. Air Force Song....
"Off we go, into the wild, blue yonder..."
Key Lime Pie was excited that there were TWO violins in the museum....
See?  Something for everyone!
We had to get a picture of Lollipop with other female pilots....
Someday her photo will be in the museum!
Kotten Kandy just finished reading "The Seamstress."
The Holocaust part of the museum was very meaningful to her.
...And sad...

The NASA part of the museum was my personal favorite.
When I was 12 I wanted to be an astronaut.
Here we ALL are as astronauts:
Commander Scott
Mission Specialist Sundy
Flight Engineer Key Lime Pie
Pilot Lollipop
Payload Commander Kotten Kandy
Friday night was Bunco night.  It was my turn to host the event.  I wanted to get pictures of us actually playing Bunco and all of the women who came - but I forgot.  I did get pictures afterwards of the four teenagers who joined us!  I LOVE these kids!  They laughed and made us all feel more  youthful and happy!  I'm blessed to have these four young people in my life!
Key Lime Pie, Asparagus, and Kotten Kandy
Key Lime Pie, Lollipop and Scott
Crazy, wonderful kids!

Monday, October 12, 2015

KEY LIME PIE TURNS 17

New dress from Mom and Dad...
Who said she could grow up?  But she is.  And she is such a fun, happy, sweet, smart, musical, kind and spiritual young lady!  She had a lot of fun this weekend celebrating turning 17.
Friday, her actual birthday, she took the whole family to see the movie, Pan.   Key Lime Pie loved the movie!  I thought it was a bit heavy on the special effects and costuming, with not enough plot.
Saturday she celebrated by going to see Lee Brice in concert with her dad!  They had a great time!
They went to Qdoba before the concert....
It's real!
Key Lime Pie sent me about 24 pictures that looked like this
of the different performers...  I spared you by only posting one!
Here they are... waiting for the music!
Sunday we (including the Bettenhausens and Thorntons) went to the park for a picnic, cake and presents.
Coloring book and colored pencils from the Bettenhausens
Boots (and a dress) from Mom and Dad
Bracelet from Lollipop and Cinderella from Kotten Kandy
Chris also got Key Lime Pie a $15 gift certificate to Itunes.
She has been listening to her new tunes ALL day 
- a very appropriate gift for this music lover.
After the picnic we watched Cinderella and all the girls "oohed" and "ahhed" over the prince and the dress!
Scott made the cake.  It was awesome!  
Scott made the mockingjay out of tootsie rolls and gold, edible spray paint.
Unfortunately the emblem broke a little when it was actually placed on the cake.
 But it was still impressive!
Here are some random picnic pictures:
We do odd things when we get together...
Everyone leaned in... I leaned out.
Lollipop is turning into a true Kentucky Hick!
I LOVE this picture!  It makes me laugh!
O-H-I-O!
Chris was the genius behind this picture
since he LOVES the Buckeyes!
Then Scott wanted to "do" the J-E-T-S
I don't know how we got Jelly Bean
and Calley (the dog) to cooperate....
Key Lime Pie was spoiled rotten!  We sure love our oldest daughter!
Showing off her boots
and her magnetic personality!