VISITORS! :-)

We had visitors this week.  My brother and his two oldest children came to play.  The only negative thing about their stay was that it was too short.  We played LOTS of games, visited until midnight, went to the temple, shopped at Half Price Books and ate yogurt at Sweet Frog.  I hope my brother and his ENTIRE family comes back again soon... and for a longer amount of time.  :-)

Key Lime Pie, Kit-Kat, Spaghetti and Kotten Kandy:

Impressionist Sings 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' As 19 Famous Divas

I absolutely love this!  It makes me laugh sooooo hard!  Check it out.....

VALENTINE'S DAY AND BASKETBALL

We have been in the middle of a move... so I haven't been able to blog much. We are LOVING our new home and I'll take pictures soon so ya'll can see it.

Valentine's Day was the day before our move. Scott got a seed bouquet for our future garden.

He loved it!
And K2 got rings with their birthstones on them.

Key Lime Pie got an opal.

Kotten Kandy got a pearl.

Scott spoiled me with a printer (to replace ours from a few months ago.) There was lots of love at our house!
This morning the girls played basketball with their Young Women's team.

They won!

It was a fun game. And the girls looked great in their new, pink shirts!

ThePianoGuys - Let It Go (Disney's "Frozen") Vivaldi's Winter

SOOOO COOL! (PUN INTENDED)

WHOA, LIFE! SLOW DOWN!

I haven't posted for a few weeks because of this:

We're moving... this weekend.  Here's our new home:

Isn't it gorgeous?  We are really excited!
And this:

This cold weather is CRAZY!  See the ice?  School (which means Seminary for us home-schoolers) has been cancelled at least 10 times due the cold, ice and snow!)
Anyways, I have been packing non-stop.  But I decided to "reward" myself with blogging if I got over 5 boxes packed in 2 hours.  I did it.  So, here I am.

I've been thinking about role models a lot the last few weeks.  And people I admire.  I also wanted to introduce ya'll to the ladies I work with in the stake Primary presidency.  I admire them and think the world of them!  I'm lucky to get to work with these amazing women:

Monica, Stake Primary President:

Monica is so sweet.  She is humble and a great leader.  She LOVES the children in our stake and it's evident with everything she says and does.  She has five kids and comes from New Mexico.

Dina, Stake Primary 1st Counselor:

Dina is ALWAYS smiling.  She is a convert to the Church and is always saying that she is learning so much about raising children in the gospel from us, but we are the ones that learn from her!  Her testimony is amazing!  She has two grown children and hails from California.

Kim, Stake Primary Secretary:

Kim is a homeschool mother too!  She has four adopted children and is truly an inspiration to me as a homeschooler.  She also enjoys Glenn Beck, like me.  :-)

I also wanted to let ya'll know about a couple of books I just finished reading:

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley was a fun murder mystery.  I haven't read a murder mystery for a long time and it was fun to get into one again.  I read this one for our ward book club, and I enjoyed it.
This book is written for grown ups, although the main character is 11 years old.  Flavia de Luce has a passion for poison, the vocabulary of an adult and a bicycle named Gladys.  Her mother died when she was a baby and her father is extremely distant and more interested in his stamp collection than his three daughters.
The mystery begins with a dead blackbird shows up on the porch of the mansion where the de Luces live with a penny stamp stuck to it's beak.  The next morning, Flavia finds a dead man in the cucumber patch.  Flavia is determined to find out who killed the man with the help of her chemistry knowledge and Gladys.
This book was an enjoyable read.  It's clever and witty.  I think the girls (K2) enjoyed it also!

I also finished reading the first two books in The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander.  These books are fantastic, and I can't wait to read the next three books in the series.  Although they were meant for a younger audience (5th/6th grade), they can be enjoyed by people of ALL ages.  Taran is a great character and Lloyd does a good job of showing his coming of age throughout the first two books, so far.  There is more wisdom, adventure, and life-lessons contained in these adventure books than most other series.  This is classic good vs. evil at it's best.  These books are full of noble characters, choices and adventure.
I can already tell that I'm going to miss these characters and this story when I finish with the series.  More to come about Prydain soon.  :-)

TALENTED DAUGHTERS

My daughters are learning some of the lost arts...   I think they are extremely talented after just a few months; thanks to their wonderfully proficient and skilled teacher, Joyce.  (Unfortunately Joyce is moving and my daughters are mourning the loss of their mentor and friend.)
Kotten Kandy wanted to learn how to quilt.  She envisioned a Young Women's quilt - with all of the YW colors (for the values).  Her dream is now a reality.  Isn't is absolutely gorgeous?  She can't wait to make another quilt....  She is planning on making a similar quilt for her sister but bordered in blue instead of green.

Key Lime Pie thought is would be awesome to learn how to crochet.  So Joyce taught her.  And she made this beautiful infinity scarf.  She has plans to make about 8 more scarves and then she wants to sell them (for $10)....  She is also working on a afghan.  She can always be found with a crochet hook in her hand these days.

We also had Young Women's New Beginnings last night.  Kotten Kandy and Key Lime Pie both participated a lot.  They sang a special musical number.  (It was gorgeous!)  And  Kotten Kandy wrote (and directed) a musical skit.  The theme for the night was "Diamonds in the Rough."  So she was asked to write a skit telling about each of the YW values along with the theme.  She did an amazing job!  If you want to read her skit (which turned out so cute) keep reading....

I have such amazing daughters, if I say so myself!

THE LAND OF DIAMOND by Kotten Kandy

NARRATOR:

Years ago there was a place called the land of Diamond that was because everything in the land of Diamond, had one. The barns, the houses, the carts, everything even the people. Everyone in the land of Diamond had a Diamond everyone that is for the exception of Gwen. Now although Gwen was born to a set of normally Diamonded parents and although she was physically perfect in every other respect she was born without a Diamond. And as time passed Gwen became increasingly aware of her uniqueness and so did everyone else, which made life in the land of Diamond rather uncomfortable for her and her parents. It wasn’t easy being the only Diamond-less person in the land of Diamond.

Now, when she became of the age of twelve the people realized she was in violation of the law. Which was, that all things and all people in the land of Diamond must have one and since Gwen didn’t have one she was in violation of that law. Which called for her banishment. Now the King who was a good king was painfully aware of his duty to the law. And he could only arrive at one conclusion, Gwen had no Diamond and therefore was guilty of being in violation of the law. And so it was that she was banished from the Land of Diamond to the Diamond-less Desert.

The next day Gwen’s mother and father and all the towns people gathered to bid a sad farewell to Gwen. So Gwen set off for the Diamond-less Desert, were all things are Diamond-less.

Finally Gwen arrived at what appeared to be the entrance to the Diamond-less desert. There was a huge sparkly barrier with a small sign at its base which read “This way.” Once Gwen was over the barrier she had her first encounter with a Diamond-less girl. She was not at all like Gwen had expected, you see she was beautiful. Though she had no diamonds to be seen, she had a white pearl.

FAITH:

 Hello

GWEN:

 Hello, (moment pause) Who are you?

FAITH:

 I am faith, I am a daughter of God.

GWEN:

Your rock is so beautiful.  It’s not a diamond.  What is it? 

FAITH:

It’s a pearl.  It represents faith. I am a daughter of Heavenly Father who loves me. (holds up her pearl) I have faith in his eternal plan which centers on Jesus Christ, my Savior.  (Faith hands the pearl to Gwen.)

GWEN:

(takes the pearl) Thank you. (moves on)

NARRATOR:

After the encounter Gwen was confused. You see the words that faith had said to her had confused her. So she moved deeper into the desert and came upon two girls, both Diamond-less but beautiful.

DIVINE NATURE AND INDIVIDUAL WORTH:

Hello!

GWEN:

Uh, hi. My names Gwen.

DIVINE NATURE:

I am Divine Nature, I am a daughter of God.

INDIVIDUAL WORTH:

I am Individual Worth, AND I am a daughter of God.

GWEN:

                What beautiful rocks you have.  Their colors are amazing.

DIVINE NATURE:

Mine is a sapphire.  It is blue.  I have inherited Divine Qualities which I strive to develop.  Here. (Hands her the sapphire.)

INDIVIDUAL WORTH:

Mine is a ruby.  Red represents that I am of infinite worth with my own divine mission which I will strive to fulfill. Here. (Hands her the ruby)

GWEN:

(smiles) Thank you.

NARRATOR:

Now Gwen moved on feeling even more confused, she looked at the three beautiful stones thinking about what the girls had said, when she bumped into another girl.

KNOWLEDGE:

Excuse me.  I think you accidentally bumped into me.

GWEN:

I’m sorry.  Hello, I’m Gwen.  And I’m a bit lost in my thoughts.

KNOWLEDGE:

I love thinking.  In fact, my name is Knowledge.  And I am a daughter of God.  I see that you are looking at my precious stone.  It is an Emerald. 

GWEN:

                Knowledge sounds interesting.  What do you do?

KNOWLEDGE:

I continually seek opportunities for learning and growth. (hands her the emerald) 

GWEN:

(nodding)  Cool.  I have been learning a lot ever since I was banished.  It was nice meeting you.

NARRATOR:

As Gwen moved deeper into the desert she met another young woman.

GWEN:

Hello.

C&A:

(sticks out her hand) Hi, I am Choice and Accountability, And,

GWEN AND C&A:

I am a daughter of God.

C&A:

(smiles warmly) Yes, yes you are!

GWEN:

My name is Gwen.  What does Choice and Accountability mean and what stone are you carrying?

C & A:

This is a fire opal.  Isn’t is beautiful?  I will choose good over evil and will accept responsibility for my decisions. (hands her the fire opal)

NARRATOR:

                Taking the stone, Gwen walked away in deep thought.

GOOD WORKS:

                Hi, I am Good Works, I am a daughter of God.

GWEN:

                I am Gwen. (pause) What’s Good Works?

GOOD WORKS;

I help others and build the kingdom through righteous service.  And this is a star sunstone (hands her the stone)

GWEN:

                Thank you.

NARRATOR:

Again Gwen moved on, her thoughts swirling with all that she had heard. Walking farther than she had before she came across another girl.

GWEN:

(tentatively) I am Gwen, and I am a daughter of, (pause) And I am a daughter of God.

INTEGRITY:

Me too.  I am a daughter of God and my name is Integrity.  I have moral courage to make my actions consistent with my knowledge of right and wrong.  I see that you have met many of my sisters and they have shared their stones with you.  Here take my amethyst. (hands her the amethyst.)

GWEN:

                I should be getting on my way. Thank you for the purple stone.

INTEGRITY:

                Your welcome.  Remember our names.  The stones will help.

NARRATOR:

Gwen moved away still confused but strangely excited. And she happened upon a girl sitting on a rock.

VIRTUE:

Come and sit, (patting next to her, Gwen sits down.) I am virtue, I am a daughter of God.  And this is gold.

GWEN:

                Gold?  Virtue?

NARRATOR:

                Both the color Gold and Virtue were unheard of where Gwen came from.

VIRTUE:

Yes, I prepare to enter the temple and remain pure and worthy. My thoughts and actions will be based on high moral standards.

GWEN:

And I am Gwen, A daughter of God.

VIRTUE:

                What else are you?

GWEN:

                I am, diamond-less.

VIRTUE:

                (smiles) No, you aren’t. (hands Gwen a Diamond.)

GWEN:

                Thank you so much!  Now I can go home!

NARRATOR:

In the distance, Gwen could see the diamonds of her home glimmering in the sunlight.  She nearly ran to see her family.  The entire town came out to meet her.

KING:

                What are you doing here?  You were banished to the Diamond-less Desert.

GWEN:

Well, I went to the desert and it’s not ugly at all.  In fact, everyone I met was beautiful and taught me great truths.  I am returning with a diamond that represents I am a Daughter of God.  I also have with me (holds up each stone as she says) Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works, Integrity and Virtue.

ALL:

                Wow!  Ooooo!  Ahhhhh!

NARRATOR:

And thus we see that it takes all 8 values to become a beautiful diamond… a true child of God.  And the people of the land of Diamond all went on quests to the Diamond-less Desert to learn and grow and become true children of God.

ALL:

                And we all lived happily ever after!