Cub scouts, why it's so important to me

As a bonus mom to twin boys, involvement in cub scouts is inevitable. Even before meeting these special boys, I was a wolf den leader. Since that time, my husband and I were Webelos leaders and currently I am the cub scout committee chair. My parents have both been den leaders as well. 

The importance of scouting has been a part of my life for years. I remember as a teen seeing the young men my age in their scout uniforms while I was at my weekly young women activities. I then watched my brother and cousins advance through the scouting program and then achieve their Eagle Scouting award.

Scouting is super important for so many reasons. The values taught are unmatched. One Bishop I served under explained to me that cub scouts is time to prepare them for priesthood. My view is that it is preparation for the responsibilities of adult life. My husband and I have long told our boys that they must earn their Eagle Scout Award in order to get their drivers license. My brother in law pointed out that scouting was actually started to prepare young men to enter the military draft. In fact, any young man entering the military as an Eagle Scout immediately earns a higher rank.

I said before that I'm a step mom to twin boys. Buying two of everything can get super expensive, especially when it comes to scout uniforms. I know that not everyone has the finances to afford scout uniforms. Thankfully, I have several friends and family who have donated used uniform shirts to those scouts who otherwise would go without. The cub scout packs I lead also provide tshirts for day camps which becomes our summer uniform shirt.

That being said, I feel strongly about the importance of the boys wearing a uniform. These cub scouts should stand out. I love seeing cub scouts walk in a parade all in uniform. They are examples to those not involved in scouting and boys too young to participate. 

The most important time for uniforms is when participating in the flag ceremony. Being a member of a flag ceremony is an honor. These boys are carrying the flag of the United States of America. This is patriotism at it's finest. 

My body is a temple

I posted on Instagram about this the other day. We often hear about how out bodies are temples. The conversation usually revolves around keeping our minds and exterior bodies clean.

Have you ever seen a dirty interior of the temple? I certainly haven't, even during open houses. Come to think of it, I haven't seen a dirty chapel either.

Heavenly Father gave us the Word of Wisdom to keep our bodies strong. It is just as important to keep your body healthy as it is to keep it clean. Our test in life is not only trials but to take care of the bodies Heavenly Father has given to us.

My husband suffers from numerous medical issues. He recently was diagnosed with conflicting conditions. He has type 2 diabetes and gastroparesis. The diets for these issues are polar opposites. My husband struggles with eating because he never knows what will cause a flare up. Foods that bother him one day, have no affect a few days later. It's difficult for him and me since I rarely know what to make for dinner.

In September, I began focusing on eating healthier and drinking more water. As I get older, I realized that I need to start taking better care of myself. I suffered a bit of a set back at the beginning of the year. I found myself in the hospital with anemia and needing a hysterectomy. It's taken a few months but I am finally starting to get back on track. I have been advised to increase my protein intake to help with the healing process.

My husband and I have talked to numerous doctors about diet. I am starting to notice a decreased appetite. I eat three small meals a day and have 2 supplement shakes. The more water I drink, the better I feel. I do not avoid my favorite foods. I eat them in moderation.

I also make healthy substitutions. I have transitioned mostly to ground turkey instead of ground beef. I often eat chicken as my protein. I struggle with milk but tolerate almond milk without issue. I am able to eat greek yogurt in the morning. I find it to be a filling snack option. I use sandwich or bagel thins instead of buns or bagels.

I'm not perfect by any means but I thought I'd share my insight.

Post 200!

I've been blogging for a few years and am proud to have reached the 200 post mark. I like sharing with others. There's nothing better than helping someone else succeed.

I share my life struggles and successes. I've done some product reviews and plan to do reviews of places I visit with my family and friends. I like to experiment with recipes. Sometimes I succeed and others I bomb. My passion is crafting. I enjoy searching through my odds and ends to find what I can make.

I look forward to many more blog posts and sharing my passion and faith with whomever wants to read.

House Hunting....

January was a stressful month for us. We decided to put our house on the market to see if it would sell. Our thought was that the house would sell if it was meant to be. Heavenly Father knew that we needed to be out of that house.

I learned lots of lessons from my previous house buying experiences. My husband and I were both home owners before buying our house together.

We lucked out on our house. We bought our home on a short sale. It was a long process but well worth it in the long run. Kind of.

Here's the PROs and CONs of our house

PROs
Cul-de-sac
1,600 square feet
2 car garage
Beautiful view of the mountains
Separate family and living rooms
Newer construction
Close to work and my family
Great equity from the short sale purchase

CONs
2 blocks from a major street
Mailbox not at house but around the corner and near said busy street
Tons of dogs in the neighborhood
Tri-level with 3 sets of stairs and the laundry was in the basement
Only 1 bathroom
Poorly built, lots of cracks and pops
West facing back of the house was super hot
No trees in the back yard
Neighbors that don't care about their yards
No secondary water

Now for the fun part. There was an offer on our house within a week of putting it on the market. The not so fun part? We're living in my parents basement that we share with my bachelor brother. :(

We have been looking at houses to find areas and house layouts that will work best for our situation. We saw a house a few weeks ago that seemed to be in the perfect location. My cousin, Dominic, is our realtor and is very keen. (If you call him, tell him I sent you) We walked the house and commented on the small rooms and the need to build an addition in the future. We were told that the house was priced too high. The other point was that we shouldn't be walking through the house discussing all of the changes that need to be made, especially since it's not a fixer upper.

My realtor said we should consider buying an older home may be the best option. He said that homes constructed in the 60s and 70s were built with more purpose and better materials. I was kind of resistant to this idea until I saw some homes that were renovated.

My husband is not sold on the idea. I understand it from his perspective. He suffers from a variety of medical issues and is not able to complete much work around the home and yard. If we buy an older home, there are several risks involved. My husband won't be able to fix problems. This is the reason that newer construction would be a better idea.

There are way more things to consider when finding our new home. This is the home we plan to live in for at least the next 20 years. I don't plan on settling to buy a house that doesn't meet our needs.
1. The twins are getting older and will need separate rooms
2. The master bedroom must have a bathroom which will need a big tub
3. A basement family room
4. An office space for me (I'm hoping and praying to work from home one day)
5. A big kitchen with an island
6. At least 2 bathrooms
7. Laundry needs to be on the main living level

So now, the search is on for this perfect house. I've found a few houses that I like. The problem? I don't qualify for the price range of the house we want. Well not yet... The good thing? I have an awesome mortgage broker to help us through the process.

And now for a bit of my tips
1. Get prequalified before you start the house hunt. You need to be prepared to submit an offer if you find the right house.
2. Review your finances. Don't forget to consider the mortgage insurance, homeowners insurance, and property taxes that will be added to your monthly payment amount. Ask about the monthly utility amount. Keep in mind that utilities vary by area. I was surprised to find out that one of the areas we were looking at had the utilities through the city.
3. Listen to your realtor. They are smart people. You hired them for a reason. They see hundreds of houses and can provide some great advice.
4. Study the neighborhood. How is the traffic? Do you hear dogs barking? Are there lots of kids? Where is your mailbox? Drive around the area different times of day and of the week. For us, I plan to visit the local LDS ward to see how that is as well. You can ask questions about the schools, neighborhood, local activities, etc.
5. Drive the route from the house to your work or family members homes. This is a drive you'll be doing often. See if the drive is manageable. Time it. Is the drive something that you can handle in the snow? For me, snow is a huge consideration since I work early in the morning and roads are not normally plowed.

I'm no expert on this. I've only bought two homes in my lifetime. I just thought I'd pass along my experiences and hope that someone can benefit from my mistakes.

Music speaks to my heart

We have stake conference this weekend and I am singing in the choir with my parents. We are singing two songs from the Hymnal, The Iron Rod (#274) and Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire (#145), but both with non-traditional arrangements. I have enjoyed studying these songs.

For whatever reason, there are things in our heart that we never speak out loud. Our prayers are heard even when not uttered. Heavenly Father knows our thoughts and desires. 

During General Conference last weekend, there were quite a few talks that mentioned Lehi's Dream. Remember that the Iron Rod does not go through the Spacious Building. I know that it can be difficult to stick by your beliefs in this day and age. Heavenly Father has made sure that we are never alone. We have the Holy Ghost, the scriptures, our friends, our family, our local Church leaders, Church publications and so on. All of these are here to help and provide comfort. Never be ashamed of your beliefs and the choice to follow the basic Gospel principles. Let your light so shine (Matthew 5:16).



Our hymn books are full of beautiful songs. I love reading through the Hymns while the sacrament is being passed. Take some time to really read and ponder the words as you sing.

My conversion

My cousin recently sent me a text and asked for my input on the Atonement as someone who has left the church and come back. It's really hard to put into words. I am often still amazed at how my life has turned out. I thought I would never have an eternal family. I thought it just wasn't in the cards for me. Thank goodness I was wrong.

I was raised in the Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). I was baptized at the age of 8. I graduated from seminary and received my Young Womanhood recognition. I applied to attend Ricks College but was denied. I often wonder the path my life would have led had I went to Rexburg but it was not meant to be. I decided on Weber State University. I was 18 and ready to move out. I lived in the dorms although my parents lived within 30 minutes of the school. I met a guy and thought I was set. Then, I got pregnant and it all changed. I chose that the best option for my daughter would be to place her for adoption. I wanted her to have a well established mom and dad who would make sure she had all of the opportunities in life.

After Megan's birth, I started to attend church again. I was able to receive my endowments at the Jordan River Temple 13 months later. I began to prepare myself for a mission. One of my former babysitters had placed a baby for adoption and went on a mission. Her example led me to believe that this would be the best path for me. I submitted my papers and patiently waited. I knew that they would require special approval. I received updates as my papers progressed through the Church leadership. Then, on Father's Day of 2000, my parents and I were called into the Stake Presidents office. He read a letter from the First Presidency stating that I would not be able to serve a mission and that I should focus on my education and having a family. I was angry, upset and in complete disbelief. Why was this happening? Why were 19 yr old teenage boys allowed to go and I was not?

My faith began to waiver yet again. By 2003, I was inactive. I couldn't understand why I wasn't granted a full repentance and why I wasn't accepted into Ricks College and why I wasn't married yet. I thought I had done all the right things. I couldn't figure out why my life wasn't following the path I was expecting. I married a non-member in 2005. I had been counseled by my stake president to exercise caution and that he was concerned that our marriage wouldn't last. I was furious. We had a preacher from another faith marry us in an LDS chapel.

I thought my life was set. I was married to a military man. I got my Mustang as a wedding gift. He was in Iraq for our engagement and then spent about 18 months in Korea. We finally began living together full time in 2006. I learned more of his intense anger. I became severely depressed. I was hospitalized for several weeks. My suicidal thoughts were constant. Every six months, I was in the hospital. I was being emotionally and mentally abused. I figured that this is what married life was all about. He had an intense love for me. He sheltered me. I started to gain weight and smoke. I could never find a reprieve from this constant stress.  I ended up spending the night in jail after a domestic dispute. I went to anger management classes. I felt that this was my fault. He struggled with drug abuse. It finally got him kicked out of the military. I decided that I would need to return to school. I told him we were moving back to Utah.

It was Columbus Day weekend. He had a long weekend and we drove as far as Denver together. He flew home from there and I finished the drive by myself. I found an apartment and began our new life. I realized that my life was so much better when surrounded by family and away from him. He entered treatment and I filed for divorce.

I started going to some Church meetings with my parents. There was a talk that hit me to the core regarding eternal families. My desire to have a forever family was becoming strong again. I talked to my bishop. We began the long process of me getting back to church. I read and studied the Book of Mormon. It was like I was reading it for the very first time. I was excited at the truths I discovered. I also read the Continuous Atonement. I found peace in knowing that I could be completely forgiven. I would sit on the temple grounds and ponder my future. I had the epiphany that if I wanted to marry a return missionary and have a forever family that I would need to make myself worthy.

I was overjoyed when I received permission to be re-baptized. My dad baptized me again, just as he had when I was 8. My cousin Tim conferred the Holy Ghost on me. I was told that my original ordination dates would be restored. I began preparing myself to enter the temple again.

Finally in June of 2010, I found the man of my dreams. We met online. He brought his sons with us on our first date. I can't really saw that it was love at first sight but when I saw Rich and his boys, I felt like I was seeing my future.  We had a civil wedding in November of 2010. I was still awaiting approval to enter the temple again and my husband had not yet received notification of his temple sealing cancellation. My goal was to be sealed in the Temple on our first anniversary.


I wore my temple dress as my wedding dress. I wanted to have the reminder of this special day every time I attend the temple.

My cousin was married in March of 2011. It was literally painful to wait outside while my husband attended the sealing. I had the fear that if something happened to one of us, this is how our eternity would end, with me on the outside. My non-member cousins waited with me. They could not understand why Rich was allowed to enter the temple and I couldn't. I tried to explain it but really had no better answer than that he was worthy and I was not. I was upset that I did not have the opportunity to join in the sealing but knew that it was due to my choices. I was grateful, however, that my husband was a worthy priesthood holder who could enter in the Temple.


At my cousins wedding

My time finally came about a month later. I received a phone call from my stake president. He wanted to meet with me. I thought it was to discuss how my temple blessings would be restored. I had assumed that something would need to happen in the temple. I really didn't know how it worked. I met with my Stake President. He explained that he had received a letter from the First Presidency approving the restoration of my temple blessings and authorizing him to complete the ordinance. He said it was something that he had never before done. He gave me a blessing and my endowment was restored. It was such a tender moment that I shared with this sweet man. I was then told to go home and put back on my garments.


This is the day I met with the stake president.

Soon thereafter, I received my temple recommend. It felt amazing to be able to answer the questions. I did struggle with the last question. Was I worthy to enter the Temple? That same stake president assured me that I was and that no one is perfect. I gathered my family and some close friends for a session. I finally entered the Temple with my amazing husband.

On our first anniversary, my husband and I were sealed together forever. We chose the Logan Temple. We were surrounded by family. I knelt across the alter from my sweet husband and we became a forever family. My childhood dreams had finally come true.






The journey towards eternal happiness has not been anything like I imagined. I am learning what it means to endure to the end. I am beyond grateful for the lessons I learned in my first marriage and that it failed. My Heavenly Father heard my pleas. He knew the plan. He knew that my husband and boys were out there and waiting for me. I just needed to get my life in order first. Once I did, things started falling into place.

I'm not suggesting that you should seek out excommunication to find your faith. I know that there are people who struggle with their faith daily. It even happens to those with a Temple marriage and who are active in Church. Heavenly Father is very aware of those. He sends messengers in the form of friends, family or even visiting teachers to act as a messenger. If you feel that your faith is beginning to waiver, do not fear. In Isaiah 41:10 it reads, Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. This scripture has been my motto for years. It is so evident that we are not left alone. We need only to let him in.