29!

Happy Birthday to this stud! He's 29 now and doesn't like to talk about it. A shopping spree at Banana helped to soften the blow for him though. :) I love you Scott! 29 and still sexy!

*and can i just say...i'm really proud of how far i've come in my birthday cake making skills. take a gander at *this birthday cake* i made for my sister Brittany a few years ago. Same cake and frosting... very different result.

feverish

J had his first big boy fever the other day. It only lasted 24 hours but it had me worried. I knew he was feeling yucky because he cuddled me all day. We sat on the couch for hours and had an Avonlea marathon. He hugged me and hugged me and slept off and on. He took three naps during the day which is soooo not like him. Most days, I'm lucky if he'll take one 1 hour nap. The fever reached 101 at its peak. But by the next morning he was right as rain and begging to go outside. Phew. Now, we've got to get him back to sleeping in his crib. Love my cuddle bug.

philly//part two

J found Scott's Bolivian cowboy hat from his mission and played and played with it. He'd put it on then shake shake shake his head to get it off. Such a silly head.

J loved playing with his Horrocks cousins: Caleb, Chloe + Ellery....and with Uncle Shawn too! We are so glad we got to see them after so many years! And so grateful that they drove up from Delaware just to have dinner with us. (Mandy we missed you!!! Darn flu.) My mother-in-law Sheryl made a fantastic mini Thanksgiving feast complete with the traditional Garrison Fruit Salad. We ate and played and discussed favorite movies and shows (I wish we could have weekly Walking Dead parties with the Horrocks!) We miss the Horrocks and Grandma and Grandpa Garrison so much already. We love you all!

Goodbye Philly. I miss your cobblestone roads, cheeseteaks and adorable colonial homes. Til next time...til next time.

philly//part one

my in-laws just sold their home and are retiring to colorado. and it's bittersweet. the hubby lived there his entire childhood--from birth til he met/married me. so when the news came, we made a last minute 10 hour roadtrip to philly to say goodbye to the house, pick up some childhood memorabilia, eat some cheesesteaks, and of course visit with bob and sheryl and shawn and mandy and caleb and chloe and ellery and adam and mandie and on and on and..... needless to say, philadelphia holds a special place in our hearts. and with its colonial buildings, vibrant leaves, cobblestone roads and rich american history...well, it's right up my alley.

we started the trip in philly off right...we headed straight for the cheesesteaks that scott grew up eating. how do you know a cheesesteak is legit? amercian cheese or cheese whiz. NO provolone.

later we played around at Kohler Farms. scott and i were running on minimal sleep here. our eyes are a titch sleepy. haha. but i love the pic below of jake and scott with grandma and grandpa garrison.

the next day we took the train to philly. i think riding the train is so fun! (prbly because i'm a west coaster.) we grabbed some hot chocolate and a donut at the train station cafe. it changed my life that donut did. when we got there, we did all the touristy stuff. independence hall, liberty bell, betsey ross' house, etc. and now after visiting, i want to decorate my home in hunter greens, blacks and tans and have everything look colonial :) i'd kill for a handcrafted windsor chair like George Washington's!

 

we also made the lonely trek to Edgar Allen Poe's house which is situated far away from the main tourist locations. it was long, but we did get to see the skyline and pass some homeless people's beds under the bridge. that was fun (not.)  EAP only lived in the house for a year. and boy was it creepy and old. what a mysterious guy he was. the experience definitely got me in the creepy halloween mood and i'm aching to find some alone time where i can read The Tell-Tale Heart. 

but my absolute favorite sight of the day? Elfreth Alley. it's the oldest street in America. and i want to live there. the cobblestone road between the facing homes was just wide enough for one compact car to glide through. there was a little gift shop/museum in one of the homes that i perused. at the back courtyard a girl was setting up chairs for some kind of event. i asked her what event they were hosting. that night a one man play of Dracula was going to be performed under the stars. Uh...I died. totally my thing. i begged scott to bring me back that night for it. a one man play... of Dracula... under the stars...in the oldest street in America. he didn't share my enthusiasm. i think "uber boring" was his choice of words in response to my plea. haha.

a second cheesesteak run revived us after a long day of walking. sonny's makes my favorite cheesesteak. and jake dug the onion rings.

 

stay tuned for philly//part two!

general conference

I love General Conference. These are my notes, and so, they may not be exactly word for word. Something that really stood out to me was the Prophet's words at the very end of the conference when he said that these messages given have been re-emphasized. These messages are not new. And in his kind way, I think the Prophet was saying, we're having to give these messages again since they weren't fully obeyed/understood/applied by the members the last time they were given. Woops.

The overall theme of Conference seemed, to me, to be about having a change of heart and being truly converted--having the gospel knit in our hearts. What did you think?

Saturday Morning Session

• Announcement: All worthy young men can now serve missions at 18/graduated from high school. All worthy young women can now serve missions at 19!
• "No other building is as important as the temple." --Thomas S. Monson, Prophet
• "Immersion in the scriptures is essential for spiritual nourishment." --Quentin L. Cook, Apostle
• "I'm a Mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it!" --Ann M. Dibb, YW 2nd Couns.
• "You can continue with good cheer." --Shayne M. Bowen, Seventy
• "Make real connections!" (in other words: don't just communicate thru FB/email/texts etc.) --Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2nd Counselor, First Presidency
• "The more we devote ourselves to the pursuit of holiness and happiness, the less likely we will be on the path to regrets...As we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, Heavenly Father will help us learn things we didn't know about ourselves--we will discover unknown or even unimagined talents....The more we rely on the Savior's grace, the more we will feel we are on the track Heavenly Father intended for us." --Dieter F. Uchtdorf
• "There is something in each day to embrace and cherish." --Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Saturday Afternoon Session

• "5 things parents can do to create a stronger family culture: 1.) Pray in earnest that Heavenly Father will help to guide you in understanding and loving the children He has sent you. 2.) Have Family Home Evening, scripture study, family dinner, etc. 3.) Use church resources/work with your children's primary/youth teachers to help them understand your children's specific needs 4.) Share your testimony with your children and 5.) Organize your family based on clear, simple rules and expectations--wholesome family traditions, family thrift/economics, chores and responsibilities and allowance--help them be self-reliant and responsible. [...] These things will help them live in the world but be not of the world. [...] Begin teaching at the cradleside. Teach them by example as well as precept. [...] A strong family culture builds another protective layer around our children." --L. Tom Perry, Apostle
• "There is one simple, daily practice that can make a difference for every member of the church: In morning prayer, ask Heavenly Father to guide you in recognizing an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help. If you focus like the honeybee...your spiritual sensitivities will be enlarged." --M. Russell Ballard
• "Yes, Drill Sargeant!" --Larry Echo Hawk, Seventy
• "Satan triumphs over petty sins." --Robert C. Gay, Seventy
• "You don't leave the storm cellar during a tornado! [...] Our trials need not be spiritually fatal." --Neil L. Anderson, Apostle
• "One of the most serious abuses of children is to deny them birth." --Dallin H. Oaks, Apostles
• "Divorce does affect children." --Dallin H. Oaks
• "Children/youth can be victims of psychological abuse. Do not bully, demean, ostracize or verbally abuse children in their trials (particularly in struggles with same-sex attraction)." --Dallin H. Oaks
• "Children are our role models in humility and teachableness." --Dallin H. Oaks

Sunday Morning Session

• "God is never hidden. But sometimes we are by our mindset of 'My will, not Thine be done.'" --Henry B. Eyring, Apostle
• "Take His hand, and with Him, enter in." --Boyd K. Packer, Apostle
• "First observe, then serve." --Linda K. Burton, General Relief Society President
• "Iniquity hampers our ability to see, feel and love others." --Walter F. Gonzalaz, Seventy
• "Your Father in Heaven expects your loyalty and love at every stage of your life. [...] In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord. [...] When the Lord asks us, 'Do you love me?' we shall say, 'Yea, Lord. We do love thee. We will put our hand to the plow and we will never look back until this work is finished and the love of God and neighbor rules the world." --Jeffrey R. Holland, Apostle
• "If we consider our blessings, especially the small things, we can find greater happiness." --Thomas S. Monson, Prophet
• "I believe that the more we act upon the inspirations and impressions that come to us, the more the Lord will entrust to us. Never postpone a prompting." --Thomas S. Monson, Prophet
• "No concern of ours is too small or insignificant. The Lord is in the details of our lives. [...] I never cease to be amazed at how the Lord can motivate and direct the length and breadth of His kingdom and yet have time to provide inspiration concerning one individual. The fact that He can, that He does, is a testimony to me." --Thomas S. Monson, Prophet

Sunday Afternoon Session

• "What kinds of Christians are we? In other words, how are we doing in our quest to follow Christ?" --Robert D. Hales, Apostle
• "There are some members who engage in temple work, but fail to do family research history on their own family lines. Although they perform a divine service in assisting others, they lose blessings by not seeking their own kindred dead as divinely directed by latter-day prophets." --Richard G. Scott, Apostle
• "Like the Nephites of old, we can return to our homes and ponder upon the things which have been said and ask the Father, in His name, that we may understand." --Russell T. Osguthorpe, Sunday School Presidency
• "Five principles that can bless our lives as we partake of the sacrament worthily: 1.) Have a feeling of gratitude to Heavenly Father during the sacrament for the Atonement of His Son. 2.) Remember that we are renewing our baptismal covenants as we partake of the sacrament. 3.) We can feel forgiven of our sins. If we have spent time before repenting we can leave sacrament meeting feeling clean and pure. 4.) We can receive inspiration for solutions to our problems. 5.) Partake worthily and feel the Holy Ghost." --Don R. Clarke, Seventy (Scott's Mission President!)
• "Testimony alone is not and will not be enough to protect us in the latter-day storm of darkness and evil in which we are living. [...] Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. We should know the gospel is true and be true to the gospel." --David A. Bednar, Apostle
• "Taught and re-emphasized." (meaning: these aren't new messages. take heed.) --Thomas S. Monson, Prophet
• "Let us not be critical and judgmental. But let us be tolerant, even emulating the Savior's example of loving kindness." --Thomas S. Monson, Prophet
• "The Lord is always on our side as we do what is right." --Thomas S. Monson, Prophet

octobre!

October is here and I am in love with it already. Such a fun month! I started it off by shopping with a friend ;) Always a good thing. Then Jake got a double ear infection which was not a good thing. Now we get to look forward to General Conference, a trip to Philly!, the Walking Dead Season 3 Premiere (finally!), Scott's birthday, Stake Conference, Halloween + the homecoming of one fabulous brother named Elder Cawley! What a month. The Halloween decorations are up, and I can't wait to go on a hay ride, watch some creepy movies + carve a pumpkin. October, I love you. Fake spiders that I regret buying, I'm not loving you.

general relief society broadcast//sept. 2012

Linda K. Burton//General Relief Society President

• Have we invited the Lord to write the law/doctrine in our hearts?
• All that is unfair about life will be made right through the Atonement.
• There is power in the Atonement to enable us to combat the natural man within us and become true disciples of Jesus Christ.
• Jesus Christ doesn't just lower the ladder, he climbs into the pit and helps us out.
• The Atonement is the greatest evidence we have of the Father's love for His children.
• Every woman in this church should know that she is beloved of Heavenly Father.
• Making and keeping covenants shows that we have the doctrine/atonement of Jesus Christ written in our hearts.

Carole M. Stephens//1st Counselor

•  "It is high time to awake out of sleep...put on the armor of light."
• "This is the desire of our hearts!"
• When we make covenants we are coming out of the world into the kingdom of God.
• Have I experienced a mighty change of heart? And if not, why not?
• I don't ever want to let my fellow sisters down spiritually.

Linda S. Reeves//2nd Counselor

• You are the Lord's modern-day pioneers.
• Jesus weeps with each of us in our trials/adversities.
• He has paid the price to know how to succor you. ("I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.")

President Henry B. Eyring//First Presidency 1st Counselor

• "We must cherish one another...that we may all sit down in heaven together."-Lucy Mack Smith
• "What comes next for willing hands to do?"
• Keep the Faith--you will be invited by the Lord often to serve--take the opportunity even when it may seem inconvenient or unwanted.
• The Lord's plan for serving others includes teams. He has created societies of caregivers.Caring for those in need takes a team.
• "And see that all things are done in wisdom and in order." Know when to let others step in and take over the service/be the caregiver. Know your limits.
• Help those sisters who need care find opportunities to care for others. Build confidence in your fellow sisters. 
• The Lord is the greatest nurturer of all. He is always in our circle.

I love our newly called General Relief Society Presidency! As soon as Sister Burton began I could feel the Spirit and knew she had been called of God. I am so grateful for our church leaders and their amazing examples. So excited for General Conference!