Follow the Prophet!

Conference was great! I am anxious to get the Ensign so we can read the talks again. I don't know what it is about reading it, but for me I really get a lot out of the print version. Also, it's fun to highlight! We had so much fun visiting with family between sessions and eating together, too this weekend!

We did a lot of the eating! We had our annual Clarke family Priesthood Pie Extravaganza after Priesthood Conference (obviously). For the uninitiated, each family brings a couple of pies and when we are all combined we have at least a dozen pies to try. We had pie coming out of our ears by the night's end! But it actually began with homemade pizza--thanks Grandma! Grandma and Aunt Wendy had made pizza for the moms and kids as we waited at Grandma and Grandpa's for Priesthood Conference to end. I think we ate so much pizza that it was difficult to eat as much pie as we wanted! Sunday we followed that by having lasagna out our ears at Grandpa and Grandma Barrett's. Of course the lasagna was followed by pie and ice-cream, too! (I'm not going to mention the pumpkin pancakes with buttermilk syrup for breakfast on Saturday and the cinnamon rolls for brunch on Sunday! So if I don't mention them, hopefully they don't count?)

With all the Spiritual Feasting as well as the physical type, it was a very enjoyable weekend, but we are committed again this week to exercise every day and eat healthy! We've got to make up for the damage done this weekend! Let's hope it works!

BTW--I hope you all heard President Monson validate our motto--Enjoy the Journey!

First Haircut

I made a big decision today.  I took Lindsay to get her haircut!

I haven't wanted to cut it yet because it was so cute and curly, but lately we've been consistently having a bad hair day.  The real problem is that she likes to take out any pony tails or clippys that we put in, so not long into the day, the cute hair has become "not so much."  So I've finally given in to the rest of the family's urgings that Lindsay needs a hair cut!  So here she is!  Doesn't she look big?

It turns out to be great timing--her bangs are hiding a nice purple bruise she got just this morning as she was excitedly running to the car to go get her hair cut and then play with friends!  Lindsay is learning that the journey can be bumpy--especially when we run in the house!

Women's Conference

Wasn't Women's Conference great this weekend?  I was really touched by each of the talks.  I especially loved Sister Beck's talk about increasing our faith and personal righteousness.  It is so true that when we, as women, are more faithful we can strengthen those around us.  Then yesterday it tied in really beautifully with a neighbor's testimony at church.  She mentioned how she's been thinking a lot about Esther lately, and she recently realized that we are all Esther.  We all need to come to our king (Heavenly Father), with faith that we will receive the scepter (He will hear us) and plead for our people (our families) to be saved. Our responsibility of personal righteousness is crucial for us and our families.  We each need to be courageous and faithful.  I loved that!  

Another awesome point that hit home for me was from President Uchtdorf's talk.  I love how he emphasized service as the key to happiness.  When he pointed out that we each have the opportunity to emulate the Savior who was a king yet never asked for recognition of his position in society or of his greatness.  Instead, he went about serving wherever he was!  I love that, too!  I can't wait to get the Ensign and re-read that, he was so eloquent and really hit the nail on the head for me.  (I guess it's obvious what I need to work on!)

It was a great evening and it was even more fun because I was able to go to the broadcast with my Mom and some of my sisters (Wendy, Daunell, Kanani, and Mandy) as well as dinner before-hand!  What a fun tradition.  Family and the gospel really make the journey delightful!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is the 17th Anniversary of our first date! (Okay, actually we had one official date and another unofficial one before Jeff's mission, but he was looking for a steady girlfriend and since that was taboo at my house...)
So...after Jeff came home from his mission we went on a date and today is our 17th Anniversary of that! Back in 1991, we went to Cascade Springs (the leaves were awesome!) and had the most refreshing talk I've ever had on a date. I felt like I could really be myself.  Then we ate pumpkin pie and drank Clearly Canadians (remember that drink?) at Nunn's Park. We really clicked and had a great time together. We finished up the date by watching "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken" at the Dollar Movies. How romantic!  Right?
Last night I tried to plan an awesome anniversary date. I had a brilliant thought about tracking down "Wild Hearts," but that proved a little difficult! No one has that movie anymore, and certainly not on DVD! (And here I thought it was a classic!) We ended up driving the Nebo Loop for our dose of fall foliage. It was gorgeous! While we were up there we had our pumpkin pie, and then watched "Music and Lyrics" on our car DVD player. It would have been perfect if we had "Wild Hearts," but we made it work anyway.

Here are some pictures we took of the beautiful leaves.  It was breath taking up there!

What a fun night with an awesome guy! I thank my lucky stars every day that I get to spend my journey with my best friend!

Tennis, Anyone?

Lauren is playing tennis this year at Mapleton Jr High.  She is having a great time.  This is Lauren with her doubles partner, Lexi.  They are learning to play together and it is fun to see them progress.

Yesterday was their first inter-murals tournament.  They won!  7-5!  What a dynamic duo!

Ready for anything!

It is fun to see Lauren really enjoying tennis.  She is turning into a really neat girl.  I love being her Mom!  Yesterday was a high point on the journey! 

How old am I?

I had a really fun time with my girl friends from my college days a couple nights ago. We went bowling! I know, BOWLING? It was so much fun! We laughed, ate, visited and even rolled the bowling ball down the lane. It was pretty obvious that we weren't pro's, at least most of us (Jen), because we would cheer so loud when we would get a spare or a strike, or even several pins at once! In fact, it was so obvious that we don't do this very often that the owner of the place offered to give us lessons! The really pathetic part however, is that I was stiff the next night! Yup, my hips are sore! So again I ask, "How old am I?" Man, I didn't think this part of the journey (you know, the part when I feel old) would come so quickly! I just tell myself that at least I'm younger than Jeff!

Candy Corn

Mmmmmm...me likey! What is up with candy corn? I can eat sooo dang much of the stuff! I remember as a child thinking it was the most amazing candy around! I remember thinking if I had a whole bag I would be in heaven! So apparently this is a fixation/craving/obsession that goes way back! I recently bought a bag to use as potty treats for Lindsay. (There were pumpkins in our mix as well. ) Lucky for me, Lindsay was mostly interested in the pumpkins, so I got to enjoy the candy corns each time she went potty--and sometimes when she didn't! To my detriment, I do not single out the candy corn--I also enjoy the mini pumpkins and other harvest candies available at this time of year! Let's just say it like it is--I am a candy head! But I do want to give props to those folks at Brachs who make some yummy candy corn!