Thankful #1, #2 and Halloween

I wanted to make a list of things I am thankful for and thought I would do it on my blog. I have needed to try harder to have more posts on here and thought that this is a way to do it. I also wanted to have a post about our Regional Conference that was WONDERFUL and wanted to share the things that were talked to us. I also need to put up some Halloween pics so lets start with Halloween and work from there.

With Halloween being on a Sunday this year, it was obvious that most everyone was going to go Trick or Treating on Saturday. I had class that morning at the International Peace Gardens and I knew from sitting out there that it would be cold. When I got home that afternoon the kids wanted to get dressed and get ready to go. We needed to run a few errands first and then we were planning on going to Nancy's. It didn't work out for us to go down there so we stayed around here and went trick or treating in our neighborhood. When we started it was sprinkling just a little bit and then about half way through it started to pour and it kept going and going. The kids had fun though. Lexi and Kayden stayed out with their friends a little while longer while Koy came in the house since he was getting cold.

Here they are in their costumes: Lexi was a pirate girl, Kayden was a Ninja and Koy was a skeleton. I thought he looked so cute with his mask on but he didn't want to leave it on at all. I was able to get a picture of him with it on and then he wanted it off. I will add their individual pictures later after I edit them.

Our Regional Conference was a few weeks ago. I wanted to make sure we had a seat and we actually left our house a little late (nothing new around here) so I was really worried we wouldn't find a place to sit. When we got there not only did we have a decent parking spot but not many people were there and we had good seats for the broadcast. I took a few notes and the conference was really good. The speakers were Sister Wixom from the Primary Presidency, Elder Russell M. Nelson, and President Uchtdorf (have I mentioned I LOVE President Uchtdorf).

Sister Wixom talked on taking time and listening to our kids and to just spend time together.

• Focus on the Temple. With young kids they can go to the temple grounds and youth can attend and perform Baptism's for the Dead.
•  Make sure we are reading scriptures and praying as a family and as individuals. 
• We need to take time for the things that matter the most....The Lord and our family. 
• We need to listen to our kids and let them talk. Sometimes we don't always know what to say, but if we listen with love the Lord will guide us in what we need to say to them.

Elder Nelson's talk was based on the song "Who's on the Lord side Who":

• Those who keep the commandments and follow the Lord will be blessed. We need to obey civil and gospel laws voluntarily.
• Pornography is one of the adversary forces that is fighting against us. It is a life threatening danger and we need to shun it absolutely. He said that pornography is as addictive as meth and it is a poison and it will ruin our lives.
• We should work together with other churches in order to do good in our communities and in the world.
• We need to stand firm with our beliefs against those that don't stand or believe the same thing.
• We need to have Faith in Christ.
• We need to have a knowledge of the scriptures, have a knowledge of His work.
• The Lord will fight our battles and our childrens battle as long as we are faithful. Trust in Him. Be worthy of his blessings. He nows the inner most desires of our hearts. Repent and be worthy of His love.
• Show by words and actions that we are on the Lords side.

President Uchtdorf:

• Take time to read the conference talks when the Ensign comes out and re-read them. They are the messages that the Lord wants us to hear.
• The Lord will bless us as we obey the commandments. Our faithfulness will bless us. We need to encourage our children to serve missions.
• Study "Preach My Gospel"
• Don't underestimate your influence can be on others and don't underestimate your potential either.
• Reach out warmly to those who are not active. Be good neighbors. Ours neighbors may not believe the same things we do, but our influence and our example can speak loudly than our words.
• Trust the Lord and rely on his promptings
• Be a good example. Don't judge and be a good friend.
• Make sure that we use our time wisely.
• We need to have spiritual goals and evaluate our goals and our lives and determine if we need a course change.
• The law of tithing is a law of faith. Respecting Gods commandments will bring blessings to individuals and families.
• Sometimes we need to wait until the next life in order for us to find answers from the Lord.
• In order to have our own conversion we need to do the following three things:
• Have a current temple recommend. (CTR) Going to the Temple will strengthen and bless your family. Even youth can have a current temple recommend for baptisms.
• Study the Word of God daily. Homes should be a refuge and we should study the Word of God.
• Speak with your Heavenly Father daily. We urgently need the Words of God. Our children need to see us pray and to be a good example. If we follow these three things we will be blessed with peace in our families and in our personal lives. 
• We need to walk the walk not just talk the talk. Stand up for our beliefs and not be ashamed of them.

Thankful #1 I am thankful for my family. All of my family. My husband, kids, mom and dad and my sisters and my brother. I love the relationship that I have with my sisters right now. I think it is great and I am glad that I can talk to them with my problems and listen to them with their problems. Nancy, I think we need a sister picture. I love my kids they bring so much joy, pain sorrow and happiness to my life. I love my husband for the support that he is to me. We balance each other out ALOT.

Thankful #2 I am thankful for the opportunity that I have every Tuesday to go to the Temple. Since August I have been able to do a session at the Salt Lake Temple twice, the Jordan River Temple twice, and today I went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. It is nice to be able to go and just sit there in the quiet. I am planning on going to the Draper Temple next week. I am thankful that I have so many temples so close and that I have the time right now to attend. In my Patriarchal Blessing it states that I will serve in the Temple as my time permits and I am glad that right now my time is permitting me to attend. I now that my family and myself will be blessed because of it.