So coming up, Brett and I will share our 2nd anniversary together.

Did I type that right? 

2 years.

Surely that puts us in a whole new category. 

Gosh time flies.

It seems like yesterday I was staring into Brett's teary eyes as we were being sealed for time and all eternity.

As cliche as it sounds, it was truly the best day of my life. 

Not because of the pretty dress, the flying bouquet, or the many beautiful details of the day...

but because of the life we were starting.

Growing up you dream of the prince and princess moment

but you don't realize that the ordinary part is actually far greater than the party.

We have grown together far more than I ever expected in these past 2 years...

and honestly- I could not be more grateful.

To my main man-

I love you more with everyday.

You still crack me up, and I hope it never stops. 

You spoil me rotten in the smallest of ways-

and the biggest of ways. 

You are my rock. 

You are still sweeping me off my feet, and I am certainly not complaining.

Here is to a lifetime of anniversaries.

I love you with all of my heart. 

Sing a New Church

Summoned by the God who made us
rich in our diversity
Gathered in the name of Jesus,
richer still in unity.

Refrain: 

Let us bring the gifts that differ
and, in splendid, varied ways,
sing a new church into being,
one in faith and love and praise.

Radiant risen from the water,
robed in holiness and light,
male and female in God’s image,
male and female, God’s delight. (Refrain)

Trust the goodness of creation;trust the Spirit strong within.
Dare to dream the vision promised,
sprung from seed of what has been. (Refrain)

Bring the hopes of every nation;
bring the art of every race.
Weave a song of peace and justice;
let it sound through time and space. (Refrain)

Draw together at one table,
all the human family;
shape a circle ever wider
and a people ever free (Refrain)

Text: Delores Dufner (1991)
Tune: NETTLETON, from Wyeth's Repository of Sacred Music, Part II (1813)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Sanasi on lamppu (Taizé)

Sanasi on lamppu, valo askeleillani
Your word is a lamp, a light on my path

Paraphrase of Psalm 119:105

See my other blog postings in the "Taizé" series of chants.

Official Taizé Community Website

Wikipedia information on the Taizé Community
- in French
- in English

Eternal Spirit (Lord's Prayer, New Zealand Prayer Book)

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever. Amen

Text: Jim Cotter
From A New Zealand Prayer Book: He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa (1995)

My oh my.

The few months pushed me to grow in ways I never thought imaginable.

During my senior year of high school I learned the value of a to do list.

From sketching out my future goals, to detailing what I needed to get done the next day,

it was always a pretty big part of my life.

It gave me control and a sense of accomplishment.

I especially loved being on the mission having a

daily plan that was organized to the hour of everyday.

Since being married, working full time, being the yw president, and a full time wife...

well... I don't always have complete control over my days as I might like.

Sometimes the day-to-day tasks seem harder than ever to accomplish.

Sometimes it seems like I am not crossing things off.

Sometimes I compare myself to other girls and feel oh so behind.

Work tasks need to be completed,

Thank you notes still needed to be written,

dinner cooked,

laundry done,

YW tasks complete,

and on and on and on.

Not to mention the little "extras" that I love to do.

I felt like I was "not accomplishing anything."

Gasp.

As soon as the line came out of my mouth I felt terrible for uttering it or even thinking it.

{Although I am sure the thought will cross my mind many-a-time}

I realized I am accomplishing the most important thing in the world every.single.day.

Why is it that silly things like "clean off sewing desk" make it on my to do list -

but being a good wife isn't?

What about -

saying I love you to the people I care about?

Smiling. Enjoying and relishing each moment.

These things are far more important than cleaning my toilets or finishing tidious tasks.

It all seems so clear when I look at the bigger picture.

But how easily it is forgotten.

I am learning to forgive myself for not being able to cross it all off.

For having a mound of laundry and a couple "easy dinners" during the week.

It's all ok.

Because at the the top of my to-list is to be a good wife and woman.

I simply need to slow down

and remind myself that as long as our little family is happy and healthy

I have accomplished just about everything.

I just realized how many things I have done for YWs that I haven't posted. 

I know that I have personally really struggled trying to find cute ideas for different things, 

So... with that being said,  I have decided that I going to start doing a better job

 of posting things that I get to create with my calling in hopes that it will provide others with some fun ideas!

One of the first creative projects we did as a new presidency was update the yw board.

Previously, it was all the old yw "bright value colors".

We transitioned the board to incorporate more of the pastel value colors. 

As you can see we also used a lot of cute pins from pinterest to decorate the board. 

 It was a little difficult because we needed to incorporate both the Spanish & English themes.

Nonetheless, we think it turned out pretty cute.

Facing Personal Goliaths

Each Fast Sunday, we have a combined YW lesson taught be a presidency member.

I was really excited to be able to teach the girls this past week. 

Initially, I was really struggling as I tried to determine what to teach.

As soon as I came across the Ensign Article from President Monson, "Facing Your Goliaths", 

I just knew it was what Heavenly Father wanted the girls to hear. 

The lesson turned out great. 

The spirit was so strong as we discussed some of the "Goliaths" we as women often face. 

The girls named off things like...

Self-Doubt

Personal Image

Modesty

Confidence

Making and Keeping Good Friends

(isn't it funny how the adversary knows just how to get us?)

The spirit was definitely present as we discussed the "5 Stones" that we can use in 

order to fight and defeat our "Goliaths" in battle. 

Throughout the lesson I testified of Heavenly Father's personal love for each of the girls. 

Here are a few ideas and things I created for the lesson... feel free to use!

 For the table display, I printed the top pictures and put them in frames. 

I went in my backyard and found "5 Stones" and wrote the different points on them.

I would pull out a new stone and place it on the table as I would present the new topic.

I also found these really cute rock candies at Macey's. 

I packaged them up in a cute tube cellophane bag (found at Pebbles in my Pocket), 

and topped them off with some cute ribbon and a tag I created.