Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Always Want to Be (GIVEAWAY)

Kids new B BG.jpg


For anyone reading this who doesn't know how this line ends, it's from a children's song, and it goes like this, "I always want to be with my own family...and the Lord has shown me how I can."  The Lord has literally shown us how we can live with our families forever in his presence.  Is there anything more important for us to know?

There were so many talks in General Conference about strengthening family.  And like a sponge I tried to soak up every word.  But I am also excited to re-read and study their guidance in-depth over the next while.

We had General Conference Book Club yesterday as we do every week at my house.  I cannot believe we've been doing this for a full year of Tuesdays!

How much I've learned.  How much I've grown.

What an amazing blessing it is to know that God still speaks through living prophets to men on earth.  He is not silent on the issues that matter most to us.  What a blessing it is to be able to study their words together with other faithful LDS women...in my home, every week.  I am truly, truly blessed.

We are blessed to know that the Savior lives and speaks through his prophets, to know that his work did not stop at the tomb, but continues today.

Thanks to all of you for "talking of Christ and rejoicing in Christ" with me this last year.  

If you follow via Google Friend Connect, please leave a comment on this post telling me one thing that you are "rejoicing in" this Easter season.

Everyone who comments on this post will be entered to win a beautiful 8x10 temple print by Janae Bingham.  You can view all of her work by visiting her blog. Thank you, Janae!

(Oh, and stay tuned, because we're just getting warmed up:
Tomorrow I will have a very exciting announcement about a new way that you can "Talk of Christ!")

YM44.jpg  YW4.jpg

70 comments:

  1. What a beautiful picture of the temple, and those words reflect my greatest desire....I want to be with my family forever!

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  2. With Christ, of course, being my main focus of rejoicing....family....family is right up among the top.  Oh, how I love my family and rejoice in them.

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  3. What a great reminder for your home- especially on those days when your wonder if being together forever is what you want! :) Okay so I ALWAYS want to be with my family but I do think these are great!! 

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  4. I am rejoicing to one day be with my precious little baby again.  

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  5. This Easter season I am rejoicing in my family and knowing that we can be together forever.  Having just passed the 1 year anniversary of my grandfather's passing and finishing up our family newsletter, it has been on my mind.  What a comfort it is to know that I will see Grandpa again and my children that are too young to have memories of him will be able to know him and recognize him when they meet some day.

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  6. This Easter season, I am rejoicing in the Atonement of Jesus Christ - that through Him we (as a family) can repent and be made whole!

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  7. Angela BusselbergWednesday, April 04, 2012

    I've been rejoicing in teaching my children about the atonement... and they are starting to understand! 

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  8. I am rejoicing in my son being old/aware enough to actually learn some of the Easter story... and in my privilege to figure out HOW to teach this and other important things to him. You are a great help in that, too!

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  9. I am rejoicing in teaching my children about the Atonement of Christ with the Easter Countdown, and even my Hubby who is generally not interested has joined in.  I am striving every day for my forever family.  Love the beautiful reminder.

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  10. I am rejoicing in teaching my children about the Atonement of Jesus Christ  with the Easter Countdown.  I am stiving everyday for my forever family, this is a beautiful reminder.

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  11. Loved General Conference and how family centered the message was. Just reiterated the things I have been thinking about lately. So glad I can re-watch and reread each talk.

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  12. I love the idea of having a General Conference discussion with others- a "book club" That would be the best!
    The picture is beautiful.

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  13. I am rejoicing in the atonement.  The articles in this month's Ensign on grace have really resonated with me, and I am pondering them :)

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  14. I am rejoicing because of a wonderful friend who has opened her home each week and allowed me to come and soak up the spirit and learn and share with my sisters in the gospel. I have learned so much and am truly excited to review  and study all the great words of the prophets.

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  15. I'm rejoicing that my twin grand daughters Emilee and Heather are coming to stay with me their grandma for 5 days before the rest of their family joins me for Spring Break...FUN family times at my house!!!

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  16. I'm rejoicing in Christ! Our oldest is 3, so we are teaching him the story and the joy of the resurrection, and it is Joyful! We are rejoicing together!

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  17. Those are great pictures and what a wonderful idea of putting the text on them.

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  18. I am rejoicing in the Savior and His atonement...and the attending truth that I can live with my family eternally.

    =)

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  19. Those are such beautiful pictures! And I just LOVED all the emphasis on the family this last conference!

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  20. I'm rejoicing that we will soon be in our own (although quite tiny) home after 3 1/2 years of living with my parents while my husband is going to school. He's still in school, money will be even tighter, but 3 1/2 years of 3 children and 4 adults in a small 3 bedroom home is just too long. We are all rejoicing in how things are just working out for this to happen for us now. Prayers are being asnwered daily.

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  21. With this last year being a very hard year for my family, I am especially rejoicing in my Savior's Atonement for me.  It strengthens, sustains, and changes me - if I let it!  Thanks!!

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  22. I am rejoicing in the atonement and that we are able to have the fulness of the gospel in our lives.

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  23. I am rejoicing in the beautiful reminders of rebirth and new life through the Atonement of our Savior that are all around us right now in spring!  And I am so grateful to know that we have living prophets who follow the Spirit and teach us things that are so "a propos" - so timely right now.  What a great conference it was!!!  And I love the idea of an in-home General Conference book club.  I have been participating online, but what a great way to bond with and learn from our sisters in the gospel!

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  24. I'm rejoicing in the knowledge that Christ lives! And that He is aware of all my needs.

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  25. I am rejoicing simply in having my family all together. Going to church, having a simple Easter dinner and spending time together. It is the time we spend here on earth with our families that draws us closer and helps us to achieve that eternal family. One step, one day at a time.

    Cathy ♥

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  26. I just found your blog and I LOVE it!! It is so uplifting and encouraging to see your example of teaching your children about the Savior and His Gospel--and especially in such fun ways! :) I'm now a follower.
    Linda

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  27. I love your blog and always amazed at how strong your testimony is, thank you for sharing it with us.

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  28. Rejoicing that my children love the gospel and that my family is stronger because of it.

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  29. I'm rejoicing in knowing that I'm never alone. That H.F. and Jesus Christ really are there for me always!

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  30. Beautiful pictures! This Easter season I'm rejoicing in the gospel. I love the knowledge, comfort, and joy that it brings to my life!

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  31. Lovely pictures! I am rejoicing in family Time. My husband is busy, so it is few and fast between lately, but we cherish every moment.

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  32. I have been so inspired this Easter season, my kids are young, 3 1/2 and almost 2, but we had such a fun FHE this week to kick of Easter week, and it was all from you. I read your talk about palm Sunday and worshiping and I told them all about palms and what they meant to the people. We watched the new, short Triumphal Entry video a few times and I pointed out different things each time, I told them that it was all about showing love to Jesus. Then we read a part of the scriptural account, and then we traced our hands and cut them out, taped them to a tongue depressor and went around the house and to my parents (who we live with) and shouted "Hosanna! Hosanna to Jesus our Savior!" They LOVED it! It really was something to shout Hosanna! To really vocally REJOICE in Christ.
    We came back to the family room and we talked about how we could show Jesus we loved him. Then we each wrote something on our tongue depressor- the 3 1/2 year old said "be kind," the toddler said "loving" and my husband and I wrote something as well. It's been great to check in all week and remind the girls how they've promised to show Jesus they love him. Just wanted to thank you again for the inspiration, we've been doing other fun things this week, too.

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  33. Marcee!  That is so AWESOME!!!  Great job...I really enjoyed hearing about that...very touching. And vocalizing our love for the Savior is very special.  We should all do it more.  Shout Hosanna!!! :)

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  34. This Easter I am rejoicing in my family.  I am so grateful that we have the blessing of eternal marriage! 

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  35. I am rejoicing in the true gospel of jesus christ and the sacrafice that he made for me and my family so that we may be able to repwnt and have eternal blessings

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  36. Gorgeous picture!

    This season I am rejoicing in healing. I struggle with mental illness so this year I've been trying to heal through that. I've also recently returned to activity in the Church, and I'd call that a BIG healing. And also, my family has been healed just through the miracles of daily connections, and I thank God for that.

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  37. Rejoicing in family being together. Rejoicing in being blessed with steady income. Rejoicing in having the blessing of the gospel. And I agree, Family was a BIG message at conference that I LOVED hearing and can't wait to study some more!

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  38. i love your blog so much. thank you for always posting uplifting things!

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  39. I'm rejoicing that we were just able to listen to our prophet and feel of Heavenly Father's love for us through the messages at conference.  So wonderful!

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  40. I am rejoicing in my health and my family. I came very close to losing both this past year and have a new appreciation for all the small things.

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  41. These are such beautiful prints!  I think every girl should have the one that says "If this is not your castle, you are not my prince."

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  42. I'm rejoicing in making this Easter our MOST spiritual yet, & I also had no clue where to even begin to incorporate Christ's atonement in a "kid-friendly" way, so I'm watching Conference, & when it had finished, a program came on kind of like a news report on how to have your Easter centered on Christ - then it did a piece on your blog. Which is how I came to find your blog & am SO EXCITED to have some fun ideas to make this Easter a spiritual one, yet still fun for the kids. So I'm rejoicing in that & looking forward to trying out some ideas! (and Thank you) :D

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  43. Congratulations, Jia! I am happy for you!!

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  44. That is awesome, Joliene!! :)  I'm so glad and happy for your and your little ones!  Easter is truly a time to rejoice! :)

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  45. I, like you, am rejoicing in living prophets and personal revelation.  Hip hip hooray for their guidance!

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  46. We are rejoicing in our resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ! This is such a lovely giveaway. Thank you!

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  47. I rejoice in family.  We have a new little one due next week in our family!

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  48. MEME Please! :D  After the passing of two of my sisters at a very young age, I became especially grateful for the sacrifice my parents made to travel across the country to get married in the SLC temple - I really do want to be with my own family and I'm so grateful that my parents followed the Lord's instructions as to how we can do that :)

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  49. This would be a wonderful gift for my grandchildren..  I love it!!

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  50. I am rejoicing in families and the important part they play in the gospel!

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  51. I am rejoicing in being with my family! Also my husband having an awesome job!

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  52. I'm rejoicing in my family.

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  53. What beautiful pictures. I would love one for my daughter's room! With Conference last weekend and Easter coming up I have been SO emotional! I am SO grateful that I opened the door and let my Savior and his love and light into my life 4 years ago and that I am now sealed to my family eternally, what a blessing that I get to count every single day!

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  54. lovely pictures.  great offering.  families are wonderful organizations.

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  55. I just stumbled on this blog, and I subscribed in a heart-beat.  Wonderful ideas!

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  56. Love her work!  Our YW Camp theme this year is "Daughter of a King"  I love the one about the prince.

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  57. That song is one of our favorite songs to sing. We love singing it together!

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  58. Girish and Wendy GhimireThursday, April 05, 2012

    I love these prints.  Having adopted my kids, one of my favorite things is that we have had the opportunity to take each one by one to the temple and have them sealed.  What a blessing it is to know this truth!!

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  59. I was called to be the main Institute teacher for this region, teaching Old Testament, and each week I love it more - both teaching the gospel, and all the reading I do each week.  As each week goes by, I realise just how much I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, but also how much I've been missing out on over the years by not taking the Old Testament seriously (if you understand).  And now, with Easter upon us, I am so thankful for the calling, and for the tremendous desire it has given me to learn as much as I can get my hands on, and to perhaps take it further .. perhaps teach/write in the future.  It has kindled my love for the gospel even more.  Yay for that!!  And thanks for you Jocelyn.  I love your blog, your writings, and your obvious effort.  I find it difficult to keep my efforts up, but you are such a role model for me .. so I persevere!!

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  60. I am rejoicing that most of my family will be together this Easter and also rejoicing for what my Savior did for me and that he continues to be there for me always.

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  61. Those are beautiful prints!

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  62. Those are great! I love them for me and my children.

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  63. The "If this is not your castle, you are not my prince" is a really cute picture, reminding girls of the standard they should shoot for (it goes for girls too, if it's not their castle, they aren't the princess).  I like the "I always want to be with my own family" as well. What a great reminder that if our families are sealed in the Temple it is forever :) 

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  64. What a wonderful giveaway!  Thank you!

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  65. I am rejoicing in the Atonement. No matter how many times I mess up as a mom, I can try again. I just hope I get it right before it's to late (to benefit my children.)

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  66. This is beautiful!

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  67. RS Woodridge II Relief SocietySaturday, April 07, 2012

    I adore these prints...  and have the perfect place for them in C&E's rooms.

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  68. I am reveling in a wonderful Easter weekend. The pictures are magnificent, but then again, you can't fail with the subject matter! :-)

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  69. YOU WON! 
    http://beinglds.blogspot.com/2012/04/bridge-to-you.html  Email me please to claim your prize!

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