To Touch Heaven

We spent the day together for Honor's Birthday and had a brilliant time: played at an indoor play place, hit Wegman's, ate yummy food and had a family birthday party.

Got lots of photos which promptly got erased while trying to download them to my computer.  So today, I'm moving on, but trying to be Thankful for the day and not focus on losing my photos.

That's the thing about gratitude, right?  It's easy to be grateful when everything goes just so.  But when things start to go awry...well all bets are off! ;)

Let's try to remember President Monson's advice, "To live with gratitude EVER in our hearts is to touch heaven."

Reaching out for heaven today.

You can win this instant downloadable print from Jalipeno Digital Art by leaving a comment on this post sharing your favorite HOLIDAY RECIPE, side-dish, treat, etc.

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Shhhh, don't wake the baby.

Before my baby wakes up, I guess I'd better pick a winner for the giveaway of the book "52 Life-changing Questions From The Book of Mormon".  

Boy, you guys did not hold back!  All of the comments about what you love about The Book of Mormon were incredibly insightful and moving.  And your Thanksgiving ideas were brilliant, thank you!  

You don't make it easy for me to pick a winner, but I'm going with Hilary who talked about how her family set a goal to read The Book of Mormon daily as a family this year and how her 4 and 2 year old have responded to the call.  (Hilary, please email me your contact info, so you can get your book!)

I loved hear your conversion stories, how you came to know that The Book of Mormon is true, how it has changed your life.  I especially liked the reminder that the conditions spoken of in The Book of Mormon that existed before Christ appeared in the Americas will occur again before Christ returns.  This too gives me hope as I see the world deteriorating at a rapid pace before our eyes on the news each day.  It is a dark world, but the light of Christ's presence is what we all have to look forward to, and that is one of the beautiful messages of hope that The Book of Mormon holds for each of us.

If you haven't already, I hope that you will go back and read the comments on yesterday's post.  They were each inspiring in their own way.  I can't thank you enough for sharing your thoughts with me yesterday!

I will be back tomorrow with another giveaway, because I'm just in a giveaway kind of mood.

PS - She doesn't look like much of a baby anymore, does she?!

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Precious Little Time.

You know what guys?  Just one week into our summer vacation, and we are already having a most wonderful time together.  And many of our summer wishes are coming true.

I love being with my kids.  It is a blessing for sure, and I don't want to miss a moment of snuggling, and laughing, and playing.  So, as you might have guessed, I probably won't be around these parts very often for the next little while.  As it is, I've got things I'd like to get done for Me, ya know?

But before I go, I promised to tell you guys about this little book from Deseret Book called "One Drop at a Time."  It is pretty much all taken from M. Russell Ballard's talk given at the October 2012 General Conference called, "Be Anxiously Engaged."  ("Bee" Anxiously Engaged would have fit too!)

My first thoughts were that this would be a neat gift to give to an actual Beehive...you know, a young woman, because I like the explanation of the significance and symbolism of the beehive.  I also really liked pp. 28-29 which says,

"When our hearts are no longer set upon the things of this world, we will no longer aspire to the honors of men or seek only to gratify our pride.  Rather, we take on the Christlike qualities that Jesus taught..." such as being gentle, meek, and long-suffering, being kind without hypocrisy or guile, feeling charity towards all men, and always having virtuous thoughts.  We no longer have a desire to do evil and the Holy Ghost is our constant companion.

These are definitely the wishes of my heart.  And I hope that as I spend time with my children this summer, they can further help me to develop these qualities.

***This giveaway is now closed.  The winner is Kristin!***

Thank you for your entries!

I also have a copy of "One Drop at a Time" to share with one of you.  If you'd like to be entered to win, please leave a comment on this post and please include your email address so that I can contact you when you win!  Carry on!

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Got a Dime in My Pocket

I'm so old school, you guys.  Sometimes, I just have to laugh at myself.  For instance, I still have a tape player.  Yes.  Yes, I do...and a number of tapes that I play whenever I get a chance and which I never plan to get rid of.  Like this one:

Do any of you remember this tape or any of the songs on it?

Last year, when I was raving about Justin Cash's CD, I also received another at the same time called "Scripture Power."  It's a collection of dance versions of old and new Primary songs. 

When I first heard it, I wasn't a huge fan, because of the techno beat on some of the songs.  But over time, I started to give the CD a chance and I've really warmed up to it.  In fact, it's one of my favorites now to jam along to with the kids.

What happened was, Guy kept asking me to buy him some Kidz Bop music that he's heard on the bus.  I said I'd think about it...Then one day I gave a listen to some Kids Bop songs to make a decision and I realized that I didn't like even the Kidz Bop version of popular music...mainly because it didn't bring a good feeling into our home...but also, and more importantly, because I felt letting my kids fall in love with the "kid version" of a song which contains "adult content" is only tricking them.  What happens when they hear their favorite songs in the adult world?  They really won't know to turn it off, because I've played the song so many times in our home.

I honestly believe that children are unfairly targeted by the adult world, in tv, movies, and music.  As they innocently watch or listen to these things, they unknowingly walk into a very adult world that they are too young to navigate on their own just yet.  I never did tell you guys about the time that I was folding laundry in my room and a song came on the radio that was so pornographic...I was immediately shocked and embarrassed and angry.  Angry because I knew that the lyrics were chosen to sound innocent but to be alluring to children.  

Anyway, so lately I've been on a little bit of a personal mission to find good, enjoyable music that my children can listen to in our home.  I don't want them to miss out on the joy of all sorts of music, just because our world has lost their appetite for what is truly beautiful and good!

So, I went back to this CD and gave it a listen, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that some of the songs are the same ones that appeared on this old tape of mine...and they kept them nice and sweet and pretty as the originals (songs like "I've Got a Dime in My Pocket" and "I Want to Be a Mother").  Even the ones that are "techno-ish" (like the anthem "Scripture Power") still ring true with their testimony-building Primary lyrics.  I love hearing Autumn walking around the house singing "God gave us families...to help us become what he wants us to be," "Saturday is a special day," and "I'll follow him in faith."

So to further the cause of giving children good music, I'm giving a Scripture Power CD to one lucky reader today.

To enter...Just leave me a happy little, funny little, whatever COMMENT ON THIS POST.

(You could even give me your best CD suggestions...that would be cool too.)

That's all.

Good luck.  And have a great day.

PS - You can give the CD a listen here...that oughtta perk you right up!

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Rumpelstiltskin

Remember a while back I did a giveaway of cute prints from the Etsy shop Puexican Designs of Book of Mormon Heroes?

Well, now Alexis is back with a sweet trio of heroines from the Bible...Esther, Eve, and Hannah.  And she is going to send this set of Bible Chicks prints to one of you!

I'd love to hang these in my baby's room to remind her to be "Brave like Esther.  Happy like Eve.  And true like Hannah."

Now, I'm not really going to make you jump through any hoops for this giveaway...but I DO need help coming up with a name that Steve and I both like for our baby!  

So, please, leave me a comment with some name suggestions for us. I'm not guaranteeing I'll use it, but you might save me a few sleepless nights by helping us come up with the perfect name for our little one.  We've already got a Guy, Scarlett, and Autumn, so that should give you a feel for the type of names we like.

Have a great Monday, and thanks in advance for your name suggestions!!!  I will announce the winner on Friday.

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Beautiful World by Justin Cash - CD Giveaway

We've had Justin Cash's CD "Beautiful World" for all of one week now, and we all have his songs running through our heads at any given point in the day!

The lyrics he sings are so hopeful and applicable, so down-to-earth, so real.  

While acknowledging the struggles that are common to humanity, Cash invites listeners to allow these experiences to build their faith, instead of destroying it.  Needless to say, I felt a kinship to him right away.

His music, on the other hand, is brilliant.  When I first listened to his CD I thought, wow, his style is so fresh!  Justin Cash is like a magical mash-up of John Mayer, Harry Connick Jr., and Eric Clapton...with a little B.B. King sprinkled in for good measure.  

When I listen to his "Beautiful World" CD, I can hear Memphis.  I can hear New Orleans, Detroit, and New York.  In his music, I can hear a unique sound that graciously gives a nod to the rich contributions of great blues artists who have come before him.  His lyrics are just what our world needs, and I would love for mainstream radio to pick him up! 

It's been so refreshing listening to Justin's music and getting to know him through emails.  I like to hope that if some of my blog posts could be turned into songs, they'd sound a little like Justin's CD (only funkier and with electric guitar licks)...because I too believe that in spite of everything--or, more accurately--because of everything, it really is a Beautiful World.

As you know, I'm super selective about what I endorse or even give away on my blog, but I have absolutely no reservations about recommending this CD to you!  In fact, I am so happy to do so!  Justin is happy too...In fact, here he is with a personal message for all of you, dear readers:

So, if you'd like to WIN JUSTIN'S CD...
Here's what I'd like you to do:

1. Just go to his website and listen to one of his songs!  You can also listen on itunes or Amazon!

2.  Then come back here and tell me what you liked about it...easy!  You can post one comment per song that you preview.  Each comment will earn you one entry.

I will announce a winner in my post on Friday!  Good luck!!  And thanks, Justin, for sharing your talents with all of us!

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All Over the World (comment to win)

I received this book from Deseret Book a while back...It's called "I Believe in Jesus Too" by Mark S. Nielsen.  It shows how children all over the world go to church, take the sacrament, get baptized, participate in family home evening, and ultimately believe in Jesus.

I'd like to send you my copy of this book...so if you'd like to win it, please tell me what you'll be doing with your children this summer...It can be vacation plans, family traditions, summer camps, chores, chilling out, or even a course of study.  Just let me know in a comment on this post and you'll be entered to win.

I'll announce the winner (chosen randomly) tomorrow morning.

Please remember to leave your email address and/or blog address when you comment.

Have a great day!

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Always Want to Be (GIVEAWAY)

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!")

  

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a Thing for BAD GUYS...

It's true. I've got a thang for Bad Guys.

No, not actual bad guys...Bad Guys of the Book of Mormon...

The book...by Dennis Gaunt.

I love it so much, I'm marking pages (almost every page actually).

And I want you guys to have a thing for Bad Guys too...

SO...If you'd like to WIN THIS BOOK...do any of the following:

1.  Be a FOLLOWER on Google Friend Connect (must do first!)

2.  Then, TELL ME what you've got a Thing for today...

3.  or TELL ME why why you love being a member of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I will choose a winner on Friday.

Good luck and have a great Monday!

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Family Tree Giveaway & Link-up

Here's some GOOD NEWS for a Monday morning! :)


One of you faithful readers WILL WIN this custom family tree in digital format from

Shabby Ladybug on Etsy!

As you know, I'm hosting a link-up for The Book of Mormon Forum this week.

Everyone who links-up a post or comments on a post in the link-up this week will be entered to win.  Also, all followers of this blog will be entered to win.

To ENTER: Simply leave a comment on this post telling me if you:

a.  FOLLOW my blog on Google Friend Connect (see sidebar)

b.  LINKED-UP a post about The Book of Mormon below

c.  COMMENTED on any of the Book of Mormon posts in the link-up
(You can enter on this one multiple times...)

Please leave a comment on THIS POST for each entry.


I've copied the link-up below to  make it easier for you to link-up and comment!


(Or you can GO HERE TO LINK-UP.)


Have a great Monday!

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Unusual, Unexpected, Unorthodox, but Oh so Right!

Thanks for all of your kind words of empathy yesterday and your advice.  I really appreciated it.  I am feeling a little better, just had to ride that emotional rodeo that comes with our calling as women, and I am happy to say that I didn't get bucked off...not just yet! :)  

I know God has things all under control and that he knows best.  And I know he is right, deep down inside.  I am just slow at coming around to his way of thinking sometimes.

I will say that he has given me ample opportunity to accept his perspective.  Recently, I had been praying for the knowledge that I am on the right path in life--that I am where I should be at this point.

Within days of asking this question, I was called to a new calling at church.  During that weekend, I was approached by no less than four people and told that they had a strong confirmation that I was supposed to be in that calling.  And when I was set apart, the person speaking said, "You are in the right place right now in your life and in the lives of these girls."

Does God still speak?  Yes He does.

Does he care about the details of our lives?  Certainly.

Does the Master of the Universe pause to answer the question of his little child?

Amazingly so.

Just as the Savior of the world came to earth under such humble and unusual circumstances, walking dusty roads, suffering all temptations, trials, and persecutions, so are we here to experience life and to learn to become like Him, sometimes in some of the most unexpected or unorthodox ways.  I am so thankful for this amazing opportunity to be alive in mortality, in the thick of all of these unique and important experiences.

As much as I like to say that "this life is not a dress rehearsal," it really is a time given to us to prepare to meet God and to ready ourselves for the blessings and privileges that he has waiting for each of us in his eternal realm.

And this understanding is the beautiful gift that I have been given this Christmas.

+++

Now, THANK YOU, to everyone who linked-up in our 

Christmas-themed Book of Mormon Forum this week!

There were many wonderful posts...I have featured some of them here.

Here are the winners of these three wonderful prizes!

(If you won, please email me your mailing info!)

CONGRATULATIONS and thanks to these Etsy Shops!

Nativity Vinyl Set from Carolina Vinyl Arts on Etsy

WINNER: Comment #9:  Christy  who posted 

"Through the Eyes of a Mother"

or a $25 gift card from Amor Decor & More

WINNER: Comment #13:  Abby Rawlins who posted

"Children's Nativity Tradition"

or this Simple Wooden Nativity Set by Suzi's Shoppe

WINNER: Comment #21: Tiffany who posted

"What Can I Give Him Poor As I Am?"

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Christmas Around the World

It should come as no surprise that I love traditions.

In my family growing up, we had many wonderful traditions, thanks to my mom and dad, and my grandma who lived just down the street from us.  Their love of tradition and family made my childhood lovely and memorable.  For them, love was truly spelled T-I-M-E.  Through our traditions, my parents taught us that family and the things that we do together matter more than material possessions.  And because of that, we never felt that we lacked...and still don't.

***Today, I am sharing one of my favorite family Christmas traditions 
over at Someone In Mind.  You'll never guess WHEN we open our Christmas gifts and what we always do BEFORE we open them!  It's a tradition that doesn't require you to buy anything extra and takes very little time!  So be sure to check it out!*** 

Here at home today, the girls and I are learning about Christmas traditions from around the world using this coloring book.  There a so many wonderful customs in other countries that honor the Christ-child during Christmas.  

For instance in the Alsace region of France, a girl representing the Christ Child, or Christkind, wears a long, white dress and a crown of gold paper and lighted candles.  In one hand she carries a plate of cookies and in the other a silver bell.  She is followed by Hans Trapp, dressed in a bearskin and carrying threatening "rods".  He is looking for naughty children, who are only saved by the intercession of the Christkind.

The traditions that we mere mortals come up with the celebrate Christ at Christmas are just delightful and sometimes downright funny.  And each one is a little different.  I love that too.

Scarlett decided she wanted to cut out the coloring pages and glue them onto popsicle sticks to create puppets. She is going to put on a puppet show for our family at FHE tonight to teach them about the traditions that we learned about today.

Hope you are having a wonderful Monday!

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Christmas in the Book of Mormon Link-up

As a THANK YOU for participating in this special Christmas-themed
Book of Mormon Blog Hop, you will be entered to win one of these three
fabulous prizes!!


To enter, do any of the following:
1.  Link-up your posts about Christmas and The Book of Mormon.
2.  Share this link-up on your blog or on Facebook.
3. Comment on this post.

You could win this Nativity Vinyl Set from Carolina Vinyl Arts on Etsy




or a $25 gift card from Amor Decor & More




or this Simple Wooden Nativity Set by Suzi's Shoppe

Thank you to these wonderful Etsy shops for donating these beautiful prizes!
Please visit their shops and patronize them!


I will announce the winners on Friday.

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Come and GET IT!

Today:  A few items of business...

First of all:  Happy Birthday to my Mother-in-law Christie!

Second:  I am so happy to have completed a special writing assignment that was sort of stressing me out this week.  I am so excited about this.  You don't even know.

When I wrote my Christmas Chill Pill post earlier this week, I was not stressed about Christmas so much as I was about having a very quick turn-around deadline to meet, right in the middle of Christmas...and I wanted it to be great!  I turned it in early, so I could move on to the many other jobs I've got to complete in the next seven days...including making the 20 gingerbread houses that you see pictured above.  (No I didn't do it alone!)  Now lets just keep our fingers crossed that they like what I wrote.

And third, I really hate to end the beautiful discussion that is going on in the comment section of yesterday's post about being believing, but I did say I'd announce the WINNERS today, so here we go.

Thanks to all of you who shared and commented this week.

I thought it would be fun to do a bunch of giveaways this week as a thank you to for reading and commenting all year long and to give exposure to some shops that I really love.  Thanks to each one of you!  I appreciate the support that you give me here on my blog and the testimonies that you share.

If you were selected to win one of the prizes below, please email me your name and address at jocelyn.christensen@gmail.com. If you didn't win...Well, there's always next week...  :)

Believe Block Set from 4 All Seasons

Winner:  sarahkat (comment #11 of 61!!) said... 11

I believe that the Lord will take care of me, my family, and our problems--

even when it seems like our trials have no end.

Set of three Pop-up Christmas Cards from Peaden Scott Designs

Winner:  jeanine (comment #15) said... 15

Wonderful advice! I would love to win! Rebecca was my roommate at BYU!

Primitive Holy Family from Kennakee

Winner: amber-girl (comment #21) said... 21

Google Friend Connect.....check!!!!!

Kid Lacing Hoop by Can Do Stitching

Winner:  Cindy (comment #13) who said...  13

I shared the LDS.org Christmas resource page on Facebook.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS and please email me!

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BELIEVE

Hopefully you know by now how much I love "magic words" and how powerful I think words can be in our lives.  

I have a lot of "magic words" that I tell myself to talk myself out of a mental jam, but if I had to pick just one magic word that represents me, all my hopes and dreams, the way that I approach each day, how I view my future and my past it would be "BELIEVE".  For me, being believing just encompasses everything hopeful, everything good, everything childlike and everything true.

The more of myself that I invest in believing and having faith in God, the stronger and more complete I become as a person and the more of my dreams I am able to realize.

I hope that in reading my posts during the last year, you've been inspired to be more believing in your every day lives.  Being believing is truly the first step to understanding who we are and what we are here to do.  It is the first step to happiness.

The Etsy shop 4 All Seasons has some really great Christmas items in their shop right now.  And they have donated this lovely set of "Believe Blocks" as a giveaway for you lovely readers.  4 All Seasons has been very supportive of my blog (providing items for Service Boot Camps and such), so please go visit their shop and thank them for the good they do!

To WIN THIS BELIEVE BLOCK SET:


1.  Tell me one thing that you BELIEVE more today than you did one year ago.


I will announce the winner tomorrow.

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A Big Christmas Chill Pill

I'd really like to just have a whole bag of these in my purse, so I can just pass them out to people I know who could really use one...emergency first aid, so to speak.

I'd give them to:

-people who are all frazzled on the phone

-people who request lots of costumes to be sewn two weeks before Christmas (!)

-people who read my blog and think I've got it all together and that they don't (seriously!)

-people who have too much to do and not enough time to do them (me!)

-people who can't say NO!  (uh, describes most of us!)

But most of all, I'd give one to myself, because I am feeling the Christmas crunch right now, and no amount of chocolate is making it better!

Ugh.

So the assignment today that will qualify you to win the prize below is this:

CHILL.

You can:
SAY NO to something today.  

Give one less gift.

Spend less time online.

Go to bed early or

Workout.

Take a nap.
Sit down on the couch with your feet up for five minutes.

Do something deliberate to lessen the stress that is being put on you or on others.


(In the meantime, I'll try to take some of my own medicine!)

Just leave a comment on this post to be entered 
(whether you make time to chill or not!)

The winner will receive these THREE cards by Peaden Scott Designs:

Aren't they amazing?   And you could win this...just for chilling?????

Not a bad deal at all.

I will announce the winner Friday.
(PS - I'm sure you'll use these cards to lighten the load of someone you know!)

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