More farm fun

My Dad's brothers have all recently gone back to their childhood occupation of farming. They aren't full-time farmers of course- just farming as a hobby. You can imagine the delight of the boys when we went to Uncle Mark's house. Let me introduce you to "the girls".

And if you asked the boys, no trip to the farm is complete without a tractor. Pure bliss (and concentration...).

I find this last picture HILARIOUS.

Jen's Family

Meet my family.

"Family is like fudge. Mostly sweet with a few nuts." -anonymous

We're definitely fudgey.

I lived a majority of my childhood life in a quiet rural city that was once the home of a great dairy farm. (The city even has a statue of a record milk producing cow!)

Most of the dairy farmers have since left town, but barns are still a common piece of the cityscape.

My brother snapped some pictures of my family, but we forgot to tell him how to work the camera so the lighting is a little funky. I still love these.

Midwinter break-part 2

We also spent a portion of our week in downtown Seattle.

At the Science Center we learned about water flow in toilets, sea creatures, and periscopes to the skyline. A majority of the time was spent at the new Mars Exhibit.

Another day was spent at the Children's Museum. That place gets two thumbs up from each pair of thumbs in the family. Braden has been asking to go back everyday this week!

The kids' sushi shop

After exploring the fascinating country displays, we ventured to the art studio. It was a clay, paint, and crafting heaven. Translation: an unending supply of markers, tape, colored masking tape, glitter, glue, scissors, staplers, hole punches, streamers, construction paper, curling ribbon, paints, clay, sculpting tools, and a pile of recycled goods.

The highlight was the dress up and pretend section. At one point Tanner was a firefighter who was riding on the Metro bus with his grocery cart full of vegetables and canned goods! (He somehow managed to get the entire grocery cart inside the bus!)

Tonight at Church

I was asked to speak on my divine calling as a mother tonight. While public speaking makes me super nervous, I love the opportunity it gives me to reflect and count my blessings. Because I hope my calling of motherhood continues I want to share my randomn thoughts here. I also want my family to one day see and always know how priviledged I feel to be called "mom" and "wife".
Here you go.

Russell M Nelson said "Each daughter of God is of infinite worth because of her divine mission". I am lucky enough to be filling the divine role of motherhood which I get to discuss with you briefly tonight.

President Faust said "Being a mother is not only a great challenge; it is a divine calling." I well remember the earlier years of exhaustion as a mom of a newborn, 18 month old, and 3 1/2 year old, married to a counselor in the bishopric, in the middle of his busy season. I remember noticing more of the challenges of the feeding, bathing, wiping, nursing, and laundring everyone but myself and wishing that I was more able to keep up with everything. Now, a short four years later, life has slowed down a little and I realize that my calling as a mother with children in the home won't last much longer. I find myself missing those earlier, exhausting days with little loving hands and snuggly babies.

There are SO many roles to fill as women. I am so GRATEFUL for the roles I have been trusted with as a wife of Ryan and mommy to Gracie, Braden, Tanner and hopefully another one someday. My hope is to be able to be worthy of that trust in the sacred callings my Heavenly Father sees fit to give me.

I know that our Father in Heaven planted women here for a purpose. Gordon B. Hinckley once said, "God planted within women something divine" and I know that to be true.

(Then I accompanied a sweet soloist who sang this song that I got to be a part of with a student composer at BYU. "A Woman's Prayer" by Cheri Magill is still one of my favorite songs about women. Here are the words...)

Working hard, down on calloused knees,
The woman claimed her pay.
With much to do and more to learn,
She humbly hurried on her way
to give the Lord her only coin,
but He saw a willing heart.
Lord, help me to be more grateful to Thee for the honor of doing my part.

She struggled through the anxious crowd, just to touch His clothes.
Barred from life and any loved ones,
She risked all to be made whole.
As she fell to her knees, her faith set her free.
Lord, help me ignore the crowd and faithfully follow Thee.

Women of the past and women today
with hearts full of love and desire
Please bless us Lord that this spirit
may continue to burn as fire.

She gently wiped a tear from her cheek
as they roughly handled her son.
She remembered when she cradled him
til the hours of the day were done.
The little child that she held would change the world eternally.
Lord, help me endure to the end
to be worthy of embracing Thee.

Women of the past and women today
with hearts full of love and desire.
Please bless us Lord that this spirit
may continue to burn as fire.