Back-to-School

Ready for school 25 August 2009

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Tuesday everyone went back to school...including me. I actually had a sub job that day which included one of Ryan's classes. I think the day went well for all of us, though Hannah asked if she had to go back to school the next day. I asked if something went wrong. No, it's just school she said.

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 Eric is taking: English 4, Performance Choir, French 4, Guitar (thanks Kathy for the guitar loan!), Theatre 4, Hand Built Ceramics, and American Government.

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Ryan got to change his schedule a bit and he's really happy. He now has: PE, English 2, Modern Chemistry, Pre-calculus (as one of only 4 sophomores in there, he's a bit proud), French 2, Health, and Art I.

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Hannah has: Science 8, PE, Strings, English 8, US History, Algebra II, and she's a teacher's aide to an English teacher.

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Alex is in 3rd grade.

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Glen has: Theatre I, Theatre 2-3-4, Stage Craft I (set building), Stage Craft 2-3, and 2 World History classes.

I will have whatever I can find...mainly subbing at the high school and while there, avoiding PE, ag mechanics (those boys just don't listen to me), and construction. I prefer math, science, and foriegn languages (notice none of my husband's classes are listed here...).

I was math and science last Tuesday, though of course nothing was taught and tomorrow I am science. Good way to start the year.

(* sometimes the blog won't let me leave a space in between paragraphs and it drives me crazy...so I've added the asterisks to create the space I want)

Last installment of Ed Week notes (2008)

Last year I typed up the "good stuff" from Ed Week (and some of you saw it then) only I didn't put in the names of the presenters. If you wish to know that info, just tell me and I can easily look it up for you. Here is the last installment of Ed Week gems:

Elder Oaks--Don't be the first to pick up new technology, but don't be the last to let go of the old.

You must treat your spouse in such a way that the thought of separation is agony to him/her.

Some of Daryl Hoole's rules:

Clean as you go, wipe as you work, pick up as you pass, put it away rather than put it down, look back as you leave.
Develop a system rather than conduct a search, for you will be doing one or the other.
Do today's work today-#1 work is relationships.
Be prepared as there's no substitute for preparation-we knew yesterday that we'd be hungry today.
In order to keep the Sabbath day holy, keep Saturdays hopping. On Sunday do the Lord's work, not your own.

A true principle carried to extreme is no longer a true principle.

Lord's law of time management: the Sabbath. Lord's law of financial management: tithing.

Elder Oaks--Revelation comes most often when we are on the move.
--Preparation is the prerequisite to teaching by the Spirit.

(When working on a lesson) ask: is there somebody else's talents I should be developing (instead of my own)?

We may be able to "get by" when we wing it (teaching a lesson), but getting by isn't really our goal.

In talking about scripture study, President Ezra Taft Benson said, "Yesterdays meal is not enough to sustain today's needs."

If you are too busy to cook healthy food for your family, maybe you are too busy.

Awareness of the best in us helps us grow much more than analysis of the worst in us ever can. That which we focus on expands in our lives for better of for worse.

The gospel is designed to get us back to Him right now--we should be happy every day.

Excessive guilt for things you cannot control is inappropriate. Guilt for things you can control is appropriate.

We aren't held accountable for having a weakness, only for succumbing to one.

Using the devil's methods to do God's work is the worst way to do God's work.

God loves us more than the greatest mother loves the most lovable child.

Many who sin are only seeking to satisfy righteous longings through wicked practices.

When we are in bondage to sin, we are driven by our bodies rather than guided by our spirit.

Peter Drucker (famous management guru)--"Allow more time than what the task will take." That is a secret to less stress.

In children, sleep deprivation mimics ADHD, depression, learning disabilities and the like. It makes them appear dumber than they are. They don't necessarily feel sleepy.

If there are problems, first ask, "Is this child exhausted?" Chances are they are. Sleep deprivation is something to worry about.

The Father turning judgments away from us, because of the Son, can occur for us on a weekly basis as we partake of the sacrament.

When your spirit has become the master of your body, then you have become like the Lord.

Scott Marsh's Top 10 financial websites:
SIOU (surprisingly insightful, objective, and user-friendly) Websites--all sites are FREE
1. ScottMarsh.com --info on tons of research BYU students are working on in financial matters
2. mint.com --an online financial tracking system (Time magazine listed it as on of 50 best sites in 2008)
3. finance.cch.com --commerce clearing house -hundreds of financial calculators
4. pricegrabber.com --helps you to comparison shop
5. consumersearch.com --product ratings (like Consumer Reports)
6. usa.gov --has links to all government agencies
7. privacyrights.com --make sure info reported about you is correct
8. investmentnews.com --website for advisors...you can access morningstar reports for free from here
9. eBay.com --if nothing else, you can use it for researching the value of items
10. nlm.nih.gov --national library of medicine-has suggestions on managing your health care expenses.

And there you have it. This posting marathon has come to an end. Hope you found something worth the time it took to find it!

notes from 2007's Ed Week

If I had gone to Ed Week, I probably would have arrived home a little while ago. I'm so glad I wasn't cramped up in the car today.

Here are the good parts of 2007:

Paul R. Warner

I must realize that my personality limitations do not make me a bad person.

A healthy person leans to their strengths, an unhealthy leans to their weaknesses.

Harold B. Lee--some leaders are called to test and some are called to lead.

Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

He is no fool which gives up that which he cannot keep. (we will all die, so give our lives to the Lord)

Brad R. Wilcox

There is repentance. But just as real as the atonement is, is the pain that accompanies repentance.

Sex is like an apple--before we are married it belongs to God. When we marry, He gives it to us. If we use it outside of marriage, we are stealing.

Having an entrance requirement to the temple doesn't make it a secret...then every university is a secret cult since they have entrance requirements)

See the temple as an ark--our salvation depends upon it.

Scott C. Marsh

Read Alma 32-35 like it's a $500 book on how to receive prosperity.

Steven C. Harper

To consecrate does not necessarily mean to give away, but to sanctify, to devote service to God.

If we are ignorant of the truth, it is easy to believe false doctrine.

I'm to make the most of myself so that my offering is more.

Robert L. Millet

Elder Dallin H. Oaks--The judgment is an acknowledgment of the final effects of our acts and thoughts--what we have become.

Don't judge--don't attribute motivation to others.

If we become conscious of our own righteousness, we are giving ourselves our own reward.

Elder Richard G. Scott

Use consistently and this will be of most benefit:

Throughout the remainder of my life, I will seek to learn by what I hear, see, and feel. I will write down the important things I learn and will do them.

We labor to recognize the Spirit. If it were ours just for the asking, we would become weak.

Easy things never produce much beneficial fruit.

We will never be prompted to do something we cannot do--it may be difficult, but we can do it.

Satan distracts us with acceptable things to keep us from the essential. Give the cream of your efforts to the essential.

Forced obedience yields no enduring fruit. Entreat, prompt, encourage--it's how They deal with us.

Pres. Spencer W. Kimball--A testimony is not an exhortation; a testimony is not a sermon (none of you are there to exhort the rest); it is not a travelogue. You are there to bear your own witness....We'd like to know how you feel.... Just tell how you feel inside. That is the testimony. The moment you begin preaching to others, your testimony has ended. Just tell us how you feel, what your mind and heart and every fiber of your body tells you.

Alonzo L. Gaskill

Elder Neal A. Maxwell--Eden was not an ideal place. One couldn't walk by faith--it was pointless.

The scriptures (revelation) are the seed bed of revelation (more scripture). As you reflect again and again, the Spirit works on you.

The better the heart and the better the mind, the better the revelation. Puny preparation precedes puny revelation.

The spirit of revelation likes ordinances--baptism, sacrament, temple--so, participate in those so it increases your opportunities for revelation.

You get what you have prepared yourself to receive.

Not to write down your personal revelations is to lose them and treat them lightly.

Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley--Don't be a pickle-sucker.

Don't go near the forbidden tree if you don't want to eat from it.

Sin is not wishing to become like God but wishing to be your own god.

Marianna E. Richardson

Alfred Edersheim--Trials are God's veiled angels.
--What we call disappointments are not, only God's appointments.
--The only profitable study of scripture: to realize their application.

Steven A. Tersigni

As we acquire His Spirit, we acquire His attributes...which is a better way to do it rather than having a goal to work on an attribute/month.

How many people even ask-Father, what would you have me do that I'm not currently doing?

Joseph F. McConkie

We don't gain exaltation by mastery of laws. Law is not God's partner, but His servant.

If you reject light, you must accept darkness in its place. There is no neutral ground in eternal things.

Kevin R. Miller

Remember telling is not teaching and told is not taught.

Mark D. Ogletree

Ezra Taft Benson--Much of the rock music is purposely designed to push immorality.

Randall Wright--If you fight any battle, fight the music one.
--It seems very strange that we place dead-bolt locks on our doors to prevent evil people from entering into our sacred homes and then we turn around and invite the same type of people in through television programming.
--Most success in life is found just by showing up and sticking to the task at hand.

The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.

When a Nephi stands up to pressure, there is always a Sam that will follow.

Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley--Open your homes to the friends of your children. If you find they have big appetites, close your eyes and let them eat. Make your children's friends your friend.

Brother Lynn D. Johnson

Bruce Williams--I always celebrate when something bad happens If something good happens, there's no need to celebrate as something good has already happened.

People are the happiest when they are involved in a challenging, stretching activity that they can handle (too much leisure does not bring happiness...or too much stress).

We've made it to Ed Week 2006

OK, this makes 6 down with 2 more to go.

A. Lynn Scoresby

Yale President said we are drowning in a sea of information but starving for knowledge.

We don't have a testimony because of activities at church, but they give a chance to build relationships that lead to testimony.

A sin is a sin because it hurts people.

S. Michael Wilcox

If the Savior asks or invites, the assumption must be: "I can do it."

Sometimes it seems like we are asked to do impossible things: reject and resist every temptation; overcome addiction; change our character, personality, thought patterns; master a talent; fulfill an unwanted calling; forgive the unforgivable; trust a God who allows incredible suffering and cruelty; consecrate all you have; let go prejudices, biases, hatreds; work ethically in a dog-eat-dog world.

If He asks me, He's going to help me.

Sometimes the grace that God gives us is just the ability to try again--not remove the problem.

The real you is you at your best, not at your worst, and that is how God sees us and how we should see each other.

Sometimes we try to walk on water that God never wanted us to. Don't walk on the wrong sea.

Michael W. Allred

Whether or not they had a personal spiritual experience is what kept youth from being delinquent--not FHE, etc, but we have FHE, etc, in hopes they will have a spiritual experience.

Elder Scott--I am now much less moved to help people with the things that I have learned. Rather I am powerfully motivated to share with them how the lessons were learned.

Scriptures should be our original source. Read and ponder more what the Lord said and less what others have said about what the Lord has said. (Ezra Taft Benson?)

Randall A. Wright

Jesus' strongest rebuke was to those who buried their talents.

There never was a revelation without a question first.

The piece of advice given by Harold B. Lee to Marion G. Romney when Pres. Romney was called to be an assistant to the Twelve--If you are to be successful as a General Authority, I will give you one piece of advice: Go to bed early and get up early.

It takes more discipline to go to bed early than to get up early.

Advertisers use target marketing...placing ads when the desired demographic will be watched. BMWs and Mercedes are advertised at 5 am and Yugos at midnight.

Joseph F. McConkie

The issue isn't whether God loves you--that's a given. The issue is whether He trusts you or not.

Missionaries that are released are now agents unto themselves. Can they continue to grow as when an instrument?

Jack S. Marshall

Pres. Howard W. Hunter--Despair, doom, and gloom are not acceptable for LDS...there is no excuse for pessimism and despair...things have been worse and they will always get better...sounds like we all ought to go and eat a big plate of worms.

We are not called in this life to be successful in all things but faithful in all things.

When we do inappropriate things, He doesn't go--"Oh, golly, perhaps the Celestial Kingdom is too high for you. Maybe your goal should be the Terrestrial Kingdom."

He doesn't give up on us. He doesn't grow weary.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell-We hold people hostage whom God long ago had forgiven.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions...but so is the road to heaven.

We ask for faith, not infallibility.

James L. Carroll

For added computer safety--have a credit card with a low limit on it. Use it for your e-commerce business and don't let the company raise your limit.

William J. Vincent

Remember when exercising: When in doubt, "under do it." You don't want to dread exercise because it's hard. No pain, no gain is not true. You don't want to sweat profusely, but just a little bit.

At least 1/3 of cancers are from poor diet and physical inactivity.

The greatest risk of exercise is not doing it.

Gary L. McCallister

Art (including music) develops the brain for abstract thinking (science does not). Education in the arts is more that about the arts. Art grows the brain and allows for better thinking in math and science.

There are 3 things you can do that work to develop the brain and mind of young people: music, computers, and legos.

More than any other activity, music prepares the brain for higher thought.

Kurt W. Mortensen

Burying your emotions is like changing your outer clothes every day but not your underwear--you look OK from the outside but eventually you can't hide the stench.

Being resentful (holding a grudge) is like drinking poison and hoping it will hurt your enemy.

Stephen G. Aldana

70% of all deaths are due to lifestyle choices: tobacco, lack of physical exercise, and poor diet are the 3 main causes.

notes from Ed Week 2004

Ed J. Pinegar

"Quality" time doesn't count unless there's been enough "quantity" time.

Your perception is reality to you--whether it's true or not.

Pres. Spencer W. Kimball--If you leave a good girl and a good boy alone long enough, they will sin.

John A. Castagna

Credit Card-a means of buying something you don't need at a price you can't afford, with money you don't have.

If you rescue a damsel in distress, remember all you get is a distressed damsel.

Patrick D. Degn

Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley--It is not enough to be good. Be good for something.

D. Kelly Odgen

The Lord does not reveal Himself to blabbermouths (so we keep some things to ourselves)

The endowment, which was given by revelation, is best understood by revelation.

Mary Jane Woodger

Elder Richard G. Scott--To reach a goal you have never before attained, you must do things you have never before done.

Sacrifice is what leads to our calling and election being made sure.

We often make the wrong offering as Cain did.

Elder Russell M. Nelson--Our highest sense of sacrifice is achieved as we make ourselves more sacred or holy.

Albert Einstein--Insanity is to keep doing what we have done and expect a different result.

Elder Boyd K. Packer--You have your agency, and inspiration does not--perhaps cannot--flow unless you ask for it, or someone asks for you.

Worry is a form of atheism.

Steven T Linford

Bruce C. Hafen--Worry not that you become well-known, but that you are worth knowing.

R. Colleen Harrison

An addiction takes the place of God. An addiction is an addiction is an addiction, no matter what it is (to work, food, pornography...)

Recovery--not just get over our addiction, but to recover our relationship with God and Christ.

Elder L. Tom Perry--If we increase our dependence on anything or anyone except the Lord, we will find an immediate decrease in our freedom to act.

Randy L. Bott

We can generally do that which we wish to do.

We withdraw ourselves from the Spirit not vice versa. He stays on the strait and narrow path and we leave the path.

President George Q. Cannon--If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect.

Howard W. Hunter?--Permit me to suggest that we stop criticizing our wives. It weakens our love for them and kills theirs for us.

Richard K. Scott

Maturing is learning to be "other" oriented. Marriage is the master class in overcoming selfishness.

Justification: an event/ordinance/pronounced free from sin
Sanctification: a process/change of heart/free from the effects of sin

Elder Neal A. Maxwell--Develop charity. Yes, we need the essential ordinances, but we also need the essential attribute.

William Tynsdale--Tribulation is a gift to God's special friends. (Tynsdale translated the Bible into English and suffered great tribulation for it)

S. Michael Wilcox

C. S. Lewis--I think if God forgives us then we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise, it's like setting ourselves up as a higher tribunal than Him.

Ronald E. Bartholomew

Isaiah 5:20 woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil.... Has Satan convinced you that the Lord's solutions won't work for you (and world's solutions will)?

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday. I tried calling, but it seems she's out having fun. Way to go, mom!

Love you tons!!!

2003 Ed Week notes

Are you ready for some more??? Hope so.

Stephen R. Covey

We practice mercy. Let God deal with justice.

The church teaches principles. The Holy Ghost teaches practices.

Eric G. Stephan

Elder Hales--take everything we would like to do and then find a personal concern--what's bugging us at work or at church. Take 3 or 4 things and then decide what would make a significant difference. Then relax and do it.

Stop and ask yourself 2 questions:
1-Why am I doing this? As in why--what's the value? I--why me instead of someone else? this--instead of that? We do many things we shouldn't.
2-Why am I doing it this way?

Don't leave your energy in the gym. Work out to be invigorated, not weary.

To reach perfection a man must develop equally compassion and wisdom. Then he will neither be a good-hearted fool or a hard-hearted scholar.

Most things don't happen because there is no plan to make them happen.

Elder Russell M. Ballard

Seek the constantly for guidance from the Holy Ghost to know what to do and say and what not to do and not to say. (topic was parenting)

Dennis B. Deaton

Persuasive, patient, and long-suffering--those are God's chief ways of acting.

Benjamin J. Knowlton

Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley--I would suggest that we stop seeking out storms of life and enjoy sunlight....There is good all around us-- if we will only look for it.

E. Dale Baron

Satan wants us to be satisfied with anything short of exaltation.

Praying about every little thing for inspiration opens us to false spirits. Don't seek personal revelation on everything.

Emotions and spirit are closely linked and might mistake an emotional response for a spiritual one.

John L. Lund

God has called Jesus to save His children.
God has called me to love His children.

Terrance D. Olson

Living responsibly is better than accepting consequences.

The guilty take the truth to be hard but also always construe righteousness to be self-righteousness.

We can live in two ways. 1-to love people and use things or 2-to love things and use people

Positive peer pressure is actually friendship. Negative peer pressure is when others undermine your best interests. It is when your friends behave like enemies.

K. Douglas Bassett

If Satan can't get us to sin, he will fill our lives with clutter.

Elder Henry B. Eyring--The still, small voice is so quiet that you won't hear it when you are noisy inside.

There are things that are not sin in and of themselves, but they drive away the Spirit: anxiety, stress, fear of failure or unknown, depression.

You can answer all the temple recommend questions correctly and still not have the Spirit.

We will not be judged in comparison, but with the energy we were given.

This life is a long-distance race, so why are we always sprinting.

Too many of us want to get to heaven on a feather bed. You have to pick up a cross.

Jesus could not have calmed the sea is he had not been calm himself.

Chris and Kory J. Wright

Agency and the Law of the Harvest teach us we have a choice--jungle or farm.

Hugh Nibley--Every day there's a choice between light or dark, life or death. They go separate ways so there is no mixing.

The Lord cares about our finances. Do we include Him in our plans?

Thomas L. Tyler

We are feeling the Spirit's influence when we want to be good, do good, and be faithful.

As we respond to the Spirit's gentle touch, its effect upon us is to do the right thing for the right reasons, to be humble, and to be righteous in our assessment of things.

The usual pattern of inspiration is to place clear thoughts in our minds accompanied by feelings of rightness, peace, and assurance in the heart.

Debbie Bowen

Be clean enough to be healthy, but dirty enough to be happy.

Patricia H. Sprinkle--Never us a cannon when a water pistol will do.

It's easier to keep up than to catch up.

Learning to enjoy what we have to do leads to fulfillment.

A child's performance is proportionate to a parent's persistence.

James Jones

Lucifer's way is control--but it's impossible to control kids. Father's way is learning through choices and consequences.

When you try to control, you get mad because you can't. You fall into Satan's trap.

If you have no needs, you have no motivation.

Lynn D. Johnson

If you shift your awareness to the positive emotions, you feel happier.

Anger makes you lose about 30 points on your IQ. Don't make any decisions when you are angry.

What we think literally shapes our brain--like a muscle.

When you don't blame people for things they actually try harder.

S. Michael Wilcox

Naaman the Leper (dipped in river 7 times to become clean)...what if he quit at the 6th dip? Don't be a 6-dip Mormon!

R. Colleen Harrison

Journal-writing is not about exact details but about lesson's learned.

S. Dee Barrett

Don't send your children off to school full of contention because then they are open to Satan.

D. Kelly Ogden

People who are humble don't think less of themselves but think of themselves less.

Brian M. Hauglid

Whatever the Lord commands is right.

Clyde J. Williams

The Holy Ghost doesn't prompt us to be sarcastic or to make cutting remarks.

James D. MacArthur

The telestial road is smoother. The celestial road is bumpier.

Ed Week 2002

Especially since I will have so many long posts this week, I hope if this is too long for you to read in one sitting that you will come back a time or two or three until you get to read all the quotes. I really feel that these words are inspiring, uplifting and encouraging...with just a little bit of a kick in the pants added.

And just a note as to how pathetic I am...I picked out which classes I would have attended if I had been in Provo today. Man, are they good choices.
1st class-Nephi, the Tree, and the Lost World of the Ancient Hebrews
2-Pierced Bread and Blood: How the Ancient and Modern Ordinances Testify of Christ
3-Devotional by Elder Boyd K. Packer
4-New Guidelines in Food Storage-Simple Planning and Purchasing Ideas
5-Making Sense of Music from the Baroque Era-Fugues, French Overtures, and Oratorios
6-Seeing the Light-Megasavants, the Veil, Bright Recollection, and Other Fascinations Involving the Brain
7-Parenting Like the Prophets: A Review of Statements on Parenting from the Presidents of the Church
8-dinner
9-The Infinite Atonement-An Old Testament Perspective
10-Models of the Messiah-We Three Kings: Mosiah I, Benjamin, Mosiah II.

It kind of cracks me up...it really shows my varied interests. Wow, it would have been a great day.

Thoughts from Ed Week 2002

MICHAEL L. BALLAM

A lot of our challenges can be changed with our choices.

Pres. Howard W. Hunter--We must know Christ better than we know Him; we must remember Him more often than we remember Him; we must serve Him more valiantly than we serve Him. Then we will drink water springing up unto eternal life and will eat the bread of life.

C. S. Lewis--We must try to feel about our enemy as we feel about ourselves--to wish that he were not bad, to hope that he may be cured, in fact, to wish his good. That is what is meant in the Bible by loving him: wishing his good, not feeling fond of him or saying he is nice when he is not.

ELDER L. TOM PERRY

Accept the challenge of change.

DENNIS B. DEATON

Sometimes we get so involved in our own strength that we don't look to see what service we can be.

Woody Allen--What I'd like is a blessing that's not in disguise.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell--It is up to us. God will facilitate, but He will not force.

Righteousness = obedience. Good = obedience.

DAVID A. CHRISTENSEN

If a child rebels, you are not a failure. The Lord knew you would have a rebellious child and He knows what He's doing.

He knows you're going to foul up and He's taken that into consideration.

Don't "what if" or you'll go crazy. He's prepared a way for the salvation of that child--just take care of yourself. Foul up--repent--foul up--repent--do the best you can--repent. Let God do His work and don't stress.

Do your best and the Lord will compensate. He loves your children more than you do.

KAREN POOL and SUSAN ELIASON

Our minds don't work when we focus on our limits.

TODD L. PEARSON

Satan makes us think we can be all things to all people.

BRENT L. TOP

Taking up the cross means a joyful sacrifice of one's life in living, not dying.

Conviction comes from what you know. Conversion is characterized by what you do. Consecration is what you are.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell--Some give of their time yet without of themselves, being present without giving of their presents, going through the superficial motions of membership instead of the deep emotions of consecrated discipleship.

Conversion does not equal testimony.
Faithful does not equal dutiful.

Are vs. Do
reverent vs. being quiet
virtuous vs. refraining from immoral thoughts

MERRILEE BOYACK

If you had died and your husband was looking for another wife, would he pick you?

Treat him to the level of his divine nature. Heavenly Father treats us the same way--He doesn't criticize us but relentlessly treats us as if we were more.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell--Brethren, marry someone who is your better in some respects; and sisters, do likewise, so that your eternal partnership is one of compensating competencies.

TED L. EARL and ED J. PINEGAR

Boyd K. Packer--Too much guilt is a tool of Satan.

Guilt unto repentance is of the Lord. Guilt after repentance is of Satan.

Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley--As far as I'm concerned, whether it's a commandment or counsel, that which the Lord counsels becomes a commandment to Gordon B. Hinckley. I hope it does to you.

S. MICHAEL WILCOX

C. S. Lewis--I believe in Christianity and in Christ as I believe in the rising sun--not just because I see it, but because with it, I see everything else more clearly.

Life is a battle--the scriptures are the sword.
Life is a dark place--the scriptures are a lamp.
Life is a wilderness journey--the scriptures are a liahona, a compass.

Read your scriptures as if you were going to teach them the next day.

Every time 2 young men decide to serve a mission, God can open a whole city. ---ok as a returned sister missionary do I take umbrage at that statement?...only a tiny bit

GARY L. POLL

The atonement doesn't cover giving up--but it covers everything else.

We need to be diligent in keeping the commandments. We think of it as a sprint and it may be a marathon. God says when it's over.

There are two kinds of people who came to the earth: those who need the atonement and He who atoned.

STEPHEN E. LAMB

Pres. Harold B. Lee--Don't allow the [marriage] ceremony to terminate the days of courtship.

JOHN L. LUND

Men don't feel appreciated for what they do. They only feel resented for what they don't do. Sincere admiration and appreciation are the fuels that motivate men.

KEVIN R. MILLER

Elder Dallin H. Oaks--The safety and happiness we are promised lies in keeping the commandments and not in discounting them or multiplying them. It may be as dangerous to exceed orthodoxy as it is to fall short of it.

Sin springs from deep and unmet needs, so be in touch with your needs.

The more we say "yes" the more we will be blessed is false. Only the Spirit can tell you the mix you are supposed to have. (class was on balancing your life)

STANLEY A. JOHNSON

Justification comes from obedience. Sanctification comes from the Spirit (after a lifetime of obedience).

Elder Boyd K. Packer--Some are tested by poor health, some by a body that is deformed or homely. Others are tested by handsome and healthy bodies; some by the passion of youth; others by the erosions of age. Some suffer disappointment in marriage, family problems; others live in poverty and obscurity. Some (perhaps this is the hardest test) find ease and luxury. All are part of the test, and there is more equality in this testing than sometimes we suspect.

Trying makes us better. The problem isn't in failing; the problem is in not trying.

MARK D. OGLETREE

Stephen R. Covey--Probably the greatest model of parenting is the missionary. How are investigators brought into the church? By love, bearing testimony...

Ed Week 2001 gems

OK, here are some gems from the 2001 Ed Week notebook. I hope that you will not only enjoy them, but will find something that will make your life better, easier, or bring more understanding and insight.

DEEANN P. LUBBERS:

Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.

Be selective in what you are doing instead of just being busy, busy, busy.

W. JEFFREY MARSHS:

Pres. James E. Faust--Not having the Holy Ghost is like having a body without an immune system.

ROBERT J. MATTHEWS:

Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley--Given what we have and what we know, we ought to be a better people.

JULIE LYNE DYMOCK:

Pres. Ezra Taft Benson--If we love God, do His will, and fear His judgments more than men's, we will have self-esteem.

Scriptures and prayer are like the home keys on a typewriter. They won't let you type a wrong message.

Prado's law--20% of the effort yields 80% of the benefit.

CLYDE J. WILLIAMS:

This life is a test, so some of the questions go unanswered.

MERRILEE BOYACK:

Neal A. Maxwell: Mormon malaise--going nowhere, but doing it very anxiously.

Gordon B. Hinckley--It's time to do what's right regardless of the consequences that may follow.

If there's one strength of Christ's we need to emulate the most, putting others first is it.

R. SCOTT STRONG:

The gospel is about endowing God's children with glory, light, and power.

DONNA B. NIELSEN:

The fall changed work into toil to teach what it takes to redeem the world.

All work is potentially sacred because through it we can serve God.

Fanatic-anyone who cares about something more than you do.

MICHAEL W. ALLRED:

Spencer W. Kimball--Always expecting the spectacular, many will miss entirely the constant flow of revealed communication. (having the spirit with us constantly is like a fish living in water...he doesn't notice the constant flow of water)

BECKY GREER:

People who are sedentary have a greater risk of heart disease and cancer than people who smoke.

RICHARD K. SCOTT:

Gordon B. Hinckley--I have this one suggestion to offer. If you will make your first concern the comfort, the well-being, and the happiness of your companion, sublimating any personal concern to that loftier goal, you will be happy and your marriage will go on through eternity.

James E. Faulconer--A poor self-image, like every self-image including a good one, is selfish. To be concerned about self-image, good or bad, is also to place oneself at the center.

Only the selfless will be married in the next life.

BERNELL L. CHRISTENSEN:

What determines the success of a marriage is whether the couple has skills to resolve differences.

HOYT W. BREWSTER:

An apostle's burden: to see what was ahead and have members not listen to you.

DOREEN S. WOOLLEY:

Not everything worth doing is worth doing well.

If it's barely worth doing, barely do it.

Never use a child's passion as punishment. It might be the only thing holding him together. (the topic of the class was children who are bright)

BRENT L. TOP and BRUCE CHADWICK:

It's a veil not a wall...we'll receive help from loved ones gone before (topic here was parenting)

K. DOUGLAS BASSETT:

The Lord takes the way we treat each other personally.

Our leaders are called to test our discipleship, not to lead us (the Lord could do that).

To go with a lesser plan and be united is better than to go with a better plan and not be united.

There's no right way to do something wrong.

There's no place like Ed Week. There's no place like Ed Week. There's no place like Ed Week...

...darn! I'm still in Fallon.

I can't believe I'm not in Provo at this time. Like I was in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008. 2005 was the only year I haven't been... I've been twice without my sister, but this year I just didn't want to go without her.

I tell myself that I've been often enough and I don't want to spend the money. And now I've been out of town so much this summer that the thought of driving anywhere further away than Reno makes me want to scream.

So, I've decided to post highlights from my notebooks so I can savor past Ed Week experiences. My notebooks are one of my most treasured possessions. What I will post are quotes, thoughts, and info that really impressed me.

Ed Week 2000

GLENN I. LATHAM:

Don't suppose that short-term compliance achieved using coercive means leads to long-term goals. Coercion produces only short-term compliance followed by long-term losses.

Say or do to your children only what you want said and done to your grandchildren.

Don't allow children to establish our level of civility. Children are low. Our job is to civilize them.

Children will be children--that's why adults should be adults.

DOUGLAS E. BRINLEY:

While sixth-tenths or three-fourths of the Saints will keep the commandments, the curse and judgments of God will not come upon us (Brigham Young JD 10:335-6)

...the Lord will take care of the Saints; it is our business to be Saints. (John Taylor JD 22:141-2)

from Denise's notes of BARBARA BARRINGTON JONES' class:

A woman gets her self-esteem from her relationships--especially with her husband. A man gets his self-esteem from his work.

Women have a relationship with their house. "Honey, please fix it" is important.

Your mate is Heavenly Father's sandpaper.

Man said, "There's 80% of me that's good and 20% that's not so good. If you dwell on the 80% we'll be happy--on the 20%, we'll be divorced."

The more you love a man, the more they'll change themselves. They need to feel respected and loved.

Brigham Young said we need to make ourselves beautiful for our husbands and this is not pride--that would be like denying the beauty in the place of the gods.

MERRILEE A. BOYACK:

Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. --James Baldwin

Brother Murphy's law: Anything bad can and will happen at Church.

You will almost always make better decisions for your child than he would make for himself. --John Rosemond

John Rosemond--Self-sufficiency is the yardstick of self-esteem. The road to self-sufficiency is paved with frustration, disappointment, failure, falling flat on one's face, and other equally "unhappy" experiences. We cannot afford to deny children these things.

Dorothy B--In successful parenting you literally try to work yourself out of a job.

BAHR, LOVELESS, and MANWARING:

Housework is about building a family, not taking care of a house.

We are not our childrens' bosses; they are not our employees. Salvation is not given to the most efficient mother.

KENNETH W. MATHESON:

If you get chocolate all over your hands, you are eating it too slowly.

Quit using the past as the velcro to justify inadequacies now.

We judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions.

ANGELLE ANDERSON:

Jenkin Lloyd Jones--Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he's been robbed.
Most putts don't drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise.
Life is like an old-time rail journey--delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.
The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.

Elder M. Russell Ballard--We must recognize our limitations. No one can do everything. When you have done the best you can, be satisfied and don't look back and second guess how you could have done more. Be at peace with yourself for what you didn't do. Congratulate yourself for what you did.

Most kids get into trouble because they don't know how to get out of it. (Use role playing to teach them what to do in different situations)

SCOTT C. MARSH:

We are more likely to share money with a child who saves. Is Heavenly Father any different?

LINDA DASTRUP:

Telestial choice-thinking of ourselves
Terrestrial choice-social choice
Celestial choice-spiritual choice

JULIE LYNE DYMOCK:

"What makes a talent great is the end to which it is directed--to glorify God and serve mankind." Bill L. Hill (sculptor of Logan Tabernacle Pioneer Monument)

Growth always comes outside the comfort zone.

Do what you love because what you love is an indication of your talents and gifts.

Neal A Maxwell--I know the celestial criteria measures service, not status; the use of our talents, not the relative size of our talent inventories. I know that Church membership is not passive security but continuing opportunity.

Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley--Whatever your calling, it is as fraught with the same kind of opportunity to accomplish good as is mine.

J. LLOYD ELDREDGE:

Poor readers did better if reading difficult material with assistance than poor readers who read interesting, but simple, material matched to their "instructional reading levels."

Café Rio Salads (chicken tacos)

This is the recipe Jackie cooked for us while we were at Almanor. It was soooo good that I ate till I was stuffed...and didn't have room for the banana splits they served for dessert. But that was OK with me because I loved this recipe so much.

Dressing:
1 buttermilk ranch dressing packet (make as directed with 1/2 cup mayo and 1/2 cup sour cream along with 1 cup buttermilk)
2 medium tomatillos (3-4 small) cut in quarters
1 bunch cilantro
1 clove garlic
juice of 2 limes
1 jalapeño (use seeds for more spice)

Assemble in a blender or food processor and mix until blended.

Spicy Chicken
1 small (8 oz) bottle of Kraft Zesty Italian dressing (Jackie uses more)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
3 cloves garlic, minced (Jackie uses more)
5 lbs chicken breast.

Cook all together in a crockpot for 4-5 hours, shred meat and cook 1 additional hour.

Serve with: the dressing recipe from above, guacamole, shredded cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, tortilla shells, and Zataran's Black Beans and Rice mix (mix and cooked as directed and add 1 can black beans if you want more beans).

Lake Almanor

On our first morning at Lake Almanor, Glen and I took a walk, and this is part of the scenery...don't know who the fishermen are, but I thought they made a nice picture

It was the 14th annual Perazzo Clan vacation last week. We had our first clan vacation back in 1995. Last year was the only year we didn't have one due to the adults going on a cruise to celebrate my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary.

The first 6 years we went to Donner Lake. Since 2001 we've been to Lake Almanor (at Camp Conery, south end of the lake) 7 times and to Camp Little Bear (or whatever it was called!) in Paradise, Utah once.

The weather was wacky...hot the first few afternoons, pretty chilly the next few, and it rained on us (when we left the forecast said 0% chance of rain for the entire week). But it was wonderful!

My mother came up on Monday and left on Thursday. I think she had a really good time. We even had her play in our pinochle tournaments. Couldn't get her to play volleyball or square dance with us, however--but she enjoyed watching! Thanks for coming, mom!

I was in charge of lunch on Sunday (sandwiches) and then all the meals on Monday (cold cereal and bisquick coffee cake for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, and Hawaiian haystacks for dinner--my menu never varies much).

We had some wonderful meals that week. Jackie made chicken, black beans and rice tacos with a delicious cilantro sauce. I will post the recipe when I get it from her. We also were served sweet and sour spare ribs, lasagna, chicken, and ham on other nights. Simply divine.

So, now for the best part: pictures.

Saw this bird (eagle? hawk?) while on a walk with Glen

Niece Amanda giving us a "Stomp" style performance

My mom and me (our cabin is in the background)

On square dancing night, there was also some "limboing" going on...some (Alex) had it easier than others (I had it pretty easy as I didn't even try)

Eric, Ryan, Hannah, me, Alex (with Caramel Cracker Jacks), and Glen in front of our cabin the morning we left