A New Kind of Timeout...

This makes me like this song now....

I have never really liked the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas however, after getting this from my dad and realizing that there is symbolism, I kind of like it now. Here's a little Christmas fact for the day :)

Enjoy! and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

http://www.crivoice.org/cy12days.html

Living Nativity

Our stake put on a living nativity. I almost didn't go because I thought it was going to be like the one that used to be at the end of our street: people sitting under a manger still for like 5 hours. However, Utah knows how to do it right. It was very cold and snowing/raining and there was still a lot of people there. There was backdrops set up, live donkeys, sheep and lambs etc. Costumes were awesome, speaker system set up etc. They had it all decked out. I wish I would have taken pictures but I didn't. It was a great experience and it really got me in the Christmas Spirit. If you ever hear of a living nativity, go check it out.

Every Little Bit Counts

One of the things that bothers me (of many) about myself is that I don't speak up about the Gospel enough. This morning I read a genealogy blog post that had a lot of questions about baptisms for the dead etc. I thought about it and then I posted a comment thinking that no one would even care or read it.

Not even 5 minutes later I had two direct emails one thanking me for my clear and easy to understand response and also thanking me for not bickering about theology. And I received another email with more questions. I am not sure exactly what she is trying to ask now but I will find out for her very soon.

Anyway, it was a good feeling and it literally took 30 seconds to do. I just wanted to blog about even the smallest things count and can make a big difference. It may not be a big difference for those people but it has given me more faith and strengthened my testimony of just opening your mouth (or keyboard) and doing something about it. :)

Here is my response if you want to read it. Dusty liked my analogy and it may help you when you talk to your children or friends. My only reason in posting this was to help give another in sight of how to talk to people about baptism for the dead.
______________

Jennifer, you are correct. I am a Mormon and by doing baptisms for the dead you are giving that person the opportunity to accept the work that was done for them or they can reject it. We believe that you have your agency before during and after this life. There are many people who never had the chance to hear the Gospel while on this earth, so we are extending that opportunity to them. And yes, "Rest in Peace" (<>

How the "Left" Stole Christmas

How the "Left"Stole Christmas

T'was the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

Why the Politically Correct Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a "Holiday".
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday

10 Easy Things You Can Do To Make Your Day More Productive

1) Wake up early. Set your alarm clock for 15 minutes earlier than you normally do to get an early start on your day. Get up when the alarm sounds.

2) Time your showers. Most people take way more time in the shower than is needed. Set your timer for 7 minutes. When the timer sounds, your shower is done.

3) Plan your outfits the night before. Put whatever you're going to wear to one side of your closet, or folded neatly on a chair. When you are done with your shower each day, your outfit will be waiting for you.

4) Never run just one errand. Try to always combine at least two to three errands in one trip. Start with the errand furthest away, and then work your way back.

5) Make and use lists. Don't try to remember everything you have to do. Always jot down tasks, errands, things to pick up, etc. Don't use sticky notes. Use a tool, such as the Get Organized Now! Easy Organizer:
http://www.getorganizednow.com/ezorganizer.html

6) Cook enough for two meals. No matter what you're cooking--breakfast, lunch or dinner--always cook enough for two meals. When everything is prepared and done, divide it in half. Immediately refrigerate or freeze the one half, and enjoy the other half now.

7) Clean and organize as you go. Rather than giving yourself huge cleaning jobs each day, as you make a mess, quickly clean it up. Dirty dishes can be rinsed immediately and placed in the dishwasher. Wipe off the bathroom countertop and spray the shower with shower spray as soon as you're done with them. Make your bed as soon as you get up. Vacuum any crumbs under the dining table the second everyone is done eating. File papers away as needed, rather than allowing them to pile up in a To Be Filed tray.

8) Enlist help. Whoever is living in your house, whether that person be a spouse, a child, a friend or a relative-- that person should be able to help you get things done in one way or another. A spouse can help out with the kids bath times every other night. A child can help fold clothes, help dust and/or help put toys away. Someone who is not able to help physically, may still be able to sit at a desk and help you sort the mail or shred some documents. It should definitely be a team effort and not a one-man or one-woman show.

9) Consolidate your phone calls. Rather than making and taking calls throughout the day, allow your answering machine to field your calls. Then, make or return calls during one consistently scheduled phone hour each day, such as between 1:00P and 2:00P. Before your phone hour, toss in a load of laundry. After your phone hour, toss those clothes in the dryer. Multi-tasking is one of the keys to being super-productive.

10) Reward yourself. There is nothing more draining than going through an entire day without doing anything fun. Sandwich small rewards between each task. For instance, when you're done with the ironing, read your favorite novel for 15 minutes. When you're done cleaning the bathroom, sit in front of the fireplace while you relax and sip a cup of tea for 15 minutes.

taken from:
Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!

Suboc.com LLC

I just wanted everyone to know that Dusty has formed an LLC with his snake business this week. Congrats to him with many more to come :)

Also as a side note: He got bit on the lip from one of the snakes. I'll let Dusty defend himself on this one....