Decisions,...

I MAY have made a decision in the quest of the rest of my life,.. I still need to take it to the Lord, and see what He has to say...and I still need to have a chat with the school adviser....Soon, I think I shall know soon...

On that aspect,.. I was preparing my YW lesson today and am SO thankful for the girls that I have a chance to teach on a weekly basis! They are such a spiritual group. I remember what it was like to be 12/13 yrs old,.. some of the worst times of my life. Lots of anger and confusion. I remember that my mind was all crazed and confused. I hear there are studies out there that say that teens during that time are literally crazy and have a few marbles loose during those times... My poor girls,.. they are great girls and will make great decisions in their lives.. which brings me to something that I keep thinking of and that I feel is SO true. As I work with the kids at work and at church, go to my book club, talk to friends, get frustrated with people, etc. The phrase that Joseph Smith said of " ...I teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves.." has come to mean so much more to me. I LOVE this quote! I was talking to a friend of mine this afternoon and we were talking how true this quote is. That Heavenly Father has done the same things for us. We have been taught these correct principles in the pre-existence and we are here on earth governing ourselves. Oh, how we can learn to parent from our Father in Heaven and how he treats us. We make good decisions or bad decisions and we have the consequences that come from that. Good consequences or bad... I keep thinking of this quote because as many of you know I work in the social work field with kids who have substance abuse/dependence issues. Some of them have been taught correct principles from their families while growing up, some of them haven't. But the kids are where they are because they have MADE DECISIONS and are paying the consequences for those actions. As I have been learning more of the drug issue in Juneau as well as around the states and world, I keep thinking that we need to and it is our RESPONSIBILITY to teach our children correct principles. The proclamation to the Family, that my church has put out says.. Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations. It is a huge responsibilty and we will be held accountable..."In my book club we were discussing different types of books and harry Potter came up. As the members of my group are of all religions and thoughts, it was said that they have chosen not to have Harry Potter in their homes, which is fine, although good teaching times are being lost..."I teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves.." What an eternal principle that is!

Easter...

This past week a few fun things happened. It was my friend Lynn's birthday. I wanted to make her a homemade gift, but was unsire what to make her. I thought of some scrub pants as she is in teh medical business, but have no sweing machine yet. About three days before her birthday I thought "OH, I will make her a scrapbook." But I didn't have a lot of time as I had school, and something else,. etc. So I made her pages and put them in a scrapbook for her to put her pictures in. She is planning on leaving this beautiful state some time early next year. So I thought she could add her pictures and look and remember good times. I also made her a crown... What birthday girl doesn't like a crown? A couple pictures of the inside books and Lynn wearing her crown. Also,.. After many HOURS of reading and doing school work, a friend of mine, whom I also spent Easter with, calle dme and asked me to come help decorate a cake. It took about an hour if that. It went REALLY quick! I love the bunnies ears and nose! This is her son Xander the next day. He kept telling his mom " I need an ear. Mom, Can't I just have an ear?" I LOVE this kid! he is a crack up. Back to studying... semester is ALMOST over.. yay, I made it through one more semester! now its time to decide what I am going ot do with the rest f my life,.. psychology, social work or stick with teaching....Decisions, decisions!!!!!! Hope you all had a great Easter!

update

It has been a LONG time! I have been so busy! I went to California to visit my family and some good friends whom, I haven't seen in AGES! It was a FABULOUS trip!! Something that I needed after I hit my winter wall and had a mini tantrum of hating snow, cold, being constantly wet and having to wear my "Juneau sneakers" EVERYDAY!. While down south (lower 48), I saw sun, felt my toes on sand and grass and saw beautiful weather. The highlight of course was my family and friends and the sun!!! My mom and I drove to San Diego to visit my Uncle Leo. While there the temp. was about 65 degrees... I was SO hot! As my uncle, his girlfriend and mom are all in long sleeved shirts and under blankets, I was wishing for shorts. I did get to wear slippers(flip-flops). It was AWESOME! While in California, besides seeing my Uncle, we went to the San Diego zoo, saw a few wonderful art shows at the San Diego Museum of art, walked on the beach, ate fantastic (non Juneau) food, mom , Grams and I went to the city and saw a Yves St.Laurent exhibit which was AMAZING and SO colorful, drove through San Francisco, did a little shopping, and all in all relaxed and had a marvelous time with my family and friends. It was fantastic. All I could ask for and more! Since being back, I went back to work, studying,.. and you know "real life." During this "real life" not too much has happened. Enjoy the pictures from the trip! The pictures go, my Uncle Scott, my dear and one of my best friends Trish and her two girls, Ocean Beach (San Francisc0), my Uncle Leo and his girlfirend Debbie, their dgs, Reggie, Layla and Ella, San Diego temple, some beach my uncle Leo took us, me and my friend Elsbeth I saw while on my layover in Seattle coming back to JNU), the San Diego temple, and Kailaya and her "kissy face" Isn't she a cutie? She is SO smart!