Smith Family Ice Cream Scoop: December 2006

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Kurt Bestor Concert

So, last night and the night before I got to play in the Kurt Bestor concerts in Idaho Falls and Pocatello. The Pocatello one was awesome! The place is amazing, Stevens Hall or something, it's new and beautiful and huge. The concert went so well. IF wasn't as amazing, but Brandon and Aubrey got to watch it, so that was neat.

Oh, and I did get to meet Kurt--he hung out with us in the "green room".

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Yes, Adam, we live in the woods

Friday, December 08, 2006

Collin Raye Concert

Guess what I did last night? I played my violin in the Collin Raye concert!!! It was his Christmas concert, with an orchestra, and I got to be in the orchestra! It was so much fun, and I am so tired today. We had a 2 hour rehearsal, then a break, then the concert. I was actually on stage with Collin Raye...but unfortunately I didn't get to meet him. :o( The most awesome song to play was "I Can Still Feel You". Wow, was that a rush!

Lauritz and Lynda drove clear up to IF and back just to see the concert! Luckily I was able to beg two comp tickets for them. (They only gave 1 per orchestra member).

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

O Christmas Trees, O Christmas Trees

On Saturday we drove up to Ashton, bought two permits, and cut down our own Christmas trees. It was a lot of fun! We waded through very deep snow, knee deep for Brandon, waist deep for Cooper! It's hard to tell from the picture, but the top tree, which is our upstairs tree, has two trunks! It starts as one and branches off. We thought it was fun and unique.

This is the "kids' tree" downstairs. They had fun decorating it! All of the red ornaments are borrowed from Annette...otherwise it would have been quite bare.

After Pictures

Brenda requested pictures of my new carpet...it's hard to tell from these pictures what it really looks like, but maybe you can get an idea. I think in real life it looks a little darker and less pink. If you want to see the true carpet, come visit me!

My "Elephant"

Cooper put my shoes on his hands and feet one day and played elephant for a long time. It was quite funny...I just had to take a picture.
Don't look at the house! We were in the getting carpet mode!

Tyler's 9th Birthday

Tyler celebrated his 9th birthday on November 27th. He had his traditional double layer chocolate cake with pink frosting. He saw one many years ago at a bakery, and has asked for one every year since. He usually has a cherry on top, but the local grocery bakery wouldn't sell me one like they have in the past, but he wanted a #9 candle anyway, so it worked out well. The chocolate sprinkles were a new addition this year.

To Do Today

* Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you.
* When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself and direct them, in gratitude and love, toward God.
* In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and therefore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.
* First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don't permit anything to detract you from this awareness.
* You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the Light of Christ.
* Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.
* Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his Church.
* God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.
* God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us--everything will fall into its place.
* Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.
* When you cannot love someone, look into that person's eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him.
* Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.
* If someone hurts you so much that your feelings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again.
* Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm. On the road toward salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity but never doubts.
* Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter places of worship.
* Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your heart, might, and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction.
* You want to be good and to do good. That is commendable. But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then he will teach us what is really good and necessary to do.
* The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.
* Be grateful for every opportunity to serve. It helps you more than those you serve.
* And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better.

from "Unleashing the Dormant Spirit by F. Enzio Busche