Smith Family Ice Cream Scoop: Weekend Away

We spent the weekend on the farm (Brandon's mom and dad) and it was GREAT!!!! Way too short, as usual, but great!

I had to find a picture for the "vintage" challenge over at mission24, so I had a lot of fun taking pictures of the old dump truck. (And trying to find other stuff... this worked out good though.)

I took graduation pictures for Tanner. He's one handsome guy... he looks a lot like his older brother. ;) They would've turned out better if he would've got his lazy bum out of bed at 8:00 a.m. ;)

Oh, the sky. It was beautiful. Just beautiful!

Cooper lost ANOTHER tooth, and had fun with his skateboard. (No, he didn't lose his tooth riding the skateboard!) I love my little jack-o-lantern!

Lynda had beautiful flowers here and there! So springy and pretty!

Lauritz told me to stop taking pictures of him. I think he should stop doing cool farm things then. ;)

One of my vintage attempts... I love this old chair!

I also had fun chasing the chickens. It seems that nobody likes their picture taken around here! I also took pictures of that awesome barn in the header... I WANT THAT BARN!!

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

9 comments:

Brenda said...: It sounds like you had a great weekend. I love Cooper's smile. Too funny!; 9:44 AM
Candace said...: I love all the pictures, Mindy! It looks like you guys had an awesome weekend! I love that old barn in your header too.. if it makes you feel any better, the barns on my farm aren't nearly that cool looking. ;); 11:23 AM
Mike, Sha, Kenna, Kate, & Garrett said...: Happy late birthday Coop! love the missing teeth-such a cute thing. Also love the pics of the farm-farm life really is great. At least from this point of view-it may change in a few years;) Love all your pics Mindy, I should get you to teach me how to use my camera.; 12:44 PM
nikib4kids said...: Love the pictures! Someday I aspire to be more like you! Cooper is just too cute with all those missing teeth!; 12:55 PM
The Oylers said...: Oh how you make me long for the farm and family. You are doing so awesome I love all of the pics. Can't wait just two more months.; 1:35 PM
Rachel Holloway said...: Awww.....what a great weekend. Farm life just feels so carefree....

Thanks for sharing your wonderful art with everyone...you do such beautiful work and I am so happy to see it displayed!; 3:33 PM
Shannon said...: BEAUTIFUL pictures Mindy!! I want that barn too!

I'm glad you could get away. Everyone needs that once in a while!; 7:35 PM
Candace said...: Hey Mindy! I know I already commented on this one, but I wanted to come and thank you for following my blogs. I just love hearing from you, so that really made my day when I read that! Are you on facebook, by chance? I'd love to be able to keep up with you and leave you comments! :); 8:22 AM
Amy said...: Mindi I love your photgraphs! All of them. You are so talented. And I agree that barn is amazing!; 10:59 AM

Monday, April 20, 2009

Weekend Away

9 comments: