Insights from General Women's Conference 2014

These are the thoughts and insights I came away with after attending the General Women's Conference on September 27, 2014

Linda K. Burton: Temple Blessings ~ Peace & Comfort
We need to prepare to enter the Temple each time we go: We can receive a spiritual feast, we need to bring our "Lamp Oil" so we can learn of the Bridegroom. We need to keep our testimonies and faith bright like the Lamp of the Gospel. All laws of the Lord are drops of oil --> tithing, fast offerings, prayer, and scripture reading/studying ~ consistently! "Where much is required - much more will be given!" A higher level of obedience is commanded by the lord and required to receive the fulness of the Temple Blessings.

Jean A. Stevens: Daughters of God - Power of Covenants
Covenants connect us to God, they bring us Home to Him. Faithfully keeping covenants keep us on the Path to God. They identify us as disciples of Christ. The best way to keep a home safe is to stay faithful to our covenants. Every mighty change of heart matters to the Lord. 

Niell F. Marriott: Share the Gospel
Add the Gospel light to your life and the lives of others. We need more voices of Women and Sisters in the sharing of the Gospel  women have a circle of faith. We are the beautiful, bright beacons of Truth. God is light and we can continue in God. We can show and share with others. Truth shineth -Temples push back the darkness and enable us to come back to Christ's light. Turn to Christ - He is our only hope for salvation -- Except His plan for you and Come Unto To Him!

Dieter F. Uchtdorf: Daughters of God - Know Who You Are
You are a child of God - A Daughter of God - ALWAYS! Prepare for a future you cannot imagine. We must qualify for these blessings. Straight is the gate and narrow the pathway to God's kingdom. Obedience with all your heart, mind, and soul. We must obey all God's commandments, use the Atonement when needed, and choose His way! Embrace and Follow His commandments as best you can and when you fall short - use the atonement for forgiveness. Receive the shower of Heavenly blessings, Listen to the Divine counsel of the Gospel. The choice is Mine! Humble yourself, Stand as a Witness, Believe you can succeed, Motivate yourself daily. Attend Sunday meetings to renew your faith in God. 

God Loves me  - Even in my weakness - He Loves Me!!

So it's been a while ....

Life has gotten away from me a little and I haven't been writing/posting here. Not really a reason, except I've been on tumblr and Facebook, and other social media. Not having anything really exciting happening has also been a reason, as I feel like I have nothing to write about :(. HOWEVER -- here is a run down of changes which have happened in the last 6 months:

1. I changed church wards in March of this year. I am now going the the Family ward Santa Monica 2nd. The Mid-Singles ward was dissolved by the Church authorities. A shock but I was planning on changing wards any way, it just happened a little sooner. I really love my new ward and feel comfortable there. I know so many more people than I originally thought. The Bishopric is a really great group of leaders!! The R.S. Committee is awesome too, I'm an active member of the choir (of course!), and I've made really great friends and connections there. A real blessing!

2. With the ward change, I now have new callings, yes calling(S)!! I always seem to have at least 2 - they are: Relief Society Board as an Enrichment Committee member AND I am the Senior Nursery Leader. This seemed rather daunting when they first asked me. I have always felt ill-equipped in regards to Nursery aged children. I never really felt I had the patience for that age group or the creativity!! But I'm learning that I do, in fact, have both and just need to give myself to well deserved credit and STOP being so hard on myself!!

3. I've changed jobs twice. I was out of the job since October 2013, with a short stint at Anderson School of Business in the Executive Education Department in January. I got a position at Red Bull as a project assistant - which I really loved but they needed someone with extensive financial experience way beyond what I have. I was sad about this but understood my limitations quickly, so I wasn't surprised. I am currently at Marlborough School for girls as a Development Executive Assistant as a temp. They are a private Junior and Senior high school for girls. So far they haven't really trained me in much so I have a lot of down time (this seems to be a weird trend in jobs temp jobs I get - they seem really well fitted for me but they never really take off.) so I'm not sure where I'm going to end up. The commute is long, it's located in Hancock Park, which is about 9.5 miles away from my house, but it isn't a bad trip only two buses which take about an hour and I tend to get home at a reasonable time in the evening considering traffic!

4. I've had 3 new roommates since I wrote last, all in the same room! Vickie finally moved out (YEAH!!!), she was replaced by Lisa (What a trip she was!), then there was  Brooke - who was an interesting girl, very needy and not at all self sufficient for a 28 year old! Now I have Trammie - she is a jewel. She keeps to herself by choice as she is a Dental Grad Student - so she needs a lot of study time; she is respectful and clean naturally - just really great! Linda is still here although not really there - she sleeps at her boyfriends or on site she's working at, our apartment seems to be a "home base" for her stuff! But I have no complaints about this - I have the apartment pretty much to myself!

So that's it in a nut shell.

Chat soon ~ R

Ten Facts Men Should Consider About Their Wife!

#1 – Before she was your wife she was God’s daughter…and He is VERY concerned about how someone treats His girl!

#2 – Women are responders, so if there is friction/conflict in the relationship she is most likely responding to something that is off center…and it is going to take an actual conversation where you use words to figure out what it is.

#3 – If a man will not lead his family then satan will!  (See Genesis 3!)

#4 – One of the biggest questions that a woman is always asking of her husband is, “can I trust you with my heart?”  And the answer to this question  is not simply declared but rather demonstrated over time.

#5 – Every word you speak has meaning to your wife…and HOW you say those words carry even more meaning.

#6 – No woman responds well to condemnation…and if we are supposed to love our wives like Christ loves the church, and there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1) then we MUST watch our words carefully.

#7 – It is a spiritual impossibility for an angry husband to love his wife like Jesus loves the church.

#8 – Your wife LOVES to know you are thinking about her during the day.

#9 – Surfing the internet or playing games on your smart phone while she is sitting next to you on the couch is NOT romantic.

#10 – Pursuit must be intentional!  You did not accidentally fall in love…and you will not accidentally stay in love!

For the man I should marry ......

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1. Date a boy who makes you happy, but marry him only if he makes you laugh deep-belly rumbles that hurt your ribs as they expand outwards. Date him when he sees that you’re hurting and he gives you a moment to feel that pain like a handprint spreading across your consciousness, marry him only if he can make you smile even while you’re gross sobbing. The world is not a kind place. You will feel a lot of pain. Make sure you are with someone who makes it all bearable. Humor is an excellent gauge of intelligence. Life gets boring. Find someone who makes the banal interesting.

2. Make sure he has scars on the back of his hands, it’s a good sign he has experience either fighting or making things - creation is an act of selflessness and bruised knuckles are a good sign he knows how to defend himself. You’ve got too much soul to be handled by someone who has never been passionate. If he’s never thrown a punch, let him at least have tasted the insanity of bringing an idea into existence. Rough palms are better than soft ones, they have been salted by this earth and made into leather. Callouses are evidence he has lived, that he has broken skin and been in pain over and over and over again and still came back to the source of it. People rub against each other. Don’t marry him if he can’t handle even a little blister.

3. Before you say yes, get him angry. See him scared, see him wanting, see him sick. Stress changes a person. Find out if he drinks and if he does, get him drunk - you’ll learn more about his sober thoughts. Discover his addictions. See if he puts you in front of them. You can’t change people, baby girl. If they are made one way, it doesn’t just wear off. If you hate how he acts when he’s out of it now, you’re going to hate it much worse eight years down the road. You might love him to bits but it doesn’t change that some people just don’t fit.

4. Trust your instincts. If he ever makes you feel unsafe, don’t make excuses, just get up and leave. That’s all there is to it. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

5. If he puts money before you, he’ll keep pushing you to the bottom of the pile until you become his last priority. It’s one thing if he can’t afford what you want, it’s another if he has the cash but won’t spring for a box of chicken Mcnuggets. Money and love are arch enemies. 62% of divorces occur due to economic strain. Make sure keeping you is more important than his 401k.

6. How a man treats animals is a good indicator of how he treats children. If you see him raise a hand to a dog, pack your things into a little black bag. Animals at their worst are only half as annoying as a toddler on their best behavior. Your kids will be beautiful, but they will also misbehave. Same goes for waiters and hotel maids - if he’s rude to those who are working for minimum wage, it says a lot about how he sees himself. Patience is rare and so important. If he’s not forgiving to a dog, he’s not good for your kids.

7. If he isn’t in awe of you, he doesn’t deserve you. You are my little girl and you were born perfect. If he can’t see that, it’s his loss. There is someone who thinks your flaws power his heart. Be strong. If he asks you to change, be like rock of your birthstone, do not waver. You are wondrous just the way that you are.

Progress will be Seen!

Strength Training Benefits

Now is the TIME!

Lunch Suggestions

Positive Thoughts

Dreams ....

Natural Mood Enhancer

Worth 1 Hour

New Year New Me!

So it’s a new year and I’m starting a new lifestyle of healthy eating and exercise every day. So far I’ve done a 30 minute interval walking routine and 20 minutes of strength and circuit training …. and I feel awesome!!!!

I will be keeping track of changes in my body and size on Wednesdays. I’m calling it Wonderful Wednesday :)

I’ve been thinking about, obsessing actually, about this for years!!!! So this is my time - I’m doing it and I WILL feel better and be better!

Letter to My 17yr old Self

Dear Rylinn,

Life is hard right now. It seems out of control, seems like everyone and everything is against you. You’ve just lost your mother, your father is in a place of confusion and you feel abandoned by both. It seems like your friends don’t know how to be around you – you feel so alone. You are not! You have so many people who love you and care about you’re well being. They may not know how to approach you in this time of loss and turmoil, but you have not been left alone. Remember, your heavenly Father and your Brother Jesus Christ, especially now – they love you so much and want to hear from you. Try to keep strong to your faith, no matter what else – keep that spirit strong. You will find that even in the darkest times they will be a source of light and knowledge and comfort in this pain you feel.

She didn’t leave you, it wasn’t her choice to go; she was done here and was chosen to go home. Your Dad will come around and he will realize the mistakes he made. He will ask for your forgiveness and you will give to him, it will take time, searching, and understanding but you will have a good relationship with him and you will love him! I know that seems impossible right now but trust me it will happen! You will both come to love and appreciate each other. He will remarry and you will have a great friend in her – she loves us so much, as if we were her own.

We have become strong and powerful in ourselves. We are confident! We are successful and happy, really happy! Life is not always easy but we have the tools and resiliency to pick ourselves every time! We know who we are and we are not intimated by anyone because we don’t need to be.  We are liked by everyone we meet; we see the good in them and they in us. We have best girl friends that are like sisters for us, who love us and keep us looking forward.

Just hold on – it’s gets better. This is such a small moment in the expanse of time - just a flicker. I look back on it now and wonder why I couldn’t realize this; see it for what it was – a lot of learning experiences. You are be molded and rebuilt and you come out beautifully!

You become the butterfly!

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No More Excuses!

From Grin & Barrett

i am tired. just really tired. tired of being tired, and over weight, and not fitting into clothes, 
and having a bad body image. 

So I'm taking a 90 Day Challenge:

• Absolutely NO fast food. Includes, but is not limited to: Burger King, McDonalds, In 'n Out ~ These are my main contenders.
• Absolutely NO diet soda. 
• Absolutely NO dessert that doesn't consist of fresh fruit only.
• Absolutely NO white bread or pasta.
• Absolutely NO red meat. 

• Exercise a minimum of 5 days per week.
• Exercise must consist of at least 30 minutes of cardio.
• Find one new form of exercise I enjoy that doesn't involve work out equipment/gym.
• Drink 2 to 3 liters of water per day.
• Drink green tea at least 3 times per week.
• Make healthy food choices and eat as natural as possible.

Sounds doable right?

Goals:

• Feel healthier and stronger.
• Decease my dress size by 2. 
• Feel better and more confident about who I am and how I look.
• Support others who want to do the same.

If you think this challenge is for you, then set one up for yourself. Have your own goals and come up with ways you can cut out the bad and let in the good. If you are struggling at all with how you look or you just aren't feeling good in general, think about doing this 90 day challenge. Post about it and be accountable. I will update you all in 30 days! Wish me luck!

Quote .....

April photo a day challenge list

Maybe I'll do better this month:

April Photo-A-Day

 

 

day 29 - my feet

day 26 .... key(s)

My Collection of Keys

day 22 .... my kitchen sink

Day 27 - My Name

Stake Conference & Senior General Authorities

So we had our Ward Conference yesterday. The choir sang two numbers, Come Unto Him, Dan Carter & Come Follow Me, Kenneth Cope. They did such a great job and I was worried. We only had 3 real rehearsals - but it all came together as it always does! 

The real reason I'm writing about it is - We get to host a couple of Senior General Authorities (they won't tell us who, though). 

So President Keeler asked us, the ward, to invite our less-active members in our boundaries. 

They gave us invitations to take to two brothers, Samantha and I are going later this week to 'drop' by and invite them.

So I, being as awesome as ever, decided to mail the invites with a short note as well:

I know, kinda boastful, but I thought I'd share! 

 Hopefully they come and enjoy the spirit that will definitely be there! 

Also, Christine and family may be here that Sunday too! Yay, awesome!

Today's Adventures ....

Yesterday, Sunday, we had quite a Rain Storm!! It rained, it poured, it hailed, and then it stopped. 

I was over at my friend Victor's watching a movie, Riddick, 

it was raining so hard that it was literally coming through the skylight! 

Then it started hailing pebble-sized, it sounded like a waterfall! Pretty Awesome!

Today I went for a short walk, this was the sky:

So pretty!

What I did today .... Cinnamon Buns

My Cinnamon Buns ....

Dough
1 ¾ cup water, lukewarm
1 envelope (1 ½ teaspoons) instant or rapid-rise yeast
4 large eggs, room temperature
½ cup honey
1 ½ teaspoons salt

½ cup butter, melted
7 cups all-purpose flour

For the dough: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 degrees. When oven reaches 200 degrees, shut off. Grease foil and a medium bowl.

Mix water and yeast in liquid measuring cup until yeast dissolves, then whisk in eggs, butter, and honey. In bowl of stand mixer fitted with dough hook, mix flour, and salt until combined. With mixer on low, add warm milk mixture in steady stream and mix until dough comes together, about 1 minute. Increase speed to medium and continue to mix until dough is smooth and comes away from sides of bowl, about 10 minutes. Turn dough out onto clean surface and knead to form a smooth, round ball. Transfer dough to prepared bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place in warm oven. Let rise until doubled in size, about 2 hours.

Caramel Sauce

6 tablespoons butter, room temperature

½ cup brown sugar

Pinch salt

In a small bowl, cream together the butter with the brown sugar. Spread mixture evenly over the bottom of a 9”x13” baking pan. Set aside.

Cinnamon Filling
1 ½ cups packed light brown sugar
1 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter , softened

Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and butter in small bowl. 

To Prep: Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Roll dough into 18-inch square:

Sprinkle evenly with filling to 1/2 inch from edge:

With Pecans:

Starting with the edge nearest you, roll dough into tight cylinder, pinch lightly to seal seam, 

and using a serrated knife, cut into 12 pieces. 

Transfer pieces, cut-side up, to prepared pan. 

Cover with plastic wrap or a towel and let rise in warm spot
until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Risen and Ready for the Oven:

For Baking: Heat oven to 350°. Bake until deep golden brown and filling is melted, 35 to 40 minutes ( I like to rotate them half way between so they bake evenly in my oven).

Remove from oven and run a knife around the edge of the rolls to loosen them from the side of the pan. 

Invert on a foiled lined baking sheet and let cool a bit before serving -- If you can.

 

Hope you enjoy this recipe and have fun making these!

Day 5 - A Smile

Today's Adventure ....

So today, I decided I would go get my State ID card renewed, as it expired on my birthday. 

So I left the house around 11am, got tot he DMV at 11:40am, got my 'number' at 11:49am:

I was called at 1:20pm, so waiting time was about 1 hr 20 minutes. 

Luckily, I was smart and brought my Kindle, 'cause otherwise I may not have survived it!

Then walked over to Carl's Jr. and had lunch and walked home. 

Got home around 3 pm. not too bad, I'd say!

A-Photo-A-Day

Day One - Up

 Day 12 - Fork

Day 18 - Corner for Your House

Photo-A-Day Project ....

So I found this great idea for a Photo-a-day project here. 

So I decided it would be fun and fill some of my time with appreciating the World around me. 

Here is the list for March:

I will start by catching up and doing 1 - 18 ..... Let's see how I do :)

Weekly Appreciations ....

i love the smell of: Raspberry & Blackberry Curd cooking

i love the sound of: Kelly Clarkson "Stronger"

i love the taste of: BBQ Pizza

i love the feel of: Friends, all of them!

i am currently learning: that I need to do a better job of reading scriptures and praying :( 

this week, strength was: using my baking skills (R.S. Party Cake)

this week, my weakness was: Not Exercising when I have ALL this time on my hands!