Alma 14-16

Quote "The right question to ask is not why good people have trials, but how shall good people respond when they are tried?"

~Elder Marion D. Hanks

"Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long suffering and self-mastery. The sufferings of our Savior were part of his education."

~President Spencer W. Kimball

Question "How do you respond to adversity?"

Well, if I'm answering honestly, I cry, kick, complain, and have a pity-party. Well, I guess I do that sometimes, and other times, I am humble, and optimistic, and cheerful about it. It just depends what the adversity is.

I can really relate to Amulek in this reading assignment, when he can't stand to watch the women and children be burned, and he wants to do something to stop it. I have seen someone I love very much, be put in a comparable situation, and it is UNBEARABLE! I didn't understand it, I still don't really fully understand it. I am trying to learn. And reading scriptures like this one helps me feel a little better about it...."But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day." (Alma 14:11)

What I love about this scripture is that it clears up a lot of questions about why the Lord allows so much suffering in this life, and also the gift of agency. He has given us ALL agency, and He doesn't take it away. He allows His children to choose for themselves, good or evil, and there would be no real justice if He did take it away from some, and not others.

Sorry, I'm going on a tangent....back to the quote/question. I feel that sometimes, it is better to go through the challenges ourselves, than to see a loved-one suffer....especially children. However, part of learning to depend on the Lord comes from adversity, and if our loved ones, and children had no adversity, they couldn't develop their own testimonies about the Lord.

We all have good days, and bad days....and we all probably react accordingly to adverse situations. But it is good to always keep in mind to have an attitude of gratitude for adversity, because it brings so much opportunity with it. We have the chance to grow closer to our Savior through depending on Him, and we have the chance to learn and grow from the experience itself, and we learn to have charity and empathy for others going through similar problems. Adversity is necessary for us. It is not fun to go through, sometimes, it is excruciatingly painful....but it is necessary for our growth. So, we can mope and complain, that is our choice, as we all have agency....or we can look at the problem, and say "Lord, what would Thou have me learn from this? Please help me to learn everything I can from this, and please give me the strength and courage to get through it."

Alma 12-13

Quote "God has saved for the final inning some of His strongest and most valiant children...Make no mistake about it - you are a marked generation. There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time than there is of us...The final outcome is certain - the forces of righteousness will finally win. But what remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this battle - and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to...our foreordained mission?

~President Ezra Taft Benson

Question "To what callings do you think you've been foreordained?"

Hard question for me. The only thing I feel foreordained to personally, is motherhood. I may have other things, but that is all that comes to mind for me. Well, I guess I was a foreordained "Christian", but we all were since we all chose to follow Jesus and come to this Earth. I am far from living as a prophet.

I do believe I will be on the righteous side to the battle, I guess I already feel like every day I'm on the righteous side to the battle, despite my faults and sins, I believe in Jesus Christ. I want to do better, and I want to be better. I don't think I would ever feel worthy enough, or like I'm doing everything right.....the more right or good I do, the more I realize I need to do better.

I hope when my mission is over I will be able to look back, and marvel that I was able to accomplish it.....that's a really hard thing for me to imagine in my self-critical body! :)

Get Back On Schedule

If up to date, study Alma 5

Question "What are some of the questions Alma asks in order to ponder the process of becoming converted or reborn?"

Alma 10-11

Quote "What a comfort to know that all who have been disadvantaged in life from birth defects, from mortal injuries, from disease, or from the natural deterioration of old age will be resurrected in 'proper and perfect frame'"

~Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Question "How does it bring you hope knowing that because of Christ we will all live again?"

Well, it definitely makes this life more bearable, and more just. It doesn't seem fair that so many have to live with harder things to deal with than others. It's also necessary for this world to hold challenges and hard things.....for without the hardships....there would be no gratitude for the good. All things in balance, good and evil, happiness and grief, etc... .

So, it is part of our mortal testing to go through these things here...but oh, the joy that comes with the knowledge that our loved ones are not just unfairly tormented. The knowledge that they are in a perfect form, free from pain, deformity, and completely whole....is joyful! It brings me great comfort to know that I have two perfect sisters on the other side of the veil. The next time I see them, they will be vibrant, healthy, beautiful, glorious and happy!

This is the greatest gift from our Heavenly Father....our bodies. As imperfect as they are on this earth, they are necessary for our progression. And after this life, they will be full of glory and light. We will be eternally grateful for them.

June in a nutshell

So here is the recap of June for us! (Warning...this blog is long, and has lots of pics!)

*My dads birthday is June 1st, and this year he turned 69! My dad is a one-of-a-kind original! He still has a thick head of dark hair, (hardly any grays), he's tan, and buff, and in great shape! He is about as intelligent as it gets, and can discuss just about any topic you can come up with, and has a strong opinion about everything! He is a great scriptorian, and has some of the best stories himself to tell. He is a cancer survivor, and one of the hardest working men I have ever known. We tease him a lot, and he takes it like a man....but there is no one like our Pops! He has been a wonderful father, always making sure that his children know that they are loved, and not alone! Happy Birthday Poppy! You are the Best!

(My dad in all his "Suns presents")

*Jeff and I had our first date in quite a long time. No pics, but we went to dinner and a movie, and it was really nice to have some alone time. We both had a brief reminder of our "pre-children" world of humor, and conversation! We really need to do that more often!

*Katie got the pox finally! It took her long enough! She finally completely scabbed over the day we left to go on our vacation!

*We went to Las Vegas, and St. George for the Conner Family Reunion! We had sooooo much fun! So, on the way up, we stayed at the South Point in Vegas which was off the strip, and an awesome hotel for families! It had movie theatre, bowling alley, lots of restaraunts, arcade, and a great pool area!

The Boys were so happy to be there after the long drive!

(I don't know how they made that boring trip, with dvd's, and video games....torture!)

The boys walking over to the kiddie pool (Kt is already in it!)

*Then we went up to St. George and had so much fun! As usual my Uncle Mike, and Aunt Teresa outdid themselves on being the perfect hosts! We had some delicious food, games, and fun including, chocolate milk pong, dodgeball, pinata, silent auction, talent show, shooting guns, we didn't get to do the motorcycle riding this time, but it was still a blast! Very well organized by my 2 beautiful cousings Bria, and Kimmie! Thanks guys!

Colby and best friend Jayce torturing poor Zac! :)

My mom and Aunt Teresa!

Let the Dodge Ball Begin!!
My dad, cousin Kitty, and Aunt Teresa
Cute brothers waiting for the talent show

(You might notice Tyler's goose-egg on his head from a fall he had earlier at the pool...poor baby!)

My niece Tylee in heaven surrounded by her entourage of cousins! :)

Thoughts of teenagers...

"She's cute" "He's cute" "This is stupid...why am I here?"

My nephew Colby, and my Brother Adam getting ready for the dope "Cox Family Rap" written by yours truly! :)

These are my cousins BJ and Brax...you can't not LOVE these guys! They are handsome, sweet, and the MOST FUN people to hang around in the WORLD!

My cousin Christie, and my mom holding up a pic of my sister Stacey so that she could be photographed at the reuinion too! :)

My Uncle Mike with his beautiful daughter Bria!

My Uncle Mike (The genius mechanic) was also kind enough to change our brake pads while we were there....he is the sweetest man on the planet!!!

*On the way back, we stopped back in Vegas and stayed at the Las Vegas Hilton, and took the kids sight seeing to see just about everything! They loved it, and were worn out!!! Perfect!

Austin and Katelyn swimming at the Hilton pool!

Jeff and I always end up seeing the funniest stuff on vacations....at the Hilton pool there was this gay guy out there doing yoga for like an hour....this was the least offensive pose that I captured....who does that????

Quick family pic at the Mirage...love this hotel!!! One of my all time favs!

We had lunch at CPK (California Pizza Kitchen) inside the Mirage...after lunch, Jeff offered KT (the scaredy cat) $20 to let him pull her loose tooth right then (it was pretty darn loose)...she declined...then he offered to buy her a stuffed white tiger...she agreed....he yanked....she cried....still had the tooth...she got the tiger anyway....gotta love those guilty feelings daddy!
Austin and KT acting like lions in front of MGM Lion!

The lion exhibit at MGM was cool, cause the lions were asleep on top of a glass tunnel, so we walked underneath them, and that is where I took the shot, you can see their faces smooshed against the glass.

Austin at M&M World

This is the M&M Nascar...Austin was dying to take a pic in front of this car!

This was taken inside the Bellagio after the fountain show...Bellisimo!

Tuckered out babies....notice KT has her tiger! :)

This was a hotel sign right before we crossed Hoover Dam!

They have made a lot of progress in the last year on the new bridge...it is amazing!

This was a much needed fun family vacation!

*So, the night we got home from Vegas, I was helping get KT ready for bed, and her tooth was just dangling...so I just took matters into my own hands, and got a little dental floss, and tied it around that tooth, and out it POPPED! She was a little shocked, cause it happened so fast, but glad it was over!

KT lost her first tooth! :)

(You can still see the pox on her face...poor little thing!)

Putting her tooth under her pillow......and...............VOILA!!!!!

MONEY!!!!

*When Toy Story 3 came out, I had to take Austin, and Tyler (Katelyn does not enjoy the movies, and never wants to go because they are too loud for her sensitive hearing). But I tagged along with Becky and her kids, and it was so much fun! Great movie, my kids loved it, (I even found myself teary-eyed at the end). I was a little worried about Tyler in the beginning, but he did not move an inch the entire movie!!!

*June is also two of my sisters birthdays. My mom and I decided to take my sister Lori out for her birthday and some much needed girl/sister time! (My older sis could not be there due to her previous duties as an angel...we miss you Tatie!) We went to eat and went to see Knight and Day, and hung out afterwards, and laughed and laughed....it was a really fun night!

This pic cracks me up because my hand looks like "Thing" from the Adam's Family! I love my sis! She truly is the BEST sis anyone could ever ask for!!!!

*We have been swimming A LOT! It is too hot to do anything else. My mom only lives about 10 minutes away, so we swim about 3 days a week! We love Mimi and Pops for letting us use their pool at our disposal! :) Not sure how we survived the summers until you guys moved out here!

Now on to JULY!!!!

Alma 7-9

Quote "To succor means to 'run to.' I testify that in my fears and in my infirmities the Savior has surely run to me. I will never be able to thank Him enough for such personal kindness and such loving care."

~Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Question "Why is it helpful to remember that the Savior knows what it's like to have your problems?"

Well, how can someone help you if they don't understand what you are going through? We all talk to friends, spouses, neighbors, and/or family members about our problems...but do they solve them for us? They listen, and sympathize, and sometimes offer advice, but there is only One who really "knows". Jesus Christ knows exactly how we feel. He knows what it feels like to feel scared, to feel completely alone, to feel humiliated, to feel betrayed, and any and every other feeling we have ever had. HE KNOWS! That's amazing considering that Jesus Christ was the only person to have no sin whatsoever on Earth, and yet He felt every single person's sin. Humbling to think about.

It is such a comfort to know that there is somewhere that we can turn with our problems. There is someone we can talk to about them. It is comforting to know that our pain has been felt by someone else that loves us, and wants to help us, and really understands the hurt. To quote one of my favorite hymns that sums this all up:

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me

Confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me

I tremble to know that for me He was crucified

That for me a sinner, He suffered, He bled and died

Oh it is wonderful that He should care for me enough to die for me

Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me.

I marvel that He would descend from His throne divine

To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine

That He should extend His great love unto such as I

Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify

Oh it is wonderful that He should care for me enough to die for me

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

Blogger's Block

So, I don't know if you noticed or not....I haven't been bloggin' lately. I have been so resistant to blogging ever since I started that Book of Mormon reading program....I have fought to even look at blogs....hmmm....I wonder why??? (Satan) I apologize to any of you that started the reading program with me, and then realized how unreliable, and inconsistent I am...buy hey...now you know...I'm unreliable, and inconsistent...(please remember that if you need someone to do you a favor! haha j/k)
In any case, I have decided today that I am going to finish my reading challenge, even though I have missed a bunch of days...I AM GOING TO FINISH! I have also set a goal to blog about something going on with our family at least one time a week....I'm sure that I can come up with at least one thing one time a week!
I hope that I can work on the consistency thing a little more...I mean it's embarrassing for the world to know how easily distracted I get...which is why I thought the pressure would keep me on course....but...oh, you know the rest!
So here is to new enthusiasm and determination!!!!!!!!!!