really?

I know I shouldn't be surprised by snowstorms in March and April, but I always manage to be nonetheless.

It's funny to me that our first real snowstorm this winter came on the last official day of the season!

Jack kept burying his face in the snow and rubbing it around. It was hilarious. But every time I tried to capture him in the act, he would walk away nonchalantly, like "what?" What a weirdog.

This kind of snowstorm is ideal because Eva was thrilled to be able to make a snowman with her friend, but it was warm enough that we didn't have to shovel the walks or worry about dangerous driving conditions! Happy last day of winter.

Sunday thoughts

We woke up today to a winter wonderland. In general, I enjoy a good winter wonderland. But not so much on April 3rd. (Even less so on the evening of April 3rd, when the snow has not melted as it should.)

Still, I love Conference weekend. Even when certain members of my family don't love it as much as I do and try my patience. Repeatedly. But it is a universal good to me, and so it is still good, even when all the circumstances are not perfect.

I took 24 pages of notes between yesterday and today.

As I am tired and tomorrow will be starting far too soon, I will only post the highlights of one of my favorite talks tonight.


David A. Bednar

• We can have a sudden recognition of light, as when we turn on a light in a dark room. Or we can witness the subtle, gradual discernment of light, with the slow lighting of the sky at sunrise.

• It is the same with revelation.

• The spirit of revelation should be operative in the lives of every man, woman and child who has received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

• The tools of the adversary can impair and eventually destroy our ability to recognize the Spirit. Each of us should pray and ponder what we should do to shun Satan's lures.

• The scriptures and the history of the church contain many examples of those who received revelation suddenly, completely.

• Most often, revelations gradually and gently distill upon our souls, as the dews from heaven. We are taught line upon line, precept upon precept.

• Some may think they fall short if they do not receive dramatic manifestations of revelation, but these are comparatively rare.

• Sometimes we receive revelation without recognizing exactly how or when we have received it (as a sunrise on a cloudy or foggy day).

• As we honor our covenants and strive to do good, we can be sure that God will direct our steps.

wordless Wednesday

in my neighborhood

This one's for you, Mom!

winter wonderland

Winter was slow coming this year, but there is no question about its arrival! I love the way everything looks when it's covered with snow. (I only wish I could stay home in the cozy house and admire it from within -- I've had some white-knuckle driving days.)

I can never resist calling it a winter wonderland.

{in her preschool teacher's backyard}

...but it is fun to come back inside and get warm after freezing outside!

it's December alright!

It seems the weather forecast predicted snow every night this week. After so many clear mornings, I stopped anticipating it. But when I opened my eyes today, I could just tell -- even though my shutters were closed, everything just looked... white. On mornings like this, I always proclaim it to be a Winter Wonderland. I don't care if it's unbearably cheesy, or if my kids tire of hearing it, I can't help myself. I think today was particularly beautiful, because the snowfall continued until about 4:30 p.m. And what better way to commence the month of December?

I marvel every time at the lengthy process of getting ready to go out in the snow...

Because it is Saturday, we were lucky enough to have Landon over to play, and all three of my kids were so excited (although they had wished Whitney would join them as well). The boys played in our yard until they were cold and wet, came in for hot chocolate and a brief thawing out session, and then went back out for sledding and such for about 4 more hours! (A second round of hot chocolate followed.)


Eva's mittens just would not stay on, to her extreme frustration. She tried making snowballs with bare hands, but eventually had to admit defeat and come inside. This video is funny just because it shows how much she resembles the Sta-Puf marshmallow man in her snow gear.