Rethbo

A holiday mix of some new favorites from the Piano Guys, Lindsey Stirling, Josh Groban, Celine Dion, J. Wride, Jon Lajoie, Vocal Point, and Carrie Underwood, along with a bunch of Christmas classics.

Lydie stole the tablet while I was reading the scriptures. In the app I use, you can easily highlight things. When I took the tablet back, this is what she'd highlighted (the yellow underline is what stood out to me). Then I gave it back to her and said, "Are you trying to tell me something?" Her little hands moved over the tablet and when I took it back the second time, she'd highlighted this. Maybe just a coincidence. Maybe not. Regardless, it was a cute moment I don't want to forget.

You have to get a little creative when your apartment is 550 square feet.  We found a roll of green foil at Honks for 88 cents, used some packing tape to get the lights up, and hung the ornaments on the lights.  Our kids like it, so we'll see how long it survives. :)

My cousin at the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City One of my very best friends recently asked me for a list of my personal favorite LDS talks. I really can't recall a single LDS general conference talk, Ensign article or BYU speech that wasn't at least a little awesome. But here are links to particularly memorable ones. Most you can watch or listen to online; some you'll have to read. I plan on adding to the list as time goes. Recommendations? Absolute Truth  (a letter to a disbeliever)  by Spencer W. Kimball (1977) Why Not Now? by Neal A. Maxwell (1974) The Inconvenient Messiah  by Jeffrey R. Holland (1982) Love is Not Blind  (thoughts on Ambiguity)  by Bruce C. Hafen (1979) Love is not blind; that is the last thing it is. Love is bound; and the more it is bound, the less it is blind. A Balanced Life by Brent L. Top (2005) The Looseness of Zion by Leonard Arrington (1974) School Thy Feelings, O My Brother  by Tho...

*My thoughts after reading Some Mormons Search the Web and Find Doubt by Laurie Goodstein of the NY Times. Goodstein recently interviewed a former prominent LDS church leader in Sweden who's now questioning his faith. I met the leader on my mission, and shared a Christmas with him and his family. First a personal story... My teenage world was rocked. I had just read this in The Book of Mormon: "And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen to the earth; and the Lord said unto him: Arise, why hast thou fallen?" "And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood." source Flesh and blood.  When was this written again? Centuries before Jesus got flesh and blood. I don't know if I started sweating, but I strongly recall the floor falling out. This book is as true as they come. Could something so right be so chronologically wrong? I prayed. ...

My day started out very simple and without too much thought of anything of great consequence. I went to work. I came home. Bryce and I romped around for a while. Then, just before dinner, Heather shared an interesting article  with me. I read through it as I enjoyed some leftover lasagna. There wasn't much of a chance for anything to digest before it was time to take Bryce sledding for- let's be honest- hopefully the last time this season. (Spring come soon, please!) For the most part, the article was out of my mind and we had a good, carefree time. The melt-freeze-melt-freeze-melt-freeze-again snow did wonders for Mr. Mu, giving us some great rides but shoddy snowballs. We came in a little late and by the time teeth-brushing, diaper-changing, story-telling, song-singing, prayer-praying, hugging and kissing were over, it was about 45 minutes past bedtime. Hopefully Bryce will forgive us someday. Lately, Heather and I have filled a lot of that quiet time after Bryce ...