HELP! Technical Difficulties on our Blog

Sometimes when I log onto our blog, I see a big gray square on our family picture (right over my face! :) ) or down lower. I wonder if it's just when I am on there, or if others see it too.

Do you see strange gray squares on our blog?

Thanks. I appreciate the feedback.

Tips from "The Earthquake Lady"

I've been wondering lately what I would do if we had an earthquake. Well, I was very attentive to what "the earthquake lady" (from Homeland Security--Be Ready Utah) had to say when she came to our neighborhood last week. I don't mean to cause fear or anxiety, but I was just so happy to have some more information, that I thought I would share it. I actually left this meeting feeling more at peace than before. Here were some of the most helpful tips she gave:

Preparing your home for an earthquake:

• Make sure your water heater is secured to the wall (if not, there's a $12.00 kit at Home Depot)
  
• In the kitchen, put heavy and breakable things in the bottom cupboards, and light things up top (hmmm...obvious, but very opposite of what I've done)
• use the rubber grip stuff in your cupboards and under things that could slide and fall, such as a table microwave, tv, etc.
• Make a plan from each room of your house, of where you would go for the best shelter
• Make a plan of where your family members would meet if there were no communication after a disaster
  

What to do when it hits:

• If you are outside, stay outside. Get away from buildings or trees
• If you are inside, stay inside and get in a safe place--don't try to go up or down the stairs.
  
• I'm still not sure what the VERY best place to be is, but among the safest places in the home are: a center wall, hallway, closet, or a bathroom; under a sturdy table, or in a door frame (but watch for the door not to shut on you)
  
• The worst places to be inside: on the stairs, near a window, near an outer wall
• If you are near a window and can't move far, at least turn your head away from the window
• If you are driving, safely pull over if you can. You may have to leave your car and walk home. If you are on the freeway, do NOT abandon your car to walk home.
  

She had SO MUCH more information about preparedness, such as what to have in 72 hour kits, cars, etc. See www.BeReadyUtah.gov

Learning at the Feet of an Apostle

We have many great memories that never make it onto our blog. But it's been almost a week, and I still can't stop thinking about last Saturday night, so I think I'll attempt to write about our indescribable experience: Elder David A. Bednar, one of the 12 Apostles of the Lord, spoke at our Stake Conference.


I think sometimes the Saturday night adult session of Stake Conference is sometimes overlooked, but it is one of the most spirit-filled meetings that we have in our church. And this time, with Elder Bednar here to teach us and to share his apostolic testimony, it was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. He and his wife spoke for almost an hour but I didn't want it to end. He taught us the basics of the plan of Happiness-- the atonement of Jesus Christ, covenants, agency and obedience--but I learned so many new things.

His witness of Jesus Christ was so profound and the spirit was so strong, that I don't know how anyone in the room could have denied his sacred calling. He taught with so much authority and power, that I was enlightened every minute, and my testimony was strengthened and refreshed. I came away with a vision and a desire to be a better disciple of Christ, and a better person. It was one of those life-altering experiences for me.

In light of the recent criticism directed at our church leaders due to their support of proposition 8 (by those out of our church, and those within), I just want to raise my voice in saying that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. The leaders of our church are led by Jesus Christ himself. Yes, they are human. But their involvement in supporting and defending the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman was not just a decision made by a group of church leaders. They have guidance from heaven. They are doing the Lord's will in defending eternal truths that cannot be altered by men. They will never lead us astray. If anyone is wondering what to think of them, they can read from the church website their most recent teachings. They will see that their message is one of love, tolerance, and obedience to God's commandments.

Spontaneous Photo Shoot

Lately, we've had a lot of discussions about the value of a really good camera. So while we were at Grandma and Grandpa Thatcher's house, Mark and Em (Paul's brother and wife) let us test out theirs. Emily casually began taking pictures of our girls out in Mom's flower garden. We jumped in and got some family pictures too. One day maybe we'll plan family pictures and have matching clothes and the girls' hair done. But hey, you can't complain about free photos! Thanks Mark and Em!

Happy Times...

A Visit From "Down Under"
We had the Howes' here from Australia for the afternoon. They are Paul's mission companion's parents. They were in SLC for training to become the next Temple President in Adelaide. They were so kind to come speak in our ward about Temples. We loved having the day with them.


Arranging flowers from Mom Thatcher's garden.
I did this after hearing President Uchdorf's talk about how women gain happiness from creating things--So true! One of my dream jobs is a florist.




Shay and Hannah's baptism.
We were all so happy for this wonderful day to come! They were so full of light, and the Spirit was so strong at that meeting. We knew the Lord was happy as well. The brother who baptized them was a friend in the neighborhood who helped them meet with the missionaries. We have such great missionaries in our stake.




Making cookies with Millie.
I left for a minute to change Gracie's diaper, and when I came back, she had eaten 2 and 1/2 raw cookies. I couldn't get mad. She takes after her mom!



An evening with friends on Temple Square.
Even though Paul works on Temple Square, we've realized that we haven't gone there often enough as a family. Our friends had never been as a family either, and so it was a really fun night. Millie finally got to ride "daddy's train" and Gracie made a friend on the train. By the end of the ride she was snuggling up to give her the biggest hug we'd ever seen. Maybe we should have adopted her as a "great aunt" for Gracie.

Another Reason Not To Leave the Kids Alone In the Bathtub

It doesn't take long to see what I'm talking about. They were only sitting in it for only a couple minutes, but it managed to make it's way all over the place. The ironic thing is that after cleaning up this mess (and wondering if I still smelled like it) the girls spilled half a bottle of perfume all over the floor, so I ended the night smelling really nicely. From the smell of the house, Paul never would have suspected what I'd been through. I earned a "mommy merit badge" tonight.

Our Love Story

We've been married for 39 months today! Last week, I posted a little trivia to see if I could stump some friends. Of the five statements below, four are true and one is a lie. See if you can guess the lie:

1. On my first date with Paul, I knew I would marry him
   
2. Paul and I went on a trip together before we were married
   
3. Paul never asked my dad for permission to marry me
4. Our engagement was only 5 weeks long
5. We spent less than $2000 total on wedding costs (excluding rings)

Here are the answers:

1. False! This one was my lie! We met on a blind date, and I was VERY impressed with Paul. But we both had a bit of a struggle trying to make the decision. In fact, we almost broke up one weekend--we both still get sick when we think of that awful weekend.

2. Yes, I'm a little embarrassed to admit that we went on a road trip together before getting married or engaged. I had been back and forth on the decision to get married, even though Paul had a ring to propose. When we talked about going down to Arizona to see our friends, my parents said it might help me know if I should marry him. They were right! It was exactly what we needed.

The minute we began the drive, Paul said something like, "Well, we have a lot of time in this car...I want you to tell me all about your life. You can start from the very beginning and include every detail. I don't care if it takes the entire 12 hours." What girl wouldn't love this? I talked for 4 hours about my life. Then it was his turn. His was a lot shorter, but still very interesting. We enjoyed our time together so much and didn't get sick of being together. We both felt so sure of our decision to get married that we ended up getting engaged while we were there, on the lawn outside the Arizona Temple.

3. Paul would have asked my dad for permission, but my dad was just so anxious for "the talk" that he had already planned out three questions he was going to ask Paul. The talk went well, but afterward, Paul admitted that he never really got to ask the question...it was just an understood "YES!" My parents absolutely loved Paul and still do.

4. A five week engagement was just fine for us. Once we knew it was right, we weren't waiting around. My mom had already helped to plan 4 other weddings (my four younger siblings) in the previous 10 months, so she was ready to go!

5. We were so blessed financially to have resources and help for the wedding, and were shocked at how little we had to spend. Both receptions were beautiful and the wedding was absolutely a dream come true. I wouldn't have changed a thing, even if I had another $10,000 to spend.

Is My Home a "Sacred Sanctuary"?

I was so grateful for the chance to attend the General Relief Society Meeting of the LDS Church this past Saturday night. The beautiful conference center was packed with women who wanted to hear the Lord's servants and know the Lord's counsel for them. All of the talks were wonderful and the music so inspiring. If you were unable to attend it, here is the link where you can read or listen to the talks.

One of my favorite quotes was from the RS President, Julie B. Beck:


"Children being born now are growing up in an increasingly sinful world. Our homes are to be their refuge from the daily encounters they have with evil. Relief Society should be organized, aligned, and mobilized to strengthen families and help our homes to be sacred sanctuaries from the world."

When I heard this, I thought of my little girls in a different way. I thought of their innocent, young spirits that came from Heavenly Father's presence not long ago. I realized that when they encounter harsh music, violent and vulgar television shows, or even conversation that is not edifying, they are innately sensitive to that. I don't want them to become desensitized to the evils in our world. As a mother, I want to be more careful to make our home a sacred place where they can feel the Spirit and feel sheltered from the world.

Feeling the Spirit at that meeting has helped me to get excited for General Conference this weekend. I hope I can make the effort to really focus and listen to the talks, while enjoying the comforts of home and family.

"...Mommy wrote a book"

Well, not really. But when I finished my graduate thesis, my adviser insisted that we try to get it published in a research journal. It's taken some rewriting, corresponding with journal editors, praying, editing, waiting, praying, editing, waiting, and more editing (most of which my adviser did while I was busy being a mom)...and then some more waiting for the final results. Well, I am happy to tell the world that...it's published! I'm the second author, and rightly so, since my adviser did most of the work getting it published. But it is thrilling to see all those hours of analysis, writing, and rewriting finally get "out there" into the world of research.

You never know if anyone will dig through library files to find and read your thesis. And sadly, even when it is published, you never really know if anyone will read it, let alone agree with the study, although the chances are greater. So, since I know a few people read this blog, I thought I better make a big deal of it on here, otherwise, it may get forgotten.

Here's the title and link, but you have to pay if you want to read any more than the abstract. Hey, if you are really interested in reading it or my thesis, I can get you a copy.


Talking About Religion: How Highly Religious Youth and Parents Discuss Their Faith. David C. Dollahite and Jennifer Y. Thatcher. Journal of Adolescent Research 2008 23: 611-641.


I loved Paul's conversation with Millie the day we received the published version:

"Millie, did you know that Mommy wrote a book?" (Millie's easy answer) "Yeah."
"Millie, did you know that Mommy is really smart, and that she could be making a lot of money working each day...but she decided that she wants to be home with you and Gracie? Isn't that nice?" (Millie, with a big grin) "Yeah."

Paul, thanks for reminding me I'm really smart and worth a lot! Sometimes stay-at-home moms need to be reminded just how smart and talented and capable they really are. Some days it just doesn't feel like it!

I used to joke that I went to school to get a MS, but while I was there, I got my MRS, and a week after I finished, I got my MOM degree. The second and third are the best, but I'm grateful for the first one too.

Ward Campout

Our annual ward campout was a couple weeks ago, but the pictures I just got from Audrey Beebe were so great that I thought I better post them (Thanks, Audrey!).

We love our ward! What good friends we've made! We opted not to camp overnight for a few reasons, but once we got up there, I was wishing we had planned to stay the night. The kids played, we ate s'mores and hot chocolate, and sat around the warm fire. Why can't the Summer last longer?



*On a funny note, while sitting around the fire, we played "two truths and a lie." I am TERRIBLE at coming up with these! I ended up going very last because I just couldn't think of any in time for my turn, and then I stole someone else's lie because I liked it better than my own (how pathetic!). My lack of creative skills in this area bothered me so bad, that on the drive home, I forced myself to think harder and come up with some good ones--I think. So, let's see how many people I can stump. How well do you know me and my dating history with Paul? Which one is the lie?

1. On my first date with Paul, I knew I would marry him
   
2. Paul and I went on a trip together before we were married
   
3. Paul never asked my dad for permission to marry me
4. Our engagement was only 5 weeks long
5. We spent less than $2000 total on wedding costs (excluding rings)
   

Please, if you read this one, make your vote! I need to know how I did. Thanks!

My Wonderful Day

• I woke up to pray with my sweet husband before he left to work

• Read 3 Nephi 11 in the Book of Mormon (I love that chapter!)

• Ate our usual cereal breakfast with a fresh peach for dessert and I unloaded the dishwasher

• Read Book of Mormon stories to the girls and got them dressed (Millie loves her own scriptures)
  

• Exercised on the Eliptical while Gracie slept and Millie drew pictures (this picture was actually from Sunday, but how could I resist putting that cute hairdo on the blog?

• Showered while Millie watched Signing Time

• Played at the park with the girls

• Ate lunch and got both of the girls down for their naps (not an easy thing to do these days)

• Finished sewing a dress to donate to the church humanitarian efforts (big sigh of relief--only 3 days late!) and realized that I could actually make matching dresses for my girls someday
  

• Made chicken noodle soup for dinner and found out that Paul took a can of chicken noodle for lunch today (It's uncanny how often this happens) but he assured me that mine is so delicious that he could eat it twice in one day
  

• Went for a small walk when Paul got home

• Ate our chicken noodle soup--Gracie loved it, Millie only liked the noodles, Paul loved it enough to pack some for lunch tomorrow

• Ate banana splits for dessert--compliments of Paul
  

• Gracie walked for the first time with a walker toy
• 

• Bathed the girls

• Millie finally went potty #2 (we've been waiting at least 4 days)

• Got the girls down (I nursed Gracie for the VERY last time--I keep saying this, but I mean it this time!)

• And now I'm blogging because Paul insisted on doing the dishes while I do something for myself

My analysis: It was just a "normal" day, but I was happier than normal. I found myself more patient with the girls, kinder to others, and feeling the Spirit of the Lord more. I have plenty of days when I feel tired, slow, impatient, unproductive, or frustrated. I think the difference was my start to the day. I put the Lord first and He blessed me with His Spirit. Because I had the Spirit, I was able to have a good, balanced day--the kind of day I want to have more often.

Our Birthday Girl!

Grace Ruby turned 1 on Sunday. She loved being at Grandma and Grandpa Yorgason's house. We thought she'd devour her birthday cake (since she's been known to eat like a vacuum), but she hardly ate a bite. Maybe the doll in the middle intimidated her!

We've loved having Grace in our family, and we can hardly remember what life was like without her. The joy she has brought us this one year has been enough to make us happy for a lifetime. We look forward to seeing her grow up and see who this little sweetheart becomes.

Here are some things that Gracie does at age 1:

• Says "daddy," "hi," "mama," "baby," "bye bye," "Mi Mae," (Millie Mae) "don't want," and "I love you"
• Wriggles her way out of almost every diaper change
• Wants to walk, but won't let us let go of her hands
• Enjoys sitting up on the bed, couch or a big chair to read like a big girl
• Has 8 teeth and prefers to eat while using a utensil
• Doesn't like cow's milk--no matter how hard we try to convince her otherwise
• Loves doggies SO much that she squeals when she sees them
• Loves to make music and then clap

Potty Talk

Here's our "big girl" who knows how to use the potty now!

We started on Thursday with a sticker chart, many trips to the toilet, some accidents, some diaper time (but of course the panties were on over the diaper) and then one big huge success in the evening. It's gotten better each day, and now we've got it all down except #2. The funny thing is, she thinks #1 is #2. We've tried to make it clear, but she is still confused. It's so entertaining to talk with her while she is on the toilet. Here are a few of the funny things she has said...

• (Mommy) "Millie, are you done yet?" (Millie) "No, I not done. There's still more in my bottom."
• "I like #2...Mommy, do you like #2?...#2 is my favorite"
  
• (Yelling from her crib) "Mommy! I need to go potty! Hurry! Hurry! I need to go #2! #2 is pee-pee! And then I get a sticker!"
• (Referring to what's in the toilet) "That's yucky for you! Don't eat it, okay, mommy? Don't touch it!"
  

*As a side note, added a week later: Millie has gone an entire week without an accident with #1! We are so proud of her! We can't help but marvel at this girl every day--she doesn't even need us to remind her or ask her if she needs to go. She did so well when we were at the Dr. and at the store. Now let's see if she can handle going potty while camping tonight!

______________________

More cute things Millie has been saying lately:

• (All day long when I ask her do to something, she answers in a very positive voice) "Oh,..um...yeah, I will do that for you."
• (opening up a picture album) "Mommy, I reading my scriptures. Don't touch them, ok? They are really dangerous for you!"
• She comes up to mommy and pats my leg, "hon, you look too cute!"
• She picks up the phone and says, "Hi! I'm doing good...Mommy's doing good...Daddy's doing good...Gracie's doing good...okay, bye-bye!" and hangs it up.
• (in her prayers) "please bless President...Monster"
• "Mommy, I like your legs! They're really cute!"
• "Gracie said 'Da!' I want to say 'da'...(ok, Millie, say it...) ...'da!'" (and then I say, "yea, Millie!" Is this a language digression?)
• (right after throwing up in church) "...Mommy, I just burped!" (oh, how I wish it was just a burp!)

Where Have We Been?

Another two months without a blog posted! Does anyone else go that long? It's been a busy summer and the blog was the first thing to be neglected. What made it so busy? I'm not quite sure. I taught a few music classes to children in the neighborhood (Millie loved it!), we've all had our turns being sick, and now I'm finally gaining control of my life again: the dishes are done, the laundry pile is small, the stack of mail is GONE, the bills are paid, the toys are organized, the carpet is vacuumed, dinner is planned, the girls are supposedly sleeping, and instead of taking a nap, I'm going to blog! What a feeling! This NEVER happens!

So, here are some highlights from our summer:


PLAYING IN THE BACK YARD


I love that the girls are young enough to get complete satisfaction from a $6 swimming pool from Wal-mart.

We played outside with our neighbors almost every day. I'm not sure that life will be the same for Millie when they move next week. Okay, I admit it, I'm going to miss them like CRAZY!



Cheap fun!

Gracie has (by default) passed up Millie in bike progression. She rides the BIG wheel!


THE MONARCH MIRACLE



Our monarch caterpillar turned out to be a beautiful butterfly. I kept marveling at the symbolism that it displays: We can experience miraculous change in our lives because of the atonement of Jesus Christ.



CAMPING WITH THE YORGASON FAMILY



This was a spontaneous camping trip, and since we never went camping as a family growing up, it was fun to see that my siblings can actually handle it (maybe they were more surprised about me). I hope this is the start of a family tradition!




4TH OF JULY PARADE & WATER GAMES

Our neighborhood has a small parade every year--the kids always love it. This year's addition was a water dunking contest at the park afterward. Paul was the first to go, and he somehow convinced others to join in the fun. As soon as they started suggesting me to get dunked, I was out of there! Luckily, I had a real excuse of why I needed to be home. :)




THATCHER FAMILY REUNION

The second annual Thatcher family reunion was a great success! As you can see, we had a pirate theme.

Gracie the Pirate

Millie was trying to help Jack with his hairdo

The marshmallow blowgun game was a lot of fun



The slip-n-slide was Millie's favorite event. It took a while to warm up to it, but I'm glad she overcame her 'wimpy' tendencies that she inherited from her mom. Here's a film:




DESIRE'S BAPTISM



We loved having the missionary discussions with Desire in our home. She was so incredibly sincere as she learned about the church. When the Elders asked her if she would like to follow Jesus Christ by being baptized into his church, she replied, "yeah, wholeheartedly." I was so touched. Her baptism was a sweet experience to take part in. She has become a good friend. And we've never known better missionaries than Elder Garcia and Elder Williams.



LAGOON

We all went as a family for a few hours, then we came home, put the girls to sleep for a nap, and we went back as couples for a fun date night. We got into Lagoon for a great deal since it was "bounce back." However, after cutting the costs of Paul's new phone breaking while on the wild rapids ride, it wasn't a cheap day. Oh well! Millie can't stop talking about the rides.







Almost a Year and Finally Crawling

Now that Gracie learned how to crawl, she just wants to crawl to Mommy and gesture for me to pick her up. Isn't she supposed to be crawling around to explore? At least she isn't crawling toward the stairs...unless I'm at the bottom of them. Yikes!