vices...idaho...conference

My Vice

{What the randomness:}

...................................................

Confession time, I totally gave in and started watching Vampire Diaries.

What in the world did I do to myself. I always said I would never cave-in because it just seemed corny and lame. Oh, and it is, but of course I can't resist. 

Team Damon?

Team Stefan?

Now I know the struggle every teen/adult woman has. Probably some men too, but anyways I am not a hater anymore. So thank you Netflix is what I really should say.

AND...

Ryan has been wanting to watch Scandal forever, so we started that too. It's not to bad haha. Oh late night TV what would we do without you. Definitely a VICE. 

..................................................

Idaho

{Always be Idahome to me:}

.................................................

Ryan suggested going to Idaho for this past weekend, and it worked out because his sister Karly was graduating from BYU-Idaho. Everyone had dinner together at Pizza Pie Cafe {aka: craigo's} and then we headed to 'the burg'. We couldn't have been more excited for her! She worked really hard for her degree and totally deserves it, the graduation was a little different haha but it was awesome seeing her accomplish her goal :). 

On a side note, it was somewhat fun going back to Rexburg and having all those memories flooding back in. The good ones haha. But I do take pride in going there regardless of what many say. BYU-I for life yo. 

Anyways, the rest of the weekend we just hung around. Ryan played some golf, we had dinner at the park, then went to movie, and had some yummy ice cream after! 

{We saw Draft Day, it was entertaining! We liked it, not the best movie ever but it was a fun one to watch.} 

It was nice to see people I haven't seen in awhile, to catch-up on their life. Also sad because there is always so much I want to do but I never have enough time to make my to do list complete. 

BUT Idaho, don't you worry, we will be back! 

{some leavitts and bennions, and a peck?} 

...................................................

Conference

{Ending on a lighter note:}

...................................................

General Conference is honestly a great way for anyone, members of the LDS faith or not, to find a new light in their life. A fresh start in a sense. There were many questions I prepared myself with and I did find the answers. The Lord does work in mysterious ways and I love IT! 

{traditional homemade
cinnamon rolls}

{Picture of Kent's doppleganger} 

{BQ taking notes with us}

I am going to share 3 things that stood out to me most, you may have heard these ideas or not, but that is what is great about these 'mysterious ways'. We may have the same question but hear our answers in a different way.

1. Richard G. Scott "I have Given You an Example"

Elder Scott said a sense of this: 

"If you focus on the most basic principles, you will gain a better understanding of what the Lord needs from you" 

We get so caught up in the world, the fast pace it moves, we can forget to stop and realize what our priorities should be. It was just a simple reminder for me that the finding the light of Christ in your life is simple and a very easy task to take part in. 

2. Robert D. Hales "If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments"

Elder Hales, like many others, talked about obedience. He acknowledged 3 types of obedience:

Natural Man's Obedience

{rejecting God's law for our own desires/popularity}

Selective Obedience

{picking and choosing whichever commandments we want to follow}

Mature Obedience

{the Saviors obedience, willingly obeying Him} 

At times I think we can fall under each one of these categories, I know I am not innocent. However, being a disciple of Christ requires learning mature obedience or we cannot become that disciple. 

3. Dieter F. Uchtdorfs "Grateful in Any Circumstances"

 There is always a need to be thankful, especially in our current circumstances. 

Elder Uchtdorf talked about how we need to be thankful in the now and not to worry about our endings for we only have 

"everlasting beginnings". For me, I can find myself thinking of the future and what kind of mother I will be, wife, the home we will have, mainly possible FUTURE blessings. BUT I have so much to be thankful for in our humble apartment, little Blaire and our future little boy, Ryan and his dedication to work hard and get into grad school, and much more. Our life is a simple one but there is great happiness if I let it. 

{testimony}

I am thankful for a Savior who loves me, faults and all. His Atonement is the one sure thing in this life I can always count on. I know without my testimony and the knowledge I have gained so far about the gospel, I would not be the person I am today. I am thankful for my weaknesses that bring me closer to Christ. It helps me understand the unconditional love He and our Father in Heaven truly has for us. 

Thomas S. Monson is true Prophet of the Lord and speaks on His behalf. The Book of Mormon testifies of Christ and helps me learn how to become a true disciple. I am thankful for the temples and the beauty they bring inside and out for my family here and on the other side of the veil. I know that I am loved and that I can become a better person because I know Christ. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

.................................................

Much Love,

JPB

ps. don't forget it is EASTER this weekend. AND that

Anything is possible #BecauseofHim

he is risen...

Easter. Enlightened. Essential.

Easter for me usually involves egg picking/finding with family. This year I didn't even get to do that or dye eggs. Which is fine but it does add some fun for random festivities. 

My mom {Sherri} went to Vegas this past weekend and had has watch her car. We picked her up on Sunday and had a yummy Easter dinner! It was nice having her here since she hasn't seen Baby B in so long.

She actually told us she went to "Walk With Christ" before Vegas and really liked it. It is in Pocatello. They do it every year around Easter and it's just about Christs' last week before he died. Pretty neat experience for her to have. We were happy she enjoyed it. 

I also enjoyed Easter a lot more this year because I realized how important to me it actually is. Enlightened you could say. 

I have always had a testimony of Christ but I hadn't realized how much it has changed.

I remember when I knew I had my own testimony. It was before I went through the temple. I was in my interview with the stake president{Henry J. Eyring-seriously looks exactly like his dad haha mind boggling}and we had some small talk but then he just simply asked me:
"tell me your testimony of Jesus Christ"

I never had been asked that question in that form. I don't know why it took me off guard but it did. I paused and new exactly what I wanted to say and I did because of what I felt. 

I just told him I know my Savior loves me. Heavenly Fathers sacrifice and plan for us to have a Savior is hard to understand but I know it is essential. Both of their love for everyone, including me, is unconditional. 

Overtime, the above is what I knew but over the past 3 years I have come to know more of why I have that testimony and why I need it.

The gift of the Atonement is used in many different ways for everyone. That word, Atonement, was always strange before I knew what it meant to me in that interview with President Eyring. I didn't know how to 'use' it or live it. It wasn't until after I had Blaire that I knew what that kind of love meant. {still not as much but a touch of that sacrifice Heavenly Father made for his Son}

To have something you created in your hands for the first time is indescribable. You don't know that love until you experience it.
Before Blaire was born I started reading my scriptures and praying more regularly and after. I became closer to the spirit because I realized what my priorities were and should be. {still working on that}

I prayed for patience, to be calm, knowing how to love Blaire unconditionally as He does for us, and more. I felt the spirit in a new way and I don't want that to change.

I am truly thankful for a giving Savior. He is someone who knows me and the only person who knows how I feel at all times. He lives and is a cause for me to overcome my death. If I don't cherish that gift he has given us, which is life itself, I will have lost what it truly means to love. Forgiveness, repentance, and adjusting my life to be as He is is essential and a true reminder of why we celebrate Easter. 

I know He died for me and I know I can feel His love at all times. I am never forgotten. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

{I am excited to see where my testimony grows in the next few years to find what more I have learned. We all struggle and find our testimony in our time. Don't hesitate to know little by little what his gift can enlighten for you. I am saying this because I did miss out on a lot and can't have that time back. However, no regrets. Again, don't wait it's not worth it.}

With much love,

JPB

{I wrote a main blog page of what has been going on the past month of March. This post is 4 of 6 that I have written. I have posted this link as an easier way to find them. Enjoy!} 

w-o-m-e-n

Women. We are AWESOME. 

DO NOT let anyone tell you different. 

{boys you are great too, but this is going to be about us ladies}

The only reason why I got to go was because of my mom Pam {stepmom so you don't get confused haha but I call her mom too}. 

She bought me a ticket and was able to come down from Washington. Her sisters and mom came too. It was fun to be with them and share this experience.

Inspiration. Idol. Influential. 

Have you ever heard of Time Out For Women {TOFW}? Talk about inspiration! 

I have but didn't know how neat it actually was. It is very similar to EFY or Youth Conference where they bring speakers to teach for the weekend.

These speakers are well known, but sometimes not! Mainly they have had experiences they are willing to share and testimonies to help us women realize how important we are.

They have a theme every year and this year it was:

HIGHER

{The twins and me and the Pammy 
not Beth haha don't get confused} 

{Me and beth and the line to 
the bathroom--women} 

SO...how can you become higher in a sense of overcoming your own battles/trials? It was cool how all the speakers used this to speak to us in a positive way to help us realize our potential/strengths/weaknesses

On Friday night a man, James L. Ferrell, spoke. He wrote:

Anyways he was one of my favorites out of the whole weekend. 

He actually talked about his new book {Falling Up-which is what I linked about above in his name}. 

It mainly talks about how we need trials in our life to come closer to Christ. I ending up buying the book haha. I will post about that in a couple months :) 

TOFW never goes wrong without musical guests.

The infamous Michael McClean {FORGOTTEN CAROLS CREATOR} had a presentation about clothes. haha yes clothes. Anyways he talked about what kind of woman we should be. Also what type of "wardrobe" we should be wearing. 

What type of 'threads' are in your closet? 

The next day, Saturday, there were 6 more speakers. And Hilary Weeks was the musical guest. 

Hilary had a great story about clicks.

What is clicks you ask? haha well she recorded a week of all her negative thoughts. She did this by a clicker device. Then she compared that to a week of recording clicks for all her positive thoughts. 

She ended up having way more positive than negative thoughts. 

Long story short: 

We choose to be happy and it is possible to overcome that. Do you have too many negative clicks in your life? 

My favorite was by Mariama Kallon. 

{This is her story} 

I was touched by her strength and willingness to carry on with all that she had been through. It made me reflect on my life and how lucky I am to be where I am. Being here in the United States, being in a place where I am loved with friends and family close, etc. 

I also realized how the Lord truly loves all of us know matter our circumstance.

As women we need to know we are loved no matter what we are going through. There are many circumstances where we are affected in negative ways because of others or by the choices we make. 

All I know is that everyone needs to know and feel the love their Heavenly Father has for them. It makes me so sad that there are those who don't know that. Mariama is someone who knows it and I admire her greatly. She is one of my idols! :) 

All in all this TOFW stuff is great. I will never NOT go again!

{TOP LEFT:James signed my book he wrote haha.
TOP RIGHT: My idol Mariama.
BOTTOM LEFT: Michael McClean himself.
BOTTOM RIGHT: James L. Ferrell the master of words!}

{Love these cuties}

I can't wait until next year and learn more about myself that I didn't realize needed a change. It was influential for me in so many ways I won't forget it.  

I do have a testimony of my Savior and I know he loves me. I am thankful to live a life where I can learn how to be close to him at all times. The scriptures testify of his truth, especially the Book of Mormon. No matter what, I will never deny the light that book holds. It is another testament of Christ and teaches us how to be a true disciple. I know my Father lives and I am forever changed because of His Son and His gospel. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

With much love,

JPB

{I wrote a main blog page of what has been going on the past month of March. This post is 3 of 6 that I have written. I have posted this link as an easier way to find them. Enjoy!}