#10

I know it's hard to see us, but don't worry!

=)

We FINALLY went to the Kansas City Temple January 19th.

It's beautiful inside and out! 

It was a 3rd new temple for us to go inside together!

ABC book for Ellie!

            I used a design that Shutterfly has so it was totally easy! 

     I can't wait for it to come next week! Ellie's going to be thrilled!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly photo books offer a wide range of artful designs and embellishments to choose from.

Labor Day Weekend

We traveled through 3 states Sunday-Tuesday!

We planned on traveling through two, the third one snuck up on us!

The states consisted of driving across Missouri to get to Illinois!

We visited Grandma and Grandpa Bartles who are missionaries at Carthage Jail in Carthage IL!

It also gave us a chance to add to #'s 10 and 29!

Here are the pictures that explain practically what fun was had!

Such a beautiful temple inside and out!

Monday morning Justin and I were able to attend the 8am session.

Ellie getting a tour of the jail from Grandma Bartles

 This is the window Joseph Smith fell out of when he was shot.

This door has the original bullet holes that injured and killed 2 of the men that were in this room with Joseph Smith.

My lack of photographer skills is visible....but just enjoying a walk outside as a family.

Ellie's first time seeing the Nauvoo, IL temple

Inside this building is where Justin proposed to me 4 years ago on July 30th.

We thought we would show Ellie and reminisce a bit!

=)

Trying to give an acorn to a squirrel with Grandma Bartles

All tuckered out from all the fun!

It was such a blast and so awesome that Carthage and Nauvoo are only about 5 hours away from us!

#10 and #28

#10: Visit 3 new temples and take a picture in front of each

#28: Take pictures in front of every different temple we go to

I didn't realize how similar these two were, but we are making them mean 2 different things for our family.

#10 regards going inside and doing work for the dead.

#28 regards just being outside the temple and looking at it as a family.

Anyway, this is the Denver Temple and we were able to go inside and do a session.

(This was in July)

#41

#41. Share the Gospel with someone

I did this!

It was nerve wracking.

I didn't know what his response would be,

I didn't want it to be negative because I think that we have a good friendship.

Didn't want to ruin that.

I've only given 3 Book of Mormon books to friends in my lifetime.

I get nervous.

It's something I love and I realize not many people think of my religion that way.

This is why I usually just do good works and hope I plant a seed of some kind in their heart.

Well, I went for it.

(I didn't even remember that it was on the "101 things to do list" at that time.)

I gave him the Book of Mormon.

I told him what it meant to me.

Two weeks later I asked if he had read any of it.

No.

I asked if he would.

No, didn't want my religion. And didn't want me to always bring it up when I talk to him.

Some other things were said and I felt hurt.

He really didn't understand why I LOVE the Book of Mormon.

It's probably because I don't know how to put it into words.

But he knows that if he ever has questions he can talk to me!

Funny thing though.

This gospel

My religion

It's not just a sunday thing.

I do my best to live it everyday of my life.

I'm not perfect at it, but I do my best.

So to my dear friend, it won't be vocally spoken about or written in text. But it is all around me in my life.

The way I dress, the way I talk, the different activities I do during the week.

The things I teach my daughter, the things that I watch on tv or in movies.

It's all there in little bits.

I'm human, and I fail at things sometimes...okay lots of the time! =)

so don't analyze my life too carefully.

But it is always there in the background.

I hope someday, even if it's 50 years from now, you can understand why I feel so much love for the Book of Mormon and the church I belong to.

Doesn't mean you have to love it too! Just understand the love.

=)

If I have any other friends who are curious to understand why I would go out of my comfort zone to share what I love, please let me know! 

I would love to share The Book of Mormon with you so you can begin to understand!

I will even personally mail it to you!

=)

It's a book that has changed my life.

Every day that I read it, it changes my life/perspective again.

#78

#78: Try one new recipe a month for a whole year.

We started it today!

Unfortunately I wasn't thinking properly and didn't take pictures

But here is the blog we got the recipe from!

It's pretty delicious and will become part of our crockpot recipes we cycle through!

Let me know if you try it out too!

(or alter it)

=)

Creations of the past few weeks, and Half of #90

First off...

The last week of September I went to Arizona for the day to sew with my mom

With her help I half created this puppy, and then finished it a week later at home!

He was dubbed "Leonard" by Mr. Dawson.

Next is a calzone we created....actually two of them. (His and Her's)

Lastly here is the First half of #90 (make two things off of Pinterest)

This is the link I followed

It took me WAY too long! 

I had major problems with my first attempt too

I fixed the skirt in 40 before we had to leave for church.

Needless to say, if it takes you longer than an hour, something is probably wrong!

(please ignore my face in the first pic, I didn't know Mr. Dawson was taking the picture)

#7: Go to the Balloon Fiesta

We did!

10/7/11

Little miss alerted us,

 5 minutes before our scheduled alarms went off,

that she was up and ready for the day!

Unfortunately because of the weather the balloons didn't launch.

A few did set themselves up for our entertainment, which was awfully nice!

Here are pictures to share the rest:

(Sorry for the picture overload)

 You can kind of see the rain on the stroller cover

 Little Miss...sorta miserable

 Loving being out of the stroller!