please forgive me

jakes video :')

i saw you from across the room

our eyes met

i saw a smile

and i knew i should try

a cold wind blew

i wanted you

but i was shy

in the end i looked at you

time passed

and the moment was gone

how can i expect you to want me

if i'm too shy to try

...when i was a kid...

i was hurt by someone

i started drinking, i started smoking

i was a bum

i played my guitar

i read books

i layed in the sun

ya, now i can play

but those days are gone

how did i expect to be anything

if i never even tried

never thought that the day would come

that i would have to deal with the pain within

and through my selfishness

i never took time to do those things

but ma,

i wanted to

resolve the issues

i planned to come home

but i didn't

time passed

and now you're gone

how did i expect you to forgive me

if i never even tried

all i wanna say is

i forgive you

i hope you forgive me too

[written by Jake]

...played on my dusty old guitar :(

i miss you brother

Light!

I enjoyed listening to conference today and wanted to record some of the thoughts I had.

I didn't write down all of the speakers names -- but I wrote their words, or my impressions of them as I listened.

We have a full house of children, some extras that camped over last night,

and with running the kitchen

for so many for mealtime...

well, no further explaination needed,

right!

Things I hope to work on from this first session:

Create an atomosphere in our home where our children (and parents) can feel the spirit and then help our family each to understand when they have felt the spirit, and been blessed by its council.

Key to parenting: atmosphere of LOVE.

There is nothing like this church in all the world, with the selfless service and sacrifice of the leaders. (I know this as my children and family are so blessed by people who involve themselves in encouraging and influencing our children. It is abundant!)

We need the gospel and the church,

they are two in one.

We need to be more converted to the gospel,

not just people of the church.

Three things to do:

1. deepen our love for diety. understand who they are as three beings and know them, and follow their guidance in our lives for happiness.
2. focus on ordinances and covenants. fully depend on the sacrament and use it. be converted! be regurlarly changed by its cleansing power, people do not take advantage of this weekly power in their lives because of the lack of reverence for its sacred ordinance.
3. seek learning. (search, ponder, pray, live) UNITE the GOSPEL with the CHURCH.

President Kimball was asked what to do in a boring Sacrament meeting and he replied that he had never been in one.

Life was never meant to be easy....or fair!

I hope to be judged as good a man as my Father.

Before being greated by my Heavenly Father I hope to be greeted by my earthly Father.

be devoted to, and LOVE, each precious little one

God does know and love us.

His arms are constantly extended to us.

Live the patterns of the gospel and we will be drawn towards Him.

Only way to have Spiritual Safety

for now

and Happiness

forever (eternity)

is by way of living the gospel in daily doses.

Prepare to go to the temple: no sacrafice is to great, no price to heavy, no struggle to difficult to work toward temple blessings for the ones you love.

missing: mom

jody

i eye spy

uncle jody and the girls!!!

our brother jody

passed away from heart trouble

late Thursday night.

we miss you brother

jody with his girls

breann and brittney

Tidwell Turkeyball wont ever be the same :(

Mormon Young Women: Guardian of Virtue

the Young Women also sang this song, :)



i LOVE the picture of the temple at the end of this. WOW!

New Beginnings! ARISE and SHINE



This past Wednesday we had the privilege as a family to join Clarissa for New Beginnings.

i LOVE the young women's program!

i LOVE the idea that we can start anew!

a NEW beginning. Each year, strive to do a little better.

I wanted to remember this, and to share this video with you all. For the program the boys joined the girls this year. WOW. What an honor and beautiful thing; to see these Young Men be a part of the Young Women's program. I loved that the leaders were inspired to invite the Young Men. To see the boys dressed up, and to watch them listen to these Young Women speak of their values and the accomplishments that they are striving to make.

Clarissa had to speak on Choice and Accountability, she did a wonderful work. It was so thoughtful to see the Young Men there to hear these Young Women speak of the things that are important to them. That they as Young Men can respect and honor these ladies even more-so, what an inspirational evening.

At the end of the evening the Youth* all stood together and sang this medley from EFY. The video was their accompaniment and it was surely a privileged moment. What a choir!!!!

These things simply are my WHY!!! Reason enough to hang on even in the most difficult parts of life. It's worth it and it works if you work it! Enjoy!

Oh...and the THEME for the Youth this year is ARISE AND SHINE.

Really perfect.....Arise and Shine!

*by the way. it is hilarious to watch boys try to read music. what a laugh! and with flashlights, ...who knew that these boys scouts would have so many flashlight** materials in their pockets!!!

(lights were dim for the video presentation!)**