It's Summer Vacation Time!

We left home yesterday going up to Utah to see Sabrina and Family, Dan and Linda, Brandalee and Family, go to a Scentsy Family Reunion, travel to Nauvoo and return back to Utah to continue our vacation.  It will be a full July with a lot to see and do.

This morning we left Kanab moving our way to Provo then up to Cedar Valley.  On the way we always stop in Manti to see the beautiful Manti Temple.  This is my favorite temple!  It's beautiful outside and inside the workmanship is incredible!  This is the view from the park across the street! Breathtaking!

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What Do LDS Women Get?

I wish I had the eloquence and ability to say what is in my heart regarding this topic.  I'm so thankful that Sheri Dew shared her experience when speaking with a reporter on this topic.  It saddens me when LDS women don't understand that we do have a lot.  We are not oppressed!  We have a special place in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

A few weeks ago a sister in our ward shared an analogy regarding the priesthood.  This sister has her own business decorating for weddings, events, etc.  She explained that she uses extension cords all the time.  She knows that when she plugs in an extension cord that she can add twinkle lights to it and illuniate the center of a room by placing extension cords together.  She likened that to the priesthood. When we have a calling in the church we are set apart by the priesthood authority to work in the capacity that we've been called.  We are an extension of that priesthood just like the twinkle lights in the middle of the room that are connected to the extension cord.  We may not hold the priesthood but we are connected to it.  We receive personal revelation.  We receive personal revelation over those we have stewardship over in our callings.

I love that analogy.  It is so simple!  Yet, I know there will be those that will find fault with it.  To those I say, I do not judge you...therefore do not judge me for my opinion.  We all have our agency to choose and to question.  My choice and belief is that our Heavenly Father's plan is the right plan.  I am not an oppressed woman in the LDS church.  I am a daughter of God and I know He loves me and I love Him.  Again, choose what you may.  As for me and my house we will serve the Lord!

   

Here are a couple of Conference Talks that I think are appropriate to share here.

The Cost -  and Blessings - of Discipleship by Jeffrey R Holland

The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood by Dallin H Oaks

Families Are Forever

There is nothing more special than seeing a family sealed together.  Today we had the opportunity to go to the Gilbert Arizona Temple and see the sealing of Joseph to his parents Robert and Sarah Atkinson. The sweet spirit of the Lord was present.  It was a quiet peaceful sealing with their older children there in the temple too.  I cannot express how important the temple is to all of us that know that families can be together forever.  Without the temple ordinances and sealing power it would not be possible.  I am forever grateful to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.

Heidi and Tim's Wedding Day

Mr and Mrs Timothy Bogardus

Married April 4, 2014

Mesa Arizona Temple




Tim and Heidi Bogardus with Justin, Katie, Zachary and Adam Magnusson,
Alexander and Lisa Lake, Keith and LaDonna Magnusson,
Landon, Natalia, Aurelie and Sabra Magnusson



Tim and Heidi Borgardus with Justin and Katie Magnusson, Alexander and Alisa Lake,

David Parisot and Kirsten Borgardus, Craig and Katarina Covington,

Landon and Natalia Magnusson & Jay and Anneke LeSueur



Heidi Borgardus with her Best Friends
Ashley Doutaz and Leah Boles



Happy Birthday Mom!

Today my mother would have celebrated her 75th birthday. As I reflect back over these almost 18 years since she passed away.  I'm filled with conflicted emotions.  As I write I think of all that she endured battling breast cancer for 12 years.  Going through her breast surgery, reconstructive surgery and later to be diagnosed with a brain tumor.  To once again have to go through a brain surgery.

As a cancer patient myself, I cannot image all that she endured.  I know that we struggled in our mother/daughter relationship...but I cannot deny that I loved her.

Over the years I have had a battle within me.  Why did we have to have such a difficult relationship?  How could it have been better?  What could I have done to fix or help our relationship?  I'm baffled with the conflicts I have faced throughout my life regarding the family dynamics. I know I love my mother, but yet I still have the scaring effects of the times that we faced.  Even though I had these conflicting life moments with my mother...I know that through her last few months we became as close as we possible could even though there still seemed to be a barrier that kept us from healing.  

I thought with her passing that I would not feel the emotions that I continue to feel.  The lack of ... the feeling of being less than...not good enough...not perfect enough...unable to satisfy or make her happy.  As I have pondered her life and all that mom endured as a child I understand more as to why she was the way she was.  I know that she had demons that challenged her throughout her life.  The times that she grew up in.  Her parents, my grandparents, raised their family during the depression.  They didn't have much and the stress that it must have caused them raising 8 children.  I know that through the generations that physical abuse was passed down, from my knowledge as far back as my great-grandparents.  It may have been farther back...but no one knows.  I'm sure it must have been through the challenges of life that caused this to happen  especially not knowing how to deal with matters/issues of their time.

As a result my mom took what she learned and changed it to the best of her ability.  She was never physically abusive to us kids.  For that I am grateful.  I know it was something that she tried her best not to pass down to us knowing what she had endured as a child.  Yet, she struggled in other ways.  She loved us and we knew that yet I find myself questioning that love.  I guess it's because there were times I felt conflicted with how she may address or say something.  It's hard to explain.  I think this is why I have battled my weight all my life.  I find that I cannot express exactly how I feel and it results in me stuffing my feelings with food.  I have battled low self-esteem all of my life.  I thought I would grow out of it, to no avail.

So, as I reflect on mom's birthday today.  I want to say, Mom I do love you!  I know our relationship was not perfect...far from it.  But I love you even to this very day!

YEAH!!! Velata!!!

Lillian and Vincent LOVE Velata.  

A FUN way to eat chocolate!

Happy Birthday Dashman!!!

Dash turned 2 yesterday.  Doug wanted to get a little something for Dash's birthday and got him 2 books that included HIS FAVORITE THINGS, "Airplanes" and "Thomas the Train".  

Here's Dash reading his NEW books!