Humble Gratitude to my Savior for all that I have

It's Christmas time and this year I decided I would enjoy every minute of it. Yes, it can get stressful if we let it. But I had a thought... "if we let it" we get so concerned with getting a billion things to show our love and affection, but this year it's more than just giving gifts to me. It's realizing what I already have... this year I'm trying to give and do things I wouldn't normally do. Like give cookies to a random friend at church! :) I am so grateful to everyone in my life that has taught me this... First on that list is my mother: I know she struggles every day to handle so much and I admire her for it. Next is my father: throughout my life he has always tried to provide for our family and even though he and mom don't think it's enough my entire life I have had a roof over my head and been able to eat a well balanced meal. Now onto my siblings: Kathleen (Katie) first... she is me, but 8 years older... or should I say I am her. I look up to her and I always have. At the age of 17 she went off to college and struggled to provide for herself, but I have always seen her as an amazing sister and now woman and mother! I love her dearly! Next, John: My big brother who was always there for me when I needed someone to beat up the stupid boys at school who would tease me or try to "hit on me" yeah, will never forget when I was in 6th grade and these 8th grade boys were trying to make cat calls at me and John asked mom if he could beat them with his drumsticks! :) Now Jeane, growing up she and I didn't always get along, but now as we are older I am finding out how much I absolutely love spending time with her and just being around her! I am so glad she is moving here because it means that if neither of us are going out that night we can stay in and watch a way good movie! LOVE IT! Finally is David, the best friend I've had since birth! The best friend that I will always have! Yeah, we would fight in front of family and play together at school or in my room growing up! So many memories with him! If it weren't for him I'm not sure if I would know many of the amazing people I know here in Utah! :) Now, to my in laws... Ryan first... he is such a wonderful husband and father and I am so glad that he captured my sister and didn't let her go on a mission! He is a shining priesthood example along with my dad and brothers! :) Adria, she is wonderful! I love having another sister and being able to talk to her and laugh with her! It's awesome! Now, my soon to be sister in law, Stephanie, I am soo happy that my oldest brother met her! She is amazing and perfect for him in every way and I am more than excited for their wedding this Saturday! :) Now, the nephews and niece: Michael, my buddy... he is such a wonderful and shining example to me. He has taught me in many ways how to love unconditionally. I know he works hard to help his mother and his family and I am ecstatic to go see him soon... Christi, the greatest young girl I will ever know! She puts up with three brothers and does it mostly with such love and compassion. She is a wonderful example as she glows every day! James, the little red headed indian! I know it's hard being young, but he doesn't mind and is the sportiest of them all! And William (Peanut) what a perfect angel in my eyes (yes, I know he isn't always perfect). Over the summer while those kids were here though I would just love to snuggle with him and have little talks with him. He is my angel! As you can see I am beyond grateful for my amazing family. 

That being said I want to also say that I am grateful to my amazing friends throughout my life from birth to now! I have met so many wonderful people throughout my life and each has blessed me in some special way! THANK YOU!

All because he lassoed her!

The Magnificent 7

Ryan and Kathleen

John and Stephanie

My beautiful sister Jeane! :)

David and Adria

The youngest examples in my life! 

My nerdy buddy, The beautiful girl, The Red Headed Chief, and my little angel the nut! :)

ME:  loving life with the greatest hair in the world! :) Oh, and loving it all over the world! :)

For God So Loved the World

with this post I need to say something... As Christmas draws closer I notice that many people become so concerned with the gifts we give to each other, or the presents we get from each other that we end up forgetting about the best gift in the world that each of us already have... That gift is each other... today I learned a powerful lesson. As many of you know or are beginning to find out I am a distributor for RevvNRG (a healthy alternative to energy drinks), and today we had the most amazing women's leadership meeting. I must say that the lessons I have learned about myself and about my choices in the past 4 months have opened my eyes beyond belief! I have learned that no matter how much I want to give something to others that the most amazing gift I can give is myself. This video reminds me that Christ too had a choice to be born, to care about others, to take upon every sin in the entire world, to die for each of us, and to live again so that we might all live again! He didn't have to take upon our sins... he could have given into Satan time and time again, but yet HE CHOSE TO LOVE! HE CHOSE TO BE VULNERABLE! HE CHOSE for that one night TO BE AFRAID! and he knew that when HE ACCEPTED DEATH that HE WOULD LIVE AGAIN! Today, I learned so much about myself, and the beauty behind who I AM & who I WILL BECOME! I love the LORD with all my HEART! I love my family unconditionally & I am forever grateful to a couple of friends who helped me see so much more to life than just making money and trying to survive! I thank God every day for those prayers in my past that are definitely unanswered! :)

A REMARKABLE WOMAN!

This post is a day late, but I still feel like I should write it...
 Yesterday was my mom's birthday! We started it off right by going to the temple... we had a full breakfast there, and then did a session. During the session the power went off, but the Lord's work went on! I love that! The backup generators kicked in and the it all kept going smoothly and when the power came back on it was as though the light of Heaven shown brightly! My parents to this day hold hands! My dad worked hard to make mom's day special! Love that! As I watched my mom yesterday I realized what a spiritual giant she is! She doesn't always see it, but I see it in all that she does! As we were sitting in the celestial room she picked up scriptures and sat down to read as I looked around or fell asleep, and as I watched her read I realized how remarkable she is... she takes all that we are taught in the temple to an entirely new level. What a remarkable woman... after the temple we went to Smith's and walked around the store and getting a few things she needed... then it was time for home... I began to make dinner and dessert. I made a wonderful apple & sage pork chop dinner and for dessert I made mom a pumpkin caramel cake. Why did I do it? Because I wanted to show my mother how much she means to me and how much I love her... she works so hard to provide for me... she has been a stay at home mom for nearly 33 years and has always been there to fight our battles, make our dinners, clean our clothes, help us when we are sick, and many more things... twice a year if I can I want nothing more than to give back to her! Especially since I feel a huge bond to her being born on mother's day and her half birthday!  She means the absolute world to me! I hope that when I become a mother I can be at least half the woman, and mother that she is to me! Her spirituality, her strength to overcome so many trials, and so much more makes me see who I am and what I have the potential to one day become! I love her with all of my heart! Thanks MAMA!

me and mama

mom's birthday dinner

mom's dinner! :D

pumpkin caramel cake

blowing out her candles! :D

My Life is a Gift

All I can say is that The Lord has a plan for each and every one of us, and as we do is His will He will guide us through our lives. As many know I have been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I rarely don't talk about my religion on my blog and today is no exception to that. I absolutely love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings it has bestowed upon me throughout my life. There is a primary song that I am reminded of and it goes like this:
"I Will Follow God's Plan for Me"
My life is a gift; my life has a plan.
My life has a purpose in heaven it began.
My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth
And seek for God's light to direct me from birth.
I will follow God's plan for me,
Holding fast to His word and His love.
I will work and I will pray; and I will always walk in His way.
Then I will be happy on earth
And in my home above.

A year ago I made the decision to go back to the singles ward from going to the family ward for the entire year before that... One of my callings in the family ward was Primary chorister and I think that calling strengthened my faith in Jesus Christ loads. I have always known the power that music can have for each of us, but I never fully understood. I have been doing musical things almost my entire life... I started singing in an apprentice choir when I was 6 years old, and always sang in nursery or primary before that. I started playing trumpet in the 6th grade and still play that today. Music is an important part of my life. So, being able to be with kids that I had taught in school and now teaching them in a gospel setting was humbling... as I left to return to the singles ward cause I knew it was time I knew how much I would miss singing these amazing primary hymns daily... however, because I think musically I have never truly stopped singing them. Another song comes to my mind that I love:
"I Often Go Walking"
I often go walking in meadows of clover,
And I gather armfuls of blossoms of blue.
I gather the blossoms the whole meadow over;
Dear mother all flowers remind me of you.  (you could change the mother to be father too)

I only put the first verse to that song... Anyway, in talking with a good friend tonight I realized why I love the gospel of Jesus Christ so much, and it has to do with the fact that He has truly made everything for us... He built the earth for us under the direction of our Father and then He sacrificed Himself by first taking upon each of our sins and then He hung on the cross to die as a significance to each of us that even as we all must die we may be resurrected and we can indeed live again! The Lord is truly magnificent in my eyes and I love Him with every fiber of my being! I shall leave you with two more songs:
"For the Beauty of the Earth"
For the Beauty of the Earth,
For the Beauty of the Skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of All to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise

For the beauty of each hour,
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light
Lord of All to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise

For the joy of human love,
Brother, Sister, Parent, Child
Friends on earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild
Lord of All to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise

"I Feel My Savior's Love"
I feel my Savior's love
In all the world around me.
His spirit warms my soul
Through Everything I see
He knows I will follow Him
Give all my life to Him
I feel my Savior's love
The Love He freely gives me

I feel my Savior's love;
Its gentleness enfolds me,
And when I kneel to pray,
My heart is filled with peace.
He knows I will follow Him
Give all my life to Him
I feel my Savior's love
The love He freely gives me

I feel my Savior's love
And know that he will bless me
I offer him my heart
My shepherd He will be
He knows I will follow Him
Give all my life to Him
I feel my Savior's love
The Love He freely gives me.

I'll share my Savior's love
By serving others freely
In serving I am blessed
In giving I receive
He knows I will follow Him
Give all my life to Him
I feel my Savior's love
The Love He freely gives me.

I hope by reading this you have felt our Savior's love and that you may embrace your God and tell Him that you know HE is there for you and He does answer prayers!

Messages from on High!

  Twice a year I get the amazing privilege of being able to listen to servants of My Heavenly Father give us the most amazing counsel and guidance! This year has truly been a remarkable experience for me! So, here's a look into how conference was for me this most amazing first weekend in October! :-D

October 6, 2012 

 It all started when I decided to wake up early, but my alarm didn't go off thus my mom had to wake me up... it was at that second I knew the events of the day were meant to happen. My ward had been asked to sing on the sidewalk prior to conference for the Saturday Morning Session. We had to meet at the north visitor's center by 7:30 am which means we had to meet at our ward building by about 6:50 am! Talk about tired and cold! However, as we were briefed on everything we would enjoy and have to endure throughout the period of time we would be singing joy began to fill my heart! I was standing just outside the north gates as you walk toward the conference center... when we started there were protesters on the opposite corner yelling at members, and we decided quickly to start by singing Praise To The Man. It was interesting to listen to the protester trying to sing along with us. As gained order and each went around picking songs I noticed the voices of the protesters were no longer able to be heard and I looked over and they were still yelling... it was in that very moment I realized that Angels were singing with us and God was extremely proud of each of us there. Tears began to fill my eyes as I realized the power behind the gospel of Jesus Christ especially through His music! We sang until 9:50 am and we were immediately escorted into the conference center ( I have never gone so fast while singing in my entire life... I LOVED IT!) As I sat there and listened to the opening hymn and prayer I couldn't help but think that this conference would be one to go down in history for an extremely long time! President Monson was the first to speak and I knew there would probably be a temple or two to be announced which there was, but then he announced about full time missionaries and telling us that young men can now serve at 18 & young women at 19! How amazing for all the young people! If I were young I would totally go!!!!! I remember when I was 19 and all of my friends were leaving on missions and I wanted to know if I'd be able to serve and that was my first conformation that my mission would be to help others prepare for their missions. The talks and sessions just got better after that... with the entire theme being happiness, service, and missionary work there is NO DOUBT in my mind that I Belong to My Heavenly Father's true gospel of Jesus Christ! 

October 7,2012 did not disappoint either and there were even a few talks that made me tear up! You should all go and listen even if you aren't members of my faith... www.lds.org

I AM A MORMON! I KNOW IT! I LIVE IT! I LOVE IT! :-D

The MAN in my life! MY DADDY!

The following is my status on facebook:
‎"62 years ago a star was born that star everyone knows from a comic that enters the papers every day. He isn't the best at most things, but most people know about him... That star is Charlie Brown. However, I know of another star that was born that day that many don't know, but I know him and my family knows him. I'm sure my siblings would agree without this shining star in our lives there would be much in life that would be different to each of us. This star is my Dad and he is the most amazing man I have ever had the chance to meet. He will do anything for his wife and children. And today we honor him! The day I met this man I can't remember, but I know he can never forget it and for that I love him even more! I LOVE MY DADDY! and in my opinion HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST DADDY I COULD EVER ASK FOR! :)"

Now to expand... 
First about Charlie Brown:
He is a fictional character made by Charles Schultz. Charlie Brown is the complete opposite of Schultz. It seems as though his friends never understand him, but always love him. This comic strip was debuted on October 2, 1950. If you would like to know more about him go here: http://www.peanuts.com/characters/charlie-brown/








My Dad:

Rick A Baron
 Born October 2, 1950 to Ethel Effie Ames Baron & Cecil John Baron.
In 1975 he met the woman that would later become his wife... On June 23, 1978 he married Leannah Frances Mayhoffer Baron. On August 27, 1979 he called his mother to wish her a happy birthday and tell her that she was now a grandmother... My oldest sister blessed them all with her presence... Kathleen Marie Baron Norris. On June 15, 1981 they had a little boy and named him John Edmund Baron. Then on March 16, 1983 they had another little girl and named her Jeane Elizabeth Baron. Next they would be blessed with a little boy on July 29, 1985 David Ames Baron. Finally their last child and a little girl would come on Mother's Day (May 10, 1987) this is Frances Mae Baron (Me.) They raised these five children together the best they knew how. However, what they probably don't realize is what I am about to write...
Because of their influence on us we have grown into the men and women we are today. They now have 4 grandchildren and will throughout the next few years will gain even more... By the end of the year our family will have grown even more... see, almost 13 years ago Kathleen got married. This past May David got married, and finally this December John will be married. Jeane and Frances (Myself) have not married yet, but I know our turn will come soon enough... (I'm not ready yet).

I have tons of respect for this man because he put his family first his entire life! He has honored and cherished us every day. I have seen him do anything and everything for us so much that when he lost his job he worked at Wendy's to provide for our family. He isn't just an ordinary man to me... he is my Father. He has shown me what my Heavenly Father is like and that excites me. My dad is everything I adore about a man and so much more... There is a song that reminds my dad of all of his children... A separate one for each of us, and for me it is "I Saw Her First". Why? Because he did. I was born at home on Mother's Day, and there was no one there but my dad to catch me. I respect my dad for all that he has done for me throughout my life! I love him for everything he is. I know this post will make him cry because it is currently making me cry, but in my opinion today is HIS day and I want to give him all the love and respect in the world... so to MY DAD I SAY....

DADDY, I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW! :) YOU ARE MY SHINING  STAR!!!!
LOVE,
YOUR BABY GIRL!

Letters From a Missionary! :)

Jessica Hannon Colorado Springs, Colorado Mission

A week ago yesterday I drove one of my extremely good friends from the SLC airport to the MTC in Provo, Utah. I decided I would give her a letter as a send off, and she gave me a card with some money (which she didn't have to do). Today I received my very first letter from her. She is a such an example to me and has an amazing spirit that I can't even try to describe. She told me of how she came to the decision of why she should go on a mission, and when she told me I nearly became teary eyed. She will grow so much from this experience and I can see that she will help me grow too. Just from her letter today I could tell that. She told me last week that I am a big reason of why she decided to go on a mission. That makes me feel extremely good and that The Lord trusts me tons more than I often trust myself. It amazes me how much the Lord blesses each of us if we just listen and follow His example. People have asked me why I am so happy lately even though the world is crashing around me, and the true answer to that is because I can see my divine purpose. The Lord continues to bless me in ways I can even begin to comprehend and I just absolutely love it! Thanks to all the people in my life... especially my newest friend on a mission.

A day of gratefulness!

I have grown to absolutely love Sundays! Especially Fast Sundays... granted I used to dread them because I'd hear people get up and just tell long stories instead of actually bearing their testimonies... for those of you reading this and not in my religion the first of every month (unless we have General or Stake Conference) all around the world as Latter-Day Saints gather to worship we get up to bear what we call a testimony. We speak of those things in which we are grateful for or things we know to be true. Several times on here I have typed out my testimony, and I don't always get up on Fast Sunday to bear it. A friend of mine often does and I remember having a conversation with him about it a few weeks back, and I thought to myself I should get up next Fast & Testimony meeting and bear mine. Today I did just that! I got up and said that I felt like if I didn't get up I would be very ungrateful; which I believe to be extremely true. This past month has been one of the best thus far this year. I have learned so many grand and wonderful things! I have learned that I am in control of my own life and that the Lord is there with me every step of the way to guide me. A friend said to me during August that as long as we are doing what the Lord wants He is both pleased with us and He blesses us. I have found this to be extremely true. It is in those moments when we forget about Him that we become sad and desolate. He has already suffered this and all we have to do is turn to Him and He will help to comfort and guide us. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and the peace it brings to me. The lessons I learn each and every day in The Book of Mormon. I know how true that book is and all the accounts in it were written down for a purpose! I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for all the different people He has placed into my life. My friends and family are so wonderful! Especially those friends I have met within the past month. They have been a shining example to me. I have always been told that I should seek out the righteous and I am most grateful that I have... sometimes the righteous can be found in the most unexpected people. It isn't always the ones that you might think of... sometimes it comes from those that you least expect it to. For example, I know several people that have been through so much heart ache in their lives and have been beaten down more than you could possibly imagine and yet now they are some of the strongest people I could ever know. Those moments when I feel absolutely fantastic and when I know that my Father in Heaven is always there for me are the best moments in the world! I can't imagine being any happier in life or it being any better than it is, but I know that as I stay righteous and as I work extremely hard to be faithful I will continue to be blessed beyond measure! :) Everyone should smile more because when you smile it brings even more happiness to you! :D

As a Hurricane approaches..

To my friends all over the world... If you don't know tons about me and my past here is your chance to learn something new. I am from Denham Springs, Louisiana... I was born and raised there. When I turned 18 years old I went off to college in Rexburg, Idaho. The day I started my first semester of college a Hurricane headed towards my Louisiana Home! I was both extremely distracted and constantly on the internet trying to find out what was going on. I went to classes, but my mind was not on my classes it was on what would happen to the state I grew up with and had a love that could never die for... Soon, the levees fell and the water rose and my home town became a place of refuge for those that had been stuck in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. I did not fully understand the effect as to what was going on until I went home for Christmas and flew into the New Orleans International Airport. An airport that as a kid I remember being extremely packed, and now it seemed barren. As the plane began to make it's decent I could clearly see the damage that had been done. Blue Roofs (my first thought: how interesting, but then it hit me.....) They weren't roofs they were tarps. As my family took me around to see the damage I saw cargo carriers on opposite sides of the levee then they should have been. I saw numbers and big X's on houses... only to learn that had meant the house had been checked and the numbers were the dead bodies found. I was not just in shock I was horrified. Soon, we got to a spot that we couldn't keep going... My dad had been working in New Orleans at the time and knew exactly where we could and could not go. That night when we finally got home we ended up stopping at a Walgreen's for a few things.. I saw a National Geographic that I decided I would look at... the pictures inside have never left my thoughts. Coffins with dead bodies right next to fresh dead bodies.. I wanted to cry and couldn't. 

A few years later I read a book called Recovering Charles it is about a guy whose Father died in the aftermath of the Hurricane. Reading that book I could clearly see each and every image in my mind. I have a love for New Orleans that I cannot explain to an ordinary person. 

I remember I went to the aquarium and the zoo after the hurricane and neither was the same as it had been... I want to now say to all of my friends in Louisiana as a new Tropical Storm that is expected to become a Hurricane before making landfall approaches not only you, but the entire gulf coast... my prayers are with you! I will always have a love for all ya'll down there! May GOD Bless you and keep you safe FOREVER!

just remember one thing... we have the greatest football team ever! WHO DAT!!!!!

I See The Light

If you don't want to hear/read my vague but totally awesome ramblings on why my life is so great then please don't go on, but if so... enjoy my late night thoughts! :)

So, there is reason as always behind my titles and this one has to do with the song from Tangled called "I See the Light". While listening to the first part of the song I realized that I can totally relate it to my relationship with My Heavenly Father... here is the part of which I am speaking:
 All those days watching in the windows
All those years outside looking in
All that time never even knowing 
Just how blind I've been
Now I'm here blinking in the starlight
Now I'm here suddenly I see 
Standing here it's all so clear
I'm where I'm meant to be

And at last I see the light
And it's like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it's like the sky is new
And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once everything looks different
Now that I see you

my thoughts are this... I have been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints my entire life, but only within the past few years have I become EXTREMELY converted to what I already knew to be true... I mean as the song says I have been going around in a sense blind to what was already around me. Now that I'm at this point in life I do finally see and it is as though the fog has been lifted. Life has a clear purpose... of course it will be rough along the way, but that's what makes it totally worth it. :) Within the past month I have been reconnected and connected with so many amazing and great people. I honestly couldn't ask for better people in my life right now. God doesn't just bless you in life... He REALLY blesses you... all you have to do is show Him that you are willing to listen and learn and hurt for even just a little while. My life is going to go in a direction I want it to go into... why because life is what you make from it! No one else decides your life... every day is full of choices and every day you can strive to become better and that is what my goal is now and will be forever! I love my life... I love my gospel... I love my Heavenly Father for everything He has done for me and is doing for me. :) Now enjoy this awesome song! :)

My newest addiction

I have to admit... I have been fully converted to pinterest. I have been pinning like crazy and finding tons of recipes I want to do and put on my food blog and to top it off hair ideas and homemaking ideas! Yes, I am very addicted. I just can't stop pinning. I now see why everyone loves that site so much. you can find anything! It is like the best site in the world for a woman! I love it! Yes, this is short, but I just had to get that out there! :D

Late Night Ramblings

I don't like getting to personal on here lately cause I feel like people judge you when you get too personal and I don't like being judged, but I can't sleep because of things that have been bugging me lately. The main thing that bugs me... I miss one of my best friends. I haven't spoken to him in a really long time and I wish I could. I remember all these wonderful times and know that things like that can never happen again, and to be perfectly honest it kills me inside. I wonder if I will ever be able to speak to him again and how I can possibly ever tell him how deeply sorry I am. I feel at times like I was there for him when he needed me most, but he can in no way be there for me right now. I guess in reality it is all part of growing up in life. I've learned that the Lord places certain people into our lives at certain times to help us grow from situations. For example, the past two years that I have lived in Bountiful I have met some pretty spectacular people... I'm just ashamed that it has taken me so long to realize it. Yes, I may never speak to that guy ever again, but I will always remember him, and I guess I have to let him go to make room in a way for others in my life... Like the amazing people I have met since graduating from college. I will always thank God for all the wonder people he has placed into my life. He is truly my Father cause he knows exactly who/what I need when I need it/them! There... my late night ramblings...

Think Twice before going to see the movie Magic Mike

http://mrsgoresdiary.com/2012/07/08/magic-mike-who/

I read this article about what this one lady thought about the most recent movie with Channing Tatum called Magic Mike and I must say that it said everything I was thinking! I used to adore Channing Tatum as an actor/person in general, but since this movie came out and seeing commercials and realizing more and more that this is a movie of his I will NEVER see I have lost respect for him. I mean... do we seriously live in a society where looking at porn is SO NOT OKAY for men, but if women look at it that is fine. I personally have seen how Pornography can pain someone to no end. And how hard it is to be healed from it. That being said... I also adore men like my father and my brothers who have never given in to the temptation. I also adore men that will do anything to overcome an addiction like that! Will I ever watch this movie... NO! And if any of my "friends" ever try to get me to watch that movie I will gladly walk away from that friendship FOREVER! So, all of my old friends be WARNED!

I wish more men decided to be like John Wayne!

Observations & Realizations

So, I have had to figure out lately how much the Lord has truly blessed me in my life. First of all he has blessed me with some of the greatest friends on this planet! I really couldn't ask for better. Every once in a while I get irritated with people that say they are "friends" of mine, but yet they never visit or they never want to do anything even just sending an email to say hi. Now, that being said I don't say hi to them much either... By the way, the likelihood of this being about anyone that constantly reads this blog is NOT likely. ;) You may not say anything but you are a true friend! ;) So, here are some realizations on that observation... when I left college I remember talking with my Bishop about how I met some pretty amazing people while in college, and then the thought that all of those amazing people would be my friends forever. I have since realized that can only be the case if all are willing to fight for the friendship or at least make an effort to see each other. Now, that being said I would love to give a quick shout out to some people and yes, I'm naming names of my amazing friends from college... First, to Chris & Sadie Freeman... I couldn't ask for anyone better. They have let me stay in their home any time I have gone to Idaho and needed a place to stay! Ever since I graduated 2 years ago. They are the kindest and funnest and loveliest and just all around wonderful! I make an effort to see them any time I am in Rexburg! Now, to Brad & Elizabeth Williams they may only be 3 months married, but I absolutely love them! They took me to dinner and just were so wonderful and even were accepting to meeting my other married friends! Let's just say I have some pretty spectacular married friends in Rexburg! Now, the friends I have made here withing the past couple of years I am ETERNALLY grateful to my Heavenly Father for! They are truly there when I REALLY need them! I have been in the dampers these past couple of months and they have helped me figure things out both on my own and with their help!

Now for another observation I've been meaning to post for a while... the older I get the more I realize how much I am like my mother! NO this is not a bad thing, but definitely weird... So, at certain times of the day there are talk radio hosts that I don't mind listening to... Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and (here in Utah) Rod Archet (or however it is spelled)... Yeah, I'm a nerd and a Rush baby who loves Glenn Beck! I am also so weird that at certain times during the week I don't mind watching Fox News... things like The Fox Report with Shepherd Smith and The O'Reilly Factor! YES, I'm PSYCHO! HOWEVER, I love it... don't worry I still love listening to music, and analyzing the lyrics and figuring out how to apply it to my life... in fact I will be posting a song to this and although not all of the lyrics apply I have been thinking loads lately about someone that I used to know...

THIS IS MY COUNTRY!

Sitting in sacrament meeting today my heart was basically beating out of my chest, but sadly time ran out to get up and bear my testimony. Well, I decided that if I didn't get up to say it all to my ward I could at least put it on my blog where everyone I know and love and then some could see it. Well, I then realized I've born my testimony tons of times, but not in this manner... What am I speaking of? I'm speaking of my testimony and gratitude that I have for this wonderful nation in which I live... a nation where I can choose to disagree with my neighbor, but still get along with them; a place where if I don't like how the country is being run I can  choose to vote that person or those persons out of office. I have a choice in how I live my life. I have a choice in how my country is governed! As I was sitting there in my sacrament meeting I noticed on the program sitting next to me there was a quote that basically said precisely all that I thought... "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!"-Patrick Henry... when I came home I decided to look it up... well, there is this to add to it. " For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here." This country is such a wonderful one to live in... it was designed by the hand of GOD and he designed by men of all types of faiths. Men who didn't want to be told what they "had to do." Now, going on with the whole patriotic theme as I was sitting there during the passing of the sacrament a few thoughts came to my mind and I had the thought to actually read through the national anthem... Have you ever actually taken the time to just stop and read The Star Spangled Banner? The lyrics to it just shine through... most people know the first verse, but it is behind the words of the other 3 versus that struck me hard today and I realized how thankful I am to this country...

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

this is the land of the free and home of the brave and we have the power to keep it that way! In my parents den area there is a copy of a painting I had framed for them... it is the signing of the Constitution. To me that great document is a document for all mankind. The Constitution along with The Declaration of Independence are inspired documents written by the hand of God. These Documents also remind me of another wonderful exclamation of Liberty that I am quite fond of that was also done in this great land long before it became the United States of America. This is THE TITLE OF LIBERTY written by every young LDS girl's dream guy Captain Moroni! Alma 46:12-13 " 12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole. And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land—"

what a grand piece of history to add to all the other wonderful documents of this land!
In closing I'm going to stray a bit from my testimony and encourage all of my friends and family whomever else reads this blog to vote this November. Don't just vote to do it though... vote thinking of your future, you children's future, your grandchildren's future, or if nothing else the future of this GREAT nation!
Now, I leave this with each of you and let you know that more than anything else in the world I am ETERNALLY grateful to my Father in Heaven that I live in this great nation in which religious freedom is ever present and that I have the decision to choose how I want to live my life. I leave with you my testimony and my love forever... in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Please enjoy this song that is very to my heart sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Praise to the Man

Doctrine and Covenants 135

Martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet and his brother, Hyrum Smith the Patriarch, at Carthage, Illinois, 27 June 1844 (seeHistory of the Church, 6:629–31). This document was written by Elder John Taylor of the Council of the Twelve, who was a witness to the events.

1–2, Joseph and Hyrum martyred in Carthage Jail; 3, The preeminent position of the Prophet is acclaimed; 4–7, Their innocent blood testifies of the truth and divinity of the work.

 1 To seal the testimony of this book and the Book of Mormon, we announce the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and Hyrum Smith the Patriarch. They were shot in Carthage jail, on the 27th of June, 1844, about five o’clock p.m., by an armed mob—painted black—of from 150 to 200 persons. Hyrum was shot first and fell calmly, exclaiming: I am a dead man! Joseph leaped from the window, and was shot dead in the attempt, exclaiming: O Lord my God! They were both shot after they were dead, in a brutal manner, and both received four balls.

 2 John Taylor and Willard Richards, two of the Twelve, were the only persons in the room at the time; the former was wounded in a savage manner with four balls, but has since recovered; the latter, through the providence of God, escaped, without even a hole in his robe.

 3 Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more,save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!

 4 When Joseph went to Carthage to deliver himself up to the pretended requirements of the law, two or three days previous to his assassination, he said: “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summer’s morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men. I shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said of me—he was murdered in cold blood.”—The same morning, after Hyrum had made ready to go—shall it be said to the slaughter? yes, for so it was—he read the following paragraph, near the close of the twelfth chapter of Ether, in the Book of Mormon, and turned down the leaf upon it:

 5 And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness, thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father. And now I … bid farewell unto the Gentiles; yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before thejudgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood. The testators are now dead, and their testament is in force.

 6 Hyrum Smith was forty-four years old in February, 1844, and Joseph Smith was thirty-eight in December, 1843; and henceforward their names will be classed among the martyrs of religion; and the reader in every nation will be reminded that the Book of Mormon, and this book of Doctrine and Covenants of the church, cost the best blood of the nineteenth century to bring them forth for the salvation of a ruined world; and that if the fire can scathe a green tree for the glory of God, how easy it will burn up the dry trees to purify the vineyard of corruption. They lived for glory; they died for glory; and glory is their eternal reward. From age to age shall their names go down to posterity as gems for the sanctified.

 7 They were innocent of any crime, as they had often been proved before, and were only confined in jail by the conspiracy of traitors and wicked men; and their innocent blood on the floor of Carthage jail is a broad seal affixed to “Mormonism” that cannot be rejected by any court on earth, and their innocent blood on the escutcheon of the State of Illinois, with the broken faith of the State as pledged by the governor, is a witness to the truth of the everlasting gospel that all the world cannot impeach; and their innocent blood on the banner of liberty, and on the magna charta of the United States, is an ambassador for the religion of Jesus Christ, that will touch the hearts of honest men among all nations; and their innocent blood,with the innocent blood of all the martyrs under the altar that John saw, will cry unto the Lord of Hosts till he avenges that blood on the earth. Amen.

I put my testimony with what has already been said. And also say God Bless that man forever!

CALL FOR RECIPES!!!!!

So as many may have noticed I have decided to start a recipe blog. Well, being the kind of blog it is I want to try out most of the recipes before I post them... now, here is the deal... I know some of you people out there are really itching to get some good Louisiana recipes on your hands, or some real good southern ones... well, I gotta know which ones you want since there are plenty and then I will do my best to post them up for you. So, this is my call for recipes just respond to this blog on what recipes you are DYING to see and I will work on getting those up for you and if you have yet to see my new blog just go here... Une Création Nourriture
Hope to see some good suggestions soon!

Quarter of the way to a Century/ First Wedding in 12.5 years!

So, on the 10th I turned 25 and my family and the greatest friends ever all made it a pretty special day. With tension high because my brother got married on the 18th it was a pretty chill day! Everything in life seems to be going okay for me as long as I remember to keep my head up high and look at life with my chin up. I need to buckle down and just dedicate 1 hour every day to studying and keep looking around for a new job. Just gotta keep that head up. Also, I just put up a new blog on recipes... I want to also start reading more books for my review blog, but that may have to go on the back burner if I get into the new career of my choice. So, the new blog site is francsfoods.blogspot.com check it out if you have the time. Now for a few pictures from the birthday and the wedding... I have very few words these days... sorry readers... just enjoy the pics especially the wedding ones cause it may be a bit before I put them on fb. :)

Mom made me shrimp and grits for breakfast.

and she made me cupcakes :) 

and bought me flowers

and costa vida for dinner

I added flare to a cupcake

David teased Adria about the crawfish

their last weekend not married.

Jeane and her "son" at the wedding

The awesome princess

this girl cracks me up!

Leannah & Leannah Jr. (Like grandmother like granddaughter)

the peanut!

getting pulled

he's a cutie.

silly boys

cool fountain at Jordan River temple

posing for the camera

the newlyweds! David & Adria Baron

 cutting the cake

me and my awesome nephew!

being silly at the reception! :)

Now time to prep for CAMP GRANDMA!