Linky Love

Modern Molly's Contest Picks:

Aliens in the Attic DVD (5 Winners): Forever and Always (no end date given)
Win a Flip Camera (4 Winners): Better in Bulk (ends Oct. 30)
Win a Jeep Wrangle g-edition stroller: Penelope's Oasis (ends Dec. 14)
Win one a DVD set of Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs: Trying to Stay Calm
Win the "Brownie Fun! Book: Book Give-Aways (ends Nov. 3)
Win a watch: Fabulous Fun Finds (Ends Nov. 1)

Recipe of the Week:

Devilishly Delicious Ranch Dip (for your Halloween party!): Hidden Valley

Modern Molly's Favorite Posts:

Religion~
"Value of Work" printable: Emma's Place
Lesson on Tithing: LDS Activity Day Ideas
FHE Service Project Lesson: Family Home Evening Blog
Batteries Re-charged: Visiting Teaching

Volunteer Opportunity~

Family Search Indexing: Family Search

Home~
Hand-made Halloween Costume Ideas: Make and Takes
EZ Budget Planner: Zions Bank
Consumer Information: Clark Howard

Food Storage Tip of the Week:

Week #4 Tip: Food Storage Fridays~ Family Home Evening Blog


Date Night Idea of the Week:

Love Debit Card: Love Actually

Church Video of the Week:

"You're Never Alone"

If you would like to have your site, blog or post featured on Modern Molly Mormon's Weekly Linky Love, email hunt.family05@gmail.com with the subject: "Linky Love" and please include a link to what you would like to be featured!

Do you have a contest or giveaway at your blog this week and want to spread the word? Link it below in MckLinky!

Going to the Temple

Every year the family gathered together at a Temple Session to honor Grandpa Riggs birthday. Afterwards, those who could go, would have lunch or dinner together.

It has almost been one year since Grandpa passed away.

It doesn't seem like so long. It seems like just last week... yet time has flown by.

Our family was supposed to meet up at 6:30 pm and do a session together in remembrance of Grandpa.

But people couldn't make it. Some had work, some couldn't get a sitter until later, or earlier, some didn't want to go on Friday, but wanted to go another day. It was a mess.

At our house... we can use all those same excuses. The end result, is we don't go.

That's what happens. It gets put on the back burner, and before you know it another day has passed, or maybe even a week.

We went on Friday afternoon. We were the only members of our family there in the session. Well, except for Uncle Tom, and Grandpa Riggs, on the other side... we know they were there with us. And they knew we were there for them.

My MIL said the other day... that she could only hope that she lived her life in such a way as to reflect how awesome a person Grandpa (her father) was. I loved that!

We took our time in the session, and sat quietly together holding hands, speaking to Heavenly Father.... It was a wonderful time for recharging mentally, and spiritually.

Some people may not be able to go to a temple sesison yet.... but you can still feel that same peace, get that same recharge, by going to the visitors center.

I hope and pray that each one of us... will find a way to go to the Temple, and enjoy the Spirit that is felt there as often as we can. And that we will make an honest effort to go and enjoy the blessings of going.

This is one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal... to use whenever we can and want to... to help us PREPARE spiritually for whatever may come our way.

Jess is happily married to her best friend and mom to three kiddos..Actively practicing attachment parenting, home schooling and much more...You can read about their adventures on her blog, Life Learners.

quotable quotes: study

Of making many books there is no end;
and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

~Ecclesiastes 12:12
[image "I am a Librarian" by cindiann]

Catch up with Miss Liss at Bee Nymph's File Box or The Fascinating Woman, based on Fascinating Womanhood.

Sunshine In My Soul

I woke up this morning to another grey, dreary, drizzly day. It’s been like this now for over a week…cold front after warm front after cold front, but no sunshine. Inches of rain, then a nice breeze, but no sunshine. It’s starting to wear on me.

Coming from Alaska, sunlight is something not to be taken for granted. Many people in the northern regions of the world (including my mother and brother) suffer from the lack of sunshine, a condition called Seasonal Affected Disorder. I have been lucky to not be too bothered by lack of rays. That is, until now.

Now I hunger for it. Now I want to be outside, basking in the magical low fall sunshine. I want to walk in the wind with browning leaves whipping around me. I want to take my son outside, so he can enjoy the golden sunshine in this, my favorite time of year. The lack of sun is eating at my soul—I am lethargic, emotional, dragging.

In cursing the lack of decent weather, it occurred to me that the lack of sunshine in my life is not just physical. I am not just feeling this way because of meteorological conditions.

How long has it been since I let the sunshine of the Spirit into my life? As I’ve said before, in learning who I am again since my son got sick I have oftentimes neglected the spiritual in favor of all the millions of things I need to do daily. In not taking the time to bask in spirituality, I am surely condemning myself to a grey and rainy life, one that won’t truly be better even when the physical sunshine comes back. Looking back at it now, perhaps that’s the cause of all of my problems the last few years…

So today I will get some sunshine, even if the only sun I find will be in the words of scripture or on my knees in prayer.

And maybe, if I’m reaaaaaally lucky, the real sun will come out.

Devon is wife to a wonderful guy and mom to a superhero. Check her out at Defining Devon or see a real live Superman at The Daily Dakin.


picture courtesy of here

Linky Love

Modern Molly's Contest Picks:

Enter to win a Moms R The Best T-shirt: Forever and Always (ends Nov. 3)
Win a Johnny Diaz CD (5 Winners): Better in Bulk (ends Oct. 24)
Win a Crazy Dog T-shirt: Penelope's Oasis (ends Nov. 16, 2009)
Win one cotton pillowcase protector from Aller-Ease: Trying to Stay Calm (ends Oct. 27)
Win a pair of kids shoes from 5 Lil monkeys: Fabulous Fun Finds (Ends Oct. 26)

Recipe of the Week:

Pumpkin Streusel Cheesecake Bars: Tablespoon

Modern Molly's Favorite Posts:

Religion~
"Halloween Handout" printable: Emma's Place
Father-Daughter Dinner Ideas: LDS Activity Day Ideas
The Holy Ghost: Family Home Evening Blog
Paper Pumpkins: Visiting Teaching

Volunteer Opportunity~

Family Search Indexing: Family Search

Home~
Halloween Crafts: Make and Takes
EZ Budget Planner: Zions Bank
Consumer Information: Clark Howard

Food Storage Tip of the Week:

Week #3 Tip: Food Storage Fridays~ Family Home Evening Blog


Date Night Idea of the Week:
Romancing the Alley: Love Actually

Church Video of the Week:

"Marriage and Divorce"


If you would like to have your site, blog or post featured on Modern Molly Mormon's Weekly Linky Love, email hunt.family05@gmail.com with the subject: "Linky Love" and please include a link to what you would like to be featured!

Do you have a contest or giveaway at your blog this week and want to spread the word? Link it below in MckLinky!

quotable quotes: reading

[image "Sunday Afternoon" by Kenneth Moyle]

A quote has been eluding me. As near as I can recall it goes like this, "The words went through and through her. Running through like water, coloring her thoughts til all her mind was blue, a great purple-blue." To me this is what the admonition to "seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom" [D&C 88:118; 109:7] means, that we seek out books that may change our thoughts, coloring them, making them ever-afterward different because we read that book.

I have read many good books and I have read some bad books. I have read a great many so-so books. There are books that I delight in reading over and over again, even though they don't profoundly alter me; books that stand out in my memory like time posts. And there are books that have colored my mind, leaving me with new thoughts, new attitudes, and eventually new ways of being. A partial shelf of my own best books includes:

• The Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery (particularly books 1, 2, 3, 5, & 6)
• The Book of Mormon & The Holy Bible
• The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
• Helen Keller by Lorena A. Hickok
  
• Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
• Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach
• Think & Grow Rich by Napolean Hill
• The Chocolate Connoisseur by Chloe Doutre-Roussel
• French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano
• Real Food by Nina Planck
• Fascinating Womanhood by Helen Andelin
• Apartment Therapy by Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan
• Miss Manners' Guide to Domestic Tranquility by Judith Martin
• A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
• The Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane Brocket

Most recently added to this list, The Home-maker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher.

What books have changed the color of your thoughts?

Catch up with Miss Liss at Bee Nymph's File Box or The Fascinating Woman, based on Fascinating Womanhood.

Linky Love

Modern Molly's Contest Picks:

Enter to win a pair of shoes from MustHaveShoes.com: Forever and Always (ends Oct. 27)
Win a Johnny Diaz CD (5 Winners): Better in Bulk (ends Oct. 24)
Win a Crane Animal Cool Mist Humidifier: Penelope's Oasis (ends Nov. 16, 2009)
Win Downlite Reading Wedge Pillow: Book Give-aways (ends Oct. 20)
Dove Chocolate Cravings Bundle: Trying to Stay Calm (ends Oct. 20)
Win a "Pass the Inspiration" Prize pack from General Mills: Gourmet Mom on the Go (Ends Oct. 13)

Recipe of the Week:

Slow Cooker Pulled Jerk Pork Sandwiches: Tablespoon

Modern Molly's Favorite Posts:

Religion~
"Confidence" printable: Emma's Place
October Visiting Teaching Kits: Hand Picked Daisy
Activity Days lesson on Manners & A Tea Party: LDS Activity Day Ideas
General Conference FHE Lesson-"Moral Discipline": Family Home Evening Blog
October Visiting Teaching Lesson & Enhancers: Visiting Teaching


Home~
Simple Scarves: Make and Takes
Awesome Coupon Web Site: Fat Wallet
Find great deals: Deal Catcher

Food Storage Tip of the Week:

Week #2 Tip: Food Storage Fridays~ Family Home Evening Blog


Date Night Idea of the Week:
Halloween Hunt: Love Actually

Church Video of the Week:

"The Women In Our Lives"


If you would like to have your site, blog or post featured on Modern Molly Mormon's Weekly Linky Love, email hunt.family05@gmail.com with the subject: "Linky Love" and please include a link to what you would like to be featured!

Do you have a contest or giveaway at your blog this week and want to spread the word? Link it below in MckLinky!

quotable quotes: religious certainty

Certitude is certainty. It is conviction. . . Without certitude on the parts of believers, a religious cause becomes soft, without muscle, without the driving force that would broaden its influence and capture the hearts and affections of men and women. Theology may be argued over, but personal testimony, coupled with performance, cannot be refuted.

~President Gordon B. Hinckley

[“Faith: The Essence of True Religion,” Liahona, Oct 1995, 3]

[image "Sacred Grove" by Aquistbe]

Catch up with Miss Liss at Bee Nymph's File Box or The Fascinating Woman, based on Fascinating Womanhood.

Backup Backup Backup! (IN PROGRESS)

I admit it... I am addicted to my computer. Family photos, scrapbook pages, church stuff, recipies and even my work all revolves around my computer.

Like any day I'm sitting at my desk typing along and then it happened.... 'click.... Click.... CLICK'... my trustworthy little external hard drive was making funny noises. Slightly concerned I call tech support after a long series of complex and ultimately unhelpful questions from the man on the other end I start to worry.

Not sure what to do I take the hard drive to see the computer dr., he pluged it in look at if briefly, then handing it back to me shrugging his shoulders. "Sorry mam it's fried."

Linky Love

Modern Molly's Contest Picks:

Enter to win a GE Appliance: Forever and Always
Win a pair of Eleven Collection shoes: Better in Bulk (ends Oct. 12)
Win a Waterpik Ultra Dental Water Jet: Penelope's Oasis (ends Nov. 16, 2009)
Win "Haunted Party" children's book: Book Give-aways (ends Oct. 8)
Pumpkin Dish Towel Give-away: Trying to Stay Calm (ends Oct. 13)
Win a "Pass the Inspiration" Prize pack from General Mills: Gourmet Mom on the Go (Ends Oct. 13)

Recipe of the Week:

Easy Taco Pizza: Tablespoon


Modern Molly's Favorite Posts:

Religion~
"I Can Be a Good Example for my Family" bookmarks: Emma's Place
October Visiting Teaching Kits: Hand Picked Daisy
Activity Days lesson on Modesty: LDS Activity Day Ideas
General Conference Review: Family Home Evening Blog

Home~
Halloween Banner: Make and Takes
Coupon Tips and offers: The Coupon Clippers
Online swap meet: Freecycle

Food Storage Tip of the Week:

Week #1 Tip: Food Storage Fridays~ Family Home Evening Blog


Date Night Idea of the Week:

Personalized Crossword Puzzles: Love Actually

Church Video of the Week:

"Choose this Day"


If you would like to have your site, blog or post featured on Modern Molly Mormon's Weekly Linky Love, email hunt.family05@gmail.com with the subject: "Linky Love" and please include a link to what you would like to be featured!

Do you have a contest or giveaway at your blog this week and want to spread the word? Link it below in MckLinky!

General Conference Weekend

We look forward to it for weeks.

It's like a favorite holiday.

We all anticipate and plan our favorite General Conference Weekend food for days and days.

The kids all come home so we can cook, visit, play games and partake of a inspirational feast that fills us up both physically and spiritually.

Saturday morning comes and in our PJ's, we all pile on the couch and every available chair and eat breakfast and watch the morning session of General Conference.

It is wonderful!

We have quite a houseful with the college kids bringing roommates home, lots of family and friends. Isn't that what it's all about?

A Favorite GC moment - I know I take my proximity to the temple for granted, sad but true. It was just delightful when President Monson announced a new temple in Fort Lauderdale FL, and Kelsie's roommate, who is from Fort Lauderdale literally jumped up off of the couch and cheered! I'm humbled . . . I need to be better . . .

Here is one of our favorite GC weekend foods: What are some of your favorites?

Did you have a favorite inspirational message?

So many good thoughts, but I so enjoyed Elder Bednars message on showing and expressing love to family members. To parents, and children, for everyone. "We should remember that saying 'I love you' is only a beginning. We need to say it, we need to mean it, and most importantly we need to consistently show it. We need to both express and demonstrate love." A wonderful thought! I don't think there's anyone who couldn't relate to his antidotes concerning the FHE and scripture study episodes of his family. We're all so similar in so many ways . . .




Streusal Blueberry Muffins

1 C. milk
1/4 c. vegetable oil
1/2 t vanilla
1 egg
2 c. flour
1/3 c sugar
3 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 c. frozen blueberries

Topping:
2 T. butter
1/4 c. flour
2 T. brown sugar
1/2 t cinnamon

Slightly beat egg, add in all ingredients except for topping. Fold in the frozen blueberries. Turn into prepared muffin cups or muffin liners. Prepare topping by cutting butter into dry ingredients until crumbling. Top muffins and bake at 400 degees for 18 mintues. Makes 12 large muffins.

Enjoy your FAVORITE family memories and yummy food this conference weekend. Hope to find your home and families nourished both physically and spiritually!

This Latter Day Mom, just trying to "Endure to the End" one day at a time. You can follow these antics and more at Alpine Klein Bunch.

quotable quotes: conference & covenants

The Modern Molly Mormon theme for October is Make & Keep Sacred Covenants.

What are covenants? A covenant is a promise made between two parties, such that each party makes a promise-or series of promises-to the other. Covenants in the religious sense are set up so that  "God fixes the terms, which man accepts."[Bible Dictionary: Covenant] The first covenant a member makes is the covenant of baptism. Every ordinance carries with it a covenant (such as the ordinances of baptism, confirmation, sacrament, priesthood ordination, temple endowment, temple sealings).

Elder Oaks, an apostle, gives a simple formula for keeping covenants:

So what does it mean to obey the commandments, to keep our covenants, and to serve the Lord with “the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime"? It means to be a 100 percent Latter-day Saint, 100 percent of the time.

Bonus from the same talk, a word concerning talks given at General Conference (such as those spoken today and yesterday):

. . . a message given by a General Authority at a general conference—a message prepared under the influence of the Spirit to further the work of the Lord—is not given to be enjoyed. It is given to inspire, to edify, to challenge, or to correct. It is given to be heard under the influence of the Spirit of the Lord, with the intended result that the listener learns from the talk and from the Spirit what he or she should do about it.

~Elder Dallin H. Oaks

[“The Dedication of a Lifetime”

CES fireside for young adults, May 1, 2005]

Catch up with Miss Liss at Bee Nymph's File Box or The Fascinating Woman, based on Fascinating Womanhood.

Latter-day Prophets: Heber J. Grant

My lovely Mollys -

I'm going through a minor crisis at home right now. I apologize again for not giving you the post that you need. Instead, I'm going to direct you to this page: Heber J. Grant, where you will find his page on JosephSmith.net. I don't mean this to be a cop-out, I genuinely can't write this post now. Please click on the link to read more about this incredible man's life and service to the church.

With love,

Annike is a lifelong member of the church, married to her sweetheart, and taking life a day at a time. Feel free to stalk her blog at A Great Adventure.

Shelf Reliance Gift Basket Winner!

I want to once again thank our sponsor Shelf Reliance for this amazing giveaway!

Don't forget to check them out for great food storage, emergency preparedness and all other tips and tricks for getting your family prepared!

And the winner is...

VanBurenMom !!!

Congrats! Please send your email addresses to untypicallyjia@gmail.com so we can set you up with your prizes!