Creating Holiday Traditions

Two years ago, I was blessed to receive an offer to be published in the amazing magazine, Latter-Day Woman (link to article below). Especially since it's a subject that is very dear to my heart: traditions.

Growing up, my family traditions were of both a typical and non-typical kind. For Christmas when I was a little girl, I was allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve. When I became a teenager, my younger sister and I began our own "naughty list" tradition where we would secretly open one or two presents early when our parents weren't home. We were always given similar items. Each a new outfit, a CD and a movie. So we started having some fun and switching presents, then re-wrapping them and watching the look of confusion on our parents faces. But we were happy with our gifts, so they never said a word. Years and years later it's become quite a funny story to tell.

As I've grown up, I've incorporated traditions from my husbands family, like items that go in a Christmas stocking, or what foods we might eat Christmas morning. We also started our own traditions, like creating our own ornaments, and celebrating Christmas traditions from our Irish and Scottish heritage.

Traditions are important. The tradition I kept with my sister wasn't exactly the best one to brag about, but during a time where we were both hormonally crazy teenagers, often eager to pull one anothers hair out, it was something that bonded us. That's what traditions do. They bring families and friends closer together. They create and build memories.

From the Archive: Originally posted September 14th, 2008

 

Wondering how to start a new tradition for your family? Curious about how others celebrate this coming season? Check out the latest edition of Latter-Day Woman magazine. In fact, if you click here, you can read an article about Holiday Traditions written by me!

Christmas Shopping in Utah

Utah Moms, have you not finished your Christmas shopping yet? Well you can find what you need at Oopsie Daisy Children's Boutique! There, you can find everything from clothing for newborns, children and even mothers! Toys, furniture, books, free gift wrapping and much, much more!


Oopsie Daisy was recently visited by the amazing SassyScoops and given amazing reviews!

Keep up with their Website, Blog, Facebook Page, and Twitter for great deals, upcoming events and coupons!

Hear that Utah Moms? Plus, not only do you have a great shop to buy everything you need from pregnancy to pre-teens, but if you stop in at Oopsie Daisy in South Jordan, you can say hello to owner Tiffany Avery - who just so happens to be my big sister!

After you spend hours perusing everything in Oopsie Daisy (and you will), walk over to San Gelato cafe for some amazing Italian desserts and other great food while you sit back, relax and ponder about moving into the Oopsie Daisy store!

Check out the videos below for tips on the latest clothing styles and brands offered at Oopsie Daisy!









Oopsie Daisy
11259 S. Kestrel Rise Rd.
South Jordan, UT 84095
(801) 254-2727 Oopsie Daisy (kiosk)South Town Center Mall10450 State StreetSandy, Utah 84070 (Located on the lower level next to American Eagle and near Victoria Secret)  

Names, Part 1: What a "Molly!"

From the Archive: Originally posted September 14th, 2008

I’ve been thinking a lot over the past few days about what being a “Molly Mormon” means to me. Does this term now, for me as a 41-year-old active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hold a positive connotation? Or, does it still have a high school leftover taste of negativity for me? I had to break it down a bit, determining in my own mind what it means to be a true “Molly Mormon.”

I admit that I have not thought much about this term since high school... but the one girl who everybody labeled a “Molly” really lived her religion – MY religion. She practiced what we all preached. Wow, that doesn’t sound very negative to me. Why did it then? Well, she seemed a little “self-righteous.” Was she? In retrospect, no. I can’t remember a single time when she condemned me for my behavior. I only remember her behaving in ways that I should have been behaving myself. I think my own guilt made me lash out with a derogatory label. But is it really bad to be a “Molly?”

There are some things that are easy for me. I love to study. I am never happier than when I am Googling something! Someone who attends my Gospel Doctrine class and hears me going on and on about the pride cycle might think, “What a Molly! She reads the lesson every week and kisses up to the Teacher with all those comments!” Well, the reality is – as much as I love to study, I really love to study the scriptures. What a Molly!

However, there are also (many) things that are difficult for me. For instance; I love people, but Visiting Teaching is not my favorite pastime. I don’t even have a reason. I just don’t like it. I also dislike giving prayers in public - and don’t even get me started on cooking meals for people who are sick! My sister, on the other hand, loves to take food to people. Even though she has five children of her own, she still makes dinner for an additional family probably once a week. What a Molly!

As I type this, I begin to see something. A true “Molly Mormon” is not preachy or self-righteous or perfectionistic. She is just somebody trying to live a righteous life. If she comes across preachy or self-righteous it is probably because “the guilty taketh the truth to be hard.” She might seem like a perfectionist because she does have the desire for the Savior to turn her into “a new creature.” Because of this she is striving to be the very best she can. She might even take a meal to a neighbor when she’d rather be reading the scriptures – or vise versa. What a Molly!

But, at the end of the day - NOBODY is a perfect "Molly Mormon" because, well, none of us is perfect. However, if we join together... I'll lead the scripture chase if you'll bake the cookies and if Martha will watch the children and Meg will do the dishes... just maybe we can be the quintessential "Molly Mormon!" Maybe that's what Paul meant when he said, "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." I know, I know... What a Molly! Just smile when you say it, please!

Learn more insights from Whit by visiting her website
www.whitlarson.com

Feast Upon the Words of Christ

I'm a firm believer that missionaries receive revelation.

Over the past few weeks, the missionaries in our ward have been visiting us weekly. It's been such a wonderful experience to meet with these men who teach us lessons, share messages, challenges and eventually ask to take our trash out for us (of which we've only accepted once, lol).

Several weeks ago, the Elders challenged us to "read the scriptures everyday no matter if it's for five minutes or one hour, one verse to one chapter, just read."

I had just finished reading the Book of Mormon during a marathon 90 day challenge so I did not want to dive right back into 1st Nephi. So I decided to work the system. They said to read the scriptures. Well, we've been told that general conference is pretty much scripture for our generation. So over the following week I decided to read one general conference talk per day. And I did.

When the Elders came to visit the following week, they shared a message about the first vision and then proceeded to talk about prayer. Then, completely out of the blue, one of the missionaries turns to me and says, "And I challenge you to read your scriptures every day," and then he paused. "Especially the Book of Mormon."

Whoops. Busted.

So after getting caught trying to cheat my way through the scripture reading challenge, I decided to try the Book of Mormon again. I've read it several times over the last few years. But I haven't studied it. I've read it. Not only have I read it, but I've read it very quickly. Sometimes several books in a day. Once I made it through 135 pages in one sitting.

How much did I retain? Not much.

So I tore open an old Book of Mormon study guide and dove right in. Mostly because instead of 1st Nephi, it began in Ether 1 (and I'm a sucker for the Jaredites). I read for over two hours. I studied. I read footnotes, comparisons, insights. Want to know how far I got? I reached Ether 2 by the end of my study session. One tiny chapter and I have two pages filled with notes, thoughts, questions. Two hours filled with answers to those questions, and the first spiritual excitement about the scriptures in several years.

In the past I could say that I've quickly devoured the scriptures, but only recently have I learned to truly feast upon them.

So here's my challenge to you: Feast upon the words of Christ!

Also, if you're going to start in Ether like I did, here's a little side challenge: Read the scriptures, including the footnotes in Ether 1, then answer this question: What is the name of the Brother of Jared? And where in the scriptures can it be found? (Then tell me how you found it!)