No Coasting

Continuing with my Pathway, I am posting another assignment. My studying of The Book of Mormon has been one of the best learning experiences I have ever had. I have only read it once straight through, about nineteen years ago. All the other reading has been at Church here and there, and occasionally at home. Never in-depth and structured as I am doing now. I am actually seeing how it all unfolds and in exactly what order. It has been a great testimony builder for me with The Book of Mormon.
This weeks reading was Helaman 10-16. We are constantly reminded throughout the book of how mankind, in general, has a tendency to be obedient until all is well, and then fall back into sin, before being chastened by the Lord in one way or the other. As taken from the institute manual,"Helaman 12 contains one of the greatest  summaries of a basic human tendency found anywhere in the scriptures." Speaking for myself, I certainly feel we are built that way, complacent by nature. That it takes constant effort to stay righteous. If I "coast" at all in life, I run the gamble of going backwards in the Gospel. I have come to the conclusion that that is why some of the most simple and sometimes mundane commandments we are given are so important. Prayers, attending Church, and reading the scriptures all included. The statement that we are ether moving forwards or backwards in the Gospel is so true. There is no "coasting", and that takes our constant effort in living the commandments and doing those things the Church asks of use.
Another big take-a-way from this week's assignment was a talk given by Elder Dean L. Larsen,"The Lord Will Prosper The Righteous". Along with the continuing falling backwards that we see with the Nephites, we are constantly reminded that the Lord promises to bless us with prosperity if we do what is right and keep the commandments. All we are asked in return, is to recognize his hand in our success. This was another downfall of the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. They would credit  there own abilities for success, and not Heavenly Father's role in their prosperity. The Lord cannot lie; he will take care of our needs if we do what we're supposed to do, and then thank Him for providing for us.
It is also interesting how people can see great miracles and rationalize them away. Satan has a way to distort anything focused on the Gospel. The signs given to them, as predicted by the Prophets, would eventually be forgotten by a lot of the people.These are great lessons to learn from, I am thankful for the teachings in Helaman. Unfortunately I can see some of these patterns in my life, maybe not to that extreme, but this week's reading has given me better insight in some things I need to do better.

Project for My PhD by Alex

Just joking! However,this post will hopefully get me a good grade in the institute class I am taking. I have recently enrolled into an institute class that is part of BYU-Idaho, that will give me college credits, and start a course to eventually get a college degree. When I made up my mind to go back to college I wasn't 100% bought in. With my wife's advice I reluctantly signed up. Then when I heard I had to take a religion class, I said great! (sarcasm) As it turns out,  this has turned out to be a life changing spiritual event. In this class it is required to read scriptures everyday, study them using several different study skills,and start personal goals to become a better disciple of Christ. It has brought me closer to the spirit than I have been in a long time.
My assignment this week in to share something I am learning. There was a video presented called "We Can Be Together Again" that has really made an impact on me. There are three families who talk about losses they have had in their lives: a girl who's mom and sister that were killed in a car crash when she was young, a Polynesian couple who lost a son and later converted to the Gospel, and a couple who lost their baby girl. They all spoke of the importance of understanding that there is so much more out there besides this life, namely, the love the savior has for us and his infinite atonement,the Resurrection, and how we can all be together again. The experiences are so heart wrenching it gets harder and harder to watch them each time. Their testimonies will be etched in mind forever and I am grateful I have heard their stories.
In 2 Nephi 9:4-6 it talks about death and how important it is in the welfare of man. Joseph Fielding Smith stated "But who would like to live forever in this mundane world,filled with pain, decay, sorrow, and tribulation,and grow old and infirm and yet have to remain with all the vicissitudes of mortality? I think all of us would come to the conclusion,if the proposition were placed before us, that we would not like to have it. We would reject it. We would not want a life of that nature. Life here in this world is short of necessity, and yet all that is required may be accomplished, but death is just as important in the plan of salvation as birth is. We have to die-it is essential-and death comes into the world 'to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator.' "
 I am thankful for this lesson and the perspective it has given me regarding our post mortal existence.  I am also thankful for the Book of Mormon and what I am learning this semester, I am gaining insights, understanding, and a stronger testimony than I have ever had.

Off the Beaten Trail

 We've had a few family adventures recently. In February when Alex had a rare Saturday off, we went to see the Hoover Dam from the new bypass bridge. The bridge was built to divert traffic from right next to the dam so it makes for a quicker trip over the Nevada/Arizona border. You have to park and then hike up a few flights of stairs then walk a ways, but the view from the bridge is spectacular and you can get a history/engineering lesson along the walk if you stop to read the signs.
While passing through Boulder City I noticed the sign for the Southern Nevada Railroad. It's a short train ride but it has open windows so you can see the highway. Why not take a train  ride on a sunny Saturday afternoon? It's not too fast and not too slow. There is also a railway museum you can visit, but we didn't.


Waiting to board the train.

It looks like Alex is getting "beamed up."

For spring break in April we wanted to go out of town, but not spend much money. My aunt suggested we go to our family's ranch. The ranch is fun, but would it still be fun without the cousins? Of course! Our family was the only one there except for Uncle Mick. He told us that there were some petroglyphs down the road. We explored a part of the area that I had never been to in my life, but we didn't find the petroglyphs. We rode the four wheelers into the hills and found the little cemetery where some of the original pioneer settlers were buried. I was especially touched by the graves of little children. It made me want to hug my own children and be grateful that we don't have the same trials.

 One of the days of our vacation we left the ranch and drove up towards Panaca in search of the "moon caves." There is a place called Cathedral Valley State Park and the sandstone hills have been eroded by wind and water to create these interesting formations. That was a fun little hike.

 On the way home from the ranch we pulled off the road to visit the trilobite fossil site. There's a bunch of shale and if you look closely you will see fossils in the rocks. We bought home a backpack full of fossils, but no pictures so you'll have to take my word for it.

I have been going to Boulder City and the ranch for my whole life, close to forty years and I never realized that there were such interesting things around if we just go off the beaten trail.

My Life in Six Words

I recently read in a magazine about summing up your life in just six words. Here's what my life is:
Smart girl. College. Teaching. Wife. Mother.
That's quite broad, but I could break it down into years.
1996
Graduating college. Not married. Plan B?
1998
Tall red-head. He's not my type.
1999
Yes, yes I do like him.
1999-2001
He loves me. . . or maybe not.
2001
Just bought a brand new house.
2002
Married for time and eternity-finally.
2007
Three kids in three years. Yikes!
2009
New house. New baby. Crazy time.
2012
All my dreams have come true.

Happy Birthday, Lacey!

Before I knew we were having a girl, I thought it would be a girl because she was already keeping me up at night. When I was carrying her I knew that she would be strong because it hurt when she kicked me. Lacey was due on February 26, but she came on the 12th, and now she has the same birthday as my Grandpa Haynes. I was scheduled for an induction, but I had been having contractions all day the day before. I called the hospital and they told me to come in so they could check it out. When I arrived at 10 p.m. I was dilated to a four and they admitted me. Another baby coming early! (You will get no complaints from me!) I wanted to try having this one without an epidural since I did it for the last one. However, I got to a point where I said, "Give it to me." But if I had just waited a little longer, I wouldn't have needed it. Again, my baby was in a hurry to be born. I had to stop pushing until the doctor was there,and I swear the nurse was keeping the baby in, but at least my husband was there for the birth.Lacey Sharon Pendleton was born at 4:16 a.m. 7 pounds, 2 ounces, 19 1/2 inches long. Today this five-year-old is fun, stubborn, silly,creative, and super smart. She already taught herself how to read! She can be shy at times and completely uninhibited at other times. Like when I was singing with the choir at church and she was dancing next to me. Or when I was leading the music in Relief Society and she was spinning around me. I get kind of mad, but it's also kind of funny. Recently she fractured her collar bone. She didn't let that slow her down one bit. She would just keep playing or climbing or jumping until she bumped her injury and it hurt enough for her to stop for a few seconds. She's a spitfire, but I love her!

Halloween 2011

Lacey-Witch 

Lia-Ladybug

Lance-Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender

Luke-Red Power Ranger

Lance and Luke and Lacey were in a Halloween Show at the mall.

Lia's Second Birthday (October 2, 2011)

Lia was not happy about the candles on her happy birthday cake.

Even though she is a toddler, Lia refers to herself as Baby, because that's what I've been calling her for the last two years. She loves to watch Dora and Yo Gabba Gabba on TV. She loves to do what the other kids do.  It's so cute to watch her try to do cartwheels when the other kids practice their tumbling.For her birthday she got a Dora purse, a Barbie trike, and some new clothes. She is a happy girl and we all love her to death!