Jolley Family

Thursday, October 10, 2013

NEW FAMILY PHOTOS

I LOVE getting new family pictures each year! I love to look back and see how the impossible is possible. Faith is so grown up, Dawson is growing up, and Kate definitely isn't little anymore!!!

We hope that you enjoy these as much as we have! Can't wait to post them on our wall!

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

STUDY THE GENERAL CONFERENCE TALKS - OCTOBER 2013

Last General Conference, I challenged myself and a group of family and friends to join with me and re-read and study these amazing talks from our Prophet and Apostles. Each week, we focused on a talk. I marked up my Ensign and used my smart phone to study at random places and times. It was truly an amazing experience. For the first time ever, I could tell anyone what each of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve talked about the previous conference. My testimony grew and I am recommitting to studying the talks from October's General Conference. I hope that you will choose to join with me! Write your comments at Happy Clean Living (my Aunt's blog) here. I promise! It will be worth your time!

I have made a little handout to stick in your scriptures, Ensign, or to hang on your fridge. Each week, there is an article/talk to study and a place where you can check it off! This conference, there was one extra talk, so I put the extra one the week of February 10th (Scott and Monson). But really, you could study it whenever. Also, some will want to study their stake's choice for Teaching For Our Times that week, which makes the tally marks extra helpful if you choose to study them in a different order.

You can print like a photo or copy and paste two on a sheet to handout with visiting teaching, etc. If you would like a PDF of the two on a sheet, please comment with your email address and I will send it to you.

I hope that you will take this challenge with me! It has changed my life and I will continue to read and study and watch the blessings multiply!

(Please note, that this does not include the Priesthood Session or the General Relief Society Session. You'll have to do some double duty if you would like to study those as well!)

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

TEXAN GIRLS

Our girls randomly put on the same shirt yesterday and we had to take a quick picture!

We miss you Bohney family!!!

Monday, October 7, 2013

THE THRILL OF GENERAL CONFERENCE

Faith has realized how different it is to be in our family. This realization came yesterday at school as she excitedly asked each of her friends how general conference was. She explained to them that it was like Christmas at our house! And it is.

Truthfully, conference weekend begins 15 days begin conference starts. We put together a chain and took off a chain each night that had an activity, scriptures, or a song. Well, almost each night. We had a couple of makeups. We start early discussing conference and explaining the importance.

This year, we also put together a different type of conference wall. I printed out the prophet and each apostle with a quote from the last general conference. We did a guessing game of who said what. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by how many 'right' answers there were.

We started with homemade pizza Friday night and set up the tent!

And then the watching game began. This year, I tried to do Reverence Rolos where I randomly selected speakers (or the sequence) to give out treats. It didn't work great, but it was a fun idea and it worked for 2 other families that we shared the idea with.

How the boys watched Saturday afternoon.

The girls were wide awake!

And we had to take that opportunity during the choir's musical number to each take a selfie.

This is how I feel about conference! It's just SO amazing!!!

We had a great turkey dinner (though I overcooked the bird.)

Sunday morning, I snapped a couple of quick shots in the tent with the kiddos.

Faith and Kate

Faith again

Dawson and Kate

Dad cooked us pumpkin french toast that morning. It was heavenly!

Sunday, we had additional problems of Kate wanting to love "my brother!"

But I am happy to report that the "squirty spray cheese" lasted for all 4 sessions of conference. Yippee!

We followed up with a family home evening on general conference. Did you remember what they said? We hung up quotes next to their picture. Again, I was surprised, especially by our teenager and how many she got right.

Here are our favorites from this general conference:

Kate loved Elder David A. Bednar about tithing

Dawson loved President Uchtdorf! His quote "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith." I'm sure this is destined to be a gospel classic.

Faith loved Elder Holland's talk! It was sure a different one!

I felt the same thing that Faith felt (I think) and loved his. A close second was Elder Hales Saturday morning.

Dad enjoyed Elder Eyring's talk!

And here is the completed wall!

I have to say that our family home evening was so much fun that we are thinking of having someone write down quotes, etc. of who said what and give us all a quiz. The winner will be granted something fantastic ... like $10! Grandma and Grandpa - I think you're it!!!

So, we're not perfect (President Uchtdorf), but we're striving to be better and to put the words of the prophet and apostles really into our hearts and souls. It is no longer enough just to know. We have to do! We love our conference tradition and will continue to make it a holiday in our home.

Friday, October 4, 2013

FAITH IS OFFICIALLY A ... GULP ... TEENAGER

Faith is now, offically a ... gulp ... teenager. How did this happen???

Dawson doesn't seem to mind

Not sure how Faith is feeling about it!

And when I told her to hold up 13 fingers, this is the look she gave me:

We made french toast for her birthday breakfast. For the first time ever, she also attended school (usually there is a longer weekend and her birthday falls during that time.)

We had a birthday dinner at Golden Corral. Here is a pre dinner picture: