Doctrine of Salvation...

I recently started reading Doctrine of Salvation, Volume 1, by Joseph Fielding Smith. I have been reading for maybe 3 weeks and I am only on page 89, that tells you how in depth this book is. I have been awakened and strengthened in my testimony since starting this book. The simple truths of the gospel are expounded upon, and talked about in such detail, that my spirit literally gets giddy when I pick it up. I remember while Todd was reading this series he would lean over and quote me things here and there, and the look on his face made me smile. I honestly suggest this series to everyone. You truly will be strengthened as you read the words of this amazing prophet.

One thing I read this morning made me stop and think, I can not move pass this passage until I share it with everyone I love. So hold on here we go....

"It is my opinion that the great stars that we see, including our sun, are celestial worlds; at least worlds that have passed on to their exaltation or other final resurrected status. This is in conflict, of course, with the teachings of scientific men, who declare that the sun is losing its energy and gradually cooling off and will eventually be a dead world. I do not believe the Lord has any such thing in his plan. The Lord lives in "everlasting burnings" we are informed. President Brigham Young has said that this earth when it is celestialized will shine like the sun, and why not?"

When I read this I took a deep breath and realized something...since moving out to the country Todd and I have a gorgeous view of the stars at night. There are no other house lights dimming the sky, there are no street lights in view, all you can see are the gorgeous stars and moon. When I sit out on our porch at night I feel at peace, I feel so clam and relaxed, I feel like somehow I am closer to my Father in Heaven along with my brothers and sisters up there waiting for me. Now I can only see why. Those great stars I am looking at are celestial worlds, how can I not feel strengthened?

Are you serious??

That is the response I get just about everytime I tell this story, so before I get started I want to just say..Yes I am very serious. And just as a teaser, here is what has been on my kitchen table every day for a couple weeks now..

It all started a few weeks ago. I noticed this black looking dog hanging around our house, but it never seemed to stay around for very long. That was until one Sunday morning. I was up early making something when I noticed Lulu down the driveway a bit. She was herding this black dog and not letting him leave. You see that is a trait of Australian Shepards, and one of the reasons we got her. She was circling this thing and not letting it leave. Well, I ran to the shower and told Todd to get out now and come and look at this. We both watch as Lulu plays with this dog, but then eventually leaves him alone when we call her in.

It wasn't a few days later when we see the black thing making "S" shapes up through our pasture towards Lulu. When she sees Mr. mysterious black dog she just gets as giddy as a school girl on a first date. She will wag her tail and run right up to him and want to play. After that encounter Todd began becoming suspicious. "This thing doesn't walk like a dog, it dogs really look like a dog, and it only comes out at dusk and dawn." He then says, "I think its a coyote". I immediately freak out and run to the computer to do some research. And this is what I see under the Bing search "TN Black Coyote"...

Boing this is it!! We have a coyote roaming around our pastures, and our precious Lulu has become best friends with the thing! Super scary business... As a result we have been on coyote stake out every morning and evening since. Todd has shot at it twice, and hit it once, but unfortunately he shot it with .22 and only injured the thing. (No worries we uped the gun and now mean business) Two days after that we see Mr. Coyote playing with Lulu again, and he was only barely limping. After a brief siting with Lulu this morning here is Todd taking it up a notch...

Can you see him? He is on the far right in the trees waiting for the Coyote and Lulu to part ways for the day. It weird they have a routine, we see them meet up, and then they will take off for a while, and then right around 7:30 or 8 Lulu comes back for breakfast, and Mr. Coyote is gone again.

Here is a pic I took of Todd not 1 hour ago...

He spotted Mr. Coyote running into a pasture next door and he is just waiting for the perfect shot.

So, as you can see life on the farm has is adventures. We love every second of it though...Ohhhh I just heard the gun fired. I had better run off and see if he got the bugger this time!!! I promise to keep you posted!!

Through our eyes...

Here are some pictures of what we have been up to these days. I apologize to all your professional photographers. The majority of the pics were taken with my phone, and something is always moving or dusk just happens to fall when I want to take a picture.


Lulu sniffing out the hay recently rolled in our pastures...


Todd loving the good life...


Jasper, the newest addition to the family. He takes me to the temple and soon to school. That's right, I applied to college!!! He saves us money on gas, so we love him!!


What we see just about every time we look outside. Kaylee and Lulu loving the outdoors!


This one is kinda tough to see. We have twin baby deer that live in our pasture and they come up pretty close to the house to graze. Its seem however that they are growing accustomed to us too. They will let us walk up to them, and watch them play or sleep. This time I was walking by and didn't want to stand and point something at them, so I ducked behind some trees and tried to zoom in with my phone, hence the poor quality. Well that and it was dusk!!

So as you can see, through our eyes life is pretty darn good. We are lucky to live where we do!! Thank goodness for the chance we had to move back to TN, and re-adjust. We have slowed down again and feel more like ourselves!!

Best Calling EVER...

Within the last couple of months I have been called, set apart, and a working Nashville TN temple ordinance worker. It has been the best calling a girl could ask for. I absolutely love every second of it. I work every other Thursday night, and I try to pick up extra shifts when they need help. It has been a true testimony builder. I have always loved going to the temple, but it is a completely different experience working there. I look forward to continued challenges and learning experiences!