There and Back Again

Last week we took our last visit to Nebraska. Next time we go, we'll be staying. Everything went AMAZINGLY well. Here is a recap:

Wednesday Morning through Evening: Driving all day with hardly any fights! Thanks to Amberly for lending us the Chronicles of Narnia on CD. Those made the trip.

Wednesday Night: Pull in to the Marriott Hotel! Thanks to Cameron and the magic of priceline.com we were able to stay at 3-4 star hotel for $5 more per night than the cheapest motel in Lincoln.

Thursday Morning: We meet Bob, the realtor. He's great! We look through rentals together, but the only homes that were in our budget and in a good area were not available until the end of June. He makes a few phone calls to see some possibilities, but there's nothing we're thrilled with. We let Bob know that we're also open to buying, so he sends us to the bank while he scouts around for us.

Thursday Late Morning: We meet a great banker who thinks that doctors are a good risk, and will therefore give us a loan with no money down, a good interest rate, and no payments due until Cameron has had a couple of paychecks.

Thursday Early Afternoon: Back with Bob, visiting houses. We see several that we like, as well as a few we don't like so much. We visit one last house on a whim and fall in love with it. It's perfect for our family. More details will come over the next three years that we live there.

We head back to Bob's office to sign papers, and as we turn the corner from our new home we see this less than a block away.

That's right, we get to walk to church. There are two LDS church buildings in all of Lincoln, and we just happened to fall in love with a house half a block from one of them. How awesome is that?

Thursday Late Afternoon: Signing a lot of papers. Magically our children content themselves to play mostly quietly while we tend to grown-up things.

Thursday Night: Our offer was accepted, and the seller will pay all closing costs plus a one year warranty so we won't likely have to put down any money when we close. We also happen to sign one day before Obama's tax stimulus is up (which we didn't know about until that morning).

Friday Morning: Sign a lot of papers at the bank, and start heading back to Michigan.

Friday Evening: Bad rainstorms. Lots of accidents on the freeway. We decide to stop for the night. Thanks again to Cameron and priceline, we got to stay at the Holiday Inn for less than the cost of a cheap motel.

Saturday: After driving all morning we decide to stop at the Chocolate Garden - as the billboard has intrigued us since our first drive into Michigan nearly two years ago. It's lame. But the McDonald's down the street has a great playplace. This is what Alex decided he could do.

Saturday Evening: Arrive at home sweet home. Now we just have to pack it all up.

School's Out Forever!

No more pencils.

No more books.

No more teacher's dirty looks.

Congratulations to Dr. Grange for the incredible work you've done in the past several years!

Oh Say, What is Truth?

Warning: Preachy post to follow. Skipping is acceptable.

I don’t know why, but I’ve been feeling like I need to post a few things that have been on my mind lately. This isn’t my normal story of cute things my kids have done, or travel log of where we’ve been. But this is my blog; I get to post whatever I want. So here are my ramblings.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how in the world are we supposed to know what’s true. Joseph Smith lived in the Burned Over District, and heard so many churches that all said they followed the Bible, yet contradicted each other that he had no idea what was right. But like it says in James, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” So Joseph Smith asked God, and got his answer.

But if it seems that there was a turmoil of information in 1820 New York State, then what do we have here where nearly EVERYONE IN THE WORLD has the opportunity to tell us all why their beliefs are right? New historical evidence is being found all the time in favor of this religion, or that religion, or more often no religion at all. It’s not even a given that the Bible is the word of God, with so many other religions and philosophies out there. So what is a person to do to find out what, in this world-full of information, is true?

I’ll tell you what I know, and how I know it. I know that God has not left us here to struggle alone and figure it all out for ourselves. We’re just human. We can’t do that. He leads us. We just have to listen. He’s given us the Bible, which is an amazing way to learn His will. He’s also given us the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Those two books complement each other. They are both so much more meaningful when combined. To me they are synergistic. He has also given us a real living prophet here on earth today. The Bible and the Book of Mormon are both ancient records. Satan keeps up with the times, and we need modern guidance, just as much as the ancient people did.

So back to my question – how can I know what is true? I’ve studied the Bible, Book of Mormon, and modern scripture. But that doesn’t somehow make them valid. I can study about area 51, or the faking of the moon landing, or about ancient Aztec astrology. That doesn’t somehow make it true. I know what is true because I’ve done what has been put forth so many times in so many ways. I’ve asked God. (see here, here, here, and here to name just a few). I’ve asked if the Bible is true, and found that it is. I’ve asked if the Book of Mormon is true and found it to be so. I’ve asked if Joseph Smith was a prophet, and found out that he was. I’ve asked if Thomas S. Monson is a living prophet, and he surely is!

The Internet, TV, and the library have so much information, but there is NO substitute for knowledge direct from God. And once you’ve felt the Holy Ghost confirming the truth of something, you know it’s true NO MATTER WHAT anybody says or writes. So that is how I know what is true. I can’t deny it. I’m usually timid about sharing what I believe. I don’t know if I’m just shy, or afraid of offending someone. But though I don’t always proclaim it from the housetops, that doesn’t mean that I don’t KNOW it.

One more word about knowing what is true. I’ve found I really do need to understand my own question before I can get an answer. I can’t pray to find out if the Bible is the word of God if I haven’t studied it. So the things that I know are true are things that I have studied and prayed about. Usually multiple times. The more I study, pray, and apply the principles to my life, the more my soul knows it’s from God. That confirmation trumps any kind of media.

Watch Me Grow

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When You Wish Upon a Star...

Now I've wished upon many a star that the Cleaning Fairy would make a visit to my house. Tonight I got my wish!

Esther was trying to think up a good reason why she should get to stay up past bedtime tonight. I explained to her that after she went to bed I was going to read my scriptures then spend all night cleaning the house (Cameron was at Scouts). She perked up with a thought, "If I help clean the house can I stay up a little tiny bit later?" I couldn't refuse that.

Her first job was to put all the toys away. She quickly found the fairy wings under the table and announced to me that she was the Cleaning Fairy! Just what I had always wanted! The Cleaning Fairy even begged to be able to clean the bathroom (the job I loathe the most) every Tuesday from now on. She actually was a huge help and I was able to finish everything I wanted to do, and still have time for a quick blog before bed. THANK YOU CLEANING FAIRY!

Pizza Anyone?

This is for Esther's scout troop. We'll be there Tuesday - and if you're in the mood for pizza we'd love to see you there!

AMERICAN HERITAGE GIRLS TROOP MI2819

…building women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country.

FUNDRAISER TO SUPPORT OUR TROOP

WHEN: Tuesday, April 6^th, anytime btwn 4:00pm to 8:00pm

WHERE: American Pie Pizza Restaurant (12Mile/ Hoover in Warren ) (All you can eat specialty-pizza buffet with pasta, salad, drinks)

WHAT: 15% of Evening Proceeds Will be Donated to the Troop

WHO: Everyone – Invite Friends & Family; Be Sure to Pass the Word!

How can you Help?

Simply have dinner at American Pie on this evening and let the cashier know that you are there for the AHG fundraiser.

Utah

During Cameron's rotation at Utah Valley Regional in March we had a lot of fun with our family. Here are a few highlights.

William loved "reading" Nana and Papa Lunt's books.

Grammy and Grandpa Grange got ambitious and took all five of their grandkids camping to Goblin Valley.

A trip to Utah isn't complete without a visit to Temple Square.

Alex was our fist child born outside of Utah, and on March 23 became our first child to have any birthday in Utah.