Pearls & Perfection Pending

Goals: Read the Book of Mormon in Spanish by the end of our time in the DR. Physical Activity for 180 minutes each week. Grocery shopping once each week with planned menus. Limit fast food (Costa Vida!, pizza, etc.) to one meal each week, no more. Donate to the mission fund. Increase fast offering. Make 72 hours kits. Compliment people on their choices. Read the May Ensign and study it consistently until October.

This picture always reminds me of the way I feel inside when I am excited. David and I have been really starting to get ready for the DR lately and I am stoked! We sent out some letters inviting friends and family to donate to the cause and I got an email back today with our first $50 donation! Carrie Cole came to our school this year to give trainings on implementing effective literacy in the classroom and she was the first to help us out! Thanks Carrie! As I am putting together materials to share with the teachers I will be working with, I am realizing how very unprepared I am and how far I have to go, but I am grateful for such a unique learning opportunity. I hope I can do some good. Yay for cool life experiences!

We really do appreciate the comfort of watching conference from home. This morning we woke up and made yummy pumpkin spice waffles and delicious smoothies in our new blender! What a fun morning! I have been strongly impressed by the talks this general conference that we can do more to serve and help those less fortunate than ourselves. We can do more to live simply so that we have more of an abundance to share. I am grateful for our opportunity to go to the DR to serve this summer. I think there is a lot we can do in the next two months to prepare to really help those people. We are excited to share our lives and talents with them. In the meantime, we need to do all that we can here. President Monson: Attend the temple more often. We live within 2 miles of it. Put a picture of the temple in every bedroom of the house. When our children reach the age to make the decision to go to the temple, it will have already been made. Elder Robbins: Compliments should be bas

President Monson: Donate to the missionary fund. Elder Perry: Make sure that you worship on the Sabbath. The Sabbath day is for us to draw closer to God. Elder Cook: Be a modern day heroic woman. Appeal to the Lord when I face difficult circumstances that my trails will be consecrated for my good. Elder Eyring: We have covenanted to help those in need. Ask yourself each day what good you have done in the world today. Don't just feel sympathy for those who suffer. Act on your covenants. Gain surplus so that you can serve others by spending less than you make. Make 72 hour backpacks Elder Nelson: The world is crazy, but we have no need to fear. Do what is right. Keep the commandments. Pay tithing. The storm clouds may gather, but we will be joyful as we keep the commandments and walk uprightly. Fear not. The future is as bright as your faith. Covenants help us to face the future with faith. Elder Oaks: Desire can be trained. Desire, labor, and faith wor