Primary Bound

Today I was going to write a long sad post about Clark's first Sunday in Primary, as a Sunbeam.  I was going to lament about my little baby growing up too fast, and how I am going to miss him every Sunday in nursery (even though I probably won't).  BUT, due to some changes in our Primary presidency, everything was a bit disorganized, and it looks like I will have him (and the other kids his age) back in nursery for a few weeks.  (They honestly marched the new kids OUT of primary, back into nursery!!!)  It makes me sad.  I was really looking forward to taking him to his new class, and we've been talking up singing time and Primary for months.  He was so ready.  I know it is not a big deal, but it was a meaningful step that I had been looking forward too.  I will be the first to admit that I am overly sentimental, but he is my first baby after all.   Clark and I have been talking about being a Sunbeam a lot lately.  He loves to sing Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam over and over when I give him a bath, besides the Alphabet song, it is his favorite.  I can't wait for him to start learning all the primary songs, and I just know he is going to enjoy his time there so much.  Next Sunday will be better, I know it will all work out, and I am not too worried about it.  I'm just disappointed things didn't go my way... as they always should right, LOL.  (Maybe I need to add, NOT being such a control freak to my New Years resolutions.)

Harry is doing so well in nursery.  Sure, he steals every ones snacks, and he bit a kid today, but it is a great big improvement from what it was last year.  He actually plays along side the other children now, and doesn't whine and cry the whole time.  We still can't get him to sit through Sacrament Meeting.... he immediately starts to cry as soon as we enter the chapel.  I don't know what it is, but every Sunday it is the same thing.  If I am lucky enough to get him to sit with me, he will cry during every song.  He really hates it when we all sing as a congregation, it would make me laugh if it wasn't so annoying.

It makes me happy that my boys like to go to church.  Clark squealed with glee today as we pulled into the church parking lot, "I found it, Mom!, I found it".  I didn't know we lost it.  I guess it had been a couple weeks since we went to church, since last Sunday was a snow day (for reals).  I don't want him to ever grow out of his excitement for church, and learning about Jesus Christ.

Trust

With even your strongest faith, 

God will not always reward you immediately according to your desires. 

Rather, 

God will respond with what in His eternal plan is best for you, when it will yield the greatest advantage. 

Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. 

That causes your faith to increase and your character to grow.

 --Richard G. Scott--

Perfectly inspiring, for all occasions.

“When a battered, weary swimmer tries valiantly to get back to shore, after having fought strong winds and rough waves which he should never have challenged in the first place, those of us who might have had better judgment, or perhaps just better luck, ought not to row out to his side, beat him with our oars, and shove his head back underwater.”

~Jeffery R. Holland

Palmyra, New York

The next stop on our New York adventure was Palmyra.

Home to the Smith Family Farm, Hill Cumorah, Grandin Print Shop where they first published The Book of Mormon,
 and a few other places (like Mark's Pizzeria, yum-o!).
It was so beautiful, lush and green.  I asked Jason more than once if we could just stay there.
We missed the Hill Cumorah Temple Pageant by just a couple weeks, but it was nice to get the town to ourselves, it was so peaceful.

Monument atop the Hill Cumorah.

It was a surreal moment for me, thinking about the history of the places around me.

I loved that I could share it with my children.

Clark and Harry.  They loved exploring everything, such good boys.

Outside Grandin Printshop

It was so interesting to learn about how they printed the Book of Mormon.

I found the print shop to be a fascinating place, I imagine if I were alive during that time I would work in a print shop (or marry a husband who did).  A lot of the places we visited had been fixed up and restored over the years, it was fun to see what was left untouched.  The floor in the print shop (upstairs) was original, real life ink stains, too cool!

The log home where Joseph Smith grew up.

The house was so quaint inside, part of me always like to imagine that I could live like that.  Back in the 1800's, where life seemed simpler; but then I remember how much I like to shower on a daily basis, and how much I love tv.

The sweet sister missionary who gave us the tour of the Smith Family Farm, teaching the children about Joseph Smith.

The Palmyra Temple peeking out behind he trees, visible from the Smith Family Farm.

Inside the Smith Family house.  80% of this room was original, those are the real walls!!

I don't consider myself a history buff at all, but I do love it, and I was totally geeking out. 

I could live here, or someplace exactly like it.  Forever.

The Sacred Grove

Once again, it felt so surreal to be standing in the Sacred Grove, walking hand in hand with my children.

It was so peaceful, and quiet.  As soon as you stepped through the trees the world fell behind, and I instantly felt closer to the Spirit.  I am so thankful for the faith that Joseph Smith had, as such a young boy, to kneel in prayer and ask his Father in Heaven for help; and the sacrifices he made later in life, to restore the gospel to this earth. 

Clark and Harry, enjoying the moment.

I am so thankful that Jason and I were able to come, and share this experience with our boys.

I will cherish it forever.

An Afternoon In Nauvoo

July 24, 2010

Nauvoo, Illinois

Bosko Family, in front of the historic Nauvoo Temple.

I loved loved loved visiting Nauvoo.

And as luck would have it, we came on the perfect weekend.

The Temple Pageant was begin put on that week, 

so the little town was alive with tourists, missionaries, and tons of activities for families and kids.  

I wish we would've planned better, so we could have stayed the night and enjoyed the pageant.

The Nauvoo Temple is one of my favorite temples.

I love its architecture and history!

I can't wait to go back, and spend a little more time, 

and hopefully have a chance to go inside and do a session or two.

I loved how the Temple sits atop the hill, so inspiring.

 Nauvoo Cafe.

Aside from the temple, the town was filled with other historical landmarks, 

and frankly some pretty cool stuff.

I loved walking up and down the main street, even though it was pouring rain.  

It had this small town, cozy, atmosphere, that I crave.

It was definitely a place I could go visit again and again, and maybe even live.  

Even though they had a little fair, and lots of things for kids to do,

 my kids are a little too young to participate, or appreciate what was going on.

 So, for them it was just hot and busy, they got tired fast. 

Clark did enjoy giving us (fake) directions, he is so into maps lately. 

We had to get him a map everywhere we went, he was our little tour guide.

Harry touring the temple grounds, he looks like a baby with an plan...

an escape plan :)

The boys were such troopers, letting me drag them all over the country.

Carthage, Illinois

July 24, 2010

The next stop on the Bosko Family Road Trip Extravaganza,

Carthage Illinois.

This was the ONLY motel in Carthage. 

It reminded me of one of those side of the road motels, in the middle of no where, that you see at the beginning of every horror movie....creepy.  It was so old fashioned inside, I felt like it was time warp into the 70's.  BUT, it was pretty clean inside, and we survived the night, so I guess it wasn't too bad.

Statute of Joseph and Hyrum Smith outside Carthage Jail.

I have been wanting to visit Carthage Jail, since I was a young child.  

The grounds and flowers were so beautiful.

(Why didn't I take more pictures??)

The small cell where Joseph, Hyrum, John Taylor and Dr. Richards were held.

This may seem like a weird picture to take, but for me it was more than just a small window.

I grew up a member of the church, and as a child had many lessons about the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum.  I don't remember how old I was, but I remember my Sunday school teacher telling us about the small cell the men had to share.  I remember her telling us how hot and humid it was during summertime in Illinois, and how dark it was in their little cell.  Then I remember her holding up a picture of a small slat in the wall, the only source of light and outside air.  That one detail always stuck with me, this small window.  As a child it helped me relate, and understand how the prophet might have felt, it made it more than just a Sunday school lesson...it was the beginning of my own little testimony.  As an adult, seeing the window in real life, was very moving to me, 

it brought things full circle so to speak.  

It's the little things, that we sometimes don't even think about, that often make the biggest difference.

Jason and the boys outside Carthage Jail.

(The second story window was the one Joseph Smith fell from when he was shot.)

It was so surreal to be in the place where the prophet was shot and killed.

The history and atmosphere here was overwhelming, and the spirit was strong.

I loved every minute that we were able to spend here, and the short tour was amazing.

I can't wait to take the boys back when they are a little bit older.

Winter Quarters

We sadly left Utah July 21st, a day after my super fun birthday.  

We could have driven straight through to Virginia, but as a consolation to moving to a place I didn't really want to, 

and also as a special 30th birthday present for me, we planned a super cool ten day road trip back east.  

The first official stop on our Family Road Trip Extravaganza, was Winter Quarters Nebraska.

July 23, 2010

For those of you that don't know...

Winter Quarters was a resting stop for the Saints traveling West, to get away from the persecution they were facing in Nauvoo.  Driving up the hill to the visitors center, and cemetery, it felt safe and calm, like a sanctuary.  There were so many trees, and it was so peaceful and quiet.  

Jason and the boys pretending to pull the handcart.

The visitors center was great for the kids, and the missionaries were so helpful.

  There was so much to explore, and learn about the Pioneers who stopped here.  

Outside the Pioneer Cemetery.

It was very humbling to be among the graves, and resting places of so many pioneers, and Saints who gave up their lives, in search of place where they could be free to live how they believed.  

I marvel at the strength and faith these pioneers had, 

to leave their homes, friends, and sometimes families.

To pack up all their belongings in a handcart, and go forth in faith.

Losing brothers, sisters, parents, even children along the way.

Very humbling indeed.

I complain and complain about having to move to a place I don't want to, but I am so blessed.  I have a moving company pack me up, I get to bring anything I want, we have a good job, and most of the time a home waiting for us.  I am spoiled, and ungrateful.

Jason and the boys, exploring the grounds.

I am so happy we got to stop at Winter Quarters, 

and I am happy I got to share it with the boys even though they don't remember a second of it.

Driving through Iowa, on our way to the next stop.  

The boys were so good in the car.

I love Harry's funny way of sleeping.

A New Life

I just wanted to share this beautiful video.
What a true inspiration to Stephanie is.
I am humbled by her story and her faith.
HUMBLED.
I want to say more, I need to say more...
but all I feel is enormous GRATITUDE,
for the life that I have,
for the things I hold dear.
It really puts things in perspective, what is REALLY important.

I pray this video touched your heart, as it touched my.

My Testimony

After watching general conference this past weekend, I felt inspired to share this talk, and my own personal testimony (which I do not do often enough).  I have been watching conference for years, and some talks always stand out a little more than others, I wish I could remember and share them all.  This one in particular by Elder Jeffery R. Holland moved me.  My heart, mind, and soul swelled with the TRUTH of the words he was speaking.  

It is a little long, sixteen minutes, but it is worth watching.  Sorry it is cut in two parts...


Part One

Part Two

I would like to bear my testimony that I KNOW, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a true church!  I have a testimony of Joesph Smith, and the Book of Mormon.  I have a testimony of our prophet and leaders, and I believe that they receive revelation through God to direct us during these latter days.  I have a testimony of the Atonement.  I thank God, and our brother Jesus everyday for dying for me, so that I may repent of my sins and come unto Him...and someday, if I do the things I've been taught, I know I will be able to live with them again.  I have a testimony of daily prayer, scripture study, and attending our church meetings.  I know if we do these things faithfully we will be blessed in our daily lives, our families and children will prosper, and will be be happy.  I have a testimony of temple work.  (I miss going to the temple so much.)  If we keep the commandments, our temple covenants, and endure to the end, I KNOW that our families can be together forever.  I am so thankful for the church in my life.  I have been blessed in so many ways; with beautiful children, a loving family, a way to provide for our family, wonderful friends and countless experiences that I wouldn't change for the world.  I am filled with gratitude, and I want to share these things and my testimony with you...in the name Jesus Christ, Amen.