Reagan Ella Waters

Reagan Ella Waters was born on Monday, February 27, 2012, at 5:36 PM. She weighed 9 lbs. 3oz and was 21 inches long. Brittany when she was born was 9 lbs. 3 oz. and 21 1/2 inches long so Reagan was almost exactly like her mommy. We are so happy!!!!

Belen and Herman's wedding

My friend Belen Olmo got married in the temple today. We have known each other since we were teenagers growing up in Puerto Rico. I am about 3 three years older than her. She was in a different Ward when we were growing up but we would see each other during mutual and seminary activities. When I moved back to Utah in 1987, she had just graduated from High School and moved to Utah and was studying at Utah Valley Community College (UVU), where I was also studying. I had no idea she was there until I met my friend Julie and she told me. Brent knows Belen because they were in the same Ward when he was at BYU. She lived in The Glenwood like Brent and Julie. This is her third marriage and I am really happy for her. Her first husband whom she married in the temple was not very good to her and neither was her second. Herman seems like a very nice guy.

Hair Superfood

1/2 of an avocado

1 T mayo (not light)

1 t extra virgin olive oil

1 egg yoke

Mix ingredients in a food processor so that it is smooth and creamy. You can put it in damp or dry hair. Massage into scalp and comb through hair with fingers or wide-toothed comb. Put on a shower cap, or use a plastic grocery bag. For extra conditioning, warm with a hair dryer for about 5 minutes. Leave on hair for 20 minutes or longer and then shampoo and condition as normal. This makes enough for one use. If you have long hair, double this recipe.

I found this on a blog. When I was a teenager I used to put avocado, mayonnaise and egg on my hair but not all at the same time. I am going to try this recipe!!

My thoughts

I have been thinking about the Theme for our Stake this year and it is D&C 78:7 and it says: "For if you will that I give unto you a place in the Celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you." As members of the church we know what it is that we need to do!! We have that knowledge, we are so blessed to know what we need to do to live with our Heavenly Father again. Because we know, then we are required to DO those things if we want to live in the Celestial kingdom. The Stake pointed out 4 areas that they want us to place emphasis on: 1. Personally striving to be obedient to the covenants and commandments of the Lord in all things; 2. Extending ourselves to others through Christ-like love and service and assisting our fellow members to make and keep covenants; 3.Bringing others unto Christ by preparing them to be receptive to the Gospel, and referring them to be taught by the full time missionaries; 4. Seeking out our kindred dead and performing the necessary saving ordinances for them in the Temple. I taught a RS lesson recently in the Semoran (Spanish) Branch and it was on the purposes of the RS, from the "Daughters in my Kingdom" manual. Basically these 4 areas are similar to the purposes of the RS which are: Increase faith and personal righteousness; Strengthen families and homes; Seek out and help those in need.

This is what I taught the sisters: To increase our faith and personal righteousness we must; 1. Pray always; 2. Read the scriptures daily; 3. Follow the example of Jesus Christ. When we are reading the scriptures daily (2Nephi 4:15-16), pondering them and learning from them, praying continually and following Jesus Christ's example in all things, we will have a "change of heart and will have no more disposition to do evil but to do good continually"(Mosiah5:2).

When we are doing these things we will then be able to extend ourselves to others through Christlike love and service (in our families and with our friends and neighbors), we will have the desire to bring others unto Christ (share the gospel), and seek out our kindred dead. But I believe that there is a time for everything. We don't just automatically do these things at once, we also have our lives, trials, tribulations, we have days that we can barely get anything done!! But we MUST be working towards these goals. I think if we read the Scriptures and pray daily, we will have "the spirit to be with us" always to help us, inspire and guide us and we will see miracles in our lives. It doesn't happen all at once. We have our whole lives to work towards that goal which is "eternal live" but we need to working towards it, "steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all"(Mosiah5:15).

Sister Peterson taught (first counselor in the Stake RS Presidency) taught a lesson that really impressed me. It was a lesson on "Having a better marriage", I have a great marriage by the way, but she gave some ideas that aply to ANY relationship and I really like the ideas she gave. Anyone can apply them, relationships with your spouse, children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, cousins, grandchildren and friends. She said that: 1. we need to have a good attitude, 2.Don't go to the dark place, 3. Soften your heart. I liked these because, in following the counsel of the Stake Theme, I can do to them to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord. We know ourselves and we know our weaknesses and what we need to improve. This is one area I need to improve. I think I do good at extending myself to others in Christ-like love and service, I am working hard on that. I have always been super friendly, and I like to make people feel welcome and not feel alone. I am also at the point in my life that I have started working on my family history, so that one is going good, thanks to the help of Matthew Herzog who is helping me. I also try to be a good example to others and when possible invite them to church activities. So what am I lacking? What do I have to improve? well, I think I need to have a better attitude about things, I need to not get offended easily, I think I need to be stronger when I am faced with trials and not to judge people and many other things that come up, that I can not remember right now. I have a long list of improvements to do!!

What JoAnn meant by "not going in the dark place" is, and this is the example she gave: You are home making dinner, the kitchen is messy, kids are running around screaming, your husband comes home from work, tired and stressed, he sits down on the couch and turns the TV on and does not help you with anything. What do you do?, you go in the dark place, Why does he sit? I am working hard too!!!! Why can't he help me?? He is terrible for not helping me!!! YOU are now in the dark place!! I do that a lot, not in that sense because Brent doesn't sit down, he HELPS me, but I do it with other things, I go in the dark place when I feel offended!!! I get these negative thoughts which make things worse and then I don't do anything to solve the problem in a positive way!!! This is when I need to soften my heart!! It is a battle between the soft heart and the hard heart and because I am a human the hard heart seems easier!!! JoAnn said that "the Scriptures (doctrine) soften your hearts which makes your behavior in harmony with eternal principles." This is the only way I am going to improve and it is to have a change of heart, a soft heart. The Lord's does not force us to change, we have the agency, we have to want to change. We need to humble ourselves like Nephi (2 Nephi4:17) "Oh wretched man that I am.. my soul grieveth beause of mine iniquities" and acknowledge our weaknessess, I am not better than anyone else!! We can not change anyone else but ourselves, it is through our agency that the doctrine will soften our hearts, we have to want it!!! I have a lot of work to do on myself so I better get started!!

A little nervous

I found out that the Stake President wants me to conduct the meeting/devotional (Spanish session) with sister Allred. I have conducted Primary and Relief Society but never a meeting like this. We are going to have sisters from four Stakes so there will be a lot of sisters and not to mention Sister Allred!! I am a little nervous. I asked the Stake RS president to help me with how and what I am going to say. She also said that she is not sure about the sleeping arrangements for Sister Allred and that she might not be staying at a hotel. It would be hard for her to stay at the Stake President's home because they just had a baby and she asked me if she could stay at my house!! I said Yes!! But that is just in case, I really don't think is going to happen. It would be amazing though if it did happen!!

Aixa's birthday

Today was my friend Aixa Ocasio's birthday we had a little lunch/party at my house. Carmen Anglero and Yaremi Olvera came. We are all in the same Ward. It was just the four of us (the four puertorricans) and we had a great time.

Valentine's day Social

Conner's class had their Valentine's day social. They love to play musical chairs.

When I grow up!

My camera is being repaired and so on Sunday I was trying to figure out how to upload the pictures from my phone to my computer. So after church I took these pictures of myself and then I figured I could send one to facebook from my phone and then save it to my computer. I am surprised about all the compliments I got on facebook. Lately when I look in the mirror I am begining to see a change in my face. You don't really notice them as much in your 30's but when you get to your 40's those changes are more noticeable. When I take pictures of myself most of the time I don't like them. Let me explain that I am not a vain kind of person, just like anybody else we get used to seeing a face in the mirror and now my face has changed. I never had a great self esteem. I think I have gotten better over the years and my self esteem is better now than when I was younger. I have learned to accept myself with all my weaknesses. I am actually enjoying getting older. There is much to look forward too. I am looking forward to getting better at piano. I am looking forward to seeing my kids and grandkids grow up. I can't wait to go on a mission, and I know it is going to be to somewhere in Spanish. The other day I took Parker to Valencia College, he wants to take summer classes to get ahead, and I really liked their campus. It used to be a 2 year college and it is now a 4 year college. I am really considering that in a few years when Conner is a little older I can go and finish my bachelor. I am really excited about that. I put my bachelor on hold to be with my kids but I always have wanted to finish. I already have my Associates so it should not take me too long to do it. So anyway there is so much I still want to do when I grow up!! Now I just have to get used the changes we all go through, including my face.

Sleep problems and cherry smoothie

Parker is having a hard time falling asleep. I read that it is normal for teenagers because they experience changes in their biological clock or circadian rhythms because of the onset of puberty. They tend to fall asleep later and wake up later. This is a problem for Parker because he has to go to bed early and wake up early for seminary. Teenagers feel more alert in the evening and so they don't want to go to sleep. I also read somewhere that they did a study where a High School started later and the kids did better in school because they got to sleep in later. Well that is not going to happen for Parker. I was watching the Doctors the other day and they actually talked about this and that you shouldn't give teenagers melatonin supplements because they don't know the long term effects of it. I take melatonin and we actually thought of giving it to him so I am glad to have watched that episode. Well, they suggested a smoothie that should help him fall asleep.

Cherry smoothie
Cherry juice-the richest source of melatonin
bananas-They are lowfat and have magnesium which has a calming effect and are a great late night snack
Soymilk-has aminoacids that your body uses to make serotonin which has a calming effect

mix all ingredients in a blender.

I made it tonight and it is really good!!! I hope it works!!

Sister Sylvia Allred

I am so excited, I found out this week that Sister Sylvia Allred first counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency is coming to our Stake on March 4th. The Stake RS president told me that she sent a letter to the church headquaters a year ago to see if one of the members of the General RS presidency could come speak to us. Sister Allred will speak to the Spanish speaking sisters at 4:30PM and at 6:30PM to the English speaking sisters. I also found out today that as a Stake RS presidency we get to make and have lunch with her!!! Sister Hales (stake RS president) asked me to help with the lunch. She asked me to make a flan for dessert. Sister Allred is from El Salvador and there is a sister in my Ward that is from El Salvador and she owns a catering business. She makes Salvadorian pupusas, which is a tortilla filled with meat and cheese, not like a Mexican tortilla, this one is thick. Today I asked her if she would help us with the lunch and she was really excited!! One of the counselors said she is going to bring her china. I think it is going to turn out really nice!! I am so excited to meet her. I have always wanted to meet her!!!

Conner at Federation Festival

Practicing before his performance

Yesterday Conner participated in the Federation Festival. Conner played a couple of pieces before a judge. The pieces have to be memorized. They rate how well he memorized it, the accuracy, rhythm, technique and musicianship. The categories are: Superior, Excellent, Satisfactory, Fair and needs improvement. He goes into this little room that there is only enough room for a keyboard and a couple of chairs!! I wait outside, listening through the door. Conner did an awesome job and he got Superior!!! After he gets superior 3 times he gets a trophy. He got superior last year too, so if he does it again next year then he will get a trophy.