Become

We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day.

-Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

January Dinner

One of Matt and I's new year resolutions is to have one family we'd like to know better over to our home for dinner once a month. Hopefully, with the result that I will develop a little more ease and grace as a hostess. I don't think I will ever be a proficient at producing the inconsequential stream of chatter known as small talk, but I want to overcome some of my natural reserve with people outside my close circle of friends and family. Last night Matt and I had another couple over for dinner and then three more of our friends for FHE. I made herb crusted salmon with roasted lemons, roasted cauliflower risotto, and marbled chocolate cheesecake, and Matt made the mandarin salad. That's four golden recipes to add to the Harker Classics recipe binder, and two more people I can talk comfortably with at church (once you've demonstrated your non-talents you're beyond the awkward small talk phase, right?)

10 Months Old

Jonas:

-stands and walks around with his hands on the furniture and walls

-likes to test his balance by letting go of his supports and standing on his own for a few moments at a time

-makes messes everywhere he goes, I don't think he even remembers how to play with toys anymore, once they are strewn across the floor he instantly loses interest and looks for something else to destroy

-was Mr. Super Kissy Face at the pool today, he kept trying to rub his open mouth on mine and then he would stick out his tongue and rub it all over my lips- I don't know what that was about

-pretty much only wants to eat finger food, this week he tried lentils, wild rice, cooked carrots and black beans for the first time

-laughs whenever I give him his inhaler which makes me suspicious the pharmacist accidentally gave me laughing gas (his inhaler is just for this month)

-loves to be the center of attention especially at family gatherings

-is interested in his cousins and other children

-loves dogs of ALL sizes, he starts to laugh hysterically if he thinks a dog is acting silly

- is such a precious little person with a distinct personality emerging: strong-willed, good-humored and warm-hearted

I just noticed as I was putting these photos up that Jonas wears collared button up shirts a lot, and I bought 2 new ones for when he is 18-24 months the other day. And yesterday when I was hanging up the new Gap shirts I bought (one each in chambray, white, and black) I realized I have a lot in my closet too and over the holidays I kept steering Matt towards long sleeve, collared, button up flannels. Clearly I am trying to make us a family of collared, buttoned up people, albeit with the cool cuff sleeve roll (cuff rolls and perfect t-shirt folds are permanently fused into my psyche after working at the Gap two years).

YAY! YOU DID IT!

Today I'm posting a card with this picture on the front to Mom Harker. She finished a half marathon at Disney World last Saturday! It took a lot of consistency, hard work, and time but she did it! What a great example for all of her children and grandchildren. I'm inspired to try a half-marathon sometime (but not until a period of my life when I can reasonably give whole mornings to training sessions!).

Certainly not this year, I've completed two of the six race events I set a goal to complete (the second one was a 5K in Edmonton on New Years Day) so I will have my hands full training for a 10K in March, a 5K in June, the triathlon in July and one other triathlon this summer.

Oh and after chasing after Jonas and taking photos as quick as I could snap them for twenty or so minutes I decided this picture, the first one I took was best! (sigh).

Christmas Day

Christmas Day was a wonderfully mellow relaxed day. The living room scene looked a bit like this- Liss singing and playing her ukulele, Beddy downloading music on her lap top, Jonas tearing through the wrapping remnants, Matt perusing his Blackberry and me finishing "A Chrismas Carol". Maybe we looked too relaxed because Dad Harker made sure to get Matt and I out for a run on the outdoor trails (his Christmas Day tradition).

Jonas enjoyed unwrapping presents and eating stollen (a type of delicious German bread my family eats for breakfast everyday during the holidays)- that's my boy!

Clad in Plaid- A Christmas Eve Tale

Jonas is infatuated with Christmas trees- they offer lots of scope for the imagination in the way of destruction.

Practicing for the big day.

Every Christmas Eve the Harkers go a-caroling at the seniors' care home in Lacombe.

Christmas Eve PJs!

Eating the most amazingly tasty cheese fondue and drinking out of Santa Mugs are also Harker Christmas Eve traditions. Usually the Santa Mugs used are ones Grandma Low has handcrafted in a kiln but Mom Harker bought Jonas a baby one so he wouldn't be left out!

Gingerbread Goodness

The Modern Module Home

The Cottage

The Fortress

The Barn

Why did I wait 16 years before making gingerbread houses again?

More Stoddard Family Pictures

I really like some of the family photos we got back from the photographer, which is impressive because most of us in the family (myself included) suffer from those terribly stiff self-conscious smiles that scream you are uncomfortable getting your picture taken. And cracking any smile whatsoever from either of my brothers in front of a camera is no mean feat. That said, I wish my hair didn't have to do battle with the wind as soon as we were outside! It definitely looked better indoors.

Mountains make my soul sing, Matt's and Dad's too.

I don't know if I look like myself here? But Jonas is so stinkin' cute in this picture I bet it's the one that gets framed.

Mom Harker knit Jonas this sweet little beanie to match his sweater as a Christmas present.

This picture makes me laugh- that is such a classic Colton expression!

I like how you can see a strong resemblance in our coloring- hair, eyes, skin, lips- in this photo.

I think my facial features take most after Dad.

Me and Amybean. 

I just love how when you grow up you realize that your parents and siblings are your best friends. And have been all along. I think there is definitely a good chance I hiked mountains with Dad, had personal gospel discussions with Mom, laughed with Jordan and Colton, and stuck close by Amy a lot in the 

pre-mortal existence.

Stoddard Photo Shoot

These are the preview shots we have got back from the family pictures we had taken over Christmas.

Wheat Fields, Tree Rings & Chain Stitches

Or in other words, prioritize and refocus, be consistent, be an influence for good and persevere. It is a painful but renewing experience for me to reflect on what I want to become and what I am. Painful because the discrepancy between the two is frequently painfully apparent. Renewing because Christ's Atonement makes it possible for me to repent and because Heavenly Father does not require me to be perfect, but rather to learn and grow from my experiences and cultivate my potential as a daughter of God I have many weaknesses but I believe it is one of my strengths that I am aware of them, that I am emotionally honest with myself and that I earnestly desire to improve. When I last visited the temple I had two strong impressions- that I needed to re-prioritize and refocus my life on the most important things and that I had the capacity to be a great and righteous influence on others. I have also been reflecting a lot within the last year on ways that Matt and I can constantly have the spirit in our home so that our children can grow up in light, truth, and love, and on taking smaller more consistent steps towards improvement. A lot of my recent scripture study has centered on these ideas. Here are a few of the ponderings I would like to record as a reminder for myself.

Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive of memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great" (D&C 64:33). Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned at home".

Elder David E. Bednar

It’s remarkable how much we can learn about life by studying nature. For example, scientists can look at the rings of trees and make educated guesses about climate and growing conditions hundreds and even thousands of years ago. One of the things we learn from studying the growth of trees is that during seasons when conditions are ideal, trees grow at a normal rate. However, during seasons when growing conditions are not ideal, trees slow down their growth and devote their energy to the basic elements necessary for survival...Therefore, it is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse conditions. They follow the advice “There is more to life than increasing its speed.”¹ In short, they focus on the things that matter most.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, in a recent general conference, taught, “We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.”²

The search for the best things inevitably leads to the foundational principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ—the simple and beautiful truths revealed to us by a caring, eternal, and all-knowing Father in Heaven. These core doctrines and principles, though simple enough for a child to understand, provide the answers to the most complex questions of life.

There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions.When we look at the foundational principles of the plan of happiness, the plan of salvation, we can recognize and appreciate in its plainness and simplicity the elegance and beauty of our Heavenly Father’s wisdom. Then, turning our ways to His ways is the beginning of our wisdom.

As we turn to our Heavenly Father and seek His wisdom regarding the things that matter most, we learn over and over again the importance of four key relationships: with our God, with our families, with our fellowman, and with ourselves. As we evaluate our own lives with a willing mind, we will see where we have drifted from the more excellent way. The eyes of our understanding will be opened, and we will recognize what needs to be done to purify our heart and refocus our life.

- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf


Those who quietly and thoughtfully go about doing good offer a model of consecration. No one in our time more perfectly incorporates this trait into daily life than President Thomas S. Monson. He has cultivated a listening ear that can discern even the faintest whisper of the Spirit signaling the need of someone he can reach and help. Often it is in simple acts that confirm divine love and awareness, but always, always Thomas Monson responds.

     UAdd a Note

Let us simplify our lives a little. Let us make the changes necessary to refocus our lives on the sublime beauty of the simple, humble path of Christian discipleship—the path that leads always toward a life of meaning, gladness, and peace. For this I pray, as I leave you my blessing, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

- D. Todd Christofferson

     UAdd a Note

A consecrated life is a beautiful thing. Its strength and serenity are “as a very fruitful tree which is planted in a goodly land, by a pure stream, that yieldeth much precious fruit” (D&C 97:9). Of particular significance is the influence of a consecrated man or woman upon others, especially those closest and dearest. The consecration of many who have gone before us and others who live among us has helped lay the foundation for our happiness. In like manner future generations will take courage from your consecrated life, acknowledging their debt to you for the possession of all that truly matters. May we consecrate ourselves as sons and daughters of God, “that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope” (Moroni 7:48; see also 1 John 3:2)

Be not easily discouraged- small steady steps towards perfection. A good way to remind myself of this is to remember learning to crochet. My first stitches were clumsy and coarse but overtime those initially rough stitches have became smooth and steady. The more I work at something difficult the easier it will become. Sometimes there will be tough spots where I will relapse for a bit but as long as I am pushing forward I am always learning and progressing.

New Years Day Run

New Years Eve

This is the second year the Harkers have made a sled slide so I think it is safe to call it a family tradition now. The sharp turn in the slide this year however was not safe- Matt dubbed it the 50/50 after the Olympics track.



Jonas and his cousin Owen (3 weeks younger) watching the slide sledding from the kitchen window.



Story and snuggle time with Grandpa.

 

Confession: I went to bed with Jonas before 12:00 p.m. I think it was Coco Chanel who was quoted as saying that nothing is amusing after midnight- for Royall Harker the cut off is 10:30 p.m.