He is risen

(easter egg hunt at grandma allred's the week before easter-- so rare that my girls are both looking at the camera, let alone smiling!)

(my parents did a cute little hunt for the girls as well They used hard-boiled eggs, which my girls loved just as much! amelia loved helping peel the shell and scarlett loved splashing the water in the basin. I have loved watching my parents become grandparents and the way they interact with my babies, we're so blessed to have them!)

I worked the night before easter, and purchased a few goodies from walmart right about midnight. as I was setting the basket up, amelia came stumbling out of her room mumbling... I'm not sure how seriously she believes in the easter bunny or santa claus since we try not to focus on these characters, but it's always fun leaving the girls a little gift.

(great segway into the our empty tomb lesson)

(and like all my lessons, it was short and sweet, and the girls ended up with something they thought was more exciting... but I'm sure they retain it! it was amelia's 4th easter, and she was able to tell her sunbeam teacher that it was mary magdalene who saw jesus first.)

(sunday dinner with the bodtchers)

(it's not that we have a favorite child, it's just that the other child runs too fast for quality pictures)

(grandma bodtcher goes a little nuts over her hunt... each grandkid got to get 25 eggs!)

(oh scarlett, just having a hard time)

I love Jesus, and I'm so grateful for what he has done for us. I'm grateful my children feel protected and loved by their savior, I love His presence in our home. I love celebrating His resurrection, and I'm so grateful for the knowledge of the gospel!

12/13//

church was a blur, but a comment made about the sacrifices and burdens our bishop makes and carry touched me. i've always sustained my bishop, and i've always had faith that they have the keys to revelate about us and our needs. i'm grateful for every bishop of every ward i've ever had.

12/27//

from my notes:
elder nelson: be patient with yourself-- don't be too demanding, but demand improvement.

clarian sounding:
a priesthood holder going inactive is a big deal, but a mom going inactive is losing generations.

we're here to lead and teach babies to be close to Christ

it's not a coincidence that women are endowed with certain attributes to raise children.

1 nephi 8: 11-15

12/20//

we focused on 10 miracles in jesus' life and tried to truly remember the reason for the season.

12/6//

Evan Christensen spoke on his daughter Maisy, and how she still climbs on his/his wife's lap, and how they joked that it'll be embarrassing that she'll probably still be climbing on their laps when she's 16. I thought about how stubborn and arrogant we can get when we think we know more. But maybe sometimes we just need to crawl in His lap and ask for some help.

Also, I subbed in nursery again today (the younger class) and kiddos are just hilarious.

11/29//

so many good things this week. i'm glad i started taking notes on sundays again.

the main, unelaborated points:
-gratitude: things aren't just tools... we need to see the beauty in each object
-there are conditions: pray with a sincere heart, with real intent, with faith in Christ (moroni 10: 4-5)
-it's all in the Lord's timing
-fast. read. pray.

11/15//

oh man. i was asked to say the opening prayer in sunday school AND relief society today. again! i swear this has happened to me like 5 times! unfortunately i just wasn't in the mood. jeremy took scarlett home right after sacrament and i just wanted to sit in the back and be uplifted in some little way without participating. of course, we had to be social and get together in groups to "translate" verses from the timothy and titus books. which was reeeeeeeeally annoying for me, and i really just felt out of place all day. at the end of class, jamie said something that offered me some comfort. she described an activity in reader's digest, where there was a zoomed in picture and it would seem strange and bizarre, but the next page would be the picture in normal focus and perspective. she correlated this to our gospel, and how when we zoom in to one specific piece, say the new policy on children living with same-sex parents, it can be incredibly confusing. she encouraged us to step back and look at the whole picture, where we see the gospel as a whole, where repentance blesses us, and the atonement is crucial and families are forever and the holy ghost whispers promptings, and maybe He will better explain the little details in His own timing.

11/8//

"I can do all things through Christ." In this past week, I have felt saddened and uplifted by the church and by social media. There has been so much confusion for me, but for the time being, I feel at peace. I will just put my trust in Christ again.


ps. don't ever ask anyone if they're pregnant. just don't. she'll tell you if she wants to talk about it.

11/1//

Stake Conference is scary with young children, so we opted to visit the slc temple instead! We walked the grounds, visited both visitors' centers, and had good talks about baptism, the holy ghost, and getting married in the temple. I realize that reverence takes practice and we debated on whether or not we would skip out on conference. We felt the spirit so much on the temple grounds, and in the end, I'm so glad we followed this prompting and had this beautiful Sunday experience! This is my season to listen and teach as curiosity and growing minds are in full bloom. I'm blessed, and confident, and terrified for this responsibility.

PS. I'm so proud of these girls for just knowing what to do when a camera is pulled out. We practice every single day, so it's about time!

10/25//

I felt like the theme to our testimony meeting (next week is stake conference, so we did fast&testimony meeting this week) was to always be prepared to bear your testimony... to a friend, in a conference, in public, in your heart. Always know that God gives you gentle nudges to touch others and enrich your own life. I'm feeling more involved and less blah at church, which gives me some peace. I met another new sister in relief society and loved learning about her and her children. Leta sat next to us and of course made us laugh the entire meeting. Our lesson was on one of President Monson's talks-- on always being kind and Christlike.

10/11//

This was a good Sunday for us. Primary program Sunday is always sweet, especially in our ward with Allison Clark as the primary chorister. Scarlett has been sooooooo great ever since she got her crawling down, she's just happy to crawl around us and pull herself up as she pleases. Amelia sang 'Gethsemane' with the kiddos and Lori told me afterwards that she was totally fine throughout the whole program, and then she heard Amelia singing and totally lost it. Those sweet voices, I tell ya! I spent most of relief society running around handing out personalized invitations to each sister for our activity on Tuesday. This new calling strangely fits the parts of me that loves parties and loves making new friends, but the introvert part and the exhausted mom part? Well, I guess we're still trying to win those parts over.

9/27//

Alison Clark's testimony stood out to me this Sunday... how our kids just look at us with so much trust, but really we're just winging it. But if there's one thing we know for sure, it's that Heavenly Father's promises are real, that He listens and He forgives. 'Cause you know, I'm just winging this whole thing too.

And I said the opening prayer for Sunday School and the closing prayer for Relief Society. It was like the Liana Bodtcher show, I tell ya.

9/13//

Scarlett and I spent sacrament "churchin' it in the foyer" and mother's room, like most Sundays. I've been feeling a bit down because I spend plenty of my three hours in the hall with an upset baby who just wants her nap, and then we go home and my toddler acts really sensitive because we skipped her nap and Sundays are kind of a rough go for us. I've been questioning my testimony. It's been strange because my testimony and relationship with Heavenly Father felt rock-solid and unwavering, especially in times are hardship ("when it gets too hard to stand, kneel," right?). As a convert, I haven't really plateaued in my spiritual growth in so long. I remember when I use to read the Book of Mormon out loud to Amelia daily, and felt so much guilt that I haven't even cracked open my scriptures outside of church since Scarlett was born (nope, not even for the 90 day challenge that I helped kicked off as part of the relief society committee). Jeremy's testimony is unwavering and at times it can be intimidating. I shared with him my concerns, and we agreed to started reading together (like we did when I started investigating in the church). Honestly, I didn't feel too much of a difference, until I read this article and received revelation that it's going to be okay. My testimony doesn't currently feel bright and shiny and bursting, but it's still here. And so is my Heavenly Father, and it's going to be okay.

The Adamsons spoke and I got to hear part of Shar's talk on commandments. Another little prompting that I need to take Family Home Evening more seriously. Does anyone have any ideas on FHE for young families for me?

9/6//

From Matthew 13: "And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold."

I want to fall into good ground, grow deep roots, and bloom where I am planted.

8/23//

our relief society presidency spoke in sacrament on home and marriage. in a time where mothers are seemingly unimportant in our society, i believe that we make the most difference in our homes. and while it may seem undemanding from the outside, a mom knows she must be skilled in medicine, education, nutrition, enviornmental services, multitasking, the list goes on. i'm grateful for the privilege to raise my sweet children.

and in relief society, i was reminded by sweet sisters that nobody is perfect. or have perfect testimonies or are perfect moms. we're all just trying our best, and sometimes we feel close to God, but sometimes we're angry with Him or pull away from Him. and that's okay, too. because He will still love us just the same. (another parallel i realized to be true since becoming a mother.)

8/16//

i'm not going to lie, this sunday was hard. jeremy was driving home from his "camping trip" and i got the girls ready and on time to church. amelia needed to use the potty. scarlett needed to nurse. amelia was thirsty. scarlett threw a tantrum. oh man, i'm not sure i heard anything...  except i know our stake patriarch spoke and brian brown from the the high council spoke on fasting. (and how we should be lax on this subject. we aren't perfect people, but we can become perfect in keeping the commandments).

anyway, i went home after sacrament and took a nap. bah.

8/9//

elder alder spoke on the family-- the center of our gospel. in these times, where we are often questioned on which side of history we stand, my testimony shakes. this family and this gospel is so sacred to me, so i choose not to place it where it can be torn down. it breaks my heart to know that trials are so difficult for some, and i do know all the answers of this world. but i hope to continue to provide a place of love and nurture for my children, as it is my calling and responsibility.

also, i subbed in nursery this day. #never again

8/2//

the sister i visit teach is the new relief society president! i loved her lesson today-- it combined four conference talks and reminded us to focus on our final destination + to remember that nothing is by coincidence, but divine preparation. I loved this message. I wish so badly that I knew where I was going when I was in high school... I wish someone would have shared with me what I know now. But, the older I get, the more I realize that "it's all in the Lord's timing" and it'll all be okay.

7/26//

(scarlett is staring at amelia yelling, "cheeeeeeeeese!")

ethan moore gave his farewell today, and it was incredibly powerful and mature for an 18 year old. but knowing his parents, it was understandable. i was inspired to find the light (our savior) in the midst of darkness (mortal life).

7/19//

brother villagomez shared his testimony with us on keeping the sabbath day holy + on staking our testimonies to a strong foundation. he's hilarious and i've adored his family for a long time (i served in the young women's presidency with his wife, tabitha) and am devastated they've moved out of our stake boundaries. (i know, you're thinking WHY ARE ALL OF LIANA'S FRIENDS MOVING AWAY!? i feel the same way.)

the relief society lesson was on marriage and family, and i was bummed that i missed so much of it walking the halls with scarlett. (i've gotten to know the primary secretaries well though) but i walked by the primary room, and they were singing 'gethsemane' and there was not a dry eye in the room. for the adults anyway. because of this experience, i've focused on singing this song in my home and amelia has picked it up as well. going to church is still helping me invite the spirit in our home, and i am grateful because of it.