Thought for the Week: I am going to put here a short quote from a 1983 journal, which I was searching through to find some information for Holly:
Reading through the journal was a good experience - tearful at times, but always good in the end. The quote above is funny to me - written so long ago and yet this past week or so I saw or heard from another source almost that identical example. We are way too quick to feel beaten and discouraged; how much better to "get up with a smile to try again" - especially knowing that our Heavenly Father is aware of our every move and need:). KEEP SMILING:)!!!
Good things to know about preparing our children for the temple - focused on 8 to 12 year olds:)
Here are a few other good things I came across this week: (hoping they are helpful to some or all of you:) Sorry you will have to copy and paste into your browser - somehow they didn't come through here as webpages:( Each is worth the work tho:)!
http://ldsliving.com/story/75018-preparing-youth-for-the-temple
Another really good article; if I had children in my home, especially teenagers and/or young adults, I would take the time to read it together and talk about it:)
http://ldsliving.com/story/75049-mormon-olympian-noelle-pikus-pace-reflects-on-gods-path-for-her
OK - here's 4 tips on how to study like a missionary - which, if we are all accepting our responsibility to be good member missionaries, should be good for every one of us:)!
http://missionhome.com/?p=1984
Family Notes:
We sang our birthday song to Christi and Taylor yesterday - I'm sure that was quite an experience for them:)
John called on Monday - he's hanging in there at school and hoping to get an apprenticeship for the summer; more details to come:) Jim Jr. called as well and we had a nice long visit:) Let me know that Colin had eaten 4 pieces of Costco pizza for lunch that day:). Seems he hasn't been much interested in food for awhile so that was exciting:)! Dad and Jim enjoy talking about motor homes and campers I think:) Sara called on Monday too - but hers was a call to Dad to ask for advice about her transmission, which seemed to not be working properly...as always, that brings up the unwelcome thoughts of possibly having to buy a new vehicle...but then it started working and Dad told her he thinks it is just a part that needs replacing, not the transmission itself or the car itself. Praying that is true:)!
Tuesday was the first day of our last Senior Conference. Certainly not the last one in the mission, but the last one we will participate in as our day of departure looms ahead of us on the horizon:). The conferences are always good, but always stir up sad feelings in me for not being "out there" doing the active work that the other missionaries do. Have to remind myself, sometimes many times over, that for us this is preparation for the member missionary work we will be able to do after finishing our time in the mission office. Presdent Young has made the point often that the missionaries called for 6 months, a year, 18 months or 2 years are really the "temporary" missionaries in the ward or branch - the real, or more permanent, missionaries are the members of that ward or branch. We always learn wonderful things at the conferences and trainings we are able to attend - so now we just need to remember them and put them into practice.
Wednesday was not so good; don't know why but by afternoon I was feeling terrible - went home and crawled into bed. Then got back out to go to the urgent care to see if was the same as last time; they thought not, so back home and back to bed. The down side was that Thursday was the temple trip for all the departing missionaries, which included us, but I stayed home in bed:).
Caught up with Mary Thursday night; she had just landed in Sarasota Florida and was headed to get a motel room. Based on our time, that was about 11:00 p.m. there. Hope she got some rest!
Charlotte called me Friday and it was wonderful to hear her voice again:) OK - I know that in reality it hasn't been THAT long since we last talked, but it always feels like forever to me:). She managed to get somewhat behind in her graphics work and so has been super busy this week making up for last week. Sounded like an interesting food week for them - including burned steaks (sob), moldy fish (really?), a good meal from visiting teachers and great pancakes:)! Interestingly they seem not to have had the amount of rain that we have had...weird weather patterns. I guess you could say that things are going normally up in Allyn:).
Jim Jr. called Friday and managed to totally distract his dad from his mission duties while they talked about his racing day(s) - a somewhat delayed Christmas present which he was thoroughly enjoying. Hopefully he will personally tell us about it - maybe on the blog? Because the man taking Elder O's place in the office is really struggling with learning thosse duties, I am afraid I really rained on that parade as I told them to quite talking! I was feeling very guilty & uncomfortable in the office with Elder O having such fun on the phone! Love you both, but.....
I can not now remember which day or night it was, but Christi called as well and let us know that the electrician DID put in the electrical stuff on the other side of their new garage so that we can plug in the motor home when we visit. Glad to hear that:) and looking forward to visiting for Michael's graduation and perhaps more:). We also were sent pictures of her puppies today - so will try to add them here.
Have to really thank Holly for sending me back into my journals to try to recall some facts about Steven as a baby; my experience with my journals was a spiritual adventure. I am hoping very much that each of you is keeping a journal - it will bless your life much more than you can imagine!
Saturday morning phone call from Jim Jr. found me in our apartment working on laundry & packing up stuff, and Dad out at the motor home putting new hinges on the hood (I think I got that right). Actually he only found me and I promised to have Dad call him back when he returns. Jim thoroughly enjoyed his second racing day and hopes maybe to send us a video - that would be fun:) Meanwhile Jeanie was at DJ's long-postponed Paintballing birthday party and Taylor was at a serious school competition...busy family:)!
Spoke with John B. today; so happy that he will be ordained an elder tomorrow - probably between 12:15 and 12:30 p.m. Wyoming time. Let's keep him in our prayers at that time and wish for him much happiness as he moves forward in this new role in his life. So proud of our grandsons and grateful to have them in our lives - one and all:)!
Dad called back Jim - and they got to talk a little; not sure why it was short, but glad they got to get their car stuff in:) Steve called a while later and shared that he had bought a car today for $1500 I believe...he was pretty happy about it. Not to mention that he SOLD 7 cars today. Hopefully that helps make up for some of those snow and ice days not so long ago:)!
Looking at how many of our children have visited with us this week makes me feel very blessed:)! Thank you so much - ALL of you! I think I will close this off and try to put it on the blog...we still need to do our shopping and - hopefully - more packing. Right now I am tired out:).
Mission Notes:
All of our missionaries will have iPads by the end of the month, so there are many changes happening right now - so interesting to watch and to be a part of. The phrase, "the Lord is hastening His work," becomes more evident with each passing day:)! As we work to train others in the mission office we have learned so much ourselves, not the least of which is that it is not about us. It is the Lord's work and He is bringing it to pass, using even the weakest among us to help accomplish His purposes. All we have to have is a willing heart; He will do the rest. So very grateful to have had this experience, as hard and as difficult as it has been at times. So very grateful to recognize that it will all work out - no matter how things may seem at any given moment:). Just as President Hinckley always said:).
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