Looking Forward:)

No post last week and this is kind of a last ditch effort for this week...hope I don't fall asleep while trying to do it:).

We attended church in the South Jordan ward this morning - but had to get up super early to be able to do it because they meet at 9 and Dad had to do the animals before we could leave.  I felt so bad for him as I checked the temperature and it was 18° but "feels like" 10°.   Definitely not a good time to go out feeding and watering horses!

Church was great and the people in the ward are very warm and friendly. The program said the Theme for the day was Make the Exercise of Faith your Priority and there were 3 youth speakers (from the same family) and then the mother and father from that family.  The Dad quoted D&C 90:24: "Search ^adiligently, ^bpray always, and be believing, and ^call things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the ^dcovenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another."  Then he talked about the importance of scripture study, prayer, family home evening and temple covenants... both he and his wife quoted Elder Bednar and I am including here a part of what was quoted. The part in bold was quoted by both and by another person today as well.  I thought of what a good reminder it was, particularly in this day and age when there are even more distractions than when I was struggling so hard to try to accomplish these things in my home.  Satan is definitely making it harder as the days go forward.  Elder Bednar's comments:

"In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful painting.

"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 or 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. "

On to the week past...it has been busy, hard, and COLD!  I guess we are getting introduced to Utah weather...which wouldn't be so bad if we could just bundle up in our home and hibernate...but that is not an option:)!  I'm trying to get Dad to go in and get his hand x-rayed tomorrow because he has a knuckle that is really swollen and painful - not working so well with the moving of hay bales, etc.

Christine and kids are planning to visit us after Thanksgiving - if the weather cooperates - for just a couple of days.  Holly and Steve should arrive a few days after they leave...and Patrick, we think, will arrive the next evening.  Maybe:).  Charlotte has said she may come at some point in there...not sure exactly when:).  We will have to see how that all comes together...may be interesting:).  But for sure it will be fun.

I'm sure there are things I should be saying, but my mind has gone ahead to bed, so I guess I should let my body follow.  Love to all from Mom and Dad