As soon as my "real" computer is fixed, I will attach pictures of the "amazing" "astounding" "enormous" snow that has fallen upon us in the past week. We have well over 40 inches of white stuff on the ground, it goes up past my knees. It snowed 2 1/2 feet last Thursday, 12 inches on Saturday, 9 inches by Monday morning and probably near another foot by 4 pm today, Christmas. We are not dreaming of a white Christmas anymore!
The most amazing experience of our Christmas this year was performing at the Union Gospel Mission. Troy called to see if we could serve dinners to the homeless and then mentioned that we had a little family band. They immediately put him in contact with the Services coordinator, who asked if we could just do their worship hour. Troy said yes, and we began to practice. We were a little aprhensive about playing there, unsure what we would find. But the day finally came (Dec. 9th)and we took our little rag tag bluegrass, country, jingle bell band to the chapel of the homeless shelter. After we were all set up and ready to go, they opened the doors and the chairs filled with well over 50 men and about 20 women. We thought somehow we were there to serve them. The chaplain said it would be good for them to see a family working and performing together. Little did we know how much they would serve us. Amazing is the word that best describes it for me. Just Amazing. To watch their faces as the clapped, laughed and joined us in singing was absolutely priceless. But the coolest thing was afterward, as I watched my children, my family being served by homeless, raggedly dressed men and women. One by one, so many came up and thanked my family, complemented my kids individually. "You sing so beautifully," "You are really good on the drums, I play the drums, so I know you are really good." "Thank you for coming tonight." I came away realizing that these men and women served me more than I could have ever served them.
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
24 More Days Til Christmas
So here it is December already! We have the tree up, we have the lights up, we still have a few Halloween decorations up, but we are working on it. Cami is potty trained (pretty much).
A friend told her children before they could write a letter to Santa they had to write 24 things they were thankful for. In memory of Thanksgiving, here is my list:
1. My husband
2. My children
3. The Savior (yes, He should be first)
4. The gospel
5. My Mom and Dad
6. My Brothers and Sisters & spouses(could this count as 5 additional thanks'?)
7. Newman Lake
8. The Homey G Property (20 acres)
9. The horses
10. The December Ensign, and the article on consecration (its really deep)
11. My calling as a ward missionary
12. The testimonies of new converts
13. The bald eagles that visit occasionally
14. Hoover for keeping the racoons away
15. Summer
16. Fall
17. Winter
18. Spring
19. Memories
20. Friends
21. Sisters in law and mother in law
22. Music (esp. when my kids play together)
23. Cozy Fires
24. The scriptures and the Preach My Gospel Book
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Cami and Halloween
Better late than never, I thought I should post these cute pictures of Cami at school!
Archie and Lance
About four weeks ago, we bought 2 horses, Archie the bay and Lance the palomino. Last week, it finally stopped raining enough that we could ride. Troy and I went riding for about an hour on Thursday. Just as we finished, the hail and rain exploded! I had forgotten how much I loved to ride. We have numerous trails carved through the hills behind our property and it is so beautiful (and so much easier than hiking!) Robbie and I went riding on Friday. We climbed and climbed, until the horses were balking at doing another hill. Saturday, Troy and Jordon went riding for an hour, the Rob and his friend Jaren went. And on Sunday, Charli was having a bad day, so Troy took her for a long ride. The poor horses you would think would be exausted. But every time we drive up the long driveway to the barn, we holler at them "Come on horses, lets go" and they come right up to us to be brushed and saddled!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
I Want To Be A Missionary
Currently, my ward calling is as a Ward Missionary. Troy is serving as the Ward Mission Leader, so this calling is fun, in that we get to work together. Somebody said, though, "Oh, so he's your boss?" No he is not my boss! I really enjoy the calling and enjoy working with him.
Here are some things that I have learned. You are successful as a member missionary when you invite people to learn about and accept the gospel. Some people feel they are successful only when their "friend" gets baptized, and since that doesn't happen very often, and people don't want to feel like failures, not much ward missionary work gets done. Your job as a member missionary is to invite all people you come in contact with to learn more about the gospel. If you are inviting, then you are successful.
You are not responsible for deciding who is prepared to hear to gospel. Quite often we say "I am working with so and so, but they are not ready yet". How did this become our judgment? Only the Lord knows who is ready and if he told us directly, He'd be taking away someones free agency. Our job is to share. Bring the church into all our conversations... "This weekend, I'm teaching Sunday School in my Church", "Our youth group is doing...", "I spent the afternoon preparing for my Primary class". This opens the door. Many, if not most people choose to walk in and will ask for a little more information. You do not need to teach a discussion. But you can always ask if they would like to learn more.
Finally, and this is from Clay Christensen, an area authority for the church: What we should say about the church if someone asks. Often we want to explain eternal families, the Book of Mormon, modern revelation, the Word of Wisdom, our belief in Christ. Extensive surveys of new converts show that it was not these doctrines that interested them, but rather wanting to feel closer to God, wanting happiness and a sense of peace and wanting a sense of purpose and direction in their lives, all things that they could see in LDS friends and acquaintances. And a very effective way to help others see these attributes exhibited in the lives of members is by inviting them to serve with us. Invite them to service projects, moving ward members, helping in scouting, YW and YM activities, teaching RS enrichment classes, giving fireside talks, baking meals for people who are in need. etc.
"Stand as a witness of God at all times and in all places..." (Mosiah 18:9) We have an obligation to do more than be a friend. This is too important to wait until the time is right. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here are some things that I have learned. You are successful as a member missionary when you invite people to learn about and accept the gospel. Some people feel they are successful only when their "friend" gets baptized, and since that doesn't happen very often, and people don't want to feel like failures, not much ward missionary work gets done. Your job as a member missionary is to invite all people you come in contact with to learn more about the gospel. If you are inviting, then you are successful.
You are not responsible for deciding who is prepared to hear to gospel. Quite often we say "I am working with so and so, but they are not ready yet". How did this become our judgment? Only the Lord knows who is ready and if he told us directly, He'd be taking away someones free agency. Our job is to share. Bring the church into all our conversations... "This weekend, I'm teaching Sunday School in my Church", "Our youth group is doing...", "I spent the afternoon preparing for my Primary class". This opens the door. Many, if not most people choose to walk in and will ask for a little more information. You do not need to teach a discussion. But you can always ask if they would like to learn more.
Finally, and this is from Clay Christensen, an area authority for the church: What we should say about the church if someone asks. Often we want to explain eternal families, the Book of Mormon, modern revelation, the Word of Wisdom, our belief in Christ. Extensive surveys of new converts show that it was not these doctrines that interested them, but rather wanting to feel closer to God, wanting happiness and a sense of peace and wanting a sense of purpose and direction in their lives, all things that they could see in LDS friends and acquaintances. And a very effective way to help others see these attributes exhibited in the lives of members is by inviting them to serve with us. Invite them to service projects, moving ward members, helping in scouting, YW and YM activities, teaching RS enrichment classes, giving fireside talks, baking meals for people who are in need. etc.
"Stand as a witness of God at all times and in all places..." (Mosiah 18:9) We have an obligation to do more than be a friend. This is too important to wait until the time is right. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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