Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Called to Serve

We've been on pins and needles waiting for Tommy's mission call. It finally arrived today. Check out the "Let the Game Begin" post to see the winning guess.

Tommy has been assigned to serve in the Texas Houston South Mission - English speaking. He reports to the MTC (Missionary Training Center - Provo, UT) August 20, 2008 - 10 days after his 19th birthday.
You will bless the lives of those you teach and their posterity after them. You will bless your own life. You will bless the lives of your family, who will sustain you and pray for you.

And above and beyond all of this will come that sweet peace in your heart that you have served your Lord faithfully and well. Your service will become an expression of gratitude to your Heavenly Father.

You will come to know your Redeemer as your greatest friend in time or eternity. You will realize that through His atoning sacrifice He has opened the way for eternal life and an exaltation above and beyond your greatest dreams.

If you serve a mission faithfully and well, you will be a better husband, you will be a better father, you will be a better student, a better worker in your chosen vocation. Love is of the essence of this missionary work. Selflessness is of its very nature. Self-discipline is its requirement. Prayer opens its reservoir of power.

And so, my dear young brethren, resolve within your hearts today to include in the program of your lives service in the harvest field of the Lord as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

President Gordon B. Hinckley
"Words of the Prophet: Forget Yourself and Go,” New Era, Oct 2002, 5 and "Of Missions, Temples, and Stewardship", Ensign, Nov. 1995, 52

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

The Next American Idol

I may be a bit partial, but oh well. Move over David Archuleta, get out of the way David Cook, here's my niece, Janet Reynders - the REAL next American Idol!


Buchanan High School Spring Concert - Clovis, California
Janet Reynders, soloist, with Matt McLelland on the guitar

Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?”
--Benjamin Franklin

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Three Little Kittens

Janna, Sam, me, and Becky.
My three little kittens.
These were the only kitties at home with me today. I got a Mother's Day greeting from everyone else by phone. Tom was gone too visiting Billy in Arizona.
I have a poem to post. You've probably heard it before. It has always been a favorite of mine. It also illustrates what I want for Mother's Day. Every year my children ask me what I want and my reply is always the same, "I want you to be obedient." Hence, the scripture that is continually displayed on my blog: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." 3 John 4

Which Loved Best
by Joy Allison

“I love you, Mother,” said little John;
Then, forgetting his work, his cap went on,
And he was off to the garden swing,
Leaving his mother the wood to bring.

“I love you, Mother,” said little Nell;
“I love you better than tongue can tell!”
Then she teased and pouted half the day,
Till Mother rejoiced when she went to play.

“I love you, Mother,” said little Fran;
“Today I’ll help you all I can.”
To the cradle then she did softly creep,
And rocked the baby till it fell asleep.

Then stepping softly, she took the broom
And swept the floor and dusted the room;
Busy and happy all day was she,
Helpful and cheerful as she could be.

“I love you, Mother,” again they said,
Three little children going to bed.
How do you think that Mother guessed
Which of them really loved her best.

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Thursday, May 8, 2008

Let the Game Begin!


Tommy Blair

"A mission becomes as much a part
of a boy's program for life as is an education."
Gordon B. Hinckley
Tommy’s mission application has been submitted. I’m guessing we'll know where he's going in a matter of weeks. When my other boys submitted their applications to serve a mission we played a little game. Friends, family, and anybody for that matter, would guess where they thought he might go. So...
Let the Game Begin!
If you would like to guess, just let me know by sending an email to blairmom@gmail.com or you can leave a comment. I will add your name and guess to this entry. I’m even going to give a prize, but I’m not sure what the prize will be. Therefore, you will probably not be motivated to guess because the prize will be undoubtedly of little consequence, even so, a prize will be given. Please join the ranks of guessers just for the fun of it. This is an exciting time of anticipation wondering where Tommy will serve. Your guess can be as general (Japan) or detailed (Florida Ft. Lauderdale/Spanish-speaking Mission) as you want and you can change your guess up until Tom’s call arrives. You can even have the same guess as someone else. All winners and prizes are awarded at the sole discretion of me, the MOM.

Happy Guessing!


Martha Blair - Washington, D.C.
David Lockhart - North Carolina
Cassie Dedman - Dominican Republic
Ruben Dedman - Argentina
Sammy Blair - Paris, France
Kim Roarke - Africa
Cliff Roarke - Mississippi
Portia Dedman - Spain
Janna Blair - France
Rebecca Blair - Japan
Houston Blair - Philippines
Tommy Blair - Nashville Tennessee, Spanish-speaking
Billy Blair - Jacksonville, Florida
Chelsea Blair - New Jersey
Ricky Blair - New Jersey
Emma Reynders - Brazil
Michael Reynders - Portugal
Adam Reynders - South Africa
Dorothy Reynders - Anaheim, California
Bill Reynders - Arizona
Bob Dunn - Argentina
Pam Dunn - New York
Jessie Dunn - Peru
Paige Reynders - Taiwan
Rita Black - South America, Brazil
Lisa Burgess - USA, East Coast
Jacque Woolley - Latvia, Riga
Lynn Hatch - Eastern Canada, Toronto
Joan Stott - Canada
Beth Lockhart - Scotland
Carson Lockhart - Brisbane, Australia
Jessica Lockhart - Spain
Kenny Hermansen - Dublin, Ireland
Lee Ann Hemingway - Chile
Jacob Briggs - Uraguay
Rulon Beesley - Florida
Mark Reynders - Boston, Massachusetts
JoLinda Reynders - Denver, Colorado
Scotty Reynders - Armenia
Yvonne Murphy (soon to be Reynders) - Australia
David Reynders - West Indies
Nancy Hermansen - Jacksonville, Florida
Jacob Martinez - England
Veronica Martinez - Tonga
Kayla Martinez - Germany
Mike Martinez - Brazil
Debbie Martinez - Hong Kong
Jill Bentley - New Jersey
Logan Kowallis - Frankfurt, Germany
Kwang Betzer - Korea
Michelle Tweedy -Saskatchewan, Canada
Gerri Smith - Italy
Meagan Tweedy - China
Matt Tweedy - Mexico
Beth Tweedy - Tennessee
Jacob Tweedy - Hershey, Pennsylvania
Larry Alsip - USA, The South, Texas
Evelyn Blair - Brazil
Luke Leishman - Africa, Madagascar
Angie Lockhart - Panama
Jake Lockhart - Argentina
Stephanie Larsen - Eastern Europe
Terry Hermansen - Australia
Malissa Martinez - India
Harold Stevens - Hawaii
Chuck Ferrarri - Mississippi
Judy Ferrarri - England
Zoe Burgess - Massachusetts
Beth Ercek - Austin, Texas
Ali Ercek - Sydney, Australia
Susie Ercek - New York, New York
Johnny Ercek - Rome, Italy
Ron Ercek - Paris, France
Alex Burgess - Kentucky
Sydney Burgess - Illinois
Errin Rust - Albuquerque, New Mexico
John Meadors - Puerto Rico
Donna Meadors - China
Gloria Berrious - El Salvador
Cassie Anderson - Guatemala
Mike Axley - San Diego, California
Terri Fiske - Honduras
Cathy Escamilla - Kentucky
Paul Escamilla - Ecuador
Marla McEwan - Siberia
Mike Andrews - Colorado
Norm Andrews - Florida
Nancy Andrews - Tennessee
Mary Smith - Austria
Morris Smith - Quebec, Canada
Gary Black - South of the border
Don Jensen - Brazil
Russ Mohun - Peru
Ashton Seaver - Eastern Idaho

Kellie Hermansen - Russia

Paul Thorsen - England

Fred Thorsen - Arizona

Ashley Thorsen - Australia

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Monday, May 5, 2008

Drama Queen


Saturday night at Lancaster High School we saw Janna in her last of four performances of "Bye Bye Birdie". It was an enjoyable and entertaining evening!

Jessica (friend and cohort in "Bye Bye Birdie) and Janna (high school drama queen - on stage and off.) Just two of the great kids in this fun production.
"There was never yet an uninteresting life.
Such a thing is an impossibility.
Inside of the dullest [and cutest] exterior
there is a drama, a comedy, and a tragedy."
--Mark Twain

Saturday, May 3, 2008

MAY FLOWERS

"In all things of nature
there is something of the marvelous."
--Aristotle

It's been over two years since we moved into our house. This time of year, the spring flowers definitely enhance its appearance.

My front garden is called “Grandma’s Garden”. I have stepping stones placed throughout so little children can meander through and explore. Along with the plants and flowers that please the eye, there are other elements to discover like little bells, statuettes, and an old birdbath that once belonged to my grandmother. Of course, there are plenty of sticks, rocks, and bugs to find too.

I like to garden. I get a certain satisfaction in my digging. For some reason I benefit some enhanced therapeutic pleasure in my daily picking, watering, and weeding. I may revel with contentment, but my skin and old body often find it offensive. Nevertheless, I hope this habit will help me carry on in my aging years.
Garden Explorer's - Jeremiah, Ammon, and Joseph.
(Their family came to visit this weekend.)

GRANDMA'S FLOWERS
by Pauline S. Walker

Each time I go to Grandma's place
To spend some summer hours,
She lets me pick a big bouquet
Of pretty garden flowers.
I've learned the names of almost all
The flowers Grandma grows:
Carnation, Iris, Pansy, Phlox
Petunia, and Rose.
The Sweet Pea is my favorite;
It has a lovely smell.
The flower Grandma likes the best
Is Canterbury Bell.
I think my Grandma's wonderful
And hope that when I'm grown,
I'll have a "green thumb" just like hers
And flowers of my own.
Happy Birthday! Ammon Dedman, 1 year old today.

Friday, May 2, 2008

"One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism" - Eph. 4:5




Portia, Joseph, and Jeremiah
April 27, 2008, Sunday



Portia's Baptism Day




Portia and Ruben




"We are all welcome to come
into the waters of baptism."

Robert D. Hales,
"The Covenant of Baptism: To Be in the Kingdom and of the Kingdom,” Ensign, Nov 2000, 6–9

We went to Anaheim last Sunday afternoon. Of course, we got to see Cassie, Ruben, and the kids; but our min reason for going was to attend Portia Dedman's baptism. Portia is Ruben's cousin. She moved out here from Florida after graduating from high school. Ruben and Cassie offered her a place to stay. Portia got a job at Knott's Berry Farm and is establishing residency in preparation to enrolling in college here in California; but the most wonderful news of all is her baptism. We were so glad to attend and be a part of this great moment in her life. She has truly been prepared by God for this significant time. She so keenly feels the Spirit an understands that baptism is her next step in following the plan of happiness. She truly is happy, she told me so; but it's not just her words, but her countenance that's the real indicator of the joy she' feeling. It's another confirmation that she's doing the right thing.