Happy Anniversary!

Last Summer

Rick, Wendy, and the kids

The last time I saw this group was last summer when they made their move from Okinawa to Pensacola.  They made a visit to Lancaster along the way.  Sure wish we could see everyone. The kids are getting so big.  Rick and Wendy are celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary this week on a cruise.  Aunt Heidi is watching their children.  Wishing everyone the best.  Happy Anniversary!

True love stories

never have endings.

Richard Bach

 

I've Got A Smile On My Face

 

I've lost 6 lbs. and counting

I know I said I would report on August 20th, but the reality is I'm desperate for a post.  I've lost 6 lbs. so far - "On the program!"  I hope I can keep it up.  Feeling good and hopeful.

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up.

The most certain way to succeed

is always to try just one more time.

Thomas A. Edison

Pioneer Children

Pioneer Children

Were Quick to Obey

Words: Viginia Maughan Kammeyer
Music: Lynn Shurtleff - CS 215

Pioneer children were quick to obey,

Walking along by the wagons all day,

Then in the firelight, kneeling to pray,

Little pioneer children.

Carrying water and gathering wood,

Building a campfire and cooking the food,

Learning and helping the best that they could,

Little pioneer children.

Children today can be pioneers too,

Willing and cheerful in all that we do,

Walking our pathway with heaven in view,

Little pioneer children.

Are these the cutest little pioneers you ever did see?

 Celebrating their pioneer heritage.

*My niece's two oldest children - Ryan and Natalie Jo

*I guess this is how I'm going to get through my final 30 consecutive days of blogging - use stuff from other peoples blogs. Oh well, whatever it takes.

Pioneer Day was July 24th.  I don't really have pioneer heritage like lots of Mormons do, crossing the plains, the persecution, etc.  I'm grateful that I can share in their heritage because it is they who built the firm foundation of the gospel in these latter-days.  Because of their efforts I am here today, enjoying the benefits of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I guess I have my own pioneers, my dad being one of them. In fact, if I think about it, there are a lot of first members in my history and on Hughie's side of the family too. Its gotta start somewhere. They too laid a foundation for us to have the gospel in our lives. We are so blessed because of their commitment. As we build on what we have, we all become pioneers for the next generations.

“To This End Was I Born”

Burial of Jesus by Carl Bloch

Our lesson this week was on the Crucifixion. Jesus suffered and died for all of us.  It's a MIRACLE!  Elder C. Scott Grow spoke last conference on "The Miracle of the Atonement".  I chose some excerpts to share here:

We access the Atonement through repentance.

Everything in the gospel of Jesus Christ points toward the atoning sacrifice of the Messiah, the Son of God.

The plan of salvation could not be brought about without an atonement.

The atoning sacrifice had to be carried out by the sinless Son of God, for fallen man could not atone for his own sins.

Through His suffering and death, the Savior atoned for the sins of all men. His Atonement began in Gethsemane and continued on the cross and culminated with the Resurrection.

Because of His infinite love, Jesus Christ invites us to repent so that we will not have to suffer the full weight of our own sins.

When we sin, Satan tells us we are lost. In contrast, our Redeemer offers redemption to all—no matter what we have done wrong—even to you and to me.

There is no sin or transgression, pain or sorrow, which is outside of the healing power of His Atonement.

The healing and redemptive power of the Atonement is available to each of us—always.

Jesus Christ

is the Great Healer

of our souls.

Elder C. Scott Grow

"The Miracle of he Atonement",

Ensign, May 2011

The Arizona Fam

Chelsea's Pyper family had a family reunion in Idaho this summer and part of the event involved taking family pictures.  If you can't visit someone, seeing a picture means so much.  Bill and Chelsea live in Arizona so we don't see them very often.  I was all about seeing this picture they shared on their family blog so I wanted to share it. Makes me want a visit even more.

Chelsea + one on the way, Ryan, and Billy

"As parents in Zion we are responsible to teach our posterity the gospel of Jesus Christ, including the necessity of keeping the commandments of God and obtaining the saving ordinances of the gospel."

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

"Parental Leadership in the Family,

Ensign, June 1985

God Is Our Father

I watched, I listened, and in a way, was bombarded by testimonies. To have so many different people declaring this one truth - God is our Father, was inspiring to me.   Watch the video by clicking on the link:

http://lds.org/pages/god-is-our-father?lang=eng

I rejoice in the great plan of salvation that is big enough for all of our Father in Heaven’s children.

A loving Father has provided a comprehensive and compassionate plan for His children “that saves the living, redeems the dead, rescues the damned, and glorifies all who repent.”

Elder Quentin L. Cook, "Our Father’s Plan—Big Enough for All His Children", Ensign, April 2009 quoting, Orson F. Whitney, Saturday Night Thoughts (1921), 323.

On The Program

You've heard me say it before and here I say it again, "I'm on the program!"  It's kind of a joke around here.  I need to lose weight so when I'm committed and heading in the right direction it's, "I'm on the program!"

This was one of my goals this year (not that it isn't a goal every year), but I actually put it on the blog, hoping the accountability to the world would some how keep me motivated.  It hasn't.  I've gained weight since I've posted my claim of - I will lose weight this year.

I was somewhat spurred on by my son, Billy, who called me one day and asked why I was blogging so much.  I told him I took on this challenge of blogging for 30 days straight to get the blogging juices flowing again.  He had a vision of me sitting for 30 days in front of the computer.  He said, "I'd rather have you be on the program for 30 days."

So here's committing once again.  I'll be reporting on August 20th (30 days from yesterday).  Put it on your calendar.

Inside some of us

is a thin person

struggling to get out,

but they can usually be sedated

with a few pieces

of chocolate cake.

Author Unknown



Celebrating on my birthday - July 4th.
Here's hoping for a healthier lifestyle!

Old News

Master, master, old news!

And such news as you never heard of!

William Shakespeare

These are just some of the things I should have been blogging about when I wasn't blogging earlier this year.

Becky's Birthday - "Beauty and the Beast"
at the Pantages

 

Rick and Sam over 20 years apart.

Rick visited after a San Diego business trip. He was the last of the siblings to see Tom since he returned from his mission. Glad he had the opportunity.  We all enjoyed seeing him.

Becky and Dexter - The Cutie Bug

Lisa and Me
LA Temple Visitor's Center
Young Ambassadors Performance

Sammy - Principal's List Award

Janna and Alex
Super Hero Birthday Party
Dress up as a real super hero or a made up one.
Obviously no super powers here.
Janna (Trash Girl with Lady GaGa flair)
Alex (Fitness Girl)
Fun times!

Scouterrific!

Ryan and Me with Bubbles

Last, but not least of all my "old news" - we're going to have another grandbaby.  Ryan (Bill and Chelsea's little girl) is going to be a big sister.  Chelsea is due in September with another girl.  She'll be No. 9.

Sam

 On a camp out (shooting activity)
with the ward young men.

Sam's been busy all summer with this and that.  I'm glad he's had some activities to keep him going.  I've been busy with Poppy and Poppy's house.  Sam's helped us there too.  Sam went to Scout Camp, swimming yesterday, Harry Potter last weekend, cousins, friends, the usual.  He even got his room clean.  YEAH!  He's got another 6-weeks of summer before he starts junior high or I guess these days the proper terminology is "middle school".  Hope he keeps busy.  Looks like he's ready for the challenge.

"Change of any sort

requires courage."

Mary Anne Radmacher

“Not My Will, But Thine, Be Done”

Last Sunday's lesson - Christ in Gethsamane

“Christ’s agony in the garden is unfathomable by the finite mind, both as to intensity and cause. … He struggled and groaned under a burden such as no other being who has lived on earth might even conceive as possible. It was not physical pain, nor mental anguish alone, that caused him to suffer such torture as to produce an extrusion of blood from every pore; but a spiritual agony of soul such as only God was capable of experiencing. … In that hour of anguish Christ met and overcame all the horrors that Satan, ‘the prince of this world,’ could inflict. … In some manner, actual and terribly real though to man incomprehensible, the Savior took upon Himself the burden of the sins of mankind from Adam to the end of the world.”

Elder James E. Talmage
Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. [1916], 613

What Christ suffered in Gethsamane is amazing.  I literally stand all amazed.  Next week we'll be covering the crucifixion.

The Young Adults

 

What am I going to do with these two?  I felt the same way about my other kids once they finished high school. They are adults wanting to make their own way in the world and yet they live in my house.  I pretty much let them do their own thing as long as their own thing is moving forward.

Janna is in hunt for a new job this summer and plans on school again next semester at AVC.  She's registered, but she didn't get exactly everything she wanted. It is because of budget cuts she lost her job at the college art gallery.  It is because of budget cuts they are offering fewer classes.  I'm hoping everything pulls together for her.

Tom has been working full-time since school ended this semester.  He has decided to go ahead and sign up for a carpenter's apprenticeship.  He's been wanting to do it for a long time, but their just wasn't the work out there to support him.  Hopefully he'll continue to get the work he needs to make it all happen to become a journeyman carpenter.

Yesterday they made some changes in the Amargosa YSA (Young Single Adult) Ward.  The three stakes had their own wards and now they have combined them all making one.  They also got a new bishopric and the ward will be within our stake.  Sounds exciting!

"For tomorrow belongs to the people

who prepare for it today."

African proverb

Happy Birthday Dear Daddy!

It's Hughie's birthday.  We're now both "58".  WOW!  Two more years and we're both 60.  Doesn't seem possible, but we're feeling it and looking it. 

You've heard of the three ages of man -

youth, age, and "you are looking wonderful."

Francis Cardinal Spellman

"Look out tonsils, here comes the cupcake!"

Beware - I Blog

"Activities can help unify wards and branches

and bring people to Christ."

Parties, Picnics, and Potlucks

Ensign, June 2004

Last night our ward had what they called a "Hillbilly Hoedown".  I needed blogging material.  I'm running out of ideas, so I brought my camera along.

You can always rely
on one of your visiting teachers
to give you a big "Cheese".

There were also some other nice sisters,
who were very hesitant,
but still patronized me and my camera.

Our ward missionaries - Elder Norton and Elder McMullin

Yes, I fancy I am related to Elder McMullin
because my mother is a McMullin.

Lots of entertainment, including
"Bony Hawk" the skateboarding dog.

Dancing girls, plus singing Cub Scouts,
and a skit from the Boy Scouts.

My Sammy Boy

Sister Johns - always a good show.

"Y'all come back now, ya here!"

It was a enjoyable event.  I should have took more pictures.  Food, entertainment, games, water fights and socializing were all part of the agenda.  The weather even cooperated.  It was a breezy cool evening.  NICE!

More Facts

"I've come to understand

that there's always

something positive,

even in a negative situation."

Leif Garrett

10 negatives with a plus:

1.  I can't hear very well, but than I can be very tolerant of noisy situations.

2.  My allergies are way over the top.  I'm always fighting with this, but things could be worse.  I'm happy to suffer with a runny nose compared to something else.

3.  I don't like being gray, but I've accepted my grandmahood.  Eight grandbabies and one due in September.

4.  I don't have a very good memory.  Thank goodness for pencil and paper for reminders . . . Now if I could only remember to look at the paper with my notes.

5.  I wish there was a temple in Lancaster, but at least there's one in LA.

6.  My weight - I've always got a goal to work on.  "I'm on the program!"

7.  Working (my sub job) takes up valuable time and is stressful, but I make cash.  It's a paid service gig.  I make new friends.  Even though I'm the teacher, I'm always learning something new. (Maybe this isn't as negative as I think.)

8.  I don't travel well, but at least I get out of the house once in a while.

9.  I hate split pea soup, but then there's asparagus, YUM!

10. I had a hard time thinking of negatives in my life, that's a good thing!

         BEES MAKE HONEY!