Kaylee the Clown
Ashlyn the Monkey
We hope everyone else had as much Halloween fun as we did this year!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Lifting Burdens
I hope you all are aware of these new "Mormon Messages" the Church is producing. I thought this one was worth sharing in the many ways I could think of.
Lifting Burdens
Lifting Burdens
Monday, October 19, 2009
Crystal Lake Memories
I have wanted to "post as I go" during this long journey I am on, and now I am finally finding some time. I spent 10 wonderful days in Crystal Lake, Illinois with Jason, Nikki, REbekah (her new preferred name), and James.
A Few Memories with Rebekah (6)
- Graciously, she shared her room with me - giving me the bed while she was on a mattress on the floor. I loved waking up with her close by.
- One morning we studied the Book of Mormon together and I was reminded what a spiritual girl she is.
- Playing school together. On the white board, we wrote about things we like to do, lists of words that she would then underline the vowels, a word game, etc.
- We put on a puppet show - Cinderella, of course.
- Playing Barbies with her cool Barbie house.
- Pushing her on the swing outside.
- Playing together at Chuck E Cheese.
- Learning about clouds from an expert 6 year old.
- Our day together shopping.
A Few Memories with James (1)
- Watching him get the walking thing down more and more.
- Singing songs to him at bedtime - the ones I used to sing to his mother.
- His laugh. His smile. His charm.
- Feeling sad knowing how much he will change before I see him next.
A Few Working Memories
Nikki and Jason have taken a broken house and made it into a wonderful home. With some of the remodeling projects about done, it was time to get organized. First came the kitchen, part of the basement, a closet, and finally the master bedroom. That last one Nikki and I treated like an HGTV show with a deadline of 10:00 PM when Jason would get home. I added the final touches as she left to pick him up at the train station. Along the way came times for good talks and lots of laughs.
Thanks everyone for letting me come and be a part of your lives!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
A New Day I Can See...
Some of you may remember Emer Bundy. He was 80 years old when he moved in to our ward after marrying Helen Herrera, who was 75. Both of their spouses has passed away previously. Emer was definitely one of the 'stalwarts'. Years ago, when he was a stake missionary, he found Roy Lohse's family while tracting, and was instrumental in them joining the Church.
Yesterday, I served in the temple cafeteria, and was trained in my duties by Emer's daughter, Sherie Bundy. She recited one of Emer's favorite poems, and later gave me a copy of it. I'd like to share it with all of you...
TODAY
Outside my window, a new day I can see,
and only I can determine what kind of day it will be.
It can be busy and sunny, laughing and gay,
or boring and cold, unhappy and grey.
My own state of mind is the determining key,
for I am only the person I let myself be.
I can be thoughtful, and be a helpful little elf,
or be selfish and mean, and think just of myself.
I can enjoy what I do, and make it seem fun,
or gripe and complain and make it hard on someone.
I can be patient with those who may not understand,
or belittle and hurt them as much as I can.
But I have faith in myself, and believe what I say,
and I personally intend to make the best of each day.
Yesterday, I served in the temple cafeteria, and was trained in my duties by Emer's daughter, Sherie Bundy. She recited one of Emer's favorite poems, and later gave me a copy of it. I'd like to share it with all of you...
TODAY
Outside my window, a new day I can see,
and only I can determine what kind of day it will be.
It can be busy and sunny, laughing and gay,
or boring and cold, unhappy and grey.
My own state of mind is the determining key,
for I am only the person I let myself be.
I can be thoughtful, and be a helpful little elf,
or be selfish and mean, and think just of myself.
I can enjoy what I do, and make it seem fun,
or gripe and complain and make it hard on someone.
I can be patient with those who may not understand,
or belittle and hurt them as much as I can.
But I have faith in myself, and believe what I say,
and I personally intend to make the best of each day.
Friday, October 9, 2009
If not, I have failed indeed.
Brandon and I were able to go to the Sunday morning session of Conference last week. On our way back to the car, we were a part of the exodus of people rushing from one corner to the other, waiting upon lights to change green. It was cold, windy and rainy.
We had just barely heard not only words from several leaders, but most importantly from the prophet of our day, the Lord's chosen servant. He talked to us about serving others, implored us to ask ourselves each day, "What have I done for someone today?". Even more, we heard the Spirit speak to us through the hymn "Have I Done Any Good In the World Today" sung to us by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, one of the best choirs in the nation.
As we were at one corner waiting for a white man to appear in a black box, I noticed a woman dressed in a winter coat, holding a sign in one hand and a small bucket in the other; not a new scene for any one of us. This oh so common scene is one that I always struggle with. I usually spend the entire rest of my day thinking about that person with the sign I saw, whether I imparted with him some of what I have been financially blessed with - gifted - or not. It has been many years since I ever felt ok with saying to myself, "Well if she would get off her rear and do something..." or "I'm sure he's faking it; he probably has a large home to return to". For some reason, the vast numbers of people who live in poverty is a reality I struggle to cope with and something I will not let stand.
Thoughts of newly wed finances, this internal struggle I always have of whether to give or not, and a prophets words filled my mind. Then I began to notice the hundreds of people walking by this woman; where was their struggle of decision, their hesitation? Seemingly missing. I was appalled with my own people. "Did they not just listen to our prophet? Please do not tell me that this many people did not even listen to what the Prophet just said."
My sadness increased as I saw that my dollar was the only thing in her bucket. If anything, on that day and in that spot, she should have received more than on any other occasion.
I regret, from the moment I took my first step away from her, that I did not give her more that I didn't even say something like, "God loves you" or "Everything will be fine", words that I have not only heard since infancy but words that are so easy to believe because my life is so easy. May God always bless me with a dollar in my pocket.
We had just barely heard not only words from several leaders, but most importantly from the prophet of our day, the Lord's chosen servant. He talked to us about serving others, implored us to ask ourselves each day, "What have I done for someone today?". Even more, we heard the Spirit speak to us through the hymn "Have I Done Any Good In the World Today" sung to us by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, one of the best choirs in the nation.
As we were at one corner waiting for a white man to appear in a black box, I noticed a woman dressed in a winter coat, holding a sign in one hand and a small bucket in the other; not a new scene for any one of us. This oh so common scene is one that I always struggle with. I usually spend the entire rest of my day thinking about that person with the sign I saw, whether I imparted with him some of what I have been financially blessed with - gifted - or not. It has been many years since I ever felt ok with saying to myself, "Well if she would get off her rear and do something..." or "I'm sure he's faking it; he probably has a large home to return to". For some reason, the vast numbers of people who live in poverty is a reality I struggle to cope with and something I will not let stand.
Thoughts of newly wed finances, this internal struggle I always have of whether to give or not, and a prophets words filled my mind. Then I began to notice the hundreds of people walking by this woman; where was their struggle of decision, their hesitation? Seemingly missing. I was appalled with my own people. "Did they not just listen to our prophet? Please do not tell me that this many people did not even listen to what the Prophet just said."
My sadness increased as I saw that my dollar was the only thing in her bucket. If anything, on that day and in that spot, she should have received more than on any other occasion.
I regret, from the moment I took my first step away from her, that I did not give her more that I didn't even say something like, "God loves you" or "Everything will be fine", words that I have not only heard since infancy but words that are so easy to believe because my life is so easy. May God always bless me with a dollar in my pocket.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
"Happy Birthday" Song
Ashlyn totally stole the Green Stuff "Cake" when it was time to blow out the candles; I had to re-light them afterwards just so Kaylee could have a turn to blow them out, too.
P.S. The three of them are sporting the BYU T-shirts they had just opened. Ashlyn LOVES her shirt and refers to it as her "rah-rah, rah-rah-rah" shirt. :)
ASL
A couple weeks ago, Brandon and I attended an ASL session of the temple. They provide extra screens which have every word of the session projected on them, along with several actors signing the session as well. Though some might find it distracting, I found it very edifying. If ya'll get a chance, you should attend an ASL session.
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