Friday, December 26, 2008
Our Christmas in Texas
We missed the snow but we had a wonderful Christmas with our new family..but we still wished everybody could have been here..
Christmas Pug
Here is Bubba our Christmas Pug to the girls but as you see Elder King loves him and he has been the only one to get his picture with Bubba.
From Tracey
Our Teachers – Our Brothers – Our Friends
This is my testimony that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ.
After moving from Montana to Washington and then Texas for my husbands work I began to wonder, what are we doing? We are never going to have a place we call home, especially now that we moved thousands of miles away from family. I started to feel sad and lonely all my focus was on a daughter that was not even here, a daughter that really didn’t want our help. Bu ti was so focused on her and the mistake, I felt she was making, I was loosing focus on my four daughters that were right here and needed love just as much.
One day after shopping I stopped two people to apologize for the kids being loud. They were so warm and loving that I could not stop thinking that I wanted them to be part of our lives. After having dinner with them one evening we found that they were Mormon. Then as we were visiting them the Elders called – Cristina said that they would be coming over for dinner. Something inside me said to make dessert for their dinner. Which, I did. Later that evening there was a knock at the door. Stood before me, were two handsome young men. They said thanks for the cinnamon rolls. There faces and smiles made my mind think and want to know more about what they do.
So we asked Cristina to invite them over for dinner so we could learn more. That dinner was wonderful. From that day on we have learned to love but not over love, that you can love a person but not there actions, which has brought a lot of peace in my heart. The joy in my girls eyes when we are all together reading and learning about the true Church of Jesus Christ. I know this is right. Our family has grown so much, I know now that when we moved to Texas we did not loose family. Our lost family and friends that we had once known found us and for now, we are together. We are learning from the wisdom and knowledge all of you have to share. We have been brought to the light, the love and to the eternal happiness with our Heavenly Father, where one day, we all be together for eternity.
For this wonderful gift I say thank you. My heart is at such peace and joy. I know this and feel this is the true Church of Jesus Christ. I will share this with everyone – family and old friends.
I say this to you in the name of Jesus Christ –
Amen
This is my testimony that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ.
After moving from Montana to Washington and then Texas for my husbands work I began to wonder, what are we doing? We are never going to have a place we call home, especially now that we moved thousands of miles away from family. I started to feel sad and lonely all my focus was on a daughter that was not even here, a daughter that really didn’t want our help. Bu ti was so focused on her and the mistake, I felt she was making, I was loosing focus on my four daughters that were right here and needed love just as much.
One day after shopping I stopped two people to apologize for the kids being loud. They were so warm and loving that I could not stop thinking that I wanted them to be part of our lives. After having dinner with them one evening we found that they were Mormon. Then as we were visiting them the Elders called – Cristina said that they would be coming over for dinner. Something inside me said to make dessert for their dinner. Which, I did. Later that evening there was a knock at the door. Stood before me, were two handsome young men. They said thanks for the cinnamon rolls. There faces and smiles made my mind think and want to know more about what they do.
So we asked Cristina to invite them over for dinner so we could learn more. That dinner was wonderful. From that day on we have learned to love but not over love, that you can love a person but not there actions, which has brought a lot of peace in my heart. The joy in my girls eyes when we are all together reading and learning about the true Church of Jesus Christ. I know this is right. Our family has grown so much, I know now that when we moved to Texas we did not loose family. Our lost family and friends that we had once known found us and for now, we are together. We are learning from the wisdom and knowledge all of you have to share. We have been brought to the light, the love and to the eternal happiness with our Heavenly Father, where one day, we all be together for eternity.
For this wonderful gift I say thank you. My heart is at such peace and joy. I know this and feel this is the true Church of Jesus Christ. I will share this with everyone – family and old friends.
I say this to you in the name of Jesus Christ –
Amen
From Greg
Winter was coming, and there was much work to do. We needed wood to keep our house warm throughout the cold winter months, so I set about cutting, splitting, and stacking wood that would keep my family safe and warm.
Even as I worked, winter began to set in. However, in my labor, I did not feel the air grow cold nor see the sky turn grey.
Soon, night fell upon me. There was a large light on a pole that lit as darkness set in. Its light was cold, artificial, but I could see my work, so I continued, knowing only that I must keep my family safe and warm through these tough winter months.
The wind, which had begun to blow - I can’t remember when - now intensified. My face was numb, my fingers and toes throbbed from the cold. Hard tiny snowflakes stung my eyes and blurred my vision. I found myself in the midst of a blizzard unlike any I had ever known. The cold, artificial light I had worked by could not penetrate the storm; I couldn’t see the lights of my house, or even tell where the house might be. I was lost.
My heart sank, for surely I had failed to protect my family from the terrible storm, despite all my hard work. Then, in that moment of utter despair, I heard a voice speak to me, “Brother, why do you toil so? For the light and warmth that you seek cannot be received from this pile of wood.”
Through the swirling, stinging snow, I saw him. He was a young man, nearly twenty years my junior. Yet there was wisdom in his eyes -- wisdom and warmth and light. Then I saw that there was another, a companion, with the same wisdom and warmth and light.
“Come let us show you.” he said. With that, each young man gathered up a load of wood and led me to the little house where my family anxiously awaited my return from the stormy night.
Gratefully, we invited the young men inside. They explained that they had traveled far to share a special message with me and my family. And as they shared their message, our home was filled with a new warmth and light. We knew that the light was the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. And the fire in our hearth did pale in compassion to the glow within our hearts. And as the storm raged outside the walls of our small home, we felt a peace and security that we had never known.
As we basked in out new found comfort and joy, one of the young men stood, and he said, “My friends, I have been called away, for others need my help on this terrible night.” T was sad and did not want him to go. “Despair not, for there is another old friend who wishes to see you.” he told us as he prepared to set out into that awful storm.
I feared that if he left, so too would the light that he shared with us. Yet, as he left, the light did not go – nor even diminish. In that moment, I understood that the light would never fade, for that was his gift to us -- an ever-lasting gift of faith, hope, and love.
I was sad to see the young man go, but I was also filled with pride for him as I watched him disappear into the swirling snow, filled with caring, strength and conviction. I knew that he was not alone and that he would be safe in his travels. I also knew that we would meet again, as we had met before, and my Old Friend would share his stories of other homes and hearts filled with light. Stories of other old friends, and my pride grew until I thought my chest would explode from it.
Soon, another Old Friend did come, bearing his gift of warmth and light. And as he shared his gift, we felt our own faith; hope and love grow stronger, still. And as we shared of ourselves that dark, yet glorious night, I understood that these, too, would be called away to share their special message of love and light with others lost in that terrible storm. I also understood that they would forever be a part of our family and that one day we would all be together again. And we would laugh, cry and rejoice together in the presence of our Heavenly Father.
Elder Ahrendsen, Elder King and Elder Taylor:
I know that because each of you had the strength, courage, and faith to find me in that terrible storm; because each of you had the wisdom and knowledge to lead me Home; and because each of you had the conviction and love in your hearts to show us the way to the one true church and eternal life with Our Heavenly Father, we will meet again and it will be wonderful and glorious.
These things I say to you, My Old Friends, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen
Even as I worked, winter began to set in. However, in my labor, I did not feel the air grow cold nor see the sky turn grey.
Soon, night fell upon me. There was a large light on a pole that lit as darkness set in. Its light was cold, artificial, but I could see my work, so I continued, knowing only that I must keep my family safe and warm through these tough winter months.
The wind, which had begun to blow - I can’t remember when - now intensified. My face was numb, my fingers and toes throbbed from the cold. Hard tiny snowflakes stung my eyes and blurred my vision. I found myself in the midst of a blizzard unlike any I had ever known. The cold, artificial light I had worked by could not penetrate the storm; I couldn’t see the lights of my house, or even tell where the house might be. I was lost.
My heart sank, for surely I had failed to protect my family from the terrible storm, despite all my hard work. Then, in that moment of utter despair, I heard a voice speak to me, “Brother, why do you toil so? For the light and warmth that you seek cannot be received from this pile of wood.”
Through the swirling, stinging snow, I saw him. He was a young man, nearly twenty years my junior. Yet there was wisdom in his eyes -- wisdom and warmth and light. Then I saw that there was another, a companion, with the same wisdom and warmth and light.
“Come let us show you.” he said. With that, each young man gathered up a load of wood and led me to the little house where my family anxiously awaited my return from the stormy night.
Gratefully, we invited the young men inside. They explained that they had traveled far to share a special message with me and my family. And as they shared their message, our home was filled with a new warmth and light. We knew that the light was the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. And the fire in our hearth did pale in compassion to the glow within our hearts. And as the storm raged outside the walls of our small home, we felt a peace and security that we had never known.
As we basked in out new found comfort and joy, one of the young men stood, and he said, “My friends, I have been called away, for others need my help on this terrible night.” T was sad and did not want him to go. “Despair not, for there is another old friend who wishes to see you.” he told us as he prepared to set out into that awful storm.
I feared that if he left, so too would the light that he shared with us. Yet, as he left, the light did not go – nor even diminish. In that moment, I understood that the light would never fade, for that was his gift to us -- an ever-lasting gift of faith, hope, and love.
I was sad to see the young man go, but I was also filled with pride for him as I watched him disappear into the swirling snow, filled with caring, strength and conviction. I knew that he was not alone and that he would be safe in his travels. I also knew that we would meet again, as we had met before, and my Old Friend would share his stories of other homes and hearts filled with light. Stories of other old friends, and my pride grew until I thought my chest would explode from it.
Soon, another Old Friend did come, bearing his gift of warmth and light. And as he shared his gift, we felt our own faith; hope and love grow stronger, still. And as we shared of ourselves that dark, yet glorious night, I understood that these, too, would be called away to share their special message of love and light with others lost in that terrible storm. I also understood that they would forever be a part of our family and that one day we would all be together again. And we would laugh, cry and rejoice together in the presence of our Heavenly Father.
Elder Ahrendsen, Elder King and Elder Taylor:
I know that because each of you had the strength, courage, and faith to find me in that terrible storm; because each of you had the wisdom and knowledge to lead me Home; and because each of you had the conviction and love in your hearts to show us the way to the one true church and eternal life with Our Heavenly Father, we will meet again and it will be wonderful and glorious.
These things I say to you, My Old Friends, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen
Monday, December 22, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Elders
We as a family have been learning about The Book of Mormon with these very wonderful young men. They came into my life when I really needed something and didn't know what it was. But when I meet them through Jon and Cristina I knew that this is what I needed. They will never know just how much they saved me and opened my eyes. I am a person who tries very hard to keep my hurt and sadness to myself, but you can only do that for so long. As fast as they came into mine and my families life one of them is leaving now to go to a new place. I am happy for Elder Ahdersen but I am also very sad. I hope that we will see him again, we will never forget what he has done for us and myself. We do get to keep Elder King to keep learning about The Book of Mormon. They both are very wonderful young men and I love what they have done for myself and my family. I have to say thank you to everyone that is Jon, Cristina, Austin, Ethan-- which they are very much like family--, Elder Ahdersen, Elder King, and all of the wonderful people at church.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
This is sad
We have to give the cat away as Anastasia seems to be allergic to him. That is very sad but it is something that needs to be done. We will find him a good home.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Our Night to take the Married Couple out
Well Greg and I decided we should take Angel and Rebekka out to congratulate them. Also to try and get to know Angel a little better and except this marriage. So we took them out for Chinese food because that is one of their favorites. Can not believe that our baby is 18 years old, just seems like she was swimming in the pool down in California and wanting to go to a party with Barney(she is going to to be mad about that). Time goes by way to fast. For now it is all in Gods hands and we trust in him. Congratulations Rebekka and Angel!!!
Mr and Mrs Miguel Rivera
Angel and Rebekka got married on November the 3rd 2008. They are planning on staying down here in Texas for awhile. We pray that God will watch over them and lead them down a good and happy path.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
