Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught

“Your lives, your friendships, your marriages, your families, your neighbors and coworkers currently constitute the sample of humanity which God has given you. We are each other’s clinical material, and we make a mistake when we disregard that sober fact. . . . These special moments – one-on-one, in small groups, in corridors, hallways, or wherever – do something so subtle that we are scarcely aware that it is happening. Yet these help to further define our relationships with the Lord and with each other. It is often the one-liners that come from these special moments which have such a long shelf life and which help us long after the dispersal of those friends has occurred.” (“Jesus, the Perfect Mentor,” Ensign, February 2001, p. 8)  

Wednesday Nov 13 2019 Cousin Lunch

We are so thankful for these adorable Eagle High School Cousins.  How fun is it that Kim hosts a lunch every other week so these cousins can have a half hour together.  They make it so fun and are so appreciative for the lunch.  Bonus: lunch with Kim and Deven too.  Funny story: today's lunch was chicken pot pie made by Kim and in the oven under timed bake.  The timer went off, the casserole was bubbly but the top was still light and not brown. I turned the broiler on to brown the top and then turned to quickly do the dishes in the sink.  3 min.  I opened the oven and the top was crispy black burned.  I scraped off the top of the burnt crust and the kids ate it anyway.  Kim was a good sport.  I am grateful that I didn't ruin the whole thing!

November 11, 2019 Veteran's Day Thankfuls

 This cute Bree invited us to Eagle Middle School veterans assembly this morning.  She was performing with the swing dance group.  So Gil and I rode our bikes over for an inspiring assembly. There was a WWII veteran there, which of course reminded us of our veterans.

James C Simpson Navy

Calvin G. Price - Navy

And Peter E. Anderson - Union Civil War.  

I am so grateful for the service men and women who have made it possible to have the liberty and freedom we have now.  We pray for our country and it's leaders and people.  We are grateful for the firemen (Jed) and policemen and other first responders who sacrifice family time and safety, for ours.  Thank you.

Nov 10, 2019 Sunday

I love Sunday.  I wake up thinking YES! It's Sunday.  Today Gil and I went to tithing settlement.  I am so grateful that we have income and the ability to pay tithing.  I am grateful our tithes and offerings are able to help the church build and maintain and provide materials. I am grateful that we can give monetary offerings to help those in need - often without knowledge of who needs the offerings.  I am grateful for the humanitarian programs to help all over the world.  I am grateful for our testimonies and the light of Christ that shines in our lives.

Bishop Smith shared this (from a training by Elder Anderson this summer) showing how our testimony (light) guides our children, how we hope they gain a testimony of their own. How couples together need to seek revelation together and how we each need to have our own testimony also to rely on.  The first quote from President Nelson: "In coming days it will not be possible to survive Spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting influence of the Holy Ghost.  I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation." the closing quote by Heber C Kimball says: " To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge off the truth of this work for yourself.  The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess his personal knowledge or witness will fall... The time will come when no man or woman will be able to stand on borrowed light."

Nov 9, 2019

Photo taken by Kurt during backpack trip in Summer 2019

We are so thankful for our family and the activities we love to do together.  Yesterday Tucker, Stella, Tyler Simpson and Tyler Ball got to go ski the Bogus terrain park on man made snow.  Wow.  Hannah and Maria went to the BSU womens soccer game- championship.  Hallie just got back from Cheering at the Eagle High vs Rigby Football game.  Kim and I (and Ellie) went to a baby shower.  I'm sure the Doty's and McCalvy's were out at some point being active and enjoying something good.  How blessed we are. How thankful we are for family to play with and bodies that are strong and healthy. Blessed.

Nov 8, 2019

I am thankful today for Mary Stallings who writes a Facebook "Come Follow Me Daily" post.  She is in Kim's ward, and it was Kim who told me about her.  I am so impressed because she will take a verse or a phrase from the weekly study and expound upon it with such thoughtfulness or have a story that takes my breath away because it is profound and I had read the same verse, but didn't think anything special.  By reading Mary's thoughts, I am encouraged to do more than just read the chapter, but maybe to read it verse by verse and think about how the verse can apply to me or to our life.  I also am so loving her choice of art to fit with each post.  I am grateful for the time and effort she spends and her willingness to share.  Below is yesterdays post.  My thought is Do I have a Miracle story?  Yes.  Have I shared my miracle story with my family? I think so.  Some time I'll tell you about the red measles and how my colon cancer was found and gone and how my brother Doug survived growing up.  Yes.  Miracles are part of daily life and do we thank the Lord for them?  I am thankful also for Miracles.

Come Follow Me Daily

Yesterday at 8:22 AM · 

I had my backpack packed and was headed out the door when my religion teacher at BYU said two words:
.
“Expect miracles.”
.
The phrase hit me so hard I went back to my chair, got my notebook back out, and wrote it down at the top of the page.

Then, I promptly forgot about it.

Later that day, I was at the temple doing proxy baptisms for the dead. As I was praying, I felt prompted to ask that the people who I was doing work for would protect me that day. I have never felt prompted to do so before or since, but that day, I asked.

As I rode my bike quickly to the library to print an essay before class, I saw a car coming. But they had a stop sign, so I kept biking without stopping.

I realized too late they were turning right and were not planning on stopping.

I shut my eyes and braced for impact.

Then, suddenly, I was on the other side of the car.

The car pulled over and got out to talk, but I was in shock and just kept biking. I got to the Provo library and was shaking. As I sat there, two words came to my mind clearly:
.
Expect miracles.

It’s hard to explain. I know that someone could easily explain this miracle away—
.
but i personally know that angels were protecting me that day.

Hebrews talks a lot about the power of angels.

Elder Holland said, “Ask for angels to help us.” He said in another address, “I testify that angels are still sent to help us.”
.
I know these words are true.

Angels are nearer than we know. They are helping more than we know.

And they are ready to be dispatched to assist us.

Take Elder Holland’s challenge up today. Ask God for angels to assist you.
They are ready and willing.

Written by Mary Stallings
Art by @briankershisnik

Thurs June 7, 2019

I am grateful when I wake up without aches and pains.
Since June I have been going to the chiropractor (Shawn Nord ) because my mid back ached really a lot.  Taking a lot of ibprofin and not getting better.  After a few treatments, stretches, electrode ultra violet and traction - I was feeling much better.  Then the muscles of my neck felt tweeked and I could hardly move my head.  Shawn said it was the same muscle.  Yup. the Red one, except more on my right side not the left as shown.  I had him show me some strengthening exercizes Tues. and felt pretty good.  Weds started out good but by evening I could hardly stand it so I went to bed with warm packs.  This morning I feel fine.  I know it will probably hurt by the end of the day, but if I do what I need to do in the morning/early afternoon I can deal with evening aches.  It will get better. I am whining.  However I am so grateful to wake up in the morning and not have to deal with the ache.

Written 10 years ago, but not posted. OH well. We don't have snow and little kidlets here any more.

Kurt was ambitious and built two snow forts -he had to reposition the snowman referee and a wonderful sledding hill.

We have had an inversion and smog for almost two weeks. I hunger for the sun, so I found some snow photo's from Christmas week that make me smile and decided to share them with you. This is the wonderful snowman Deven helped the kids make.

Nov 6, 2019

photo: Gil and Stella in Apricot tree

This morning when I woke up I could see the sun shining on the leaves of the trees outside our window and I thought about how grateful I am that I can see.  I can read.  I don't see very well without my glasses so I am grateful for glasses too.  Each leaf was shimmering (glasses not on yet) and I thought how grateful I am that trees of all kinds were created. Lumber for building - houses, furniture, buildings. Fruit for eating. Old wood for burning and warmth.  Autumn leaves for sheer beauty.  Red, yellow, orange, green, brown.  I am grateful for eyes and trees.

Tucker and Sierra - #1 and #18 

Old photo - from 2014.  17 of our 18 grands. We are thankful for each and every one of them.  They are loving and kind. Smart and supportive of each other.  I think it's time to take another family photo.  So very grateful.

November Thankfuls

I am thankful for this good man who is generous, hard working, uncomplaining, committed, loving, independent and more.  I am grateful to be his wife, helpmete, companion, friend.  I am one lucky/blessed woman.

Time to get back in the habit

It's been so long since I've posted (journaled) that I've forgotten how this site works. Gil and I retired July 1,2019 and in the process of moving stuff from office to home, and trying to find a home for the stuff, I re-read some of the entries that I posted and realized that even though most of the time I feel like not much changes - a lot of changes have happened and my thoughts and feelings haven't kept up. Also this year changing to Come Follow Me, opportunities are given to ponder and write down feelings, and I really haven't been consistent in doing that either.  Last excuse - I haven't taken a lot of photo's either so it's time to get back into the habit. 

Monday November 4, 2019

Last night Gil's brother Norm called to schedule a brother's retreat for 2020.  Now that there are just the 3 brothers Norm, Gil and Gordon still living - it's important that we make the effort to keep the bonds strong.  We are so blessed to have them and how rarely do we tell them we love them and of course I adore my sisters in law, Marlynn and Gaylynne. We put July 4 plus several days on the calendar.

Gil and I are kind of recluses so we are grateful that Norm took the imitative.  3 cheers!