tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77217887083488389442024-02-19T03:08:04.744-07:00Kat/Kel ThomasA house is built with boards and beams
A home is built with love and dreamsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-67131679463739655892015-02-09T10:28:00.001-07:002015-02-09T10:28:23.032-07:00Thoughts for TodayI have been reading this morning as I walk on the treadmill and a few things I have read really struck me. First I was reading the Priesthood and Relief Society lesson for this Sunday. I like these thoughts from President Ezra Taft Benson: "We have no cause to really worry. Live the gospel, keep the commandments. Attend to your prayers night and morning in your home. Maintain the standards of the Church. Try and live calmly and cheerfully. . . . Happiness must be earned from day to day. But it is worth the effort." and "Be cheerful in all that you do. Live joyfully. Live happily. Live enthusiastically, knowing that God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy, but in light and love.". He closed the lesson with this testimony, "We will never be alone if we live as we should, because our Father will always be with us to bless us. He wants us to be successful. He wants us to be happy. He wants us to achieve the good goals we set. He will do His part if we do our part."<br />
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Then I thought of our Southern Alberta winds when I read this thought from Elder Holland. "Be true and faithful. Live your religion. Stand straight and be firm—and if there’s a little wind blowing, just put your face into the wind and go forward. And when you can’t go forward, just stand. Just plant your feet and stand immovable for a while if that’s all you can do. Be faithful and be true and love the Lord, because He loves you." Standing steadfast and immovable in the wind. What a great visual. <br />
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Some wonderful thoughts to think about during the day.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-53825556498171134892013-05-26T18:07:00.000-06:002013-05-26T18:08:17.210-06:00Our Personal Lifesaver<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light";">Our Personal Lifesaver<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZDCru-PO1BeLttwPRiLcPWqfGQPzJbJc1VTlNRSsQEnI4aAE2jvwi4Gq_8ghxOA3c8rw1_4-FbXGlOu8tyUaAFdrDkDt-t0_M-eivXB_gj6k9LliTWXK3vrv6ZZy6BTo4yIO4eNOVVQ/s1600/11971488181629439895barretr_Lifesaver.svg.hi.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZDCru-PO1BeLttwPRiLcPWqfGQPzJbJc1VTlNRSsQEnI4aAE2jvwi4Gq_8ghxOA3c8rw1_4-FbXGlOu8tyUaAFdrDkDt-t0_M-eivXB_gj6k9LliTWXK3vrv6ZZy6BTo4yIO4eNOVVQ/s200/11971488181629439895barretr_Lifesaver.svg.hi.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light";">In the New Testament during the
Savior's life on the earth, he and his disciples were on a boat. The Savior was
tired and went to sleep but while he was sleeping a terrible storm came up and
the disciples became afraid. They woke the Savior saying, “carest thou not that
we perish?” The Savior gently asked, “Where is your faith?” and then calmed the
seas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light";">We are often thrown about in life's
stormy seas and there are times when we call out “carest thou not that I
perish?” The Savior is always there if we just show faith. He is our “lifesaver”
in the storms of life. He throws out the lifesaving device of the atonement to
help us overcome the stormy seas and we need to grab a hold of His lifesaving
device. He offers to buoy us up, strengthen and help us and He has made
resurrection and eternal life possible all through the atonement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Noteworthy Light"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Noteworthy Light";">There was a certain man whose son was very sick to whom the
Savior said that all things are possible if you just believe. He cried out “Lord,
help my unbelief.” When those stormy seas come and our faith begins to falter
we can also reach out to the Savior begging for help with our belief and faith.
Then we can hold on to the lifesaving blessings of the atonement. It is only
through the Savior and his atoning sacrifice that we will be able weather the
storms of life. The Savior in every sense of the word is our “lifesaver.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-32164996160846500532012-08-12T23:05:00.002-06:002012-08-12T23:05:28.486-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiJwQsExYsiBxlap35bXx1JhXpwUtl4aAsSRfBu1QxMyUAgtwKOJaNyyVMcFcB3TuWeWdyDt3UvFk-eZ9RWOFENzeEQUthZpen9MIq9IVDcdhb8cQoYcjDLxqzTUus2l-xUtccb9TNAk/s1600/What+Is+On+Your+List%3f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiJwQsExYsiBxlap35bXx1JhXpwUtl4aAsSRfBu1QxMyUAgtwKOJaNyyVMcFcB3TuWeWdyDt3UvFk-eZ9RWOFENzeEQUthZpen9MIq9IVDcdhb8cQoYcjDLxqzTUus2l-xUtccb9TNAk/s640/What+Is+On+Your+List%3f.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
I saw this on the wall in the resource room at the Relief Society building on Temple Square. It really impressed me because I feel that with September coming it is time to reorganize my life and adjust my priorities. This is a guide that helps me to know where to start. The ideas are from Sister Julie B. Beck, former General Relief Society President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-17217666915331797812012-06-16T11:38:00.002-06:002012-06-16T11:38:48.432-06:00The Atonement of Jesus Christ<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">In the Book of Mormon in Alma chapter 5 Alma is
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">19 I say unto
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">21 I say unto
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">22 And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of you feel,
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blood and all manner of filthiness? Behold, what will these things testify
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">27 Have ye
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called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently
humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood
of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">After
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine yourself in the temple. You are
sitting, waiting to go into the Celestial room where you will have the
opportunity to meet the Savior, Jesus Christ. You have dressed in the most
beautiful white dress possible and have dressed very carefully for this special
time. As you are waiting you look down lovingly at your dress and find to your
horror that it has somehow been soiled with big spots of mud. You desperately
try to rub the mud off but it only gets ground deeper into the fibers of the
dress and all your actions seem to make the mud spots worse. Tears sting your
eyes and you want to run and hide. You don’t want them to call your name when
it is your turn to meet the Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_adKbhB4mO2FJcAd0b8Fd7cf2levapJdhqOVRBGlcuFmSzUQmXP7L_3lWfQ1yMJNCj_o-hDkx008HcQek1hv2aURzhtjmzyW2hx0v2mDE6WRVffdBUSrI0pyBp8r3zx4z7-8CdoVMyFk/s1600/christus-hand-lds-454936-mobile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_adKbhB4mO2FJcAd0b8Fd7cf2levapJdhqOVRBGlcuFmSzUQmXP7L_3lWfQ1yMJNCj_o-hDkx008HcQek1hv2aURzhtjmzyW2hx0v2mDE6WRVffdBUSrI0pyBp8r3zx4z7-8CdoVMyFk/s200/christus-hand-lds-454936-mobile.jpg" width="135" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Your
name is called and slowly, reluctantly, and shamefully you enter the room. The
tears are freely flowing down your face and your eyes are downcast. You can’t
bring yourself to look into the eyes of the Savior. Gently and lovingly the
Savior lifts your chin and kindly looks into your eyes. His hand softly touches
the soiled places on your dress and where the mud spots used to be a brilliant
white fabric is seen. Your dress has “ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">been</i>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cleansed and made white through the blood
of Christ.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The
atonement of Jesus Christ gives us the chance to repent of those things that we
do wrong so that we can stand blameless before God with a pure heart and clean
hands. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-12260821202768142892012-05-27T20:13:00.000-06:002012-05-27T20:13:01.563-06:00Have you ever been sitting in a conference and it was like the speaker was talking directly to you? That happened to me today. We were at Stake Conference but part of the conference was a broadcast from Salt Lake. President Boyd K. Packer was the last speaker. Right at the end of his talk he said something that was kind of like an after thought, but it was just for me. He said that if you were worrying about this or that remember that if you have faith, the Lord will let you know what to do and that you will know what to say in the very hour that you need it. He also said that the Lord will help and bless us. Those words were so amazing because for the last few days I have struggled with my calling as a Relief Society President. I have felt like I am just not able to do all that is required of a Relief Society President. There are times that I am afraid of not knowing what to say or I am afraid of saying the wrong thing. Then the challenges of being a wife and mother and still having time to take care of over 100 women is so daunting. What President Packer said this morning is exactly what I needed. It is wonderful that the Lord sends these "tender mercies" to us just in the hour that we need them most.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-11988499931088588872012-05-07T20:02:00.000-06:002012-05-07T20:02:27.976-06:00Planting A Garden<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We just planted the garden tonight. When we plant the garden I always think about Alma 32 and planting the seed and the last three verses. We always think of planting the seed and nourishing it but the last three verses are interesting because they repeat themselves and whenever something in the scriptures is repeated three times that means it is important. It tells us three times how we nourish things. Lots of things need to be nourished besides testimonies. But look at the words nourish by you faith, diligence and patience in verse 41. In verse 42 it’s diligence faith and patience and in 43 it’s faith diligence and patience. </span></div>
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Faith is something that you must have in order to accomplish anything. You need to have faith that you can do something. Take learning a new skill, you need to have faith to just begin. Then you need to have diligence - you need to work at it. But the most important is that you need to have patience. Patience is probably the most important and the hardest to do because we want something now. There is a little thought that says “Faith in God includes Faith in his Timing” (patience.). All these things we are experiencing will require patience and patience is a great virtue to develop. </div>
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You can use this formula with every trial that you will have in life. Have faith that things will work out for your good - be diligent in your prayers, scripture study and keeping the commandments and the have patience in the Lord’s timing. And you notice in the very end of verse 43 it adds the words “long-suffering, and waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you. There again have patience and wait for the blessings. The blessings of the Lord are there and miracle can happen everyday of our lives if we just have faith, be diligent and have patience.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-43375768826566102352012-04-15T21:02:00.001-06:002012-04-15T21:02:25.333-06:00Visiting Teachers - Angels of the LordAs a new Relief Society president I have struggled with how I was going to be able to know the needs of all the sisters in my ward and then help them. I just didn't know how I was physically and spiritually going to do this. A wise Bishop counselled that I can't be everywhere and that there are limitations on my time and my physical abilities. That is why the Lord put in place Visiting Teachers. I am so grateful for good visiting teachers who care for the sisters in our ward. I could not do the calling of Relief Society president without them. We need each other as sisters, to help and strengthen each other. I have often thought about the pioneer women in the early days of the church. When their husbands were gone on missions, or they were widowed, they were all right because they had other sisters to help them. I know that I will always have the sisters in Relief Society to help me through the hard times. They are angels doing the work of the Lord.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.lds.org/service/leadership/relief-society?lang=eng#responsibilities-of-visiting-teachers">http://www.lds.org/service/leadership/relief-society?lang=eng#responsibilities-of-visiting-teachers</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-41088622062152125702012-04-08T20:49:00.001-06:002012-04-08T20:50:57.204-06:00Cleaning Up For Spring<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuI-14xW7YwA9-oWjB4y1iTXpLq16Uw69zNnsucmOD4VX9rSLL-3e26VPBUgmH71wHEmF1QbauQyPpShd_0_shjgZFmjWFALE7zgQZnnzdiFIZYSE021Mi4pbUSsf5CDPwxwasdAx1H08/s1600/DSCF3045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuI-14xW7YwA9-oWjB4y1iTXpLq16Uw69zNnsucmOD4VX9rSLL-3e26VPBUgmH71wHEmF1QbauQyPpShd_0_shjgZFmjWFALE7zgQZnnzdiFIZYSE021Mi4pbUSsf5CDPwxwasdAx1H08/s200/DSCF3045.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first crocus of the year</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">The first signs of Spring as just starting to show here in Glenwood and I am looking forward to getting into my flower beds, pulling out all the dead plants, trimming back perennials, turning the soil and getting everything ready for new life and a new growing season. The cleaning up and cutting back makes for a healthy and beautiful garden.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Our lives are much like a flower garden. We also need to pull out all the dead stuff that is holding us back whither it be bad relationships, grudges, sin or whatever it may be that keeps us from finding joy. Sometimes it is just a matter of cutting back on the activities that we are doing. I love Elder Dallin H. Oaks famous conference talk on “Good, Better or Best.” Most of the things that we do are good things but our time is so limited that we need to choose the best things for us. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9PRh-TwH9apNLP0H_gtHkmIyZJ57-H5Yd85yU3hril24g5q4haq-N5783bFMNx7WiXEEkJgLLLGcAx-uY5BzVZzBB2SnSZ22-HjKGBPnFepDBvsOxh7aMeFWaMI_R_0wOoAo1I_sE3E/s1600/DSCF3047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9PRh-TwH9apNLP0H_gtHkmIyZJ57-H5Yd85yU3hril24g5q4haq-N5783bFMNx7WiXEEkJgLLLGcAx-uY5BzVZzBB2SnSZ22-HjKGBPnFepDBvsOxh7aMeFWaMI_R_0wOoAo1I_sE3E/s200/DSCF3047.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Everyone will have their own list of best things that need to be done, but there are some areas that as women we tend to neglect. We need to ask ourselves if we are taking care of our own spiritual, physical and emotional needs. Are we studying the scriptures and taking the time to pray and develop a personal relationship with our Father in Heaven and with our Savior Jesus Christ? Are we taking the time to eat right, exercise and to get enough rest? Are we taking the time to build relationships with others, develop talents and engage in creative activities that recharge our batteries? I have always loved the saying that an empty cup cannot give to others. Our cups (or in the case of a women) our buckets need to be full so that we can serve and help others.</span></div>
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At this time of Spring and renewal may we each take time to make changes in our lives to do those things that are “best” that we may find more joy in our lives and that we may become a healthy and beautiful daughter of our Heavenly Father.</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-69424928650475449882012-02-26T20:08:00.000-07:002012-02-26T20:10:19.029-07:00Genealogy Fan Chart<a href="https://createfan.com/#.T0rzlKUMzM0.blogger">Genealogy Fan Chart</a><br />
<br />
I am going through the family history class for Sunday School. The teachers told us about this site that will show your family history as a fan chart. It is really interesting to see where the research needs to start.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-24134980911331737802012-01-23T17:03:00.002-07:002012-01-23T17:03:08.835-07:00Developing a Personal Relationship with Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ<!--StartFragment-->
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This week I have been thinking about the last general conference
and trying to finish the conference issue Ensign before the next one comes out.
Going through it so fast with a highlighter was really amazing. Do you know
there was a major underlying theme in most of the talks? It was that Heavenly
Father knows and notices us. He knows our trials, sorrows and our joys. He
remembers us and wants to help and bless us. He is waiting for us to develop a
personal relationship with Him and to come to Him in prayer to ask for the
things that we need. Those ideas were in almost half the talks in the November
2011 General Conference. </div>
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I talked to my husband about it last night and about how it
was such a reoccurring theme throughout the conference. He said that in our
minds we know that it’s true that Heavenly Father loves and cares about us but
sometimes it is hard to feel it in our hearts. I had that problem once and then
I was called into the stake. I found that in order to serve the Lord, I had to
have that personal relationship because it was a calling that I was unable to
do on my own. It seems that it takes going through times of difficulty and
hardship that forces us to develop a personal relationship with our Heavenly
Father</div>
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As I read through the talks it seems there are steps to
developing this relationship. First you must have sincere prayer. Like any
relationship communication is so important and when we communicate with Heavenly
Father we do it through prayer. Sometimes we think that we can only pray for
big things but if you go to Alma 34:17-27 it says to pray for your houses,
flocks, fields, crops and basically everything. Things may seem small and trivial
to others, but what is important to you is important to the Lord.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Another thing we need to do is study the scriptures. That is
were we find revelation and where our Heavenly Father can speak personally to
us. I love reading the Doctrine and Covenants because the Lord seems to speak
to me through the Doctrine and Covenants. I can put my name in the place of
whosever name is mentioned. D&C 6 has become a special section to me
because as I was reading it, it was if the Lord were saying the same words to
me. It is through the scriptures where we really learn about our Heavenly
Father and His son Jesus Christ. I love the Book of Mormon too. I love Nephi,
Moroni, Alma, all the wonderful prophets and their teachings. I think if I were
on Survivor, my personal item would be the Book of Mormon with a picture of my
family taped inside.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Then finally you need to keep the commandments and serve
others. We tend to be drawn to people who like the things we do, and who are
like us. If we are like our Heavenly Father or if we are trying to be like
Heavenly Father we will seek Him more. When I think of the Savior I think of
his love, care and compassion. He took time to bless those in need. He called
children to come unto him and he blessed them. He taught, rebuked with love,
and cared for each one individually. He still does that now! The personal
relationship you develop with your Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ will
help you to overcome any trial or adversity that may be in your way.</div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-24677695423180423302012-01-16T16:33:00.000-07:002012-01-16T16:33:47.961-07:00"A Hair of His Head Shall Not Fall to the Ground Unnoticed" D&C 84:116<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt;">The other day I was reading in the Doctrine and Covenants. A scripture
popped out at me, as scriptures tend to do sometimes. It was such a random
scripture and one that you would usually pass over in your reading. The
scripture was; "Let him trust in me and he shall not be confounded; and a
hair of his head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed" D&C 84:116. I
thought about a hair from your head. Have you ever noticed the amount of hair
that you pull from your hairbrush after brushing your hair? You really don't
miss them from your head and you wouldn't know they were gone if you didn't
find them in your brush. But the Lord notices, a hair is such a little thing
but He notices when it falls. That thought stuck in my mind for a few days and
every time I would see a hair I would think that the Lord has noticed this
hair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt;">Yesterday just as we were sitting down to dinner the phone rang. The
call display said the call was from Utah but I didn’t recognize the number.
When I answered, it was an Elder Lund calling from Lisbon, Portugal. At first I
was worried about Sister Thomas. She has been serving a mission in Lisbon and
has been there for only two weeks. Elder and Sister Lund are also serving a
mission in Lisbon. They told me that they had spent the evening with Sister
Thomas and what a wonderful sister she was. Sister Lund had given her a hug and
fed Sister Thomas and her companion brownies. They also told me that she looks
good and has a sweet spirit about her. Sister Lund also asked about what kind
of cake Sister Thomas likes because she wants to make a cake for her and make
sure that she gets her birthday parcel on her birthday next Tuesday. The joy
that filled my heart after talking to the Lund’s was indescribable. I had been
so worried about my daughter, in a new country, learning a new language and
being alone. There in the mission field was a senior couple from Utah with
loving hearts taking care of my daughter and the other missionaries in Lisbon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 14pt;">I thought again about the lost hairs in a hairbrush. The Lord notices
us; He knows when we need a little help or comfort. Having someone in Lisbon
who would love and care for my daughter may have been just a little thing in
the eyes of the world, but to me it was a big concern. I am so grateful for senior
missionaries who serve around the world and the love and support that they
offer to young missionaries. “A
hair of his head will not fall to the ground unnoticed.”</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-34779166992427341902011-12-30T16:41:00.000-07:002011-12-30T16:46:00.651-07:002011 Thomas Family Christmas Poem<i><br /></i><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2h6uWvKwECp5d9zwBoVy3kueqhe8ZYUt_t3joDn9qGnSTPQ2JlMf4xMaVbB_58oIpWB16GKYd_URqPJs-_FWY3nmPf2AsXn0VUYlRSXxAITIGG2DvLl1xIIP6z1GNejWUyrlgMvfC0g/s1600/IMG_9030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2h6uWvKwECp5d9zwBoVy3kueqhe8ZYUt_t3joDn9qGnSTPQ2JlMf4xMaVbB_58oIpWB16GKYd_URqPJs-_FWY3nmPf2AsXn0VUYlRSXxAITIGG2DvLl1xIIP6z1GNejWUyrlgMvfC0g/s200/IMG_9030.JPG" width="200" /></span></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Thomas Family November 2011</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><br /></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Merry
Christmas! To friends and family we send our cheer,</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>As we tell
you what our family has been up to this year.</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt; text-align: left;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Kelly is
still busy at the school every day,</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Teaching
and leading and helping kids on their way.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Records
from the past he’s been indexing in his free time,</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i> </i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>And as
long as he does more than his mother he’s just fine.</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><o:p><i> </i></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Kathy has
had a crisis mid-life,</i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>For all
she’s even been is a mother and wife.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>So she’s
taken the plunge into childhood again,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>And is
taking piano lessons which she quit way back when.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wNAYZwCt3V3_n7qgsnbjr4S6mwX91CvN1Mg0rktV3NQYwDUjkq-hIAEwHfPTJHeMxGUa53elYlSaLFwhFSxj4-KwdQpCcEYr3F2S6EQg-ZE-EFYXi-Lj_NQrqbBQfqPt_dIJ1sOipBM/s1600/IMG_8994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wNAYZwCt3V3_n7qgsnbjr4S6mwX91CvN1Mg0rktV3NQYwDUjkq-hIAEwHfPTJHeMxGUa53elYlSaLFwhFSxj4-KwdQpCcEYr3F2S6EQg-ZE-EFYXi-Lj_NQrqbBQfqPt_dIJ1sOipBM/s200/IMG_8994.JPG" width="200" /></span></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Matt, Sharelyn, Cassell, Paige and Macy</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Matt and Share
moved into a beautiful new home,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Now they’ve got
lots of room for more kids to roam.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Matt works
helping people that are put on probation,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>While Share has
made being a wife and mother her vocation.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><o:p><i> </i></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Cassell is in
grade one and is beautiful, bright and sweet,</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Watch out Dad
because she is going to knock the boys off their feet.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Paige gives the
best hugs and loves and she has just turned three,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>In Grandma’s
treat cupboard is the place she likes to be.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Share got a
special Birthday present but she came one day late,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>But having Macy
Lynne Thomas join our family is just great.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Joe works in
Lethbridge as an engineering tech,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JyqXmO3OVWFV4SJqRNUdVqNeIhbVvboQzzCaargZaFRb1UT2fMGXux1pG6Lqjl4eR4jRNhyyutu-nx42WmICSbl6rCDktFMpt4O8IEY3I5HTji4NWriz3uUi-G4Df2B7p49xFY8pJdA/s1600/IMG_8988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JyqXmO3OVWFV4SJqRNUdVqNeIhbVvboQzzCaargZaFRb1UT2fMGXux1pG6Lqjl4eR4jRNhyyutu-nx42WmICSbl6rCDktFMpt4O8IEY3I5HTji4NWriz3uUi-G4Df2B7p49xFY8pJdA/s200/IMG_8988.JPG" width="200" /></span></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Joe, Krystle and Chuck</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>And it’s water
pipelines he draws supervises and inspects.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>He tried
something new that kept him busy this fall,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>He was the head
coach of the Magrath High School JV volleyball.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Krystle has her
hands full keeping Joe and Chuck in line,</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>And she has
made their home in Magrath beautiful and fine.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>A new addition
to their home will bring her lots of fun,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>For now she can
play her new piano when all her work is done.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><o:p><i> </i></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Chuck is very
busy and at two is into everything is seems,</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>We should
nickname him after his hero Lightening McQueen.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>He doesn’t like
Grandma or Grandpa but at their house he has fun,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Because he
likes to do turkeys and loves his Uncle Tyson.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTx4gl-Rk1PkXw2AjweWedsxNtYNf6TSDIsltBfoq2pBiAtLQ9D6ATfKwyASYVADK86V2cGFacAQ_KQ0QBzsyD6YCbuOqIa2Wn0oZQH3leQNAVcTQNTbqI-SofPVPEJGfL0YxawkAAjCU/s1600/IMG_8992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTx4gl-Rk1PkXw2AjweWedsxNtYNf6TSDIsltBfoq2pBiAtLQ9D6ATfKwyASYVADK86V2cGFacAQ_KQ0QBzsyD6YCbuOqIa2Wn0oZQH3leQNAVcTQNTbqI-SofPVPEJGfL0YxawkAAjCU/s200/IMG_8992.JPG" width="200" /></span></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Matt, Sadie and Kaia</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Matt and Sadie are
the traveling kind,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Matt graduated from
university and a job in Red Deer he did find.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Matt and Sadie were
not happy and didn’t want to stay,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Then they found out
that a baby was on the way.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>So they came back to
Southern Alberta where their hearts will always be,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Close to all their
friends and especially their family.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><o:p><i> </i></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Kaia is sweet and
beautiful as well,</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>She’s going to be
another heart breaker I can tell.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Of course her parents
can’t wait for the day,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>When she gets a
basketball in her hands and starts to play.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yNzuLVuEXiPRNgZgBD4OVcfn8oJSDF0phwpEcTY2a2r01farf0tn1PPceZ2VDNBP59Z2O-dD6jUEqoSImboePuiaH8IvfIrVI2gHKaDu5eIGq65B5MIILFPMzGOmEyx34smXyHNfWUQ/s1600/181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yNzuLVuEXiPRNgZgBD4OVcfn8oJSDF0phwpEcTY2a2r01farf0tn1PPceZ2VDNBP59Z2O-dD6jUEqoSImboePuiaH8IvfIrVI2gHKaDu5eIGq65B5MIILFPMzGOmEyx34smXyHNfWUQ/s200/181.JPG" width="200" /></span></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Elder Casey Thomas</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Sister Emily
and Elder Casey are our missionaries we have out.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>And that we
look forward to their letters there is no doubt.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Elder Thomas
has been out for 19 months in the sun,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Serving the
Lord in Las Vegas and having way too much fun.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>He loves the
gospel and is actually maturing,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Which for his
parents is very reassuring.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><o:p><i> </i></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Irma Thomas
went to the Missionary Training Center in November,</i></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Rz1c8WmuYS4ej2dUgD4NyXCW9Li-i9AgQ2GgGNUkqI-VADNVMkAOHJ2PHyPwxgI8gGDIr0DuCYbFaTRzzppGIrJISlGA7Jf3pbW-0B1FfubXhG0gWPPSrD3Vsy8WBNjGmrcJvlTRhec/s1600/IMG_9006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Rz1c8WmuYS4ej2dUgD4NyXCW9Li-i9AgQ2GgGNUkqI-VADNVMkAOHJ2PHyPwxgI8gGDIr0DuCYbFaTRzzppGIrJISlGA7Jf3pbW-0B1FfubXhG0gWPPSrD3Vsy8WBNjGmrcJvlTRhec/s200/IMG_9006.JPG" width="200" /></span></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Irma Emily Thomas</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>And all those
new Portuguese words she is trying to remember.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>On January 3rd</i><sup><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">h</span></i></sup><i>,
to Portugal she will go,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Far away from
Canada’s winter ice and snow.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>She is learning
a lot but is a little homesick,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Hopefully lots
of letters and parcels will do the trick.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Tyson, Heidi
and Julie are our children that keep us young, <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Because from
our home they have not sprung.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXhFUpelA9PdfgTNXs1MrcCyTjrn5xWGs1ho_AJQLCWFAn-p8aNIUyCht1OkShFvsnfO_5Vix1mkYoKKwzxeXQPo0HTqUx5ONZi4AxLPCSWNTi13Rco6wFEGSEfNRcswgHLHdig1UVQQ/s1600/DSCF2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXhFUpelA9PdfgTNXs1MrcCyTjrn5xWGs1ho_AJQLCWFAn-p8aNIUyCht1OkShFvsnfO_5Vix1mkYoKKwzxeXQPo0HTqUx5ONZi4AxLPCSWNTi13Rco6wFEGSEfNRcswgHLHdig1UVQQ/s200/DSCF2690.JPG" width="200" /></span></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Emily, Heidi, Julie and Tyson</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Tyson is
sixteen and now can drive and go on dates,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Being kind,
caring and responsible are his traits.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>He’s started to
notice that girls are pretty neat,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>And one may
have actually swept him off his feet.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>He would rather
play basketball than eat lunch,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>But everyone
sure loves him a whole bunch.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><o:p><i> </i></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Now Heidi has
hit the great age of fourteen,</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>And is one that
likes to be noticed and be seen.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Whither it’s in
the latest fashion or driving the car.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Her hair and
makeup is done perfectly for she is the star.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>She does really
well in piano and school and loves to create,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>But it’s the
sports she plays that she thinks are great.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><o:p><i> </i></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>Julie is our
author and she loves to write,</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>In fact writing
her stories keeps her up late at night.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>She is growing
up fast and is ten years old,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>And she loves
to be creative if the truth were to be told. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>She plays the
piano and loves arts and crafts,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>But she is a
big tease and always makes us laugh. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>We wish you a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year, <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua';"><i>May your lives be
filled with comfort and cheer.</i></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-52096083842883545022011-12-29T23:59:00.000-07:002011-12-29T23:59:55.000-07:00Our MissionariesAfter two months in the MTC Sister Emily Thomas will be leaving for Portugal on Tuesday. Here is what she wrote, <i>"</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i>Jan 3, 2012 - We leave Salt Lake at 8:35 am. Then at 2:20 pm we arrive in Atlanta. In Atlanta we have a 4 hour lay-over so that is where we will hopefully be calling! Our plane leaves at 6:05pm from Atlanta to Paris. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i>SO be expecting a call hopefully between 12-4 your time on Jan.3. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i>We then have an overnight flight and will get into Paris at around 8:35 in the morning on the 4th. Well we have a 5 hour layover in Paris and then leave at 1:25pm and are supposed to get to Lisboa at 2:55pm their time. So I will then be about 7-8 hours ahead of you! That's crazy to think about. We have 15 missionaries in our traveling group. Our district and then another district who came same day." </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">We are going to stay close to the phone on January 3rd! The address of the mission home in Portugal is: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span><br />
Portugal Lisbon Mission<br />
Apartado 40054<br />
1500 Lisbon Portugal<br />
351-217-620-832<br />
When she finds out where she is going to be she will let us know her new address.<br />
<br />
On Christmas Day Elder Bednar and his wife came to speak to the missionaries in the MTC. I wish I could of been there: <i>"</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><i>One really neat thing that happened yesterday was during Elder Bednar's talk. He talked a lot of characteristics of Christ and how He would always turn outward when the rest of us would turn inward. He likened the "natural man" to the cookie monster... and even did impersonations of the "missionary cookie monster" saying, "I want baptisms now! I want investigators now!" It was really funny and interesting to see an apostle doing cookie monster impersonations... he was really good!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;">Then she had a great experience of cleaning the Provo Temple on Boxing Day.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Today, of course, is p-day and we got to go clean the temple. I didn't know this but I guess once a year they renovate some part of this temple because it is the busiest so they are repainting and doing different things in it but since it's Boxing Day (did you know America doesn't call it Boxing Day!? Sometimes I don't get this country) all the people weren't working and so they had the Elders scrub the grout with toothbrushes to make it all nice and white and us 3 sisters got to help this lady named Sharon clean the temple presidency offices. Talk about intimidating! Apparently, if even the slightest thing is moved the Temple President will notice and then Sharon will get reassigned to a different area of the temple. So we were scared about touching anything but she does this every single night and has been doing it for 2 years! She was a great lady. Not only is she on the custodial staff for the temple, she is also a cook here at the MTC. She told us some really great stories about her conversion and what would happen when she didn't listen to the counsel of the Lord. What else was really interesting was that she knows, it seems, almost everything about the paintings in that area. So she had us stand in front of them and asked us different questions about what we noticed or what the faces looked like. There is this one where Jesus is confirming one of His disciples and the guy is kneeling. She had us look at all the faces of this painting until we realized that if you take off all the facial hair of every person. They all look the exact same. She said she thought that this was the way that the artist intended it to be. To be all in God's image. It was really neat."</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></i></span><br />
It is exciting to see her learning and growing. I know that she will be a great missionary in Portugal.<br />
<br />
We also got to talk with Elder Casey Thomas on Christmas Day as he is serving in Las Vegas. The fun thing was that we got to talk through Skype. It took me awhile to figure how to run Skype but wow is it worth it. We could see and talk to him and he could see us. He looks good and he is doing well. I can't believe that he has only five months left on his mission. He doesn't write the great letters that Sister Thomas does but then he's a boy. What a great blessing it is to have two missionaries serving the Lord.<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-10631439163974885822011-11-27T23:12:00.000-07:002011-11-27T23:12:36.762-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZn6zvOLt80mBUQqkD38bHA6gTm8E3-SbdTLvOyDNL3AUvsORkp2Hc7JSPglN1uH4XMfb83SH4w16encqeLTSZ00ajATS_IJmoNz8Ao8aZmOOzsVWypIppZHsyvkG1GQOGP0DD9jO648Q/s1600/DSCF2767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="150" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZn6zvOLt80mBUQqkD38bHA6gTm8E3-SbdTLvOyDNL3AUvsORkp2Hc7JSPglN1uH4XMfb83SH4w16encqeLTSZ00ajATS_IJmoNz8Ao8aZmOOzsVWypIppZHsyvkG1GQOGP0DD9jO648Q/s200/DSCF2767.JPG" /></a></div><br />
When we took her to the MTC I didn't start to cry until we were leaving Provo. That's very brave for a Mom. We were met at the sidewalk by a bunch of Elders. I don't think Emily has been greeted by so many young men at one time. Two Elders took her and her luggage to the building where she would be spending the next two months. We watched her walk away and part of me walked away too. I know that this is the best thing for Emily and that she and our family will be so blessed by her and Elder Casey serving a mission. Two missionaries out at once WOW!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-53120085325067499912011-11-27T23:05:00.003-07:002011-11-27T23:17:06.093-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAkp6pqSEBMAj-kU4769NJL99FPQSkMx4dEmzyikqyk7cNvEqZUtUSAZYxt2pSN95azzTXdYCwjj11h4Vi8_gpWR_kWJYi99VfUfmsSxgEijjY38vK8ygMSCU0O87qVqd4hehACV6tHU/s1600/IMG_9006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="134" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAkp6pqSEBMAj-kU4769NJL99FPQSkMx4dEmzyikqyk7cNvEqZUtUSAZYxt2pSN95azzTXdYCwjj11h4Vi8_gpWR_kWJYi99VfUfmsSxgEijjY38vK8ygMSCU0O87qVqd4hehACV6tHU/s200/IMG_9006.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Here she is Sister Emily Thomas. It is so different sending a daughter out on a mission. With your sons you are so glad that they are going. When it is your daughter it is liking she is taking a piece of your heart with you. She will be in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah until January and then will head to Lisbon, PortugalAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-82937685750788824632011-11-27T23:00:00.000-07:002011-11-27T23:00:19.370-07:00Lethbridge FiresWell I'm back. Fires have been raging around Lethbridge tonight and my first concern was the safety of my children. We could actually see the glow of the fires from our house. It is a little scary to look out your window and see the ridge glowing with fire. Julie was frightened, but as we knelt in prayer as a family and asked the Lord to bless Share and the girls in Lethbridge and to bless those who were fighting the fires, a peace came into our home. Our children were safe and I hope that not many homes were lost. I am so grateful for those men and women who work in emergency services that keep us safe. I was actually listening to an emergency radio on the Internet (and enjoying it) and heard the conversation between the police and fire departments. (Kelly says that is the first sign of becoming a red neck :-). These people put their lives on the line to fight fires and keep people and property safe. I don't think that they get many thanks. When was the last time you thanked a police officer for giving you a ticket? I think that they need our thanks more often.<br />
<br />
The fires also made me wonder just how prepared my family is. Would we be able to evacuate within minutes in the case of a wild fire? I think that will be a good topic for a family home evening lesson.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-46689826585362418822011-01-05T12:23:00.000-07:002011-01-05T12:23:26.783-07:00New WindowsWe are getting our 30-year-old windows changed. The seal on the old windows was broken and so when you looked through them your vision would be cloudy. This morning when I looked through the new windows I couldn’t believe how clear my site was. It got me thinking on how I need to have a new vision to start a new year. Sometimes we are stuck in a rut and our vision of the future is clouded. That’s how I think that I am, I am stuck in a rut and I need to have a new vision. So today is the day to reorganize and start something new and exciting.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-45319424232463079952010-10-31T17:53:00.000-06:002010-10-31T17:53:30.159-06:00News From the Thomas FamilySince all my children are complaining that they don't know what is going on in the family and I seem to have a little more time on my hands we are turning this into a family blog where anyone who wants to contribute can. So for this first posting here is what I know is going on.<br />
<br />
Today I have been released as the Stake Young Women President. It has been a hard week for me. It is a bittersweet time. At first when I found out that I was being released I was in shock, but sad. I wondered if I had done something wrong because it had only been two years. I felt that I hadn't accomplished all that I had wanted to do. I was looking forward to planning the Priest Laurel conference, visiting Young Women in Excellences, and to plan a stake camp this summer. I really wanted to go to the open house in April. I have cried on and off all week. On Monday I was reading about the experience that Sister Holland had when she was released from the General Young Women's Presidency after only two years, the same as me. President Hinkley told her then, "Don't be sad that it wasn't longer, be glad that it happened at all." That really struck me. Here I am a little mother from the small town of Glenwood, who has no job, title or status being called to a Stake calling and taught by wonderful leaders. I have been able to meet and associate with wonderful people throughout the stake, especially such wonderful young men and young women leaders, wonderful and strong youth. Those relationships has strengthened me and taught me. More than anything I have come to know my Savior in a way that I could never have. Just the experience of writing Joseph's Legacy and having to rely on the Lord because it was way beyond my talents and abilities was a great experience in getting to know my Savior. He has sustained me and guided me through out these last two years. I have come to rely on him so much that sometimes I am afraid that he will leave me when I don't have such a calling where I need him. I know that this not the case and that I don't need a calling to have Him there. It is going to take continuing faith to know that my life is in the hands of the Lord and he is guiding me so that I can fulfill my purpose on this earth.<br />
<br />
The other news is that Casey is being sued for the accident that happened over a year ago. In a civil suit 3 people have to be named. The driver of the vehicle (who is dead), the UID, and Casey are the three named in the suit. Financially insurance will take care of the cost of the settlement and Casey only has what he has saved for his mission, which isn't much. Our main concern is that he will have to leave his mission to testify in the case. We don't want to have him leave his mission at all. On Friday the lawyers came to Glenwood to serve Casey with the papers and they were told that he was out of the country and would not be back for two years and that they would need to deal with his parents. The lawyers went back to Calgary without serving the papers to decide what should be done next. We are praying that all will work out and that Casey can continue to serve the Lord in Las Vegas.<br />
<br />
Halloween was great even though it was Stake Conference. We are grateful for great neighbors and friends. We took the kids early for trick or treating and then left for Stake Conference. While we were gone the Francis family came and picked up Heidi and Julie and took them trick or treating with them while Tyson stayed home to watch the house. At 15 Tyson isn't into trick or treating and he is not much of a candy fan anyway. Heidi and Julie had bags of candy and were thrilled. What a great place we live in.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-28434446460660418132010-03-03T10:15:00.002-07:002010-03-03T11:00:00.203-07:00ChallengesWhat a couple weeks we have had. A little over a week ago I put a load of wash in the washer, turned it on, and heard a whine, a big clunk, then silence. The washer had spun its last load. It had lived a good life but after suffering over 10 years of hard labor it finally died. But that was not all. That same night the girls went to get a drink of water from the water dispenser on the fridge. It wouldn't work. As Kelly was checking the electrical outlet, smoke came pouring out of the fridge in the place where water should of been pouring out. It was a snap, crackle, pop, that didn't come from a box. After having an electrician check the power then next day, he found that the problem originated in the fridge and some of the electrical circuits had shorted out. The next morning it was on to the stovetop where the burners who had been a little temperamental in the past, were very ornery. That was the end and we made a trip to Lethbridge to replace appliances. We ended up replacing 4 appliances as the washer came with a companion. Then a couple days later the suburban was shaking so we took that in to see what was the matter and no it hadn't died but some wheel bearings and two tires needed to be replaced. Finally two days ago I was turning off the water at the kitchen sink and the handle kept turning around and around and around without turning off the water. More replacements needed and all of this in two weeks.<br /><br />Now you may wonder if there is a lesson in all of this and there is. You see since January I have been trying to be more grateful. I think that Satan is trying to thwart my efforts by throwing challenges in my path. It’s easy to be grateful when everything is going right, not so easy when things are going wrong. In my scripture study I have found out why it’s important to be grateful. In Doctrine and Covenants 46: 7 it says, “But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving that… (And this is why we need to be thankful)…ye may not be seduced by evil spirits (can’t depression and discouragement be an evil spirit) or doctrines of devils (he does want us to feel hopeless), or the commandments of men; for some are of men and others of devils.”<br /><br />So, even thought things seem to be falling apart all around me there will always be something to be grateful for. I haven’t had to deal with devastating earth quakes, fires, floods or anything of those things that can leave a person with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Two weeks without a washer is much better than months without even a home.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-66885861284730377212010-02-09T11:45:00.003-07:002010-02-09T12:02:16.246-07:00Cracks in our VirtueI have been thinking about the last year and some of the thoughts that I have had. I decided that I needed to share some of them. Hopefully I can post more frequently than I have done in the past. Today's thought came to me as I visited Frank's Slide Interpretive Center in Frank, Alberta. <br /><br />In 1903 part of Turtle Mountain crumbled burying the town of Frank, Alberta and killing 30 people. Looking at the mountain and the large rocks that fell make one wonder how this could happen. How could a mountain fall? The Book of Mormon prophet Mormon Lamented in Mormon 6:16-19 “Oh ye fair ones how could ye have fallen?” at the destruction of his people the Nephites. <br />At Turtle Mountain water entered the cracks and then froze. The cracks grew larger each year until it was only a matter of time before the mountain fell. The Nephites let sin and pride into their lives, which “cracks”, lead to their downfall. <br /><br />At the town of Frank geologists were warning that the mountain was shifting and the Native people called Turtle Mountain "the mountain that walked." The people of Frank did not head the warnings. Today we have a prophet to warn us. President Monson along the the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the General Young Women's Presidency has warned about "cracks" in our virtue. Now is the time to seal those cracks. It's time to take a serious look at our modesty, our dating and marriage relationships, the movies, music and books that we see, hear and read and the places that we visit on the Internet. May it not be said of us “Oh ye fair sons and daughters, how could ye have fallen?”Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-84413564479463991952009-12-23T14:29:00.002-07:002009-12-23T14:32:23.025-07:00Merry ChristmasEach year I write a poem, just telling of some of the happenings of the year. Here is the 2009 Christmas Poem from the Thomas Family.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Christmas 2009</span><br /><br />It’s just about Christmas and time to reminisce,<br />And tell you all of our 2009 bliss.<br />We survived the winter with all of the snow<br />A four-wheel drive was the only way to go.<br /><br />So Kelly retired his old truck that was red<br />And behind the trees he sadly put it to bed.<br />Once in a while when sadness fills his heart<br />He goes out to old red and cheers, as it will still start.<br /><br />He walked around awhile with a frustrated face,<br />For he had to wear a big ‘honkin” brace.<br />It was a rotary cuff repair that put his arm in a sling,<br />But now he has full use of that mended right wing.<br /><br />Matt and Share have two sweet little ones<br />Cassell and Paige think grandma’s is fun.<br />But don’t let grandpa come around<br />Or cries and wails will be the sound.<br /><br />Matt’s busy at the jail and houses Share cleans,<br />Cassell started preschool and thinks it’s a scream.<br />Paige has turned one and is sweet and happy,<br />She must take after her mom and not her pappy.<br /><br />Joe and Krystle awaited anxiously for a bundle of joy,<br />And in November they were blessed with a sweet baby boy.<br />Little Chuck Alston Thomas spent over a week in NICU,<br />How excited we were when he finally made his début.<br /><br />Joe works for an engineering firm and is taking classes<br />Getting his business engineering and we hope that he passes.<br />Krystle was able to take some much-needed time off work<br />But now that she’s a mommy, she has not time to shirk.<br /><br />Matt and Sadie have a new addition too,<br />He’s little and hairy and he’s a pup named Lou.<br />They are coaching the Taber High Jr. Varsity basketball team,<br />And with their wins they are really good coaches it seems.<br /><br />Sadie’s a teacher assistant at Taber Jr. High <br />While Matt is giving the banking business a try.<br />He goes to school and works part time<br />And they are really doing just fine.<br /><br />Emily’s life has gone into a spin,<br />She dropped out of the program she was in.<br />Now with so many options she doesn’t know what to do,<br />Not marriage, but maybe a mission, or even music at BYU.<br /><br />She works for Dr. Kutsch at the front desk part time,<br />And for the YSA speakers for Friday Forum she does find.<br />She’s grown up and the single life is a bit of a bore,<br />So we’re looking for any young men suggestions she can explore.<br /><br /><br />Casey has graduated and moved away,<br />He likes Lethbridge and thinks he will stay,<br />He doesn’t like school but being on his own is fine,<br />The best part about it is he doesn’t have a bedtime.<br /><br />He hopes to have a mission call come,<br />Just a couple more interviews and his papers will be done.<br />Somewhere Spanish speaking he wants to go,<br />So when his call comes we will let you all know.<br /><br />This year Tyson has grown very tall,<br />His brothers better watch out for he’ll be taller than then all.<br />Basketball and Nintendo are the things that he likes,<br />Along with making creative sandwiches and riding bikes.<br /><br />We think Tyson misses Casey being at home,<br />The girls now out number the boys, so he feels alone.<br />He’s taken over Casey’s spot at being the last out of bed<br />It’s a good thing he’s a boy and doesn’t do anything to his head.<br /><br />Heidi turned 12 and thinks she’s all grown up,<br />She got her ears pierced, and can wear makeup and stuff.<br />She loves to dress up and to the boys give the eye,<br />Hey Heidi! No dating ‘til your 16! Nice try!<br /><br />She plays the piano and basketball too,<br />And volleyball, crafts, everything she likes to do.<br />She loves being with friends and being the center of attention,<br />And she’s a major drama queen, did I mention?<br /><br />Julie turned eight and was baptized by her Dad,<br />Now she gets to fast, which makes her very sad.<br />She has her Dad wrapped around her little finger,<br />And for tickles and teases she loves to linger.<br /><br />Piano and choir her Mom takes her to<br />But coloring and playing with friends is what she likes to do.<br />Julie will be with us for a long time still,<br />And we are so very very glad that she will.<br /><br />The new member of our family is a dog-named Cocoa,<br />And when we leave him he really goes loco.<br />Julie and Cocoa as friends they are the best,<br />But to Kelly Cocoa is “stupid dog” just like the rest.<br /><br />The kids complain that Moms never home,<br />With young women things she always does roam.<br />Her stake calling keeps her very busy,<br />But now speaking to groups doesn’t put her in a tizzy.<br /><br />While scrapbooking, painting or on the computer, you can’t talk to Mom<br />Around her when she’s busy the world is all gone.<br />In fact it’s said that if there was a fire that burned the house down,<br />She would be still sitting at her table never hearing a sound.<br /><br />As the year 2009 is coming to an end,<br />Our warmest wishes to all we send,<br />May 2010 be full of happiness and cheer,<br />Merry Christmas to you all and a Happy New Year.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-600336706666917572009-06-16T07:23:00.001-06:002009-06-16T07:26:08.212-06:00A little inspiration that was sent to me from friendhttp://www.thedreamsmovie.com/Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-75789527190003737852009-04-19T19:19:00.000-06:002009-04-19T19:20:03.511-06:00Great Message from Elder Holland<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre; "><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EpFhS0dAduc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EpFhS0dAduc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-9112952496150039142009-03-09T11:54:00.003-06:002009-03-09T12:09:37.937-06:00Do We Really Know How Someone is Feeling?<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Yesterday was Sunday as we attended our church meetings. I have been thinking lately how little we know about people. We can sit in church and see the smiling faces of those attending with us, but do we really know what is going on inside their hearts?<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>As you read the Book of Mormon and you think of Nephi, you picture a great prophet, strong, talented, obedient, maybe even handsome. He might have had all things going for him. Yet he had trials just like we all do. Some of his family members hated him. He had to do some very hard things like living in a wilderness and killing Laban. He made mistakes and he got depressed. In 2 Nephi 4:17-35 he tells how his heart weeped because of his sins and the problems he was having. When Nephi was sad he knew where to turn. He began to count his blessings and he turned to the Lord in prayer and trusted in Him.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Things are not always going to be just the way we like it. There will be problems to face and dispair to overcome. We need to do as Nephi did and count our blessing, then turn to the Lord in prayer and put out trust in Him. Two of my favorite thoughts are hanging on the wall of my office. They are important to remember every day.<br /></div><div>"There is always, always, always something to be grateful for" and</div><div>"When life gets to be more that you can stand...Kneel."</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7721788708348838944.post-28207604685561350472009-02-17T13:01:00.000-07:002009-02-17T13:03:06.698-07:00"Come unto me all ye that labour or are heavy leaden"<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>We had an experience in our family that has really made me think of how much our Savior and our friend loves us.<br /> When Emily was a little girl she was very afraid of bugs, especially spiders. Many times we would have to kill any bugs or spiders that she found in her bedroom before she would even go back into her room.<br /> The end of August of this year the house she was living in became infested with bed bugs. She would call in a panic and up date us as to where the bugs had spread. One time she called in tears and said there one only one room left between her and the bed bugs. This problem came at a time when she was already stressed getting ready to start a new semester at school.<br /> The girls in the house began to prepare for an exterminator to come in. They had to wash all their bedding and clothing and put everything but their furniture into garbage bags. The day that the exterminator came and they couldn’t go into the house until after 7:00 at night. She spent from after work at 5:00 until 8:00 sitting in her car reading. When she finally went into the house she was tired, the house was dark, the furniture in her room and in the house was turned upside down, and there was no one home. It was more than she could handle. She called in tears, so I talked her into going to our son Joe and his wife Krystle’s house. Joe and Krystle were at a movie but they told her where the extra key was. It was dark and she couldn’t find the latch to their back gate so she used the light from her cell phone. As she shone the light, there right by her hand was in her words “the biggest cat spider she had ever seen”. That put her right over the edge. I couldn’t calm her down over the phone but made arrangements for her to go to our other son Matt’s house. Matt gave her a blessing, which calmed her and she spent the night.<br /> The next day after she got off work, she came home and as she walked in the door I gave her a big hug and just held her for a moment. Then she said the most astounding thing. She said. “Thanks for letting me come home. My roommates parents won’t let them come home until after the bed bugs are gone.”<br /> I have thought about that comment. We sometimes have bed bugs in our lives. They could be sins that we have committed. They could be difficulties brought on by our own poor choices. They could be hurts that have been inflicted on us by others. Or they could be health, financial, family, spiritual, emotional, or physical problems that seem to be a part of life.<br /> Never at any time has our Savior said, “When the bed bugs are gone you can come unto me. Just the opposite, in Matthew 11: 28-29 He says “Come unto me all ye that labour or are heavy leaden and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall found rest unto your souls.”<br /> Even when we are overcome with bed bugs of sin, he doesn’t turn us away. In D&C 101: 9 says “… notwithstanding their sins, my bowels are filled with compassion towards them. I will not utterly cast them off; and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy.” Of course we will need to repent, like the girls had to wash there bedding, but then our Savior’s atonement takes over, much like the exterminator coming into the house.<br /> Sometimes when we are in the midst of these problems and afflictions our faith fails and we wonder; “does the Savior really care about me and what I am going through?” I had a time when I felt like that. During that time I opened my scriptures to a random page and found this scripture. To me as I read this scripture it was as if the Lord was speaking to me. It’s in D&C 38:7-9 it reads: “But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me.”<br /> This scripture brought to me great comfort and I knew that no matter what I was going through, my Savior and my friend was there. I know that we can always, through our prayers come home to our Savior no matter what our problems or our sins may be.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13126599396329644661noreply@blogger.com0