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!!

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, Portugal

Lethbridge Fires

Well 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.

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.

New Windows

We 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.

News From the Thomas Family

Since 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.

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.

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.

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.