THANKSGIVING DINNER

On Thanksgiving afternoon we gathered at Aunt Karen and Uncle Max' home for Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone brought something to contribute to the meal and it was a real feast.

And we had pies of all kinds

There was plenty of eating 

And visiting

And playing with the babies

And of course finding somewhere comfortable to relax for a while.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of...

our labor. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week.

At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which we brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others.

And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.

Edward Winslow, Plymouth, 1621

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!

BE A WISE OPTIMIST

 

 President Henry B Eyring was our closing speaker. He taught us about being Wise Optimists.

 

President Henry B Eyring

These are the last days. They are tumultuous times.

Everyday you are deciding whether to be optimistic or pessimistic

about life.

A wise Optimist has an advantage over a pessimist.

Be optimistic about the long range future of the church, any set backs  will be temporary. The Church will be perfectly prepared for the 2nd coming. Not must be or will be prepared, the Church SHALL be prepared.

3rd Nephi---Preparation

All children shall be taught of the Lord.

A wise Optimist will know where to look for your power.

Power--- Priesthood keys

- Moses gathered scattered Israel (missionary Work)

much more is to come.The effects of Preach My Gospel is just beginning. Missionaries are More bold, less intimidated. However the work goes, they will expect improvement.

The Wise optimist will expect Family Home evening to be better next week. An optimist will persist in faith, a pessimist will give up if things seem unreachable.

Encourage CHOOSE THE RIGHT.

D&C 123 cheerfully do all in our power.

President Eyring's young son was very shy, when he was assigned to be a Home teacher his SR Companion told him their families would be intimidated if he gave the lesson, so the young son had to give them.

Your faith in a young person may be your contribution.

- Elijah, turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers.

Family Search is a wonderful tool, Duplication of Ordinances are eliminated. The Lord had given us the technology to make Family Search work.

When our work is harder and the opposition greater, Prophets confirm our hope.

ON TO VICTORY

What does not seem possible, is possible when the Lord wants it.

Hard times will come, Be prepared, avoid debt, have reserves.

THE LORD IS HASTENING HIS WORK

Elder Jeffery R Holland spoke on the revelations at General Conference and supporting the new missionary force coming our way.

 

ELDER JEFFREY R HOLLAND

Honeymoon Trail active during the 50 years between dedication of the St George Temple and the dedication of the Mesa Temple. 400 miles of dusty trail up to 6 weeks traveling through parts of AZ not fit for human life, to get temple ordinances done.

As a boy he was told stories of the faith of AZ pioneers to pass onto future generations.

New frontiers continue in the church today.

In October Conference there was more revelation than ever before.

1. Tuscon Temple (6 temples in Arizona, we're on a roll, who knows where next.)

2. Missions boys 18, girls 19.

"The shot heard round the world." Twitter tweets through the roof after the announcement.

3. using modern technology to find missing members.

4. Taking our own names to the temple, instead of extracted names.

5. new youth curriculum.

Operational Revelation is alive and thriving in the church.

The Lord is hastening His work in his time.

Church presidents will always be old. In the work of the  Lord age doesn't matter--except to make them more open to revelation.

321 years of Apostolic service in 1st Presidency & Quorum of the 12.

The heavens are open. The human family needs guidance. The same revelatory spirit flows NOW!

Missionary announcement-- increased urgency in the air. The Lord is hastening his work. The MTC is decreased by 1/3 rd. Missionaries must be better prepared at home.

Demands on missionaries are all they were or more as  before the age reduction. Do more, go farther than ever before in history.

We must be more prepared to receive missionaries coming to our Wards. Members are more important to help the missionaries in toady's climate. Times change, violence is real, suspicions are high. Don't expect them to knock on doors we wouldn't. We want hem to come home feeling successful. Get Ready! They are coming to you, in great numbers.

Put your shoulder to the Wheel willingly.

 

GOD GAVE US FAMILIES

 

Our 2nd Conference Speaker was Sister Cheryl Esplin from the General Primary Presidency. She also spoke on families.

Cheryl Esplin- counselor in the General Primary Presidency

God gave us family.

Purpose of families

- to bring happiness

-teach correct principles

-to bring eternal life

When Satan's attacks are obvious we can defend ourselves, when it is subtle we can be decieved.

Cattle Traps (used on the AZ strip to round up cattle). They start out open wide to allow the cattle to wander in and out to get to water. Slowly the cowboy closes the gate, a little at a time, so the cattle don't notice. Eventually, the gate is closed enough that the cattle can enter but not leave.

We don't have to wait until we are trapped to know all is not well.

We have the answers and hope in Jesus Christ.

When our calendars are filled with good things, we can be decieved into thinking all is well. It is a distraction.

We have to forgo some good things to have the best things for the family.

FAMILY PRAYER A best thing, you always have time for prayer.

The Savior taught the Nephites 1st to pray and prayed with them and prayed for the children.

"Pray in your family" 3rd Nephi

Through Regular family prayer our family members will draw nearer to God and each other.

 

 

STRENGTHEN OUR FAMILIES

Last Sunday Nov 11.2012 was the Stake Conference Broadcast to the 95 stakes in Arizona. I took notes on the talks.
Elder Gary Stevenson was the 1st speaker, he spoke on strengthening the family. These are the notes I took during his talk.

Gary Stevenson, Counselor in the presiding Bishopric

Arizona is squarely in the center of Zion.

The gathering of the stakes of Zion are a defense.

AZ was in the last mission in the Church that practiced "Without Purse of Script" for missionaries. Post WWII. Missionaries stayed with families they were teaching.

In 1881, David Kimball left Prescott with his son and 2 wagons. He got deparated and lost in the desert.

He had a vision saw legions waiting to claim him. His father conforted him from Beyong the Veil. He wandered 75 miles in the desert. His deceased parents promised he would be rescued. Family and Priesthood holders from Beyong the Veil protected him from evil. Family on Earth search for him'

Family is on both sides of the veil to help the father and the son to strengthen and protect the family.

Strengthening families is our sacred duty. Parents, children, extended family.

Priority-----family prayer, study, worthy family activities.

The Lord will answer prayers.

The Lord will help parents teach Children.

"The Lord's work is work, but it is sweet labor." Neal A Maxwell

High Priority

- Family Prayer

-Family Home Evening

-Gospel study and instruction

-Wholesome family activities.

SEPTEMBER and OCTOBER 2012 FAMILY BIRTHDAY PARTY

On November 3rd we were finally able to meet and celebrate September and October Birthdays. We had 7 birthday people in attendance.

Darrin is 19

Ben is 30

Kim is 38

Randy is 39

Kirt is 47

Aunt Karen is 69

There was a lot of smoke

and presents

Kids

and visiting

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERYONE!!

MALIE'S 1ST PARTY

Malie was born on what would have been Mom's 83rd birthday. We told her mom Kari from the day she announced she was due in October that Malie would be born on the Oct 15, because Mom wanted it that way. Malie is a sweet baby, and she was very patient being passed around to all of the cousins that wanted to welcome her and give her some love. It is amazing that this little spirit was so recently with Heavenly Father and my Mom and Dad.

ITS YOUR CHOICE, MORE OF THE SAME OR RESTORE AMERICAN GREATNESS

I've said it before, I really dislike politics, but this year's presidential election is too important to the preservation of the USA and the Constitution to sit back and not get involved.
The choice is clear.
 Do you want 4 more years of a president who is quickly destroying our country, our freedoms and our national pride and security. A president that sat back and allowed our ambassador and other Americans to die in Libya, instead of authorizing help to be sent, and then apologized to the attackers. A president that has signed executive orders that allow him to take away everything from our freedom of speech to controlling the food supplies (including our personal food storage), and the airwaves. A president that is willing to gut medicare to help pay for his health care plan. A plan that would allow death panels to determine who is worth saving.  A president that complains that it would be easier to do things if the Constitution wasn't in the way. A president that has virtually no work experience, and is clearly in over his head.  If you want 4 more years of record unemployment, of rising costs and a deficit that keeps rising, if you want to keep paying for elaborate vacations for the presidents family then by all means vote for 4 more years of Obama.

 

BUT

if you want real change. If you want a President that loves his country, and his family. A self made man, who worked hard to build wealth and who knows how to create jobs and balance the budget.

A President that successfully ran Massachusetts as governor, and balanced the budget, reformed health care, and created a rainy day fund, who proved he was able to work with both democrats and republicans to make decisions for the state.

If you want to see the USA restored to its former greatness, to have a good job, to have a President that won't apologize for the American people, but will instead stand up for us, who will create jobs, and will work to pass a budget (the 1st one since Bush was president). If you want to help Restore America to its former greatness. Then vote for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. When I cast my ballot on Tuesday it will be for Mitt Romney. I love my country and I love the Constitution and I want to see them preserved, Only Mitt Romney can and will do that.



HALLOWEEN 2012

On Halloween night, I put Dracula in the front yard loaded with candy and toys for the trick or treaters that came to our house, and went out to Aunt Karen's house for a family Halloween Party.

Some of us didn't dress in costume

Rebecca and her fiance Ben

Others got into the spirit and dressed up.

Ephraim

Trevor

Ryan

Cara and her date

Kaela

Lyndi

Logan

Elijah

We had hot dogs and chili or Chicken Enchilada Soup to eat, the kids played games and collected candy prizes.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!