Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sunday's
Can I just say I love Sunday's! They just make life renewed. I notice some Sunday mornings when I would rather sleep in than get up and ready for church, those are Sundays I need to go to church the most. As I have aged (yes it's true :) and hopefully gained a little wisdom, I notice that if I am struggling to get going, there is a message I most of all need to hear.
Today was a fifth Sunday in the month. They are usually missionary Sundays. Reserved for the missionaries serving in the ward to speak. Today they spoke along with the mission leader and a couple of others. One of the missionaries has only been out in the mission field for a few months. He is from Brazil. The language has been a challenge for him. He is coming along with it well. When he gives his testimony it is sincere, strong, and you can't help but feel his special spirit and know he was sent here, to this mission, for a reason. One thing he said really struck me and made an impression. It was that we need to just open our mouths. How can we share the gospel if we don't? I'm probably not conveying his thoughts anywhere near what was felt in Sacrament Meeting. The thought that if we are willing to open our mouths, Heavenly Father will give us the words. For me at least, that is one stumbling block. Not knowing, or thinking I will not know, what to say to someone. How to word something or to get my thoughts and feelings across or understood. However, all we have to do is be willing to open our mouths around others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he will give us the words to speak. Especially if we are praying, studing the scriptures and willing.
The mission leader told a story of a 12 year old boy who had gone to Africa (Kenya I think) and meeting some native children his age. The language and culture barriers were there, but they kept trying to connect in some way. The boys father gave him a chocolate bar to him to share with the others. He broke off a square of it and tried to give it to one of the boys. He wouldn't take it and stepped back quickly. The boy then showed him it was to eat by doing so himself and then broke off another piece and handed it to another boy. The boy took it, nibbled at a corner, his eyes wide after tasting it, then plopped the whole piece in his mouth in joy. The other children seeing his joy, then all wanted a piece. When they came back to the village again, the boy and his father were surrounded by about 30 or 40 youths all wanting a square of chocolate to enjoy. He compared the story to sharing little morsels of the Gospel where ever we go. One little bite or thought can open a person to a joy more lasting than a morsel of chocolate. We just have to share it.
So, my thought for you to day is, share your morsels of the Gospel whenever you have a chance. Just open your mouth and let the Lord help with the rest. Study, pray and be willing to be an instrument in the Lords hands. I promise you, He lives and loves each of us. He knows you personaly. He knows your challenges and weakness. Get to know him better so you can share his message with others. If you have questions go to http://www.mormon.org/ to know more about my beliefs.
I know God lives. He is the Savior of this world and his atonement was for each and everyone of us. We have a Heavenly Father, a Savior our Elder Brother Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, who know us, love us, and want us to return home to them. They provided the way for us to do so. He restored the whole gospel of Jesus Christ through His modern day prophet Joseph Smith Jr. And has a modern day prophet Thomas Monson living at this time.
Keep doing good! Love one another. And never forget that you always have someone that loves YOU!
Today was a fifth Sunday in the month. They are usually missionary Sundays. Reserved for the missionaries serving in the ward to speak. Today they spoke along with the mission leader and a couple of others. One of the missionaries has only been out in the mission field for a few months. He is from Brazil. The language has been a challenge for him. He is coming along with it well. When he gives his testimony it is sincere, strong, and you can't help but feel his special spirit and know he was sent here, to this mission, for a reason. One thing he said really struck me and made an impression. It was that we need to just open our mouths. How can we share the gospel if we don't? I'm probably not conveying his thoughts anywhere near what was felt in Sacrament Meeting. The thought that if we are willing to open our mouths, Heavenly Father will give us the words. For me at least, that is one stumbling block. Not knowing, or thinking I will not know, what to say to someone. How to word something or to get my thoughts and feelings across or understood. However, all we have to do is be willing to open our mouths around others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he will give us the words to speak. Especially if we are praying, studing the scriptures and willing.
The mission leader told a story of a 12 year old boy who had gone to Africa (Kenya I think) and meeting some native children his age. The language and culture barriers were there, but they kept trying to connect in some way. The boys father gave him a chocolate bar to him to share with the others. He broke off a square of it and tried to give it to one of the boys. He wouldn't take it and stepped back quickly. The boy then showed him it was to eat by doing so himself and then broke off another piece and handed it to another boy. The boy took it, nibbled at a corner, his eyes wide after tasting it, then plopped the whole piece in his mouth in joy. The other children seeing his joy, then all wanted a piece. When they came back to the village again, the boy and his father were surrounded by about 30 or 40 youths all wanting a square of chocolate to enjoy. He compared the story to sharing little morsels of the Gospel where ever we go. One little bite or thought can open a person to a joy more lasting than a morsel of chocolate. We just have to share it.
So, my thought for you to day is, share your morsels of the Gospel whenever you have a chance. Just open your mouth and let the Lord help with the rest. Study, pray and be willing to be an instrument in the Lords hands. I promise you, He lives and loves each of us. He knows you personaly. He knows your challenges and weakness. Get to know him better so you can share his message with others. If you have questions go to http://www.mormon.org/ to know more about my beliefs.
I know God lives. He is the Savior of this world and his atonement was for each and everyone of us. We have a Heavenly Father, a Savior our Elder Brother Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, who know us, love us, and want us to return home to them. They provided the way for us to do so. He restored the whole gospel of Jesus Christ through His modern day prophet Joseph Smith Jr. And has a modern day prophet Thomas Monson living at this time.
Keep doing good! Love one another. And never forget that you always have someone that loves YOU!
Friday, August 29, 2008
Have to begin somewhere
I decided to get on the band wagon. With so many family and friends getting farther and farther away, and ME being the worse journal and letter writer, I thought maybe this would help. We'll see. I make no promises :).
Summer is all but over (except the heat here!). The kids are back in school. Ashley is a junior in High School and working at Sonic. 
Ashley and her FIRST paycheck!
Jesse graduated from UC Davis the beginning of August. He and Nicole have moved into a house with some other friends and are getting on with life.
A really old picture of Jesse and Nicole the last time they both visisted.
Britni and David are married.
Mr. & Mrs. David James Richards...
Bailey is away at college.
Bryana now lives back east and works in DC.
Two of my very cute nieces Bry & Bai.
Morgan, Devin and Antigone
The other nieces are off doing adult things (like working :). (Notice lack of pictures? Hmmm.)
The nephews are either back in school also and working or working and doing their own things. (Amazing lack of good pictures of nephews together!)
Dom, Nadine & Jenna at Brits wedding.
(Have to get pictures somehow :)
The sisters have moved to New Harmony by Dad :( and left me in the big city alone...
Me and Dad at wedding. Me and MEAN big sisters :)
What does all this mean? My house is very very QUITE for the most part. Well except for the plane crashing into the neighbors house. Huge plumes of smoke and fire. Helicopters hovering day and night, people driving through the neighborhood to try and get a look. Official type people everywhere. But other than that pretty quite.
Pretty scary stuff. Second one this week! Thank goodness no one in the home was hurt, unfortunately the pilot was killed. I was talking to Morgan on the phone when I heard it. Looked out the laundry room window and could see the flames and smoke.
Thank goodness for Morgan and Tiggy who come to play. Tiggy makes me smile and laugh. She is a lot of fun. (However; she misses giving Britni the EYES.)
Tiggy helping her Mom sing Grandpa Frehner's Farm at Cousin's camp!
I LOVE this picture! It is so Tiggy!
She came over tonight for awhile. She loves teasing her Uncle Lloyd! There is no better sound than a little girl or boy laughter and giggles! She loves our two littlest dogs. I think they are the real reason she like to come see us. Well them and the nacks (fruit snacks) I have in the cupboard.
Tiggy and Pebbles sitting together. Chiwa the wonder dog.
I mean even Britni loves Chiwa. She and David have pictures of her everywhere! ;)
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