Harlingen Stake Conference 1/15/17

Larry and I are now back in the Harlingen Stake after being in the McAllen Stake where Larry served as Stake President for eight years. We were in McAllen for eleven years and will remember the fond memories and friendships that were made there. It was a time when Brant and Ryan's families were there together. Also, at one time, Erin and her family were there as well. Having that many children and their families together in one place will never happen again in this lifetime. We missed Ashley and her family but they were able to visit and, when they did, it was heaven on earth for me to have everyone together. The grandkids and my dream is for all of us to live together on property somewhere! Just shows you how special cousins are to one another. Possibly in the next life I pray. Time does fly on wings of lightening. So that makes memories all the more special. Our Stake Conference was wonderful today and I was especially touched by our new Mission President and his wife's talks. You could feel of their humility and authenticity. They simply love the Lord and want to help others feel that same kind of love that has brought true joy into their lives. They talked about their families and told very touching stories about past family experiences with their parents and home life in Honduras. President Torres talked about driving 14 hours in the back of their pickup to the temple to be sealed to his family (he was only 5 years old at the time). He remembers the peace he felt there. He also said he was in awe of the beauty of the temple. He said even the carpet was white and he wanted to sleep on it. It was the first time he had seen carpet. He said there are no language barriers to the spirit. It matters not what language we speak but it does matter what we feel. His testimony of prayer was that God does answer us and we can understand how he does so as we develop a relationship with him and tune in to our feelings. One time, after his mother passed away, he asked for Heavenly Father to witness to him in some way while he was in the temple that she was ok and he received that peaceful witness in his heart that she was, in deed, doing well. Sister Torres's love for her family was evident. She talked about creating traditions in the home. Especially reading the scriptures together as a family. She said when their youngest child, Santiago, was just two years old they decided to begin reading the scriptures together because their oldest child was going to become a teenager and they felt consistent scripture study every morning before leaving for school would be beneficial. She said the first time they gathered each child took turns reading the scriptures but they didn't give Santiago a turn because he couldn't read and was very young. At the close of their scripture reading Santiago began to cry because he didn't get a turn. From that day forward they gave him time to read. He always had his scriptures in his hands and even when they were reading out of the New Testament he would open his scriptures and talk about Nefi (Nephi) and babble on and on. She said during those settings they knew which child needed something. What a blessing, as a parent, to perceive those needs your children have because of how they are responding to the scriptures. Sister Torres also shared an experience she had when they moved here to the Rio Grande Valley. She had seen one missionary who taught her family the gospel while they were in Utah before coming here but she couldn't locate the other missionary. When they had their first zone conference in Harlingen, her husband called a sister missionary to the front and asked her to tell them something about her background. She was from Honduras and as her story unfolded, it became apparent that her Dad was the other missionary who baptized Sister Torres' family. Makes you know you are where you should be. Coincidence, I don't think so. Many other wonderful talks were given. One about doing three things every day since it is resolution time. (1) Learn something new daily, (2) Serve someone daily and, (3). Show love to someone daily!!

The Spirit is the Answer!!

The following story by Elder Carlos E. Asay, who
was a member of the Seventy, may help you make
application of this principle:
“Some years ago I supervised a young man
who was having difficulty in understanding and
appreciating his church assignment. I tried very
hard to point out the importance of his duties. I also
appealed to his sense of honor. The conversation
seemed to have little effect upon my listener. Finally,
after some inner strugglings, I asked: ‘What will it
take to convince you that you must successfully
complete your calling?’ He did not answer. So I
added: ‘Are you waiting to see a burning bush?
to receive an angelic visitation? or to hear a voice
directly from heaven?’
“His response was immediate: ‘That’s what
I need. I need to hear the voice of God.’
“At first I wondered if the young man was
serious. However, the look on his face and the tone
of his voice convinced me that he was. I then invited
him to read with me this scripture: ‘And I, Jesus
Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it.
“‘These words are not of men nor of man, but of
me; wherefore, you shall testify they are of me and
not of man;
“‘For it is my voice which speaketh them unto
you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and
by my power you can read them one to another; and
save it were by my power you could not have them;
“‘Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard
my voice, and know my words.’ (D&C 18:33–36.)
“My associate began to understand that the
scriptures are the will, the mind, the word, and the
voice of the Lord. (See D&C 68:4.)
“I encouraged the young man to look to God
through the scriptures. I requested that he regard
his daily study period as a personal interview with
the Lord. And I made the promise that he would
find purpose and enthusiasm for his calling—if he
was faithful in his reading and pondering of the
scriptures” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1978, 78–79;
or Ensign, Nov. 1978, 52–53).

We read the scriptures for answers to our prayers and it is the spirit from the reading itself that helps us find the answers most often. The thoughts, feelings and impressions from what we read is the Spirit helping us to find the answers. I love the idea of having a personal inverview with the Lord through our daily study period!! That phrase struck a cord with me (thoughts, feelings, impressions thing!)We could write volumns from recording our thoughts, feelings and impressions that we have from the experiences we have with reading our scriptures. Life is more meaningful and cherished. I love truth as it edifies and uplifts me like nothing else. Hope you had your own impressions while reading this entry.

Christmas 2010 @ Erin & John's Home in Cockeysville, Maryland

I am remembering our trip to Erin and John's home in Maryland. The occasion - Christmas 2010! Upon arriving at the airport, Larry and I picked up the rental car and took off in anticipation of seeing Erin, John, Moriah, Jude and Naomi. We missed a turn right out of the shoot which cost us about twenty minutes (cause for anxiety) but we finally turned on to their street about an hour later.

I jumped out of the car and ran up the sidewalk but knew when I had to ring the door bell and wait that this probably wasn't the right house! And sure enough my fears were confirmed so down the street I ran and saw Erin, Moriah, Jude and Naomi waving from their front window. They had seen our car go by very slowly and when it didn't stop they, too, were disappointed because we did not stop and they thought it wasn't us. The rental car wasn't recognizeable to them. Then we all connected with a lot of joyful sounds and hugging.

Erin had prepared a wonderful dinner and many other great meals while we were there. Larry supplied us with Dunkin Donuts and a trip to the BBQ place as well. Great pizza was inhaled at one sitting. One of our new found favorite eating places was the town bakery in Amish land. It took me back to Fredericksburg and Destiny's bakery on main street. We stayed there for a couple of hours just looking around, enjoying the ambiance, and eating!!

Then it was off to the Santa train ride!! Really fun. The train went for about 45 minutes and Moriah and Jude really had a blast. Santa was on the train and left a little toy in their possession. The little train station area was really cute with lots of shops and a couple other rides. On the way home we stopped at Olive Garden and filled up!! We were tired campers by the time we got home. Made for some good z's!!

Larry went into NY to see a client and Erin and I finished some last minute shopping and planning for Christmas. Sunday we visited their ward and watched Moriah sing a primary song!! We were all planning on going into DC on Wednesday but little Naomi got the stomach bug and so did John the night before we were all to go. Erin insisted on Larry and I going so we did and saw some pretty amazing museums and sites on Wednesday but then I began throwing up during the night so our Thursday was spent waiting til I felt like traveling!! It really did a number on me and we weren't able to go back til around 1:00 PM when I regained a little energy. By the end, we had all gotten sick except for Jude and Larry. I was so sad that Erin got it the night before we were leaving.

Christmas was exiting for Moriah, Jude and Naomi. We had it a day early out of fear that someone else would come down with the bug and not feel up to the big day! It was great to be able to watch Moriah, Jude and Naomi come down the stairs to see what Santa had brought! Erin and John were pretty exciting to watch as they loved seeing the kiddoes so anxious and excited. Brought back precious memories of Brant, Ashley, Erin and Ryan doing the very same thing a lifetime ago!!

The most tender and touching time was when John and Larry gave baby Naomi a blessing. Her illness seemed to hang on and she wasn't kicking it as we thought she should. We are so blessed to have the priesthood.

Time flew by as I knew it would. I am sure you all feel like Christmas was a blur and came and went in a flash. Sooo much preparation and then in a twinkling it is over. That is why it is so important to never forget the reason for the season because the Savior lives on and is effectual in our lives daily. To celebrate His birth is a privilege and brings more love into our lives and relationships.

Time to leave was now here and the night before we were leaving we watched a really sad show about a dog and his loyalty to his master and I was pretty melancholy over that and then when I started thinking about leaving I began to cry. Moriah and I were laying on the blow up beg together and she turned to me and said, "Granny, that was a sad show," and I told her I was thinking about leaving in the morning and was really sad. She said, "Granny, don't cry, I am here with you and you don't have to leave now!" My heart breaks everytime I have to say goodbye to any of our precious grandchildren. Each one holds such a soft spot in my heart. Jude and I really bonded this trip and I called him my little buddy. He would come jump in my lap and I would rock him. He got to stay up one night by himself with the grown ups and he was a ball of fire!! That night Erin and I took him with us to Target and the check out lady checked out a car for him and handed it to him and I thought he was going to jump out of his skin, he was so elated and his appreciation and excitement brought a big smile to the check out lady. We wanted to capture that moment. Two days before we left, Naomi felt well enough to come to me. She is a playful little doll. All in all, choices that created the memories!! We had a wonderful time.

Fun Fourth of July at Padre, 2010

Notice anything unusual?!
















The new toy!!


































Oh, the joy of cousins!! Non-stop pretend fest!!







All aboard! Time to experience the wing!!

Princess Camilla

Feet Shod with the Preparation of Peace

As always when studying scriptures, talks, etc. in preparation for institute my thoughts are never far away from those I cherish more than life itself, you, my family. As you have concerns about raising up children unto the Lord in this environment may you take solace in this story from Elder L. Tom Perry which, of course, references the Apostle Paul:

"We were dressed in our home each morning, not only with hats and raincoats and boots to protect us from physical storm, but even more carefully our parents dressed us each day in the armor of God. As we would kneel in family prayer and listen to our father, a bearer of the priesthood, pour out his soul to the Lord for the protection of his family against the fiery darts of the wicked, one more layer was added to our shield of faith. While our shield was being made strong, theirs was always available, for they were available and we knew it!!!"

What a protection it is to travel through the journey of life knowing that a shield of faith is being carefully constructed for your children by you.

Know that each of you are in my prayers daily as I know your challenges are many but your blessings greater because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I pray that each of you feel and know that you are noble parents (every one of you) and you truly are building protective shields of faith of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ around your children. I know it works and brings peace.

I love you - MOM

Happy 9th Ethan!!

All grins for his 9th birthday!! Nice LEGO cake!!







What a good looking pod of peas!!





Trying to be clever sometimes doesn't work! Need a little fine tuning. Thank goodness for beautiful subjects!





The Familia!!






Happy Day "E"