Choices

We go through life and have to make choices every day...

I am going to share 2 men's choices with you and then ask you (and me) to think about who we are more like... obviously, I do not expect you to say who you are more like... this is just a thought question for each of us...



Here goes...



The 1st example is the rich man in Matt. 19:16-22



16. And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17. And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19. Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love they neighbour as thyself.
20. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21. Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for had great possessions.



The 2nd example is King Lamoni's father in Alma 22:15-18



15. And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou has spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.
16. But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.
17. And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these words, the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying:
18. O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day....


What lack I yet? (and walk away because it is too hard)
or
I will give away ALL my sins to know Thee!


What are we willing to give away that we might know Him?

Question for YOU

Brad and I were asked to speak in church on the 14th. I was asked to speak on

"Teaching your children to follow the prophet".

As I think about this topic my 1st thought is the fact that our children watch us and follow our actions, NOT what we SAY, but what we DO. Then my question to myself is when have I followed the prophet that was visible to my children.



When I was a Freshman at BYU my roommate and I were at the mall and we got our ears pierced with a 2nd hole. I never wore big earrings, just a tiny stud diamond in the 2nd hole. When I went home for Christmas that year my dad had a fit, but I was an adult so.... I kept the 2nd hole. In Nov. of 2000 Pres. Hinckley gave a talk to the youth of our church and he asked us to respect our body, reminding us that it is a temple. He asked us not to get tattoos and no body piercings (only one hole per ear for the women).
(Don't you just love how he would "carry" his cane and wave hello and good bye to us all!)

I admit at the time of this talk I was a little sad, but I obeyed. I removed the little diamond studs from my ear and that was that. I feel that that was a visible sign that I was following the prophet. I know my older boys remember this.


The 1st scripture to come to mind is Doctrine and Covenants 1:38.... "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same. "

I just got this topic assigned to me this morning so I haven't had a lot of time to think about it, but I thought I would bring the topic to YOU and see if you have any thoughts.... I would LOVE to hear what you think!!! I would love any suggestions... quotes, scriptures, stories, anything that I can use! THANK YOU!

Her is our new sweet prophet.... you just have to love these men of God!

Brad's topic is "Cleaning up our lives"... any suggestions for him? Aren't we so very grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who is full of mercy???

Thank you my friends!

THE Surprise!

As most of you know I have been working full time for the past 2 weeks covering for my friend (it is GREAT to work with a good friend, we can cover for each other when we want or need to! Thank you Kathy!) Anyway, last week I was really in the zone working all day and very busy every evening... Monday night we do FHE (Family Home Evening) for the stake YSA's (Young Single Adults) Tuesday night I teach Institute, I did have Wed night off, and then on Thurs night we took the YSA's to the temple and Friday night we had the YSA dance... busy busy busy... anyway, Thursday I got home from work, ate a quick bite and was up in my room changing to get ready to take the YSA's to the temple when in walked Dallin! Yep, Dallin!!! I know, that's what I thought... "you are supposed to be in Provo at BYU!!!!" I was confused to say the least! I just sat there staring for a minute and then said, "What are you doing HERE? How did you get here?" I knew that Kaitlin's parents had flown here home to pick up her truck to take back up but she came home on Wed... it was Thurs... so, my next statement was, "Have you been here since yesterday??? WHERE did you sleep? IF you have been home for 24 hours and are JUST now showing up at home, you are dead" HAHAHA.... I was soooooooooooooo confused!!! THEN, I finally jumped up and hugged him!!! It was so fun to see him!!! He told his friends that I was mad he was home! I was NOT mad... just VERY confused!!!

Monday Dallin and Kaitlin were studying when Kaitlin's mom called her and told her that they had gotten tickets to go see American Idol! Kaitlin half kidding said, "You should fly me home so I can go with you!" Well, sure enough mom gave in and flew her home! They decided to let her take her truck up to school.... but, they didn't want her to drive up alone so they decided to fly Dallin home to help her drive back up! He was SO excited! Anyway, Kaitlin flew home on Wed and then on Thurs morning she called Ricky and Mike and told them that she had a friend that was bringing them a package from her but that they needed to go out and meet her but to stay on the phone coz she wanted to hear their reaction when they got the package ~ YEP, she was standing there when they came out... They were SO excited to see her, then she told them that that was only 1/2 of the surprise. She told them to get their board shorts and towels... they all headed towards the beach but on the way she pulled into the Long Beach Airport with the 2nd part of the surprise (Dallin) waiting for them! Again, they were SO excited!!! They were all hugging and yelling and stuff when up walked Aimee!!! It was so fun because NO ONE knew she was coming ~ Kaitlin got a surprise herself!!! Dallin had gotten a ride up to Salt Lake City on Thurs morning and he and Aimee were eating breakfast (she was to take him to the airport in a couple of hours) Aimee said, "I wanna go too!!!" About that time her brother happened to walk up and told her to go pack, he would pay for her to go!!!! So, Aimee was able to get her shift covered for work and packed! They got on line to book her flight but it was so soon she couldn't book it on line! They hurried to the airport and Andrew bought her ticket and she got on the flight with Dallin!!! I have to tell you that these 6 kids have been Besties (Yeah, the boys would prob die that I used that word, but it is soooooooooooo true!!!) since middle school!!! They have been a great group of kids and a great support to each other!!!

Anyway, that was our FUN FUN FUN surprise this weekend!!!

It was fun as they got to go with us to the temple... here are some fun pics...
This is the group after coming out.... GREAT group of kids!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this calling!!!

The girls!

One of Dallin's very best friends is on his mission in Brasil (Tanner)... This is his older brother, Tyson, GREAT kid, love him! And, this is Lianna with them, she just left today to go to the MTC!!! Love her!

Cupcakes in the parking lot... this is our YSA advisers from the Canyon Springs ward, Br and Sis Leach, they are a great help to us, thank you both... you are wonderful!!!

Dallin, Farryn, Aimee, Kaitlin, Ricky!

Dallin making fun of the girls...

Group hug!

My cute Dallin (yeah, I know I am partial, he IS my son)

At the beach after the BIG SURPRISE!

Don't ask me what he is doing.... being silly as always!

Kailin, thank you for ALL the pics... the only bummer is... you are not in them!!! :(

Ricky, Dallin and Mike

Ricky has him mission call, he is going to Tegucigalpa Honduras, he reports on May 26th. Mike has his call, he is going to Tampa Florida speaking Haitian Creole! Dallin is finishing up this semester at BYU then we will be finding out where he will be serving!!! I am so proud of you boys, you are great young men!!!

After church getting ready to head back up to BYU... Dallin and Kaitlin are at BYU, Aimee is at LDS Business College, Ricky, Mike and Farryn are home working earning money for the mission!

As they were hugging, I reminded Kaitlin and Aimee that this would be the last time they could hug Mike for 2 years... and when they see him again they MIGHT be married and pregnant! HAHA.... yes, there were tears shed... As Dallin said... this is the last time we will ALL be together for 2+ years... and you know as well as I do... things change... and yes, the girls MIGHT be married!!! Best of luck to all of you, you will be so blessed for being the kids you are!