Words of Living Prophets

The prophet of the Restoration: Joseph Smith, Jr.

Our prophet today: Thomas S. Monson

I am looking forward to General Conference this coming weekend more than in any time in the past. I have a firm testimony that the true and complete Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith, including the priesthood of God. Living prophets are on the earth once more who speak to Him and receive guidance for us today. Now, I need to listen to what Heavenly Father is telling me through His ordained servants. I am trying to prepare myself to understand those things. We are so excited to take Todd with us again. He is such a great young man and it will be fun to discuss impressions and feelings he experiences while with us. It is such a treat for Greg and me to get to take grandkids with us to General Conference. Next spring it will be Kate's turn and then Morgan's in the fall.

I am grateful that temple ordinances, an innate part of Christ's true church always, were also restored. I am realizing more than ever that temple worship is at the core of the gospel and that I have responsibilities as a member today to perform saving ordinances...particularly for my own ancestors who have passed on that we may be eternally welded together as families. I am at a time in my life that this should take a high priority! Another message I am hearing and cannot ignore is our responsibility and privilege to share this restored gospel with others. I am trying to develop faith that Heavenly Father will put interested people in my way when He can trust that I won't overlook them. I need to start praying in faith for those opportunities. I don't know why it should be so hard because the gospel and its teachings are the sole reason my life is so joyful!

I want to rid my life of anything that is not Christlike and spend my time serving Him in any way I can. There are so many things to do with my time that are worthwhile, fun, even exciting that are in some way serving my Savior. He has blessed me beyond words and I owe Him so much more than I have been giving. I am doing a little better...and I WILL do even better...I promise...and I will report my progress now and from time to time.

Some progress made thus far:

Greg and I had the opportunity to attend the temple last Saturday morning and with the help of Cindy and DJ did proxy baptisms for 11 of Greg's ancestors. Greg and I then did the sealings which bound them to their parents. I have gone to the temple all my life but New Family Search has made it possible for even technology infants like us to prepare names for the temple. I now understand what our prophets have tried to tell us for years. We felt these ancestors presence and knew that at least some had accepted those ordinances done in their behalf. I am also working on my line and am finding great joy in this work! It is rather addicting!

I caught the "food canning, drying, preservation of any kind" bug!!! I have been working this year on living more providently and we were blessed with an unbelievable garden this year in spite of several big hailstorms in June. I have dried tomatoes, zuccini, golden rod squash, peaches, bananas, and apples thus far. I have bottled peaches, and spaghetti sauce, and am doing applesauce today. I used to do all of this while on the ranch but took a 22-year hiatus and I shouldn't have! I am enjoying it so much! We have given garden produce galore to neighbors and friends and I commented to Greg that it is like the loaves and the fishes...it multiplies upon sharing it! We have onions in abundance and several banana squash to both give away and put away for the winter. The only thing we didn't plant this year that we wished we had was red potatoes. But we are making room and plans for that next year. We have been composting this year as well and that has been so fun! We are excited to dig all our wonderful decomposed lawn clippings, etc. into our garden areas this fall. Some dirty pine trees are being removed from our berm today so that we can beautify that area in the front between us and our neighbors and we are digging our flower beds wider in the back yard to make more room for produce next year. This is all fun and exciting! ...certainly not what the world tells us that fun is...but the "joy" kind of fun! I LOVE life!

I have thoroughly enjoyed spending more time with our kids, their spouses, our grandchildren and our parents this year. There is NO greater joy than that! Families can be together forever, but we have to do our part! Our family motto is : "Ordinances received, covenants made; it's the Kingdom of Heaven or nothing!" Eternity will only be heavenly if ALL of us are there together! We love them all so much! Our prayers every day are that we will all remember who we are and do those things that will allow us to be a "forever family".

Jordy's Birthday Suit!

It seems that every year Jordyn's birthday falls on General Conference weekend...October 3rd. We are always in Salt Lake (that is, as long as a perk of Greg's calling is Conference tickets!). This year, between Cindy and DJ's schedule and our schedule, the only night we could go visit her and deliver her gift was last night, Family Home Evening. Jordy was not feeling a bit good as she was coming down with the same 24- hour bug that Kaleb, Kami, Cindy and DJ had, but it was very fun to see her perk up as she opened her little birthday gift...a cute little sweater and pleated skirt that she couldn't wait to put on and wear to school tomorrow! Thanks enough right there! Cindy just told me that she threw up all evening and so did not go to school today. But guess what she put on first thing this morning?..., yes, her new "birthday suit". We love that bright little face and smile! When she is feeling good her little face absolutely glows! Grandma and Grandpa love you very much, Jordy, and know you'll have a wonderful birthday and party at Grandma and Grandpa T's in Cokeville! Happy, happy birthday!

Can I Run Slowly?

Monday, Sept. 21st, I went down to Julie's to watch the kids while Lily happily flitted off to have tonsil/adenoid surgery! I didn't get to see her before Julie left but apparently she was ecstatic at the prospects of getting those tonsils out! That is our little Lily Love--just a bright outlook on life in general! While waiting for Julie to call, it was fun to see Chloe off to school. She looks so grown-up slipping on her little backpack and bouncing out the door, looking both ways before she crosses the street. The school is a hop, skip, and jump away, across the street and through the field. Cannon was just happy to play with Brig and me until his nap and then Brig and I had quiet time and played Mr. Potato Head and read books.

We are glad that things went smoothly and that Lily is through the worst of the pain. She was quite pale as the pictures show and was content to lay and watch TV and wanted to follow doctor's orders exactly! Once, however, she came out and asked if she could "run slowly" (as opposed to "walking slowly" which she must have been advised to do). Julie asked her for a demonstration. I wish I had a little video of it! Very cute. That's all there is to it, just cute!

Grandma and Grandpa love you, Lily!

Talents

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

September 10th and 11th I was at Cindy's helping her can pears and freeze corn.
Kami and Porter are hilarious...they are everywhere and into everything!
We caught this cute little moment and thankfully were there to keep Kami from falling off the piano bench
but not until we had our laughs!

I had such a great time...mother-daughter time which I love!
It was fun to stay overnight and have a little time with the kids as well and enjoy their active life!
Such a busy and happy little family.
I know I canned when my children were little but I couldn't possibly have been this busy, was I?
It was so rewarding to look out over this table full of bottles filled with pears at the end of the day.
Cindy did 56 jars (til 2:00 am) the day before I arrived and we did another 56 that Thursday.

Kaleb, my corn pickin' and huskin' buddy!

Love this adorable face! (Kaleb's, I mean!)

Scary mischief!

All three girls slept together so I could have Regan's room and bed.
Thanks, girls!

The cutest little people!!!!

My three little darlin's ready to board the bus!

Jordy's picture of her Mom and Dad going to the temple

Morgan & Brooklyn writing 9/11 reports

Why buy toys?

Kaleb always so happy to see Jordy after kindergarten!

It's Not the Quantity but the Quality!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We may not have quantity time with our Florida Rose family but quality must count. WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL! We spent the better part of 7 days in Orlando (from Sept 1st through Sept 8th). We booked our flight months ago and at that time it seemed forever before we would actually leave! But, of course, time has a way of passing so quickly and before we knew it, we were on a Delta non-stop flight on our way to spend time with Matt, Sara, Luke, Emma and Gavin! We had a great trip and were soon hugging Luke and Sara! Matt was still at work and Emma and Gavin had fallen asleep on the way to the airport! It took them a few minutes to wake up and realize it was really us, but within minutes it was as if we really don't live such a distance away. I had seen them all in February but Greg had not and was completely overwhelmed with how much he had missed them.

Sara is such a wonderful daughter-in-law and made us, once again, feel so loved and welcome. We love to visit them and though Sara, hostess that she is, thinks they should entertain us every minute, we kept assuring her we are perfectly happy to just be with them and a part of their normal routine. Those times were some of our greatest joys!

We loved listening to Luke practice the piano and tell us about their fish, watching him do his homework, listening to him read (SO WELL, I might say!), practicing baseball, purchasing his new uniform and bearing his testimony with such courage. He is a wonderful young man, very intelligent, handsome, athletic, driven to do well, and very kind and loving. It is obvious he loves his brother and sister very much!
We enjoyed watching Emma's enthusiasm for gymnastics and her natural talent for it (Nadia Comaniche (sp?), look out!). She is inherently graceful and points her toes like the pros! She is funny, warm, VERY loving (much to my joy), beautiful and very intelligent. She is learning to read and it was fun to see her phonetically sounding out the words in her little books. She is creative and loves to do things by herself! She is the consummate "Little Princess" of the family!
Gavin, well what can I say about Gavie except that he is a pistol and absolutely adorable ! He makes us chuckle just thinking about him! We had the most time with him because the other kids were in school and he, too, captured our hearts! He is full of energy, hilarious, has the cutest little giggle, and is a typical rowdy little boy who immediately took to Grandpa. They enjoyed playing ball and just generally rough-housing! Greg had not seen him for any length of time since he was a baby, just for a few hours last summer, and somewhere along the way had gotten the perception that he was a little sickly and perhaps frail. (Matt and Sara did at one time have a few concerns with his breathing and he had been tested for problems). Nothing could be further from the truth! He is ALL BOY and a pure delight.

One of my greatest joys of the trip was watching Matt and Greg together again...Greg with his only son! They visited about the gospel, family, work, sports, etc. etc and thoroughly enjoyed watching a few football games. I wish they could spend more time together but it is not to be...and we are grateful they are where they are supposed to be. No complaints! Thank goodness for technology and communication today. I find it interesting that each time we see them them it is as if we have never been apart.

We are so grateful to have had time once again to see the way they are parenting: very loving and respectful of their children's feelings but firm when necessary...a wonderful mix of the two and the children are thriving. Having Family Home Evening with them was wonderful and led by the spirit as what was ultimately discussed was not intentionally planned but a natural progression of the gospel game we played first. We are grateful that they serve humbly and valiantly in their callings and do so much good as do each of our other children and their spouses.

I include further details and highlights of the trip under the pictures posted below.

The night before we left after a very long day of fun! We were all hammered!
Was I really so tired I forgot to take off my earrings?

At the Orlando Temple on Friday night!
It really was dark after the session, but this picture looking toward the temple
was taken with the nightshot setting of my camera...a great feature when
there isn't enough light!
We met Tom and Brittnie, some friends of Matt and Sara
at the temple and attended the session together. What wonderful people they are.
It is a unique experience for us to attend the temple when there are only perhaps 10-15 people
in the session. The spirit is the same and the beautiful celestial room in that temple provided us
a great opportunity to just relax and count our blessings.
We then went out to dinner at Carubba's ( something like that, anyway)
and laughed ourselves silly!
Greg and I asked Tom and Brittnie how they met and one thing led to another.
Their story is a side-splitter! The laughter continued with Greg's and my courtship.
But the capper for the evening was Matt and Sara's story!
I know it was torturous for Matt at the time, but wow, was she worth the wait!
We love you, Sara!

Outside Ember Restaurant in downtown Orlando

Floating the river at Rock Springs!

Playing with the frog!

We had such a great time here on Saturday! We took a picnic with us,
floated the river 3 times, then ate and watched Luke and Gavin torment
a frog. They were not to be deterred and I think the frog survived it all!
There was still enough time to float the river one more time before the clouds
set in and the horn went off warning us of lightning danger.
I was not the most "graceful" getting into the river and into a tube...let's just
leave it at that! I'm sure we gave many people watching on the bridge their laugh for the day!
Greg incurred a nice little "owie" on the sole of his foot helping me that first time. Bless his heart...he's always
watching out for me and making sure I am safe and cared for. What would I do without him?

Rock Springs is as the name implies a natural spring and part of the Wakiva River system.
We canoed the Wakiva River itself a few years ago with Ron and Kathy Murray and had a memorable time!
Just imagine jungle foliage!

"Grandma, this is my Mom!

Dinner at Dixie Crossroads...the best seafood!
I have become a huge fan of rock shrimp (in the middle of Matt's plate)
They are as good as lobster in my opinion and easier to eat!
(Love this picture...can't you see Matt wanting to say, "Gee, Mom, give it a rest!
But being the kind, respectful son he is, he acquiesced.)
Hey, I had to get a picture of that shrimp!
My mouth is watering as I type!

On the way to the beach!
How Matt and Greg enjoyed each other...these were some of my happiest moments,
just watching these two together!

A group project...I forgot to take a picture of the finished product
which had a mote & a drainage system!

Fun in the sun... in the shade!

Grandpa and Luke looking for fish

Oh, to look like this!

Greg and Matt enjoying one another and watching the kids.

On the board walk at New Smyrna Beach

What is it about going to the beach? I LOVE IT and so does my husband!
It is a wonderland of simple pleasure...watching the kids dig and create in the sand and joining
in their fun, watching them boogie board,
watching them look for fish which were unusually numerous that day and just enjoy
fun in the sun!
There is something about the ocean that makes you feel so insignificant and yet not! I can't explain it!
The power in those waves is magnificent, both frightening and awe inspiring!
It was another lesson that day that as long as we obey the rules and pay attention to what
is going on around us we will be safe.

Just cute...that's all I have to say!

Watching a movie with Grandpa

Kicking back with Emma

A wonderful Family Home Evening

Playing games with my little sweetheart!

Gavin, Emma and Luke ready for church

How I love my little Emma!

Always games with Grandpa!

Love this picture of Gavin and Matt!

Grandpa giving Gavin a shave!

Have you ever seen a boy this happy doing his homework?

Buds!

Emma completed this ABOUT ME poster the first night we were there!
So cute and SOOOO Emma!

Playing ball with Grandpa/The boy has got an arm!

We thank you, Matt and Sara, from the bottom of our hearts for the most wonderful visit to Orlando ever! We love all of you so much and thank you for your genuine love and care. We can't wait to see you in December! Kiss our precious little kids (and each other) for us!