Much Needed

It is amazing to me how sometimes we have one experience right after another that we really need and then there just don't seem like there are any for a while.

One of the great experiences I have had lately is that I have just finished reading the book "The Undaunted". It is very good. I encourage all of you to read it. It is a long book but I learned so much and really enjoyed it too. I know one thing, I am glad that I was not a pioneer woman. I really enjoyed the history that was in this book about the " Hole in the Rock", and there was also history about Cedar City, Parowan, and Panguitch. It was great.
I also had the great experience to go to EFY with our stake in my church, which is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. EFY is for the youth of our church. Two of my own kids were able to attend. It was last Saturday and it was early. I was not looking forward to getting up early on a Saturday, but it was well worth it. There were about 700 or so youth there with their leaders to hear these three speakers. I knew it would be good but we were really in for a treat. The speakers were saying things that I felt pierced my heart and that they were just for me. Todd and Angela also were touched. They really felt uplifted. There are sometimes things that are said that you will never never forget. One thing I learned is that we need to be better than good. This really made me think. I know I have a lot of room to grow and I need to not be complacent but always looking for ways to strengthen my testimony and to improve who I am and the things that I should be doing.
My son, AJ, that is on his mission also has challenged us to read the Book of Mormon in 50 days and to also underline any place where it talks about the Savior in any way. I have been doing that now for 3 weeks and it is hard to read eight pages a night but my testimony of my Savior and the scriptures has so been strengthened. I love it.
I also had a great experience yesterday. I have been needing to go to the temple as we all do and finally found some time to make the drive. When I arrived in St. George and went into the temple there was an hour and a half wait for initiatories. I knew that wasn't going to work because Karrilyn was waiting in the car. They asked if I would like to do sealings. Sure, I said. What a great experience. What a great valentine experience for me, to be reminded of the promises that I have by being sealed to my spouse for time and all eternity. This is a gift that I am ever ever so thankful for. I wish I could express the happiness and peace this gives me. The spirit was so strong in those beautiful sealing rooms as we did sealings for people that have passed onto the other side. I really enjoyed every minute of it and I am so thankful for this blessing in my life.
I guess I should also that I am teaching primary in my ward and I just LOVE it. There is nothing better than being in there with those cute kids. I have the 5-6 yr olds. They are so cute and want nothing more than to do what is right, and they teach me so much about life, our Savior and how we should be.

Enough about all of that, I hope it isn't boring you to tears but this is my way to keep a journal of things that are important to me. Thanks to all of you who care. You are appreciated.

AJ's endowments

It is finally time I get busy and try to catch up for so many great events in our lives that I haven't written about. AJ received his mission call to Columbus, Ohio in October and then in November he went through the St. George temple to get his endowments. That same weekend on Sunday, Mike was made a high priest in our church, the church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. It was a great weekend.

This is a picture of Mike and his dad and my dad the day that he was made a high priest.

The same weekend on Saturday, AJ went through the temple. It was a wonderful experience and we really felt blessed. In this picture is some of our greatest friends that made the trip down for the day. We also had Mike's sister, Anna and her family, my parents, Mike's parents and our friends the Plunketts. It was a great and memorable day and weekend.

This picture is of AJ and his great friend Craig that made it down for his endowments. They are like cousins because they have known each other since babies. They are both serving on their mission at the same time and before they left their friendship became stronger and stronger.

This is a picture of my great family on the day of AJ's endowments. We took so many great pictures of family and friends but I have so many pictures to upload and so much I need to catch up on that I didn't add all of them to this post. We are so blessed to have so much support during this great time in our lives. We are so excited for AJ and his decision to serve.