Alison's pictures

A brother in our Ward who is a photographer, took these pictures of Alison right after she got home. He does it for free as his contribution, as his way of giving back to the missionaries. It was right on the Orlando temple grounds.

Pinewood Derby

Conner's car did awesome!! He won first place in the Bears and first place in the whole Pinewood Derby. His car had the best time score in the race. He was so happy!!

As we are walking in for the Pinewood Derby

Getting his picture taken at the start of the race

The awesome track

The bears' race cars all lined up

Watching his car

Best car detail award

First place winner

First place winner

At the end of the race he was so happy to have won the race

With brother Larson his Den leader

Parker's interview with the Stake President and now waiting for his call

Last week on the 13th of March Parker had his interview with the Stake President. Now his papers are at the church Headquarters and we are waiting for his call to be assigned.

Our Bishop was so excited the other day when he got this email that he texted it to us.  It is the form he gets with the list of missionaries from the ward. In it is Parker's name under the status "with Church Headquarters" and also on the same page was Alison's under the status "Released from mission field". He thought it was neat that both our kids were on the same page.  I thought it was so nice of him to share it with us.

Grandma and Bob's visit and other things

We had a great time with grandma and Bob's visit. We took them to the temple, Downtown Disney, the Polynesian resort and had Dole whip, and went to lunch and dinner with them.

Parker had his oral surgery consultation and he needs his wisdom teeth pulled out.  Here he is asleep while waiting for the doctor.

Alison and I went to the temple on the Friday morning before Time Out For Women, February 28th.

Time Out For Women-Saturday session

I have not had time to post from the Time Out for Women this year and now I have forgotten the thoughts I had at the time so it is just a whole bunch of notes. But that is fine I am know I did learn something that day and it was an awesome experience.

Mary Ellen Edmunds

Sunbeams

When someone asks you how you are today, answer HAPPY!

In Romans-Let us put on the armor of light.

It is better to light a candle that curse the darkness.

Every child of God is unique, different from each other.  We are sunbeams dispelling darkness. As sunbeams we should be kinder to each other. "Let us all speak kind words to each other". The Savior said He would be our light in the wilderness.  He is the light and the life of the world. Mosiah 4:19. 

Sandra Turley

To love another person is to see the face of God. Heavenly Father thinks of us all the time.

John Hilton

Isaiah

1Nephi-Hear the words of the prophet Isaiah...so ye will have hope.

Abraham 1:2-Followers of righteousness

Isaiah 1:16-17- Cease to do evil, learn to do well.

Isaiah 29:24-They that murmured shall learn doctrine

Isaiah 43:2-I will be with thee..when thou walkest through the fire

1. Followers of righteousness/cease to do evil, learn to do well

Make small changes-no gossip, no evil speaking. Learn to do well. 

Henry B. Eyring: "Most of us have some experience with self improvement efforts. My experience has taught me this about how people and organizations improve: the best place to look is for small changes we could make in things we do often. There is power in steadiness and repetition. And if we can be led by inspiration to choose the right small things to change, consistent obedience will bring great improvement."

Isaiah 40:29-31-God giveth power to the faint

Neil L. Anderson-"How do we decide where our repentance should be focused?...Humbly petition the Lord: "Father, what wouldst Thou have me do?" The answers come. We feel the changes we need to make. The Lord tells us in our mind and in our heart."

2. They that murmured shall learn doctrine Isaiah 29:24 

Learning Doctrine helps us not complain. Isaiah 51:14,  52:2 

If you have a complain;

1. Turn it around to see what you are committed to, what you want to have happen.

2. Make a list of what you have in your control/what you have power to make it happen.

For every worry under the sun there is remedy of there is none

Isaiah 25:4 35:3

There are people around us in need of service and when we give service we forget to complain.

3. I will be with thee.. when thou walkest through the fire.

Isaiah 49:14-16 

The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. God will never forget us.

Isaiah 43:1-3

I will be with thee. I have call the by name.

Isaiah 10:28-32

Lift up thy voice

Jeffrey R. Holland: "Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come until heave; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come"

Jill Manning

Media Savvy

Using and choosing media in our lives

When it comes to media women matter. Women use media more than men.  We need to be aware that the adversary knows how to use media as a tool of destruction.

 Be aware of how we use media.

Be mindful of what we use or consume in media. It affects our moods, feelings and the promptings of the spirit.

How mentally nourishing is the media we consume? Take time to think about what is in the media we use.

Learning and practicing. Seek out the best and avoid the worst. What is the best? The youth need our help in knowing what is the best. How do we know what is the best?

The thirteenth article of faith is a great tool.

What do we do IF they are not good? There is more seeking to do.

"Ironically, it sometimes takes hard work to find wholesome leisure." D. Todd Christofferson

Learn to recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  Have the wisdom to hold up the light of Christ. Be aware of what you engage in media. Become media Savvy, to be a light to those around you.

Something to think about: If we were able to take all your media information, Facebook, Blog etc., what would it say about you?

Nutrition facts of what we consume on the internet, using the 13th article of faith

This is really neat, it is hard to see it but it says: Serving size 1 (DVD, CD, website, book, magazine, TV show, text, podcast, blog, etc.)

Kris Belcher

Her favorite story is the Children of Israel. They prayed for deliverance. They were in the wilderness for 40 years. Their souls were discouraged. They were not happy with their conditions and murmurred. God sent serpents. They were sorry and went to Moses. Moses prayed to God. Those who look at the serpent of brass would live. They chose not to look because it was too easy to do and so they died. Like the serpent if you look to Christ you will live, because of his atonement, he delivered us from sin.

All that is unfair will be made fair but the pain is not taken away. Sister Belcher had cancer in the retina, and lost the vision in her left eye when she was 9 years old. Ten years ago lost the vision on her right eye.  She begged for deliverance. Her eye needed to be removed. It was hard for her. She tried to look to the Savior, she knew Heavenly Father was always there. 

Wait upon the Lord- We should serve him actively, not passively.

Elder Holland-(Action words on how we wait upon the Lord)-Never lose faith in Heavenly Father-Never harden your heart-Seek the counsel of your leaders-Take the sacrament every week-believe in miracles-Trust in the happier days ahead.

Look up to God

Seek, cherish, ask (don't lose hope)

God to us-Please wait for me to guide you. No one sees better than he does. Look inside of yourself to the things you can control.  the only limits we have, we set them ourselves not others. Choose to laugh. Look to what we can give others. Never give up on Christ because He is always there.  Look up, look to God, look inside past your limitations and look out to others to serve and you will find deliverance.

Mercy River

Time Out For Women- Friday night

Barbara Thompson

Teach me to walk in the light.

Isaiah 2:5

Three Steps to help us walk in the light

1. There is a path and a prescribed way to help us stay on the path.

He established His church with prophets and apostles.  He laid out the plan and showed the way when He was on the earth. He was baptized.

2 Timothy 3:14-16

She had the advantage to be taught by her parents and leaders as a child

The Scriptures are her dear friends. Teach from the Scriptures. Stay on the path, we want to find the way and stay in it. Moses 6:33,34. Miracles can happen if we choose to follow Christ and walk with God.  Serve God who made you.

2. We need to be "Quick to observe" in order to stay on the path

Mormon 1:2 Quick to observe

We will pay attention and have Christ-like qualities if we are quick to observe and be able to help people that are around us.

3. Following simple directions is essential in staying on the path

Look! is mentioned in the scriptures many times. 

Alma-See that ye look to God and live.

Look!

Alma 37:47   Isaiah 45:22  D&C 6:36  2 Nephi 25:24  1 Nephi 11  Jude 1:21

Listen! Hear!

D&C 19:23  Moroni 8:8  Matthew 11:15  Mark 4:9  Jeremiah 26:5  Isaiah 49:1  Acts 28:27

Turn

Ezequiel 18:32  Joel 2:12 Matthew 5:42  Helaman 5:36-37  44-45

Come

Matthew 11:28  John 1:39,46

Michael Wilcox

Stars are constant and unchangeable and we get our direction from them.  We follow Christ, he is our constant and unchangeable guide. The Savior when he came to the Nephites, his whiteness exceeded all white.  Prophets and Apostles are all good men and we should follow them.

Everything Jesus did on the outside, He was teaching us to do on the inside-spiritually.

Jesus said-I am the light of the world.

He healed the blind-put clay on his eyes and told him to go wash it. The clay symbolizes the stuff of the world and if we get rid of worldly stuff we can see clearly, we can see the truth.

D&C 5 tells us what to pray for. 

Nothing in mortality is never too late.

Mary was so focused on her grief that she did not recognize Jesus.  Jesus called Mary and she turned herself and said "Master". Someday we will turn with the calling of our name.

We are beings of light.