Thankful Day 7

Tonight I am grateful for the 'dentist' which is where I am going to have to go on Monday. Just lost my gold crown on one of my back teeth....guess what my Christmas gift will be this year?

Thanksgiving Day 6

I am thankful for Seagull Book and Costco where we were able to get some Christmas shopping done this morning. I love Christmas, I love decorating the house, I love the smell of pumpkin pie and fresh rolls, and I especially love being together as family and the phone calls from them who are far away. The first thing that goes up is the Nativity Scene...I am so grateful for the birth of Jesus, for his example of love and obedience. I love walking through the stores and smelling pine cones and Christmas trees. And yes, I do love shopping this time of year. I am very thankful to live in the USA where we can enjoy all these traditions of Christmas.

Thankful Day 5

I am thankful for the scriptures that we are free to read and ponder each day. We believe the Bible and the Book of Mormon to both be the word of God, as well as living prophets in our own day. As we look around us and watch the tv news, I am even more grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and His plan for us.

"The latter-day scriptures are published so that the honest in heart may be cheered and comforted and go on their way rejoicing, as their souls become exposed and their understanding enlightened by a knowledge of God's work through the fathers in former days, as well as what He is about to do in latter days to fulfill the words of the fathers." Joseph Smith

"He that reads it oftenest will like it best!" Joseph Smith

Thankful Day 4

We're thankful for the pictures we received in the mail today of Christa, Jenna, and Nate!

We received these a few weeks ago of Jordan and Rachel

Thankful Day 3

I am thankful for trials and what we learn from them. Each of us are facing trials today and we cannot, nor do we want, to escape from them; but pray for strength to go through them. One of my favorite scriptures over the many years is found in Romans 5:1-5. We cannot escape trials, but we can endure them well and learn from them we will feel His peace. I am reminded of what President Hinckley’s father told him when he was struggling on his mission, “Everything will work out – now put on your shoes and go to work!” Whether it be medical, financial, emotional, spiritual…He is there knocking on the door in hopes that we will open the door & invite Him in. So let's all put a smile on our faces and be grateful for all the blessings we have right around us.

Jesus At The Door
I hurried through my daily chores

And didn't stop to pray,

But a knocking sounded in my head

Did you make time for Me today?
I had so much that I must do

I pushed the thought away,

And hurried on to get things done

I've no time to pray today.
When at last my work was finished

Happy...I should have been,

But within me I felt empty

There's that knocking in my head again.
Down on my knees I dropped

With Jesus I would soar,

To answer that sweet knocking

It's Jesus at the door.
~ Charlotte Anselmo ~

Thankful Day 2

i am grateful for a husband who pitches in on our Prep-Day to clean the apartment, do the laundry, shopping as we prepare for another wonderful week in the temple. Marv is thankful to be in our apartment tonight to just relax after a busy day.

What we are thankful for today

One of our daughter's family, the Harrells, had a great idea to post what they are grateful for every day in the month of November. Another daughter, the Bjorn's, liked the idea and are hoping to keep it up as well. So, we decided to follow their example. I am thankful today for the priesthood and security here on temple hill that made it possible for us to attend Sacrament Meeting and hear the beautiful children's program in the Westwood 1 & 2 wards...even though the protesters were outside demonstrating. Marv is thankful today for the the inspiration he is feeling right now as he prepares a talk he is to give in Long Beach tonight to a 4-Stake Singles Fireside.

Where shall we find peace...

In November 1st Church News there were two statements by President Monson that I thought very applicable to what we have faced this past week:

"Occasionally discouragement may darken our pathway; frustration may be a constant companion. In our ears there may sound the sophistry of Satan as he whispers, 'You cannot save the world; your small efforts are meaningless. You haven't time to be concerned for others.' Trusting in the Lord, let us turn our heads from such falsehood and make certain our feet are firmly planted in the path of service and our hearts and souls dedicated to follow the example of the Lord." Finding Peace, Ensign March 2004

"The blessings of the temple are eternal. Those who come to this holy house will feel of God's love for His children and come to a greater understanding of their own divine origin and potential as His sons and daughters." Announcement May 24, 2008 of a new temple in AZ.

As we had to close and leave the LA temple on Thursday you could definitely feel a peace, even on the grounds of the temple. Our temple grounds were secured by police, firemen, rangers, and riot squads. Since most of them had never been on temple grounds before, there comment was "your grounds are so beautiful" and "you can feel such a peace here". As we opened again on Friday and Saturday, our phone lines were flooded with positive calls from those from many different faiths from all over the country in support.

For our church's response on this issue of traditional marriage go to: http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/church-responds-to-same-sex-marriage-votes

A group that has gathered "facts on prop 8" is: Get the Facts about the LDS Church and Proposition 8.

MORE PRIMARY PROGRAMS

We enjoyed attending our own ward Primary Sacrament Meeting program a week ago. The theme throughout the church for this year is "I Am A Child of God".

Melanie said "President Monson is our Prophet"

Spencer's class sang "When Jesus Christ was Baptized" instead of talks.

After this meeting we attended NP 1 Sacrament Meeting where Brother and Sister Turner gave a talk



Even though do not live close by most of our grandchildren, some have shared their experience in the Primary Sacrament Program over the phone.

Nate talked about his baptism day and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and grateful his dad had the priesthood to perform this. [what a great big brother and example he is to his four sisters]

Christa talked about Jesus baptism and how Jesus went straightway out of the water and the Holy Ghost descended like a dove and lighting upon Him. [wow, what a great memory]

Little Jenna said "I am a child of God". [oh that she will always remember that]

Sick and Tired!!!!

I AM SICK AND TIRED OF POLITICIAN LYES

We now have lawmakers & judges who go out willfully and intentionally to put upon our statute books legislation which is contrary to the Ten Commandments, and as they do they are sowing seeds of destruction for our nation!

Just take a look at Exodus 20 and also the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 and compare some of our laws today. Some might say we need “freedom of choice”, but when it goes against the laws of God it is no longer freedom, but we are sewing seeds of captivity.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me…and yet there are those who are trying to remove God.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain…in our speech there is irreverence for God.
Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy…do we make the Sabbath Day a day of worship?
Honor thy father and thy mother…and there are those who are trying to destroy traditional marriage.
Thou shalt not kill…and yet we have abortion, and even late term abortion, killing the innocent.
Thou shalt not commit adultery…pornography legalized and we have those who are trying to legalize prostitution. Hollywood has had a negative influence through movies and television.
Thou shalt not steal…this is how we have gotten in the economical mess.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor…politicians and news media continues to do this on a daily basis. Why not just tell what you as a politician plan to do instead of tearing down another?
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors house, wife, manservant, maidservant, ox, ass, anything of thy neighbors…money seems to be the root of all evil in today’s world and some will do anything to have it. Hollywood does a good job on this one as well; instead of having good wholesome family shows that uplift, they instead tear down, using sex and killing in most shows.
If everyone on this earth just lived these commandments and be-attitudes…crime would decrease, economy would improve, morals and values would improve. This is where we will find real JOY and PEACE! " It takes just one…let’s each start today to make CHANGE here in the USA and vote for those who believe in these simple principles that are in front of us today.

We can start in California with a YES vote on Proposition 8 and 4! One more, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself…we love and tolerate those who choose not to keep the commandments, but that does not mean we should change the commandments.