KATHERINE AND BOBBY JUST BOUGHT THIS HOUSE IN KIRKSVILLE! THEY ARE MOVING THIS WEEK! WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE PICTURES.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
CONGRATULATIONS KATHERINE AND BOBBY!
KATHERINE AND BOBBY JUST BOUGHT THIS HOUSE IN KIRKSVILLE! THEY ARE MOVING THIS WEEK! WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE PICTURES.
WE CELEBRATED MAGGIE'S BIRTHDAY ON SUNDAY. SHE IS 19. MAGGIE IS DOING 
Sunday, June 22, 2008
THE LOST PHOTOS. 
Friday, June 6, 2008
FAMILY HOME EVENING LESSON
A DISCIPLE'S JOURNEY
This is a talk from Elder Bruce Hafen given at last February's BYU Devotional. I wanted to share parts of it with you:
A few years ago our teenage daughter was feeling quite unsettled, asking some very honest questions, such as “Why is life so hard?” As we talked over dinner one night, I prayed like a missionary for the right things to say. After all, our children are our most important investigators. In the very moment, I received a prompting about “gravitational pull.” I grabbed a paper napkin and drew a sketch I’d never thought of before. It sparked a lively discussion. I felt so close to her that night. She is the child of our covenant, and I want to be with her always.
A disciple moves from darkness into light, which increases from the dim light of the stars to the moon and then to the brightness of the sun. Joseph Smith compared these heavenly bodies with the telestial, terrestrial, and celestial kingdoms. As the temple teaches, we can and should move toward that celestial light during mortality. We need not be of the world, even if we must live in the world.
Imagine that two vertical lines separate the stars, moon, and sun into three sections. Each line suggests a major transition as we move from one stage to the next. However, our journey is not rigidly sequential. Our experiences may move us back and forth.
Envision also two circles, each with a center point, located in stage one and in stage three. These circles represent the gravitational pull from the opposing poles of our journey. In the darkness of stage one, he who claims to be the god of this world exerts a constant force to hold us back from moving toward the light. As we cross the first barrier, we will leave the strongest satanic tugging—though he will always try to ensnare us wherever we are in the journey.
Reaching out from the center of light in stage three, Jesus also “entices” us with a spiritual gravitational pull toward Him. Think of the father of the prodigal son, praying his son home. When the father saw his son coming from afar, the father “had compassion, and ran” to the boy “and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
I compare that father to Christ, who is so eager for our return that He comes to meet and strengthen us all along our way. Nephi wrote, “It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” Christ’s running to us is a vivid symbol of that grace. We talk often in the Church about coming to Christ. Perhaps we should talk more about how Christ also comes to us. No matter where we are on that path, we are never lost to Him. We often sing “Who’s on the Lord’s side? Who?” Let us also sing “Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side.” We never have more value in the Lord’s sight than when we are feeling completely worthless.
We need to always remember that we have made covenants to move toward a celestial life. Sometimes that seems impossible. But consider how Elder Hafen describes Christ as the father of the prodigal son. Basically the scriptures not only testify of Christ but many accounts are a type and shadow of the Savior. The father running to greet the prodigal son represents Christ running to assist us as we move away from the pull of the world (Satan) towards a celestial life. This is a beautiful description of the Atonement.
Also consider this quote by Pres. Ezra Taft Benson:
Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar His Face is to us.
This is a talk from Elder Bruce Hafen given at last February's BYU Devotional. I wanted to share parts of it with you:
A few years ago our teenage daughter was feeling quite unsettled, asking some very honest questions, such as “Why is life so hard?” As we talked over dinner one night, I prayed like a missionary for the right things to say. After all, our children are our most important investigators. In the very moment, I received a prompting about “gravitational pull.” I grabbed a paper napkin and drew a sketch I’d never thought of before. It sparked a lively discussion. I felt so close to her that night. She is the child of our covenant, and I want to be with her always.
A disciple moves from darkness into light, which increases from the dim light of the stars to the moon and then to the brightness of the sun. Joseph Smith compared these heavenly bodies with the telestial, terrestrial, and celestial kingdoms. As the temple teaches, we can and should move toward that celestial light during mortality. We need not be of the world, even if we must live in the world.
Imagine that two vertical lines separate the stars, moon, and sun into three sections. Each line suggests a major transition as we move from one stage to the next. However, our journey is not rigidly sequential. Our experiences may move us back and forth.
Envision also two circles, each with a center point, located in stage one and in stage three. These circles represent the gravitational pull from the opposing poles of our journey. In the darkness of stage one, he who claims to be the god of this world exerts a constant force to hold us back from moving toward the light. As we cross the first barrier, we will leave the strongest satanic tugging—though he will always try to ensnare us wherever we are in the journey.
Reaching out from the center of light in stage three, Jesus also “entices” us with a spiritual gravitational pull toward Him. Think of the father of the prodigal son, praying his son home. When the father saw his son coming from afar, the father “had compassion, and ran” to the boy “and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
I compare that father to Christ, who is so eager for our return that He comes to meet and strengthen us all along our way. Nephi wrote, “It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” Christ’s running to us is a vivid symbol of that grace. We talk often in the Church about coming to Christ. Perhaps we should talk more about how Christ also comes to us. No matter where we are on that path, we are never lost to Him. We often sing “Who’s on the Lord’s side? Who?” Let us also sing “Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side.” We never have more value in the Lord’s sight than when we are feeling completely worthless.
We need to always remember that we have made covenants to move toward a celestial life. Sometimes that seems impossible. But consider how Elder Hafen describes Christ as the father of the prodigal son. Basically the scriptures not only testify of Christ but many accounts are a type and shadow of the Savior. The father running to greet the prodigal son represents Christ running to assist us as we move away from the pull of the world (Satan) towards a celestial life. This is a beautiful description of the Atonement.
Also consider this quote by Pres. Ezra Taft Benson:
Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar His Face is to us.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
I am so proud of all of you. It was so great to be together for Julia and Grant. I really feel the love and support we all feel as a family.
I of course think of your Mom all the time. I wanted to share a couple of things with you that I have read:
President Spencer W. Kimball (BYU speeches of the year)
I am certain. in my mind that the Lord has planned our destiny. We can shorten our lives, but I don't think we can lengthen them very much. Sometime we'll understand fully, and when we see back from the vantage point of the future we will be satisfied with many of the happenings of this life which seemed too difficult for us to comprehend.
Elder Neal Maxwell (All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience)
A mortal life may need to be 'shortened' by twenty years as we might view it, but if so, it may be done for certain services to be rendered by that individual in the spirit world, services that will benefit thousands of new neighbors with whom that individual will live in all of eternity... Our omniloving and omniscient Heavenly Father will release us when it is time to be released. But each such release of a righteous person is also a call to new labors!
I try to focus on this fact. That your Mom has been called to an important labor. I am happy that she won't have to suffer the difficulties of growing old. That she is in such a beautiful place. Do you know how happy she must be?
Now I have given you plenty of quotes about how she is involved in each of our lives. She is near us and loves us more than ever.
Here is another quote.
Elder Jeffrey Holland ("For Times of Trouble," New Era, Oct. 1980, 15)
In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike and they will, you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham's seed.
I know these things are true. You know your Mom. Her love for her family will benefit us more
than we can know.
Sophie and Sloth
Hey Sophie,
Remember that time you got pink eye and I gave you Franny's medicine, and you woke up looking like this? We would have called you "Sloth" all day, only I couldn't remember that character's name so instead we said, "You look like that guy with the deformed face from goonies!"
It was so hilarious! I was taking Franny to school and Sophie was still sleeping, so I grabbed Sophie out of her crib, put her in her car seat, and while I was backing out of the garage, I finally saw sophie's face. I was like, "Holy crap! What happened to your face?!" Poor Sophie.
(This was months ago by the way. I just never blogged it.)
Remember that time you got pink eye and I gave you Franny's medicine, and you woke up looking like this? We would have called you "Sloth" all day, only I couldn't remember that character's name so instead we said, "You look like that guy with the deformed face from goonies!"
It was so hilarious! I was taking Franny to school and Sophie was still sleeping, so I grabbed Sophie out of her crib, put her in her car seat, and while I was backing out of the garage, I finally saw sophie's face. I was like, "Holy crap! What happened to your face?!" Poor Sophie.(This was months ago by the way. I just never blogged it.)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
WEDDING OF JULIA HOLMES (WARNER)
What a great day. We had such a great time with all of you guys. The weather was perfect. Even though mom wasn't there in a mortal body, I am sure that she was there with us laughing crying and maybe even being a little ireverant ha ha. Welcome to the family Grant We love you man. You hurt herand I will kill you jk. But seriously
CARNIVAL PRIDE CRUISE SHIP
we went on a cruise for our 1 year aniversary how crazy. It is so hard to beleive that kristy and i have been married a year already. we did the mexican riviera cruise it was awsome we did so much like zip lining jet skiing. It was so so so much fun.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Letter to Mom
Sorry, I know this is weird, but I want to write a letter to Mom on here.
Dear Mom,
I like sewing now! I've been trying to like sewing for years and years and now I finally do!
I made this apron. Isn't it cute?
I hope you don't mind but I took your Bernina. I was afraid to take it because I remember that time when I was first married and asked if I could have your old Singer and you said no, even though you were never ever going to use it again. I promise I'll be careful with it.
I keep finding myself doing things that [I think] would make you happy or proud. It's become sort of an obsession. Each time I visit our home in California I take one or two things of yours back with me. This last time I took FOUR things: your butter molds from New Zealand, your entire ribbon collection (to make hairbows for the girls), your sewing scissors, and of course your sewing machine. I love seeing your things around my house because it feels a little like you're here with us.
Remember how mad you would get if we ever used your sewing scissors on paper? That was a big rule in our house and one I will never ever break. I LOVE how sharp your scissors are!
Anyway, I have just really been wanting to tell you how happy I am to discover that I really do like to sew. I just wish that you and I could have worked on something together. Like maybe a quilt. That would have been cool. But sewing (especially on your sewing machine) makes me feel really close to you and I think that helps me enjoy it even more. I love you Mom,
Kath
Dear Mom,
I like sewing now! I've been trying to like sewing for years and years and now I finally do!
I made this apron. Isn't it cute?
I hope you don't mind but I took your Bernina. I was afraid to take it because I remember that time when I was first married and asked if I could have your old Singer and you said no, even though you were never ever going to use it again. I promise I'll be careful with it.
I keep finding myself doing things that [I think] would make you happy or proud. It's become sort of an obsession. Each time I visit our home in California I take one or two things of yours back with me. This last time I took FOUR things: your butter molds from New Zealand, your entire ribbon collection (to make hairbows for the girls), your sewing scissors, and of course your sewing machine. I love seeing your things around my house because it feels a little like you're here with us.
Remember how mad you would get if we ever used your sewing scissors on paper? That was a big rule in our house and one I will never ever break. I LOVE how sharp your scissors are!
Anyway, I have just really been wanting to tell you how happy I am to discover that I really do like to sew. I just wish that you and I could have worked on something together. Like maybe a quilt. That would have been cool. But sewing (especially on your sewing machine) makes me feel really close to you and I think that helps me enjoy it even more. I love you Mom,
Kath
Sunday, April 6, 2008
GENERAL CONFERENCE SUNDAY BREAKFAST. A FAMILY TRADITION.
Marianne loved to establish family traditions. You will find when you continue these traditions you will feel she is close by. One of these traditions was breakfast on General Conference Sunday. She loved to fix the Egg and Sausage Casserole and the Buttermilk Cinnamon Coffee Cake with Coconut Topping. I had to try and figure out what Marianne did for the coconut topping. Maggie and I figured it out this morning. See note next to Coffecake recipe.
As I stood late Saturday night mixing the ingredients for the egg casserole I was reminded of all the times Marianne did the same while I kept her company watching TV. I knew that she was pleased.
Recipe's are from Julia's cookbook. Thanks to Katherine. Just click to enlarge.
Attention: Just make the coffee cake. Ignore the topping suggestions. After coffee cake has baked. Add the following topping:
Mix and spread on coffecake.
Melt 1/2 cup of butter
2 cups of sweetened coconut
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 cup of brown sugar
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