CLEVELAND ROCKS

While I was at the Salt Lake Temple last night, Mardee said that she had been told about my blog and went to see what I had to update about Abi. Well when she told me this story, I thought that I had better put something up about my darling missionary.
Abi feels truly blessed to be able to have the Kirtland Temple in her area. It is truly sacred ground. A fantastic missionary tool to help investigators feel the Spirit as they are taught the truths of the restoration.






Abi is currently serving in the North Olmsted Area, Cleveland Zone. She has been out 10 months, has been in 3 areas and has had only 1 companion for 2 transfers. She was a trainer after just 6 months out. She is currently living with the Stake President, President Titera and his wife. A funny thing about this.....It's a small world!!!!! Sister Titera's sister and BIL live in the 11th ward of the Grantsville Utah Stake. Abi and Sister Romney are serving in the same ward that the Mission President and Stake President attend. PRESSURE.

This is Abi with her 1st Mission President and Sister Peterson. They are from Salt Lake. Abi changed Mission President's in July. She now serves under President and Sister Sorenson.

Some of Abi's most recent thoughts....

"Our teaching pool is REALLY small, in fact we have no progressing investigators. (This letter was written just after her transfer to a new area). This area has so much potential and I'm thrilled with the trust Heavenly Father has placed in me to help build it up. I decided at the beginning of my mission that I just wanted Heavenly Father to trust me with whatever He needed done. Every area I've served in I've come in with no investigators and a lot of tracting before me.....then as I've left I've usually left behind a couple of baptisms or baptismal dates or a large teaching pool. I do not boast of myself, but I glory in Jesus. I'm grateful for these blessings. I guess it just goes back to the rule of leaving things better than you found them. These people aren't mine, they are Heavenly Father's children. I do my best to trust in Him and that He will tell me what to do with them."

Abi has had her share of mishaps and accidents. She has been in 2 car wrecks, neither were the missionaries fault. She has fallen down and scraped her leg several times. She has had birds poop on her head and been caught outside in several down pours. She is loving her missionary experiences.

Hope you have enjoyed getting caught up on what our darling daughter is up to. She loves being called as a special witness of Jesus Christ, and testifying to the world, or the Cleveland community, that Jesus is the Christ and that happiness comes through Him.

Change in callings

Just a quick note to let you all know what is happening in my life. After nearly 3 years, I was recently released as the 16-17 year old Sunday School teacher. I am going to miss this calling. I want my students to know how grateful I am for their testimonies of the Savior and for the examples they set for me and others. You guys and gals are awesome!!!! It has been a pleasure to learn more about the Gospel together with all of you.

So along with the release I received a new calling. I am now going to be a Relief Society teacher. Errrrrhhh, I have NEVER taught adults. I am scared to death but excited all at the same time. Wish me luck......

Beware

I went to the doctor yesterday, I have been coughing so much lately that the kids watched the store for me and I visited the doc's office. Well, I knew it, I have..........
BRONCHITIS

Yuck, stay away, beware, and WASH YOUR HANDS. Sorry if I infected anybody!

I am trying to be careful, staying away when it is possible. I need to get better soon, I want to go to the gym.

THE RESULTS OF 1 RIGHTEOUS DECISION

What are the results of a decision?

Jeff and I had the opportunity this past weekend to witness first hand the fruition of a righteous decision made many, many years earlier.

My older sister had 1 granddaughter baptized and 2 granddaughters blessed this weekend by their fathers, quite possibly because of a decision she made as a young girl in California.


You see, when I was very young we lived in Walnut Creek, CA. My parents were not active in the church but we had a faithful home teacher that came and visited monthly. As my sister reached Young Women's age, this faithful Home teacher invited her to church. Going so far as to assist her in getting to the meetinghouse. Well that faithful man, where ever he may be, probably will never know the results of his faithful service, but partially, because of him a little girl in Idaho became one of the newest members of the church this weekend, and 2 beautiful babies became recipients of a fathers blessing as they start their mortal lives.

(Lani, I hope I got the story right)

We all make decisions every day. Most of the time without even a thought of what the consequences may be. Generations far beyond our view will be the recipient of some of those choices. I am grateful for the promptings of the Spirit which help me to make the best decisions in my life.

Thanks family for the awesome weekend. I loved every single minute of it. Not to have to worry about the store, Thank you kids!!!! Visiting with wonderful family members that I don't get to see very often. Thanks Lani & Dave

This is for GIO!

This is how close we were to the Prophet and ALL the General Authorities!


I know that this post is late, but I have been trying to get pictures to post from my card onto my computer and have been having all kinds of problems, but since it seems to be working I will update my boring blog.

This blog entry is for Gio; Abi's awesome friend from Ohio who was planning on coming to Utah for conference, and then was unable to make it. So Gio.......Not to make you feel bad for missing it, but to share the experience with you here are some pictures.



I don't know why I looked so scared in this picture.....lol

Anyway, we were blessed to have very close seats so that we were literally sitting at the feet of the Prophets. A nice story, we had 2 extra seats, because Gio couldn't make it out. Not wanting them to go to waste, we gave them to a gentleman who asking for tickets as we were walking towards the conference center. After we had taken our seats, this man came over to us, asked us if we were the ones who had given him the tickets. When we told him yes, he then told us this story. His 14 yr old son had just received his patriarchal blessing, and in it it told him that he would sit at the feet of the Prophets to be instructed in the ways of the Lord. And there he was, a prophecy fulfilled.

One of my favorite talks given was by Bishop H. Burke Peterson. He spoke about the "ity" virtues. Virtues in today's society that might be missing, virtues like, RESPONSIBILITY, HUMILITY, MORALITY, CIVILITY, HONESTY, FIDELITY, GENEROSITY, SPIRITUALITY, CREDIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, CHARITY, INTEGRITY were just some of the ITY virtues that he spoke about. He said that Integrity is the mother of all virtues. That if Integrity is lost, all the rest of the virtues are impossible to keep. I am grateful for the reminder from living latter day Prophets, who are inspired to give a sermon on things designed to help make us better individuals.

Then to sit at the feet of a Prophet of God. To hear President Monson speak about Service. "What have I done for someone else today?" That if I look outside of myself and my life, and my troubles, there will be ways to serve somebody every single day!!! What an awesome thought. I can be of service, I might just make a difference in someone else's life.

Other various thoughts from conference......

"Do I find myself int he thick or thin of things? Am I focused on what really matters?"

"There are no monthly service fees with communication to Heaven."

"Using the safety equipment provided to us is a choice. One we must choose to enjoy."

"Resist all distractions that would remove us from the iron rod"

"We obey, not by force but by desire"

I am grateful to be a member of the Living church. To have a Living Prophet of God, who teaches and guides us to be better than we were yesterday, IF we choose to follow him. I know that these things are true, Gio. I know that true happiness in found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Oh Mommy.......How are MY prayers answered?

I labeled this post with the question that has plagued my life. All too often I want the thunderbolt and lightning to come down from Heaven to answer my prayers and give me the needed information to fix the crisis that is currently plaguing my life. But unfortunately for me I never get the LOUD, NOISY answers. Those answers usually come with the still small voice, that I still haven't learned how to listen to. Then I have to decipher what the Lord wants me to hear and act with faith upon what I THINK I am being told.

For example, I have a particular concern that consumes my thoughts right now. It keeps me from getting a good nights sleep, as I toss and turn and wake up several times a night pondering it. I have been praying fervently for an answer, or more specifically, guidance. This has been going on for a few months now, with no real answer, other than to "trust the Lord". As long as I put the Lord first in my life, ALL things will work out. So that is what I have been trying to do. Going on with life, TRUSTING that Heavenly Father will make His will known to me at the appropriate time.

So here is the dilemma, this morning out of a deep sleep at 4:45am I wake up with the clear memory of a dream that I had just had. The dream was specifically about what has me concerned, but this answer isn't the answer that I had hoped would come. So is this my personal revelation and an answer to my prayers? or is it my own conscience and fear causing me to dream of the exact thing I don't want to happen?

Since my mom passed away 13 1/2 years ago, I can't really ask her, but I long for her words of wisdom and love. I have always trusted my mom, and I miss her unconditional love and support. I miss feeling her loving arms around me, comforting me and making "everything" alright. With those thoughts in mind, I ask again........ Mommy, how are MY prayers answered? Why am I so confused?

Thanks for letting me vent and express my greatest concerns. I love all of you who participate with me in my blog. I treasure your example, your wisdom, your love, and your testimony in our Savior. Thank you for you examples!

The people who take care of me....

So much to catch up on.....

Surgery went really well. My leg has healed quickly, I have been released by the doctor after just 3 1/2 weeks. I have been cleared to head back to the gym for physical therapy and exercise. Slow, consistent progress is the key. I have to send a huge shout out to my awesome sister. She flew down from Idaho and took care of me during and after my surgery. I have to tell you she went above and beyond. I invited her down to help me and she totally cleaned my house while I laid around in bed catching up on......Good Day Utah, The View, and the food network. Thanks Lani, so much for your sacrifice and love! Your an awesome big sister and I love you!

Jeff recently celebrated his birthday. Since he was out of town for the actual day, we celebrated by going to Saltimbanco at the E Center. It was so much fun. I am so grateful for Jeff and all that he does to support and take care of our family. He works long hours, goes wherever the work is and has practically had to give up his passion, riding his horses, in order to take care of us. I love him and appreciate all that he has done to bless our lives. Thanks honey, you're the best!!!!

P.S. I have tried several times to add the pictures to make this post more interesting. They won't download to my blog, even though the computer is telling me that they have. I hate computers, only because I don't understand them!