The end of 2010

As the time was winding up to Christmas day life became very busy. Grandma Johnson and Aunt Annette came to visit the weekend of the 17th. To watch the White mountain dance academy's "Nutcracker ballet". My two nieces were in the opening act. It was a lot of fun to watch. We have watched the ballet several years in a row, but, this was the first year that I had family preforming in the ballet. It was a very nice evening.

Aunt Annette then left and went back to the Valley of the Sun to work. So Grandma Johnson spent the week with us. It was a busy week preparing for Christmas, finishing all of the projects and getting the gifts wrapped and many other things.

On Christmas Eve we were invited to attend dinner at Mary Caldwell's house. It was a nice evening with some yummy soup and sandwiches. The children presented a small nativity for us all. It was very special. We then went to the Snowflake Temple to start our trip around town looking at Christmas lights. We met Aunt Annette there and of course the kids wanted to ride with her. It was a nice evening. We could see our Christmas lights way in the distance from the Temple's parking lot. It is such a beautiful place. So peaceful.

Christmas day was wonderful. It started early. Ann was the most excited of everyone. She had a blast opening the gifts and seeing what was inside. We enjoyed sharing the morning with Aunt Annette and Grandma Johnson. I was so glad that they didn't have to spend Christmas morning alone. We talked about our many blessings and the wonderful blessing of having a family. We talked about the awesome blessing of the birth of Jesus Christ. Then that afternoon my brother Jason and his sweet wife Amy came to dinner with their family. We had a wonderful visit enjoying the special time together. To top the Christmas weekend off on Sunday we fed the missionaries. It was very special to sit and visit with them about the gospel. It brought such a nice and special feeling into our home. I am so thankful that we were able to have them come for dinner. What a blessing their presence was in our home and what a way to end the weekend.

Now we are looking forward to the New Year of 2011. As we look forward I am thinking back on this year. We have been so blessed. We have a warm home, family, friends and food. My Mom survived a heart attack and is recovering. We had a productive garden in the summer. We have a wonderful community to live in. We have a wonderful church to attend and serve in. We have a wonderful school system to learn in. We get to enjoy the seasons of the year. We are very blessed. Even though the World seems to be in great commotion and so unstable. We have so many wonderful blessings in our lives. I have enjoyed looking back and seeing the Hand of the Lord in my life and the life of my friends and family.

I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! Lets make 2011 better than 2010!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a very pleasant Good Night.

It's December already and 1/2 the month is already passed by. I can't believe that the year 2010 is already coming to an end. This month has been busy as usual. But, we have enjoyed being together as a family. There has been many wonderful moments already to bring the spirit of Christ into our home. We so enjoyed the First Presidency Christmas Broadcast the first weekend of December. Wrestling is over. I think Michael learned a lot and it was good for him. We also learned how to juggle schedules. School is almost out for the Christmas break. We need a break. I think most of us are looking forward for a White Christmas. I hope that it is a White Christmas this year. But, I know the kids are looking forward to Christmas with excitement. I am so thankful to be in a community that is not afraid to have Christ in Christmas. It is a wonderful place to live. We have lived in other types of communities in the past so we are well aware of the sadness that happens when Christ is taken out of Christmas. I hope that everyone has a very special Merry Christmas and a most Happy New Year. Can you believe it's almost 2011, Wow time is sure sped up!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

So we went from Football to wrestling. It has been a busy school year. I have such a hard time watching wrestling. I feel so bad for the boy who is getting pinned even if it isn't my boy or on our team. It is just stressful to me. But, all the dad's seem to love wrestling and so do the boys. I just don't get it. But, then I've never like contact sports. While wrestling was going on we also finished up soccer for Ben and Rebecca. Sometimes the schedules were over lapping. But, for the most part all worked out well. We only have one more meet and then tournament's in December. I can hardly believe that the Holidays are upon us. Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays. Probably because of good food, good times and family. We love the holidays. It gives us a time to think about all that we are thankful for. Rebecca had a challenge at activities days to list things that she was thankful for that were not spiritual. It was a fun project. So here are some of the things, animals especially horses, cats, and dogs, homes that are warm in the winter and cool in the summer, food to eat, friends, family, good neighbors, communities, the Flag of America, the constitution, cars, schools, grocery stores, forests, camping, and so many more things but most of all Freedom. Because it allows for all of the things we love. I hope that this is a good Thanksgiving Holiday with lots of warm friendships and time with family and friends.

Fun with Jr. High Football

So Michael decided to go out for 8th grade football this year. He has never played football. But, he thought it would be good exercise and a fun way to get to jump on people and not get in trouble. It has been a fun season. He hasn't played in a game against another school yet. But, he has played in the game against the 7th graders and will most likely play in the game today. He has learned alot about stretching out his muscles and running. It has been a fun time for our family to support his team at the games. It is a way to get to yell with out everyone looking at you like your doing something wrong. So "Go Lobos" can't wait to see if he will play next year. But, Ben is going to go out for 7th grade football next year. So it will be fun!

Grandma Johnson's Heart Attack

At the end of August around the 24th I think. I called my mom as usual in the morning after I drop the kids off at school. She answered the cell phone and I asked her "How are you doing today"? She answered me with "I think I died last night, But, I am still alive today and I don't know what to do!" So I asked her to tell me what happened. She said that she woke of from being a sleep in the recliner chair and she couldn't tell where she was, like her legs and her arms. She couldn't tell where they were. She thought it might be sugar level problems and so she got up to walk to the bathroom to test her levels. She could see well enough to test her fingers. But, there was nothing wrong with her sugar levels they were not elevated. She then started feeling like she was going to pass out so she went back to her bed. She then took her pulse and blood pressure. The pulse was at 144 bpm and her blood pressure was elevated. She never had any pain. Well she then told her self that she was having a panic attack and needed to just lay down and rest. But, in the morning when I called her blood pressure was still elevated and her heart was still racing at 144 bpm even when she was sitting still. So she was waiting for a call from her Doctor to see what she should do. Well the doctor called and said that she needed to have someone drive her to the heart hospital on baseline and ironwood. So my Step - Grandfather Jake drove her to the hospital. Then I didn't hear from her again until 2:00 p.m. when she called to tell me that she had a heart attack it was a heart attack in the electrical side of the heart. She is a survivor of the heart attack. But, she is very limited with what she can do. It has been a very big learning experience. She was at the Doctor yesterday and the Heart specialist was telling her that her type of heart attack is on the rise in fact it has increased over 200 % this last year. I am so glad that the Lord saw fit to give us a miracle that day. She is a great inspiration to me and my children and has a awesome testimony of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I just never new you could have a heart attack with out any pain. Wow.

End of Summer 2010

It's been a fast, fun summer. I can't believe that school is about to start again. On Aug. 11th. Where did the Summer go? It was fun. We had a lot of scouting activities and camp outs. We rode our horses a lot more than in the past. Rebecca was baptised. We have been busy with work, church, gardening, etc. I am so thankful for Summers. We enjoyed both the 4th of July rodeo and the 24th of July rodeo and parade. I am so thankful for small town communities. We've attended the Snowflake Temple together, what a blessing. As summer comes to a end. We are getting our physicals,eye exams and dentist checkups. I think we are ready for another year of School. It is great to be looking forward to a new year and all it brings. I am so thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and all it brings into our lives. We are blessed because of it. Now it's time to prepare for the winter again. We defiantly need to go wood cutting! I've been busy canning things from our garden. I am glad to learn about canning because we have a small freezer. Plus it keeps us from being to dependant on electricity. I know it's a old way, but, who knows how expensive electricity will be in the future or how available it will be. So it is good to know some of the old ways and apply them to the future. We are looking forward....

Pioneer Days Celebrations July 24, 2010

Today Robert rode K.C. in the Snowflake Parade with Jason Lewis. She did well. We almost didn't make it because she fell out of the horse trailer this morning. But, she didn't get hurt so we loaded her again and headed to the parade. Michael and Ben walked with the Scouts, Silver Creek district. Rebecca and Ann rode in Uncle Jason's big green Army truck. So I was the only one not in the Parade. So I took pictures. It was a nice parade full of lots of different things. I am so glad that we have parades to remember important things like pioneer days. Our pioneer ancestors that sacrificed so much to give us all that we have. They gave our communities good starts. I am so glad that they never gave up. That they always kept going forward no mater what the trial was. They are a great example to me and my family. I hope everyone had a wonderful Pioneer day!

10 Day Spiritual Trek

Remember the Journey
This was a activity that I participated in with my relief society of my ward. It was about the Willi handcart trek from 1856. I really enjoyed this experience. It has caused my testimony to grow. I am so thankful for the pioneers and their strenght, and sacrifices. "Most of the saints in Europe in 1856 had never seen the prophet or even heard his voice. Yet the power of the Holy Ghost witnessed to them that a living prophet was again upon the earth and that the gospel of Jesus Christ had been restored. When the prophet's call came to them to gather to the Salt Lake Valley, they left their homelands, their possessions, their fields, their orchards, their farms, and their friends & family that they would never see again, and they crossed the great sea and walked halfway across a continent under trying conditions. The faith that burned in their hearts was more than belief-- it was a power that moved them to begin a great journey." The ten day trek had a great in pact on my life. I really needed the 2ND day. I loved Neil A. Maxwell's quote " How we handle life's little irritations often exposes how large our remaining selfishness it. Little irritations show, sometimes embarrassingly, the gap between what we know and what we are. Often these little irritations are merely dressed-up versions of childish concerns over "my turf", "my praise", "my possessions", and "my timetable"....It is seen in the simplest of daily things: The light is green, but the car ahead is not moving, he is in "my way, holding me up"....Jesus, who knew who He was, scrupulously avoided letting the little irritations reach Him. Big individuals refuse to be vexed by little irritations, which is yet another dimension of freedom." (That Ye may Believe, 117-118)
Each step of the pioneers was a constant reminder to them of the path they were on, and their trials pushed them towards greater faith and discipleship. Our test today, in a loud, busy, comfortable, confusing, and distracting world, is to make sure we are also taking constant, daily steps towards greater discipleship. If we live the gospel partway, we may find, at the end of our journey, that although we were honorable, we didn't live with "Valiant Faith". I am so thankful that our relief society decided to accept this challenge. It was faith building and life changing.

The Pat and Nancy Spurlock Family Reunion

We went to Bison Ranch the second weekend in July for The Spurlock Family Reunion. It was a lot of fun. We did a lot of swimming and the kids played volley ball. It was very nice to see Robert's sisters and all the nieces and nephews. It is nice to get together and see each others families and share a little of our lives. I am thankful for all the efforts that went into the family reunion.

Scout Camp for Taylor 3rd Ward

Robert, Michael and Ben went to Scout Camp the first of July 2010. They worked on the fishing merit badge and the pioneering merit badge. This is the tower that they built for their pioneering merit badge. They were camping in the beautiful mountain's up by Sunrise, AZ. It was a fun Scout camp. Glad they got to go.

Rebecca's Baptism

July 10, 2010 Rebecca P. Spurlock became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later day Saints. She was baptised and took on the name of Jesus Christ. She is now a disciple of Jesus Christ. It was a very special day. We had lots of family come and share the day with her. It was nice. I am so thankful for her testimony of Jesus Christ and her love of his Gospel.

WMHA Gymkhana

We went to the Gymkhana in June 2010. It was a lot of fun. Rebecca decided to run the barrels in her age group. I was worried about how our old horse Butch who is 27 yrs old would do. But, he did great. Rebecca took him around the barrels and on the third barrel he began to canter. Which is scary because Rebecca never cantered on Butch before. As she came across the timer line she lost her stirrups and almost fell off. But, Butch stopped and she climbed back into the saddle and finished the run. Then in July we received a ribbon for her because she took 4Th place. Wow even with almost falling off. It was a fun day.

mommy's missing!!!

On Saturday Ann came in saying " The Mommy kitty is Missing!!!" She was holding a baby kitten that was meowing "loudly". I said "I saw the mommy when I fed yesterday, I'm sure she is around." But, as the day went on we realized that there was no mommy. She was gone. Her kittens were almost 3 weeks old. They don't even have teeth. Rebecca and Ann decided with a I am thankful for the blessing of teaching my daughters how to care for something that can't care for it's self. Even my boys are getting involved in the feeding schedule. They are trying so hard to help these little kittens to have a good start. We still don't know what happened to our mommy cat. Maybe a coyote?

May 23, 2010

Today was a wonderful day. It was a fun weekend. We had our family come and visit for the weekend. Saturday was a very busy day. We had a dance recitle for Rebecca it was really cute. It was a production of Alice and Wonderland. Rebecca's dance was called "Off with your head" it was an interpertation of the Queen of Hearts. Rebecca was a card. It was cute.

Saturday was Elizabeth's birthday was also on Saturday. She turned 3 years old. It was a lot of fun to see her ride on her little bike.

Then on Sunday we were able to attend the Gila Temple dedication. It was very nice. I watch the children. My nieces and nephew's that are not over 8yrs old. Plus Ann and Rebecca. It was fun. Then in the afternoon I attended the 3rd sesson. It was very special to me. Especially listening to Cassie Wood's in-laws talk. It was such a nice sesson. I have a great love for the Gila Valley area. It is where my Grandma Johnson is from. She was a Combs before she was a Johnson and she grew up in the Gila Valley. It's a beautiful area. It is a beautiful Temple.
What a wonderful blessing to be able to participate in the dedication of the Temple. It was great to share it with our family.

Easter 2010

For Easter we had a very special weekend. It was General Conference broad casted from our Church leaders. It was very humbling. We enjoyed all of the talks and music so very much. It was time well spent together. I am so thankful for General Conference.

We spent some time together as a family to. We rode the horses and just enjoyed each others company. It is good to just sit and listen to what each of us has to say and try to understand each others personalities. I am thankful for these times that we have together. They are very special times.

We also got our new family pictures back. Boy is our family growing. I think that my boys are taller than me now. But, that was expected I guess.

Spring Vacation March 2010

We had a wonderful time for spring break. First we went down to Mesa, AZ on Friday and went to the Mesa Temple. We were able to watch the practices for the Easter Pageant it was awesome. Then we took a tour through the Temple visitor center. It really has changed alot. After that we went with Grandma Johnson and Aunt Annette to Great Grandma Waite's house to wish her a happy birthday. She was born in I think 1925. So she has seen a lot of things happen in her life. The next day was Aunt Annette's birthday. So we spent the morning with her. Then the Boys and Me fixed her lunch. It was Indian fried rice and tuna patties. It was good. Robert and I helped her trim her mini ponies feet. On our way home we stopped and visited Grandma and Grandpa Spurlock. It was a good visit. We haven't seen them for a while. Just as we were leaving we could smell a funny smell. When we went up the street to turn around we realized that their chicken coop was on fire. So Robert helped them put the fire out. It was a miracle that we stopped it could have been such a great loss. I am so thankful for the promptings of the Holy spirit. Then the rest of spring break we were either fishing at Showlow lake or riding horses or building Rabbit pens. It was a fun time. Time well spent together. On Saturday our last day of fishing. Rebecca caught the only fish, for the whole week. It was a big Rainbow trout. It was awesome as she casted her line out the fish jumped out of the water and caught the hook. It was a dream moment. She was so excited about the fish and can't wait to go fishing again.

Why I love the month of March

Well first of all it is because I was born in March. So it is very special to me. But, so was my Grandmother and my sisters. So all my life March has been a fun month. I used to dread it because I was getting older. But, there is no way to stop getting older. So I have changed my mind and I look forward to every year that I get to spend here on the earth. What a special thing to be alive. I also love March because of spring. I love gardens. I love flowers, trees in bloom, birds singing and all the fun things of Spring. I do say that having spring fever isn't fun. But, a moment outside changes all of that. I am hoping for a good spring and a wonderful garden this year. I am so thankful for this earth. It is so beautiful. As usual we are super busy. But, it is good to be busy. I think that it was a talk in conference once by President Hinkley that said something like these are the best times of our lives. When we are old we will be thankful for these times and remember them with great joy. I am excited for Spring break this year. I hope it is better than last year. I am so excited for General Conference, It's on Easter this year. I love this. I am excited of Stake Conference this weekend. I hope that I will be able to listen to the spirit and learn. March is a wonderful month. I am so thankful for it.

First week of March 2010

Well it is finally March 2010. I can hardly believe it. Spring is almost here. I can't hardly wait to be planting a garden soon. I hope that I will get to plant some floweres and more stawberry plants. I hope our garden does well this year it was so fun to bottle the things that we grew last year.

March has started out busy as usual. There are less linemen at work so Robert is getting more overtime. Which means that we see him even less. I hope that he can keep up with the stress of everything. Church, work and life. The children have spring fever very bad....they don't want to go to school or do anything. I have to admit I have spring fever too. I am so glad that spring is here. The winter was great. But, so is spring.

I am most excited about General Conference. It will be on Easter weekend this year. So very special. I love it when it is on Easter weekend. I am so looking forward to hearing from the General athorities and the President of the Church. I hope that I will be able to listen and learn all that I need to learn.

I was reading an article last weekend by Elder M. Russell Ballard when he spoke to Brigham Young University-Idaho at a fireside. The talk was about 'Treasure truth and prepare for the future'. He said "I want to try to pull this together, not to frighten you but to wake you up, we've got to be so solidly anchored in our testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ that regardless of what may come next, we will not waffle; we will stand firm in our belief;we won't question the doctrines that are part of our belief." He talked about marriage and why the church has taken a stand on marriage. He said "It's a pretty simple answer, God created this world and he put Adam here and he gave Adam a helpmate whom he called Eve. They had a charge and a responsibility to multiply and replenish the earth. It is a marvelous and glorious experience to bring forth children and have a family, and that is done between a husband and a wife who are married. Marriage is a vital, Devinne institution defined by God that as a church also established by divine authority we must defend"

Elder M. Russel Ballard also talked about the second coming of the Savior. He said "I'm telling you what the Savior said would be the signs of the acceleration towards that day when he shall come, we could stay here for a couple of hours talking about all of the prophecies of what will occur in the last days. We're in the last days---you can quote me on that. And it is moving more rapidly."

If you want to read the whole article it is posted in the Church News it is written by Jamshid Askar Church news staff writer published Tuesday Feb. 9, 2010

I wish the whole talk was able to be published. But, I don't think that it was recorded because it was a fireside. It is one of those times when being there would be so special. I wish that I could have been there. Maybe we will have some talks like this one at General Conference or at our Stake Conference. I am so thankful for spiritual inspiration. It is so needed in these last days.

15 minutes of the best time ever!

I set a goal on Friday that if the weather was good I wanted to go horse back riding. Well Saturday started out pretty good. The weather was holding up fine. Robert left to take Michael to his scout trip. He came back saying that he needed to go with them because there wasn't going to be two deep leadership for the trip. I knew that I wasn't going to be able to go riding before noon because we were going to a Baptism of a very special friend. So I was hoping that they wouldn't be gone all day. Well the girls and I went to the Baptism. It was very special. Such a spiritual experience. I was so glad that we went. Later that day Robert and the boys got home it was around 3:00 p.m. The were so excited about the trip. They really had a great time Snow boarding. The really had some fun with their troop and their father. I was so glad that they had gone. I felt like I wasn't going to get to ride. The wind was kicking up. It was a very cold wind. Everyone settled in back from the day of activities. We decided to go and feed the animals. We thought maybe we could go riding. We would see how windy it was at the arena. Well it was windy. But, I saddled up my horse K.C. and warmed her up. I rode for about 10 minutes it was great. Then there was this little voice saying "Mommy can I ride wish you?" How could I be shellfish? I said sure. We spent the next few minutes before the sun went down riding together. Ann was on the horse with me and Rebecca was on her old man Butch (he's around 27 yrs old) but, she is so light, I think he lives to give her rides. It is amazing how a old horse can perk up when his young rider is laughing and having a great time. Benjamin rode K.C. with Rebecca and Butch till the sun was gone. We used the moonlight to put the horses up. It was very windy....But it was so worth it. I would say that it made my weekend. It has always been a goal of mine to ride with my children.

Ward conference

We had ward conference this weekend. I usually don't think much about ward conference. It's not like Stake Conference or General Conference. I have always thought that it was like the stake is just checking on us making sure were teaching our classes and running our sacraments like we are suppose to.

But, this Ward conference was different. I was really touched by the talks. Even though Ann was a wiggle worm and began singing a song in the middle of someones talk. Actually rather loudly. But, I kept listening. There talks were really touching. I so needed them. I don't know if it is because of the unrest in the world or just because I needed a spiritual boost. I was to thankful for their talks. I really like President Salines talk. He brought up the fact that no one talked about food storage, year supply, growing a garden, or financial preparedness in the last general conference. But, they all talked about the Holy Ghost and spiritual preparedness. He said I feel that the emphasis is changing from physical to spiritual. I believe so. I remember when Katrina hit in 2005 and President Hinkley said "it has begun, if you don't have a year supply you won't be able to get one. You will have to deal with what you have." It seems as though things just seem to be getting worse and worse. I thought things were bad after Katrina. Gas prices went through the roof. Everything went up. But, now looking back it is just a steady climb of getting worse around the world. I hope that I can be prepared like the ten virgin story. I so want to have my lamp full and my vessel filled. But, I so want my family to have their lamps filled and their vessels full too.

The Adult fireside that the stake had that night was so good. I usually don't go to firesides. I am the one who stays home with the kids. But, Michael said he would watch the kids. So Robert and I went. It was so inspirational. I really enjoyed it. It was a talk to seminary and institute teachers by Sister Beck. It was very helpful. I have a new idea of how to help my family in these the last days. I am so thankful for the Gospel. I am so thankful for the service of our church members. I am so thankful for the Lord and his hand in our lives. I can see how he guides us each and every day. I am so thankful for this.

Cub Scouts

Benjamin turns 11 yrs old on Monday. I can hardly believe it. He is as tall as me. At the Cub Pack meeting he recieved his Arrow of Light and compass and finished Cub Scouts. It is amazing I have been involved in Cub Scouts since Michael turned eight years old. That was in 2004. It is amazing how fast children grow. I am so excited for him. I think that he will be a good scout. Now Michael and him go to scouts with Robert. So I am relieved of duty of getting them to scouts. But, Rebecca will be turning eight in July. So then it will be activities day. So just a short break. I am thankful for the different activities available. But, sometimes there is no family time. It is hard to find family time. Well I am excited for this next year.

How a movie can really move ya

We watched the movie patriot with Mel Gibson in it. I have seen it before a long time ago when it came out in theaters. I liked it because it was about the war of Independence. I really didn't think to much about it at the time. It was a entertaining movie. With a lot of fighting and blood and gore.

But, today when I watch the same movie it brought tears to my eyes. My heart ached for the many families that sacrificed to much for the freedom of America. The went against their society and had faith that they could one day be free. Free to govern the way they felt Our Heavenly Father want men to be govern. I thought about the constitution and the preamble. I thought about the bill of rights. I thought about how our government was set up by the founding fathers. It has been a light of hope for so many through out the World.

As I watched this movie I thought of the many things that are going on in our Country. I thought of the wars our armies are fighting. I thought of the political problems and unrest in our country. I thought of the many families that are suffering so much. I thought about all of the sacrifice that has been given in the name of Freedom and Liberty by so many. People with faith.

Then in the last great battle the one they said turned the war. I saw the patriot Benjamin Martin raise the flag and command his troops to hold the line. He waved the flag and rushed forward into war. I wondered is that what it was like to watch the Title of Liberty being waved in the Book of Mormon times. I thought of how many times Freedom has been fought for on this land. This Land which the Lord told the prophets of old that it is to be a land of Freedom and Liberty. I thought about these great times in the history of this land. I wondered if these are they who cry from the ground that justice might come upon the wicked.

All I know is that the movie was more moving than it was when I first watched it. It was almost spiritual at least to me. I really felt the importance of being a patriot and standing for Freedom and Liberty and Justice for all. These are such good true words. I am so thankful for them.

The Weather

I think that it is amazing that there is so much Snow falling on the East coast this winter. I mean it had seemed as if everyone had bought into the Global Warming issue. I am amazed how we as man kind can take God out of the equation and the think that we can fix something like the earths atmosphere or weather. It it amazing to me. When there are real issues that we could fix in the world such as starvation. This is a issue that is worth fixing and could be fixed by the nations of the earth. If we could only love our neighbors as we love our selves, life could be so much better on this earth. It is amazing how Global Warming all of the sudden changes to climate change when the weather is no longer Hot. Do the politicians really thing the common person is that stupid?

Weekly Thought

I really enjoyed the weekly thought that was in our announcments last Sunday. So I thought that I would place it in my blogg. It goes like this:

It may be hard to see that at times, but hold on a little longer, for "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things wich God hath prepared for them that love him" and wait for Him.

May we ever remember the lesson of Kirtland and hold on a little longer---even when things look bleak. Know and remember this: the Lord loves you. He remembers you. And He will ever sustain those who "endure in faith to the end". President Peter F. Uchtdorf.

I love this quote because of all the things that I have seen and lived through up to this point in my life. I know that the Lord has always been there for me and my loved ones. I know that the Lord Loves me. I know that he remembers me. I am so thankful for this faith. I am so thankful for this testimony of the Lord. I believe if we will all just hang on a little longer it will be ok. I remember living through the recession of the late 70's they were hard times. I know what it is like to live as a homeless person on the desert. I know what it is like to eat pinto beans every day for years. Wishing they were something else. It was hard times. But, we kept our faith and the Lord helped us make it through the hard times. I won't say it wasn't with out loss and sorrow. But, we did make it and continue to endure on. I just hope that my faith will hold up. I just hope that I can keep filling my vessel with oil and keep my lamp full. For I believe that the Savior will return. I am looking forward to the second comming of Christ. I just hope I can hold on a little longer.

The new Fat Kids Coalition

I was just talking to my mother about the Presidents speech that he gave. She also was very disturbed by the Michelle Obama Obesity coalition. My mother should be a expert of Fat and diets. She is morbidly obese. She has dealt with the personal persecution that goes with Fat all her life. The only time she was skinny was in High School when she practiced anorexia neurosis. But, it wasn't called that then.

She told me some of her experiences. She said that when she was in 6Th grade the country decided that they needed to teach the children health and nutrition. That was fine. The started with the food groups and how one should eat healthy. Then they began weighing every child once a month. In front of the whole class. So everyone knew what you weighed. The Fat child was persecuted and laughed at as well as the too skinny child. She said that this went on for years. Many of the children would stay home sick on scale day. Mostly because of the persecution. See the Teacher would say "What have you been eating?" When you told them what you ate the Teacher would then say "You little lire!" Ya know every ones bodies are different some bodies have burning metabolisms and some have storage metabolisms. So why was it OK for the Teacher to accuse the Fat child of being a lire? She said that when she got to Jr. High school that the kids would secretly adjust the scales to be twenty pounds lighter. It took the school about 6 months to figure out that the scales were off. So for that 6 months everyone was 20 pounds skinnier. She said that when she got into High school she became a Bunny which was the pompom squad. Her senior year. All of the Pompom squad began a boycott of the scales. They refused to step on the scales to be weighed. They felt it was taking away their privacy. It was a big battle. But, finally the school board abolished the practice of scaling children every month.

A Big question is "Is that why a lot of Baby Boomers are FAT even Morbidly Obese? Is it the result of humiliation as a young child over food and choice?"

She said that the results of this practice was a GREAT DEAL OF HATRED and ANGER. Especially for any type of nutrition controlling diet or organization. She said that even to this day she can still feel the anger. In fact when she was listening to Michelle Obama and her coalition speak today. It made her feel the same way. Especially when Mrs. Obama said that a child could never be to skinny. She asked me how could a mother embarrass her daughters in front of the nation by saying that they are problem children because they are to Fat. Have you seen her daughters? They are skinny!! What is Michelle's definition of a healthy child? Someone who mimic a third world starvation child?

In my family we have a saying "Eat one less serving than you want too!" Living healthy is a way of life not a diet. Diets never work because one will always go back to their way of life. Health must be a life changing event. Not a diet! We always have the right to choose what we eat. But, we will always also receive the benefit of being healthy or unhealthy because of our choice. But, We did choose!!

I personally feel that the problem lies with the school system. When my children are home for the summer months they loose weight. Why because they are active. Big muscle active. Our education system is a Sit down, be quiet, don't move system for hours on end. Then we wonder why we have FAT KIDS in America. The other reason is that healthy food costs money. Vegetables are expensive. Whole grains are tough to eat. In this time of recession people are cutting back in all ways. Food is the first place that cuts are made. Cheep food is usually high in carb's and fat. But, still the best fight against type two diabetes is big muscle movement. We need to teach as a nation, not discriminate as a nation. Fat kids put up with a lot of discrimination just as Fat adults. I believe that depression and the feeling of being alone is the biggest factor of defeat for Fat people. A positive, loving, nurturing, caring attitude is most needed. Do you really think that our government is capable of such a attitude? No, it's the families that love these Fat Kids who are best equipped to help them. Our Society is out of control with Controlling every thing and every one. We are each individuals who have free agency to choose our lives. God gave us this agency. No one has the right to take it away. Not even if we are FAT!! I hope people will wake up and see how wrong this is and how it will affect the next generations of Americans. Ya know a body can't live with out some FAT!

President Obamas speech

I did listen to his speech to the joint session of congress. I was not able to watch it on the TV. So I listened to is in my car on Satellite radio. So I was not able to see the congresses responses to his talk. I did hear all of the applosses and some under tone words that I was not able to make out. Maybe cheering or gearing I wasn't able to tell. I was not impressed with his talk. I did notice that as soon as he started talking the rain began to poor down. The longer he talked the more it rained. Later that night that same storm turned to snow and sleet. Then that same storm has moved into the Midwest and has tornado's and freezing rain. With millions out of power. It makes me think of the scriptures where it is stated that the Lord talks to his people in a still small voice when they listen to him. But, when they are not listening to him he talks in earthquakes, tornado's, great winds, floods, droughts, etc. I wonder if we as a nation are listening to the Lord? I wonder if our Government leaders are listening to the Lord. I know that they are not listening to the people of America. I feel that the Government of America is very disconnected from the people of America. It's like the person who likes to eat milk, cheese, and eggs. But has no idea that the milk comes from a cow and that the cheese is made from the fat of the milk that comes from a cow or that eggs come from chickens. It's the same type of disconnect. What can be done to bring everyone on the same page? I don't know.

The thing that I disliked the most about President Obama's speech was when he said that Michelle Obama was heading a Child Obesity Task force. I didn't like much of his talk but this was the sticking point. Obesity or Fat in other words has been a problem in my family for many generations. We have fought the fat war. I am worried about how they are going to attack this issue. We are talking about our children with feelings. Not just numbers. How are they going to not cause so much depression in American Children that we have mass suicide? Or Mass drop out from school. Besides who is it that will decide what is to FAT!! It is very angering.

I know that all countries have problems. But, I believe that America is made up of honest good people. I believe that we want our country to succeed. I believe that our country was made with a good foundation. The constitution and bill of rights. I believe in these foundations. I hope that we as Americans can stop the destruction of the foundation that our Country was built on.

I love the Scout Motto of Be prepared and do your best. I believe that if it was a requirement for Congress, Supreme Court, Senate and Executive branch of Government to be Eagle Scouts our Country would be going in a very different direction. I hope that we the people of America can keep our Country on a honest, prosperous direction. I love this Country.

Catching up

Well I did watch the Glenn Beck documentary on Friday. It was very informational. I learned a lot of things that I was never taught in History Classes. What a shock. It was amazing to me how many people were killed by Communisms in the 20Th century. I thought we were more civilized than that. How could the world let people just be starved to death. But, worse how could it not teach what caused the people to be starved to death. If you didn't get to see the show I would suggest that you go to the fox news web page and watch it. It's an eye opener.

In church this weekend we had some really good talks about fear and the last days. I do believe that we are living in the last days before the second coming of Jesus Christ. For I believe he is the only one who can fix all of the mess the world has gotten it's self into. But, the speaker was talking about fear and peace. She had some really good scriptures that help us understand fear and peace. She said if we really want to understand fear we need to go back to when the human race first felt fear. It was in the garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve had taken of the fruit of knowledge. The lord was coming and they felt fear because they were naked and hid there selves. So she gave us a equation that fear = sin and peace = obedience. I really liked that equation and plan on using it in my life. So that I can recognize sin if I am feeling a lot of fear than I need to look at my life and see how I can be more obedient to the lords rules. I am so thankful for religion and all it brings into my life. I love the peace that it gives me. I hope everyone has a great day today.

I've hurt my back. It was crazy I was just sitting on the floor and cutting out some patterns. When all of the sudden it started hurting. It hurt really bad through the night and the next day. Like it was broken. But, it is finnally getting better. I can't sit very long. So I don't know when I will be at the computer again. Hopefully it will get better soon.

Church Meetings

I was able to attend the most inspiring meeting Sunday evening. It was really good. Nothing really strainge or of unusual nature happened. Just that I was able to learn some things that I think that I personally needed to Learn. See when I was young. Well not to young. We lived through the times of the 1979 - 1981 in a travel trailer in the Desert of outside Phx. With no power, running water, etc. It was truly hard times. My father lost is job and we fell through the cracks of society. When it became summer we moved to the land that my parents owned east of Snowflake to survive. We still lived without running water, power, and our toilet was an outhouse. I am setting the precedence of my learning. Well my parents turned to the church for help because all of our extended family had no money. All the church could do was give us food through the church welfare program or bishop warehouse. So we did eat. Well things did get better. We moved into a home in Taylor. We did have running water, power and we were able to stay warm. Then my father died. My youngest brother was injured in the accident. He would never recover. My mother again turned to the bishop for help and was told there is nothing we can do for you. Your problems are to big. Go to your family and move back to where you came from. You have no family here. This was hard words because we had a home to live in and just needed some help. But, were denied. We turned to the Lord and through time he helped us and we did finally move back to Mesa where we came from. I learned quite some bitterness toward the welfare program of the church.

But, Sunday I learned many things that have helped me to not be bitter any more. I have learned that man is week and the lord is strong. I know that what we went through made us strong as a family. I know the Lord was aware of our needs and they were always met. Maybe not how we would have liked them to have been met. But, they were met. I do now understand the great stress that our Bishops go through with the Welfare issues that they face today. I am thankful for the Lords plans. I am thankful for the meeting that was able to help heal my heart and help me to understand the great stress that the Bishop my mother talked to was going through. I am so thankful for my mother's faith and ability to hold to the rod. I am so thankful for prayer and miracles. I know that we will see many miracles in 2010. I just hope that many other peoples hearts will be able to be healed just like mine has been. Thank you, father, Thank you so much.

May the Lord bless you today.

Glenn Beck Show

I was watching Glenn Beck yesterday. I really enjoy his show. Sometimes he is a little animated. But, he has a point to get across. I think that there is something really wrong with the politics of America. I hope that we can figure out how to fix the wrong. I don't agree with the direction the Nation is going. I really do not feel safe. I am so glad that we no longer live 50 miles off the boarder like we did in Eloy, AZ when 09-11-2001 happened. It was a hard place to live. But, there were illegals coming across the dessert like crazy. The weird thing was most of them could not speak Spanish. Crazy! I kept the boarder patrol number by my phone and called it often. It was a really scary place to be. I am so thankful to be hundreds of miles away from the boarder. In that fact I do feel safer, but, I do not think that the people who are in control of our Country really understand what it is like to be next to our boarders and all of the terrible things that go on there.

Any how I have really enjoyed the constitutional aspect of the Fox News this week. I think that we as Americans need to wake up and understand what we are loosing each and every day. A little more of our freedoms. I watch CNN and MS NBC too. But, I don't like yelling at the TV and I don't agree with their views.

My mom said it well. "The day they sign the health care bill into law I will go to sleep a free old woman and wake up a criminal in my old age". Because she can not afford the health care plans and taxes they are proposing. It is really sad. I worry about my family and how we will be able to afford the taxes that will be collected for years before the plan is even begun. It is madness. What is happening to my country???? Will we have free agency and the right to choose our own lives or not? It really feels like we as a Nation are on a fast tract to no where. Outrageous spending, over controlling bills of law, High Taxation, families and communities under fire with high unemployment and home losses. It is a sad state that we are in. I look to My Father in Heaven for peace and help. I know that he knows what we need. Please remember to pray always....even for our enemies and those that deceitfully use us.

School Lunches

To day I recieved the saddest letter from our Elementry School. It makes me cry to think about it. So I will just type it in and let it be part of my blogg. It goes like this

Jan. 7, 2010

Beginning tomorrow, no further lunch charges will be accepted. Lunch cards scanned that show a negative balance will result in your child not being served a cafeteria meal.

If you cannot pay for your child's negative balance completely by tomorrow, send a sack lunch with your child.

If your child should bring money only for his lunch tomorrow and has a negative balance, then that money will be applied to the negative balance. A sack lunch should be provided from home in this situation as well, because no cafeteria meal will be providided.

Sincerely,

.............., Principal


I couldn't believe what I was reading. Our school Cafeteria will be turning children in grades 1st through 3rd away with no lunch. It makes my sole hurt. These are children that their families have a job and do not qualify for the assisted lunch program. But, worse there is a communication problem at the school and we parents are not always notified that our children are out of lunch money. So how many days will they go without lunch before the school contacts us. I have had them go as much as three days before they give me a call and let me know that the account is negative. At 2.25 a day that is 6.75 + the current day =9.00. It has been flustrating because my children do not always eat a lunch at school they take a lunch often. So there are many days that they don't pay for lunch so it is tuff to keep track of their accounts. So I usually go into the cafateria every two weeks and get a balance. They finally told me that I can look up the account on line at Lunchmoney.com with my students id #. That should help me be able to keep my children from starving. We eat breakfast before 7:00 a.m. and they don't get home till after 3:00 p.m. So it would be almost the whole day with out food. It makes me sad to think that we have come to this point in our society that the school won't give a hungry child a peanut butter sandwich. I am glad I don't work in the cafateria. I don't think that I could turn a child away from the lunch line in front of their peers and say "go hungry today, your parents didn't send enough money" What a hard hearted society we are becoming.

By the way the cafateria worker told me that the school wants as many of their children on assisted lunch as possible. Because they recieve 2.71 for each child and lunch only costs them 2.25 so they get to keep the extra money. .46 cents may no seem like much but lets just say we have 1500 students or more x .49= $690.00 a day x 20 school days =$13,800.00 a month. That is a chunk of money. But they can't give a child without money a peanutbutter sandwich. Wow! It is amazing times we live in. The worker also told me that the more children that are on assisted lunch program the more grant money the school district can get. Wow again. It seems like even public education has turned into a very selfish, what is in it for me direction. Where will we be at the end of this year??

One might say well 2.25 a day seems like a fair deal. Well for me it is 2.25 x 2 and 2.50 x 1 a day so that is $7.00 a day x 20 =$140.00 a month for lunches. We are already paying an extra $120.00 a month in gas to transport our children because of the dirt road ruleing. So it is $260.00 a month out of our budget. So when ever the children don't like the school lunch they take a lunch from home, which saves us money. But, as I said "Where will we be at the end of this year?"

New Year day 2010

Well after a short night of rest. We all got up and had a wonderful breakfast made by our new chef Michael. He is a pretty good cook. Then when it started warming up we went outside and began working. We adjusted the arena panels, put the gates in different places. Then we put all the horses in the arena. We then took there pen apart. It was hard work but I had several good helpers. We put the pen back together in a way as to give the horses fresh dirt to walk on and more space to move around in. It was a fun day of working together. I am thankful for days like yesterday. I am also thankful for cell phones and the ability to connect with our loved ones who are a long ways away. It is hard to remember back when we only had expensive long distance and letters. I love being able to communicate so quickly. I am not looking forward to getting back in the rat race of school, dance, cubs, piano, scouts, ect. I have enjoyed the vacation. Wish that it was longer. But, real life is comming at us fast so we had better keep up.