Fall Break

Since Raye's school did not have the same schedule as the rest of the county, we did not go anywhere during the school break. Jessie, Jordan and Abby spent Thursday and Friday nights with Kristina, Aaron, Ty and Zack. They had a blast.

I took Thursday and Friday off and played golf with Caleb both days. I know you are all shocked.

Friday night, Raye and I went out to dinner with Jason and Laura. They are making plans for a Spring wedding next April or May. After dinner, we went to Deseret Book in the mall and stayed until they kicked us out.

On Saturday, we decided to take a day trip up the canyon for some hiking and fun. Good day to do it, since the Deer Hunt began the same day...we should have been in orange vests. Anyway, had a good time and got home in plenty of time to watch the BYU game.

Another Busy Week

Our neighbors, two doors down, happen to be an elderly widow who is homebound and her adult daughter who suffers from an autoimmune disease. I was assigned to be their home teacher a few months ago and have enjoyed visiting them. Raye is also her visiting teacher and a counselor in the RS and as such, sees them more than I do. She was very instrumental in getting them to allow the ward to bring in meals a few times per week. They were very reluctant to accept any help at first. This has however been a great blessing. Many members of the ward have gotten to know and love them and visa versa.

This last week was designated for our ward as "A Week of Service" with many projects taking place. Raye had to head up all of the projects and was very involved. A lot of good things were accomplished. A few sisters who had gotten to know the Webbs, decided it would be nice to do a home "make over". Sister Webb's bedroom was and an office was re-made. The rooms were painted, curtains made and hung, new furniture provided, new bedding for the hospital bed and a collection was taken in order to provide a beautiful picture of the Savior for the bedroom. Raye had spent a few nights working with others on this, but as the project was winding down, there were several tasks still to be done.

So...Saturday afternoon as our children and grandchildren had gathered at our home to celebrate, what would have been Becca's 17th birthday, we all realized our assistance was needed. Our children were so eager to pitch in. Chelsea, Lane, Kristina, Caleb, Abby, Raye and I were put to work on some of the finishing touches (setting up a mini fridge, cutting and hanging blinds, stenciling patterns on the wall, hanging the picture and cleanup). We had a good time together and were glad to be asked to help out. We especially loved the look on Sister Webb's face, as her new bedroom, was presented to her.

The entire week was wonderful for all involved.

Our Family Motto: "Just Love"

Some years ago, a woman came to me for some advice. We had known her for a long time and watched as a difficult marriage ended in divorce. She did the best she could with her children, but her youngest, a daughter was struggling and now found herself pregnant. I remember the anguish of this mother as she told me about her daughter and her concerns. "What am I going to do with her?" she asked. Without a conscience thought, the following words came out of my mouth:, "Just love her, sin has its own consequences, just love."

Later that night these word would not leave me....just love. Sin does have its own cosequenses, and I knew that over the course of my life, love many times had given way to the passing of judgement. Wounds that could have been healed with love, had been made to sting all the more, because I had chosen a lower path.

For several days, Raye and I discussed the exchange I had with this sister about her child. We decided to incorperatre what we had learned and make it our family motto. We discussed how true desciplship comes not in loving those in whom we see good, that's easy, but in loving those in whom we see the "not so good." With our own family members and others, we have learned that pursuasion, long suffering, gentleness, meekness, and love unfeigned coupled with kindess, pure knowledge, charity and virtuous living (D&C 121) are the real keys. I really appreciated Pres Uchtdorf's talk in conference on love and discipleship. http://lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-1117,00.html)

And I am really grateful for that moment a few years ago, when, while counseling another, I was instructed as well...."SIN HAS ITS OWN CONSEQUENCES....JUST LOVE"

We Love Conference Weekend

For as long as I can remember, we have always enjoyed Conference Weekend. When we lived in Massachusetts, we would pack a lunch and travel up to the Stake Center in Nashua, NH and make a day of it. Wherever we have lived, we have made it a point to attend as many sessions as possible. We have enjoyed the opportunity of sitting in the Tabernacle and Conference Centers for many sessions. But like most of you, we now don't even have to leave the home (except for Priesthood Meeting).

For the past several years, we have started a new tradition of making breakfast on Sunday and having all of the kids and grandkids over, and even some extended family. This was an idea we got from Dave and Bobbi Beagley and we have Incorporated into our lives. This morning I was thinking about all of the work and sacrifice it takes to raise a large family....but these things pale in comparison to the blessing and joy they are to us now.

Conference was wonderfully edifying and instructive. It has provided us with a feast that we can enjoy for a long time. I love being able to download the entire sessions to my MP3 player and listen to them over and over. Some of the greatest spiritual insights and personal revelations that I have received, have come while on a long hike or traveling or lying in bed at night. Doctrine and Covenants 121 promises that "the doctrine of the Priesthood shall distill upon your soul as the dews from heaven..." Gratefully I have found this to be the case as I listen to, study and apply the messages from the leaders of the Church.