Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Jenni Moving Back to UTah

It is just the most incredible blessing ever!

I can't describe how wonderful it is to have her so very close by.

I loved her being close before, but this is so much better because she's even closer.  $ years ago, she lived in Hurricane, but now she lives about a mile away.

And, it is wonderful.  It just makes my heart so very happy because we see each other, can do things together, etc.

It is a joy that is hard for me to describe.

And, I am so very grateful.

Friday, December 22, 2017

Joseph Smith

I haven't really thought it about much.

But, today, I listened to a conference talk from 2016 talking about what we owe to the Prophet Joseph.

As I listened to that talk, I was very grateful for what all he did.

I hated being teased or made fun of as a youth.  Not only did Joseph get made fun of as an adolescent, but it continued into his adulthood.

And, yet, he carried on.  He did what the Lord asked of him.  And, he suffered greatly all his short life.

It made me realize how grateful I am for Joseph Smith.

Yes, I am grateful and send honor to him.

Sunday, December 17, 2017

SO THANKFUL JENNI IS HOME!

And, that's all that needs to be said about that.

Except that I'm so very grateful to have her near.

What a blessing to have family close by!

Saturday, December 16, 2017

The Music of Christmas

It's such joyful music.

And, I'm so grateful for it.

Tonight we went to a concert at the Temple Visitor's Center presented by a men's chorus.  It was so beautiful and I really enjoyed it.

I'm always trying to get Allen to sing in it...no such luck.

BUT, I was grateful to hear it tonight.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Stories From the Mission

I am so grateful for the family history mission.

For one thing, I get to hear people's stories, which I love.

Today I met Jon.  He and his wife love opera, so when they were called on a mission to Vienna, they were thrilled.  The mission itself was not so interesting; they digitized forms, BUT they were able to go often to the opera.  He loved that.  He told me how many operas he went to in 36 months, and I don't remember, but it was a lot.

I asked him where he got his love of opera and classical music, and he told me that his fourth grade teacher played Schubert during the noon hour.  He grew to love that type of music.  In fact, his career path was as a result of his love of music.

Jon taught Humanities at BYU for 32 Years.  He loved his job.  He has 4 sons (6 daughters), and three of his sons are in the Humanities field.  So, that teacher had a profound affect on Jon's life and his family's life.  (Many years later, he found her and told her of the powerful influence sh had had on his life and his children's life.  She said that he was the first student to ever come back to say thank you to her.)

Jon was adopted.  He was an only child and grew up in St George.  The neighbor girl told him when he was eight years old that he had been adopted.  And, he was fine with that.  He loved his parents and they were very good to him 

However, on the day he returned from his mission, his oldest daughter - who had been searching for 10 years - told Jon she had found his birth family.

This information has changed Jon's life - even though he has only had this information for seven months.  He has gone to Texas to meet his half brother and half sister.  According to Jon, they are wonderful, good people, and he has been thrilled about what is happening in his life.  He told me he is devoting the rest of his life to doing research and temple work for this new family he has discovered.

He truly feels JOY about his life; he goes to the temple often and does research.

It was a thrill to meet Jon and to help him today.

Not everyone has such great happy stories, but it's fun to hear them all.

And, I am grateful!




Thursday, December 7, 2017

Mobility

On Thursdays, I go to the Senior Center and do senior sneakers aerobics and yoga.  They are both fun and challenging.

But, I

CAN DO THEM!

And, I am so grateful that I can!

Monday, December 4, 2017

People Who Cross Your Path

Sometimes people come into our lives and we realize what a great blessing they are:

Sylvia Seegmiller

Judi Butikofer

Linda Ricks

Dorothy Huntington

Loretta Allam

Just to name a few...

a couple of years ago, I was blessed to work with Waunita Livick in Primary.  We taught together for a year or so.  I loved sharing the classroom with her.  She had such wonderful stories about her life.  She was such an inspiration to me.

And, now, she has terminal cancer.  My heart aches for her and for her dear daughter.  I can't quite get over the shock and suddenness of it.

But, I realize what a great blessing it is to have served with and known her.

And, I am grateful.

Sunday, December 3, 2017

LIGHT!

I love light.

I love the LIGHT.

December 21 is my favorite day because the days get longer and have more light.

But, mostly, I am grateful for the LIGHT of the Savior.

I feel blessed at this time of year for so many blessings.

At the very top is the LIGHT of the Gospel and the Savior.


I'm grateful for the church's challenge to be of service.

And, I will try to make it happen.

I feel so grateful for so many blessings.