16 Birthday Wishes

Can't believe this kid is 16! He is an amazingly talented, athletic, smart, cute kid. He's a great friend and good example to those around him. So glad he's a part of our family. Man I just love that kid! He didn't get his drivers licence on his birthday (He technically can't get it until February because he has to have his learners for at least 6 months and he still has to take drivers ed. which he is planning to do next month. ) I hoped that it would still be a great day for him.  We ordered his favorite pizza, pepperoni with olives and had cake and ice cream.

Friday Dennis took Jacob and a bunch of his friends to Get Out Games in Provo. This facility has what they call "live escape rooms". Jacob picked the room called Intensity on a Chain.

Intensity on a Chain is a fun and thrilling experience unlike anything you've ever done before. You need to solve the fun puzzles, find the key and escape, but there's a catch: chained to the wall in the room is a ravenous zombie...and he wants to eat you! Did we mention that his chain extends a little longer every 5 minutes?!!  Don't worry, our zombie is not the gory blood and guts kind. This is also not a "spooky" experience and the room is fully lit. Admittedly, our zombie does have anger management issues, but he is not the brightest light on the Christmas tree, and you may just find yourself chuckling at his antics.

He worked for 3 hours on Saturday which he was pretty excited about.  Love to get that paycheck. Sunday he was ordained a priest. It was a good day for him.  Both grandpa's and grandma's came and stayed for dinner, including Grandma Rundell.  He is looking forward to getting his drivers licence and . . dating.  He also will get to bless the sacrament on Sunday.

Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue

Ponderism: 1 Ne 13:12 While Nephi was "carried away in the spirit", he saw the future of his people and the seed of his brethren.

"And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that is came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren who were in the promised land."

Many people think the only reason Columbus 'sailed the ocean blue' was to find a trade route India, but it was much more than that.  He was driven to explore the ocean westward by the spirit. Dennis shared this quote with me from one of Christopher Columbus' journals.

"It was the Lord who put it into my mind, (I could feel His hand upon me), the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies. All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me. There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because He comforted me with rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures.......I am a most noteworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and they have covered me completely. I have found the sweetest consolation since I made it my whole purpose to enjoy His marvelous Presence.For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps.It is simply the fulfillment of what Isaiah* had prophesied......No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Savior, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service. The working out of all things has been assigned to each person by our Lord, but it all happens according to His sovereign will, even though He gives advice. Oh, what a gracious Lord, who desires that people should perform for Him those things for which He holds Himself responsible! Day and night, moment by moment, everyone should express their most devoted gratitude to Him."

On the Court

Isaac started practice for his basketball team back in December.  He was recruited by a coach from Salem to come over there and play for his team.  There are two other Santaquin kids playing on this team.  Dennis is going to be assistant coach. They are both looking forward to this basketball season.

Games started at the beginning of January. Isaac's number is 23 which he was sure to remind me is Michael Jordan's number. His team, named the Longhorns, won their first game 42-12. Because Isaac loves his stats and was so close to getting a double/double (I had to ask . .  its double digits in two categories) here they are for you: 16 pts, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and one amazing block! He only played until the middle of the 3rd period. His dad decided to pull him out and give some other boys more court time. 

Isaac and Dennis were able to go with the team to a BYU game. Isaac's coach has some sort of connections to the team through his time playing with the University of Hawaii so after the game they hung out to meet some of the players. They got autographs from the "player of the game" Zack Seljaas,  Kyles Davis, Kyle Fischer, Nick Emery, and Nate Austin. They also shook hands with Coach Dave Rose. Very fun night! 

Isaac's second game stats: 26 pts  4 blocks,  3 rebounds, 2 assists. He was a little more possessive of the ball this game.  Their whole team was.  They won 39/26.

To Act

To prove them herewith if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them. The very purpose of our existence, the reason why we are here on earth is to fill the measure of our creation. To be tested.

Of course we have been given the tools to pass this test.  Specifically moral agency. We have received moral agency to choose the right, to do good, and to become whatever God intends for us to become. The fundamental purposes for the gift of agency are to love one another and to choose God. Commandments are not restrictions. They are a chance to exercise our moral agency. To choose what is right.
J.K. Rowling demonstrated this concept in her books Harry Potter.  In book 6 it is explained in this way.

“It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew - and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents - that there was all the difference in the world.”

Utah Storm

Santaquin got around 6-7 inches of snow from a very big storm. Santaquin always seems to have its own weather than its neighbors. There was no snow at all north of Payson. We had to shovel snow from the driveway twice that night. I got a little sore from the little bit that I did, Jacob and Afton did a lot also, but Friday morning things were just beautiful!

Sunset

The snow storms made for some beautiful skies! I took this on the way home. I forgot that they were working on the bridge north of us, so I had to take a little detour that actually stopped me in my tracks!  Gorgeous!! quickly snapped this one with my iPad.  I'm thankful I got to see it.

The Book of Mormon: A Light to the World

This year begins our study of the Book of Mormon in gospel doctrine class. I'm really excited about this because of the blessings that are promised to all those who begin a serious study of the book. I want to draw closer to God, to allow more of his light into my life and feel his love.

“It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called “the words of life” (D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance.” Ezra Taft Benson, “The Keystone of Our Religion”, Oct. 1986 General Conference 

Of special significance for me is the following statement and promise that he also made almost six years earlier.

“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness” (Ensign, May 1980, p. 67).

These promises—increased love and harmony in the home, greater respect between parent and child, increased spirituality and righteousness—are not idle promises, but exactly what the Prophet Joseph Smith meant when he said the Book of Mormon will help us draw nearer to God. (Ezra Taft Benson October General Conference 1986)

I look forward to putting these promises to the test.

Birthday Time Again

My Isaac is 14 years old. What a good looking kid!  He's done so much this year.  He is a dedicated student and has consistently gotten A's.  He works hard, has lots of friends and is a strong athlete. Isaac's dream is to dunk the ball and to be at least 6 feet tall. He loves pizza, animals, hunting, fishing and sports. This year he earned his blue card and looks forward to hunting with his grandpa and uncles. He learned how to play badminton and took 4th place overall at the middle school. 

A week after his birthday Isaac was invited to meet with the Payson City Mayor at their city council meeting. He was nominated for this months Mayor Recognition Award by the CTC Committee (Citizens That Care).  Each month this committee asks the staff and teachers at the Jr High and High School to nominate students that are good kids within the local community that are doing good things. This award has nothing to do with academics or sports. We were all very pleased with this recognition and Isaac was thrilled! We all went to the meeting to watch him receive this award. They read this statement sent in with the nomination from the school:

Isaac is a very athletic student that loves all physical activity.  The big way he serves his community is through his peer relations.  He sets a great example by always being prepared, focused and willing to befriend or help any student.  At an age of cliches, bullying and wide range of maturation Isaac doesn't discriminate and in the last 2 years I have never seen him treat anyone without the utmost respect.

Kintsukuroi

What a beautiful piece and concept.  That because of all we go through in this life we are the more beautiful for it.  All of that is possible through Jesus Christ.  His atonement makes it possible for us to become more than we are.

2016 Word of the Year

This year I have chosen the french word for light.  (It sounds so much better in French.) This word holds so much potential.  I need more light, illumination, in my life. I'm taking a class on the history of photography, which means basically to capture light. What an exciting concept. I remember about 4 years ago talking to some inmates at the prison in Gunnison about light. In a talk I entitled "A Light to the World".

I have always enjoyed taking pictures. I remember my first camera was when I was around 12 or so and it was a second hand point and shoot type film camera. I liked capturing the images of my friends. I like being able to see things differently through my lens. I like recording the memories, capturing the light. I got my first real camera last year and so I’ve been learning all the technical jargon. I understand some of it. The greek word for “photo” is light. Understanding how to capture light in a pleasing way has been a fun and meaningful journey for me.

A friend of mine shared an experience with light. She likes to do a bit of cleaning at night like mopping the floors and wiping down the counters, and other general tidy up type stuff. One night she went to bed thinking, "Yea, I did a pretty good job." In the morning when she got up, the sun was shining through the window onto her floors and counters. In this light she noticed that there were spots that she had missed. The morning light helped her see what she missed when she was working in the dark.

I think sometimes our lives can be like that as well. I don't always recognize in the moment that I'm working out of focus or in the dark. Then God steps in and shows me what I've missed. Ways to improve my time with my husband or children. Spots that would make me an even better individual, mother, wife, friend or daughter if they were cleaned up a bit. Most of the time it's as simple as turning on the light.