Monday, October 25, 2010
DJ & Jenni - March 2010
We dont have much to write this time. Life is keeping us on a constant roller coaster ride (and not a fun one). We...
October - Steve
Dear Family,
With my son preparing to leave on his mission in 3 weeks, I have been thinking about my mission farewell given in sacrament meeting some 30 years ago. I cannot remember a single thing about my farewell except my grandfather speaking and mother speaking. I cannot remember a single thing my grandfather spoke but after some thinking I can recall what mother had spoken about. She started her talk by saying that,” her 19 year old son when he wakes up in the morning will turn on the bedroom light. From there he will turn on the hall light and proceed to the bathroom and turn on that light. From there he goes to the kitchen and turns on that light. 5 minutes after he has woken up all the lights are turned on in the house.” Then mother made her point to this talk given at my farewell, she said, “ Now Steven when you are your mission you are to continue doing exactly what you do at home, leave your light on, let your light shine forth and set the good example.” This is pretty much all that I can remember her saying to me as she spoke at my farewell. Today in church was Christopher’s farewell and like mother I reiterated this story to the ward but directed towards my son. I also included this scripture taken from 3rd Nep. 12 : 14 – 16 “verily, verily I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Behold do men light a candle and put it in a bushel? Nay, but on a candle stick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house. Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven.” I think mother also quoted this verse at my farewell the more I think on it. Anyway this is my thought to you guys this month to remember to always let your light shine forth.
I could get used to not having any kids around real easy. 2 weeks ago Diane and drove down to the great smoky mountains national park and camped there for 3 days without children around. It was very beautiful with the fall colors coming on. All we did drive around and see the scenery at our leisure. The outside temp was a comfortable 60 degrees with night temps around down in the 40’s. It wasn’t like Yellowstone where it was real cold. I am a lucky guy to have a wife that loves to sleep outdoors in a tent that is made up to be real comfortable. We loved it so much that this past week we took another trip and camped at Gettysburg PA to tour the old civil war battle ground. What a fascinating place that is. That is if your into the history part of this country. You can spend 2 full days there to get it all in. We camped there for a few days and I couldn’t help but think that maybe someday this would be a good place for family get together. What saddens me is that I am done with my camping trips for the year. Yes I could get used to not having kids around and just get up and go and see something.
This Friday Christopher will be meeting with the stake president to get his temple recommend. We are planning on going to the Washington DC temple on November 6th which just happens to be the date that Diane and I were sealed and she received her own temple endowment that day. This makes it even more special for her. He enters the MTC in Provo on November 17th. There he will begin his mission for 3 weeks than off to the Salt Lake City Mission to finish out. I have to say that when we found out where he was going that I was really disheartened and sad. I couldn’t help but think that a mission should be part adventure, and here he was going home. To me, Utah, was home. My son was going home for his mission and what a waste of an adventure and opportunity. I had hoped that he would have gone to some strange land, but it is not to be. It than began to dawn on me that even though Utah was home for me that to him it wasn’t. He has lived in the east all of his life and for him this will be a good thing. Even though I did not get what I wanted, I at least think that for him it will still be an adventure. So with these thoughts I guess I am ok with it.
So, my dear family take care of yourselves and I will see you later. You can expect family reunion stuff coming early next year. Still don’t know what to do so feel free to send me ideas. Steve
October - Diane
Dear Family,
I am late again, but with good reasons at least I think they are good reasons. We will start with my spiritual thought. This year I have given a lot of thought to being grateful/thankful for the blessings in my life. I especially enjoyed conference this time and hearing Pres Monson talk about gratitude. I like the "attitude of gratitude". A sister in our ward was assigned to talk about gratitude last week and she challenged us all to say just one prayer where we asked for nothing, just thanked Heavenly Father for all that we have. Let me tell you that is hard, where do you stop? I have so many things in my life to be thankful for, the list just grows and grows. I guess I could sum it up by saying I am thankful for the Gospel in my life, without it I would have nothing. All my blessings come through the Gospel.
Ok, Steve, well he is up to the same old thing, work, work and more work. He still hates his job and the people he works with. We need to get out in the yard and get it ready for winter and get the garden finished for the year. He did burn my burn pile a few weeks ago, that he had been promising me for years he would do it in the spring and then spring would come and he would say he would do it in the fall, it is finally gone, so now I can start another one for him.
Me, well I did not get to teach tax classes this year so money is really tight, don't have that money that we have grown accustom to having and when it is not there, it is a struggle. Looks like I probably will not be able to teach in Dec either, so it is going to get even tighter around here. At least I have free time to do all that I need to be doing for my children. A blessing, yes and no.
Brenda is doing the same thing. Work and school, work and school. She is starting to get really tire of school and can't wait to get out and get started with her life. Most days she comes home saying how much she hates WalMart.
Christopher was out in CA last month to see his sister and the day he returned home, his mission call came. I took it with me to the airport to pick him up and then we went to Steve's office and he came to the parking lot. We called Clara Marie and Brenda on the phones and we all listened as Christopher read his call. If any of you don't know already, his call is to the Utah SLC mission. He enters the MTC on 17 Nov. He will be able to attend the temple on his p-day as the SLC is in the mission and he will also be able to attend conference if he can get tickets (I don't know how that works, but I am hoping he can actually sit in the conference center for conference). I would have never thought he would be called to a Utah mission with so many family members living there, but there must be a good reason for him serving there. He is excited and ready to go now.
Well I guess that is enough for now, I did not sleep well last night, so I am off to bed.
We love each and every one of you.
WV Bollscwheiler's
I am late again, but with good reasons at least I think they are good reasons. We will start with my spiritual thought. This year I have given a lot of thought to being grateful/thankful for the blessings in my life. I especially enjoyed conference this time and hearing Pres Monson talk about gratitude. I like the "attitude of gratitude". A sister in our ward was assigned to talk about gratitude last week and she challenged us all to say just one prayer where we asked for nothing, just thanked Heavenly Father for all that we have. Let me tell you that is hard, where do you stop? I have so many things in my life to be thankful for, the list just grows and grows. I guess I could sum it up by saying I am thankful for the Gospel in my life, without it I would have nothing. All my blessings come through the Gospel.
Ok, Steve, well he is up to the same old thing, work, work and more work. He still hates his job and the people he works with. We need to get out in the yard and get it ready for winter and get the garden finished for the year. He did burn my burn pile a few weeks ago, that he had been promising me for years he would do it in the spring and then spring would come and he would say he would do it in the fall, it is finally gone, so now I can start another one for him.
Me, well I did not get to teach tax classes this year so money is really tight, don't have that money that we have grown accustom to having and when it is not there, it is a struggle. Looks like I probably will not be able to teach in Dec either, so it is going to get even tighter around here. At least I have free time to do all that I need to be doing for my children. A blessing, yes and no.
Brenda is doing the same thing. Work and school, work and school. She is starting to get really tire of school and can't wait to get out and get started with her life. Most days she comes home saying how much she hates WalMart.
Christopher was out in CA last month to see his sister and the day he returned home, his mission call came. I took it with me to the airport to pick him up and then we went to Steve's office and he came to the parking lot. We called Clara Marie and Brenda on the phones and we all listened as Christopher read his call. If any of you don't know already, his call is to the Utah SLC mission. He enters the MTC on 17 Nov. He will be able to attend the temple on his p-day as the SLC is in the mission and he will also be able to attend conference if he can get tickets (I don't know how that works, but I am hoping he can actually sit in the conference center for conference). I would have never thought he would be called to a Utah mission with so many family members living there, but there must be a good reason for him serving there. He is excited and ready to go now.
Well I guess that is enough for now, I did not sleep well last night, so I am off to bed.
We love each and every one of you.
WV Bollscwheiler's
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
October - Allen
President Packer said "The Prophet Joseph Smith promised that 'all beings who have bodies have power over those who have not' (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 211).
"When temptation comes, you can invent a delete key in your mind—perhaps the words from a favorite hymn. Your mind is in charge; your body is the instrument of your mind. When some unworthy thought pushes into your mind, replace it with your delete key. Worthy music is powerful and can help you control your thoughts.”
The family is doing great this month. Gabe has been in football since the middle of August and last Saturday was his last game of the season. It was fun to see him play, I was able to attend every practice and every game. He did a great job, as a team they did wonderful. The team (The Tigers) were first in their division, and out of all the Treasure Valley teams about 50 in his age group, they placed in the top 5. I’m sure they would have been first, but like College football they don’t have time to play everybody. Next year they will start a playoff system to see who really is #1.
Dylan and Brynn have also started dance again. This time however we were able to get them on the same day, same place, and one right after the other. We have made a rule that Tess is not allowed to go with them to watch, because she feels like she should be on the floor dancing with her sisters. The only problem is the teachers don’t think she should be out there.
Tess is still trying (or not trying) to figure out that she should be going to bathroom on a toilet. It took her 18 months to decide that she should be walking, I’m hoping that it won’t take another year to decided that a toilet is better than a diaper. To be honest she does pretty well with going #1 in the toilet during the day, when we are at home, its #2 that we are having a hard time with. Tammi has bribed her with a new Barby doll if she will make it to the toilet and not hide in a corner of the house to do her duty.
Last Sunday I had a wonderful experience during Sacrament meeting. It’s that time of year that the primary had their program. The Spirit touched me as I sat and listened to them sign. I love the songs that our primary sing, they are so simple and full of love and peace. The messages are so clear in every song and I’m happy to report that Gabe sang every song, something that he normally does not do. Dylan, Brynn, and Gabe gave their parts without any help. Every year I’m amazed at how well the primary is able to pull off a wonderful program. I sure the Spirit has something to do with that.
On Sunday I also sat and watched Tanner pass the sacrament, when I look at him I realized how grow up he was becoming. He will be advanced to a Teacher this February, I think he is ready to move on to a new experience. He has been President of the Deacons quorum for awhile now, he told me the other day that he was ready to be released. The reason was because of how hard it was. I just laughed at him and told him he had no idea, that his service will be more as he gets older. There is a reason why we call the Aaronic Priesthood a preparatory priesthood. He told me that I had it easy, all I do is go to meetings J I wish that all I have to do sometimes is go to meetings.
October - Mom & Dad
Dear Family,
Our love to all of you out there! We are late as are quite a few of you. Dennis was on his toes this trip around and has his in already...on time. We will hope to hear from all of you at least by this Sunday coming up!
Our thought is taken from a talk given by Richard C. Edgley, 1st Counselor, Presiding Bishopric.
I myself had always wondered about faith moving a mountain. I look at the Wasatch Mountains that are around us and I wonder about that saying. Brother Edgley sort of cleared my thoughts on that. I know that a prophet of old did move a mountain because of his great faith, but, I wondered. He said that Faith is a choice that must be sought after and developed. Each of us are responsible for our own faith....or the lack thereof. It is through choosing faith that individuals are able to move mountains. Think about this....He says "I have seen a 'mountain' of doubt and despair removed and replaced with optimism and hope. Because of faith I have personally witnessed a 'mountain' of sin replaced with repentance and forgiveness. And because of faith I have personally witnessed a 'mountain' of pain replaced with peace...Yes, I have seen 'mountains' removed."
I know that each of us have various kinds of 'mountains' or happenings in our lives and I also know that if we remain true and have faith to endure, we will see those 'mountains' removed from our lives too. Replaced with the shinning goodness and love of our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ...Hang in there all of you...Keep the Faith...and move forward. As I give this to you, remember that dad and I have our mountain of problems too...this thought is for us also.
We have been walking ourselves silly again this year with those so called Yellow Phone Books. So far we have done over a thousand books and we are looking at 900 more. The joy of it all!! It helps $$ wise somewhat. I do a lot of walking but not near what your dad does. I mostly bag the books as each one of them are suppose to be in bags and sitting at the hinged side of the front door. I hate steps...porches that have more than four steps to the front door need to be much less for these old legs. Well, with dad doing the newspaper run he is not going to the gym with me. Believe me he gets enough exercise doing that with all the ins and outs of the car to each home. So along with that and these phone books he is rather tired to say the least. But I suppose it keeps us alive and active.......I am trying to be positive here .
Okay, I told you all about getting a shot in my heel last month and how much it helped me and the doctor told me I had young bones and my sister tells me...yessss, but you have old muscles. So when I went in for the second shot last Friday, I told her about that and she laughed and said that my muscles were most likely like my bones....so I reported this to my sisters and my sister says yessss, but you have old skin.....man, that put me right back on the ground again. So, instead of a swollen head from this information, I became grounded and humbled.
At family home evening. Sunday night, my brother told about searching our family on the new website and he followed the Seymour line and ended up finding a link to royalty. Yes, we have dukes, queens and kings in our blood. He followed it back and he ended up with some really cool stuff and in fact, and I don't know how it happened as I have not checked it out yet, he found that the line goes back to 300 years BC. That is so great! The work for these people has been done by someone who has a bit more information that we do that is for sure. Just thought I would pass that on to you. I then informed my dear sisters that I had young bones and muscles, old skin and I am a blue blood...royalty!! I can live with the old skin! Well thats about it for this time...oh yes, I have about 30 more miles to swim and I will have a two hundred mile swim in. yes, it may of taken almost 2 years to do it, but it is being done!!! Fall is upon us...enjoy the beauty of the earth. Be thankful that my zucchini plant is about done for!!!Everyone that has received offerings from me in various ways is happy as can be. Maybe they will let me in their homes and cars without locking me out to check and see if I am carrying (bringing) one of those green things to them. Grow zucchini and loose friends and family...even strangers run. Such is life! Be good my darling family! Keep the faith and love the Lord. He truly loves each one of you............
Love always Mom and Dad xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Our love to all of you out there! We are late as are quite a few of you. Dennis was on his toes this trip around and has his in already...on time. We will hope to hear from all of you at least by this Sunday coming up!
Our thought is taken from a talk given by Richard C. Edgley, 1st Counselor, Presiding Bishopric.
I myself had always wondered about faith moving a mountain. I look at the Wasatch Mountains that are around us and I wonder about that saying. Brother Edgley sort of cleared my thoughts on that. I know that a prophet of old did move a mountain because of his great faith, but, I wondered. He said that Faith is a choice that must be sought after and developed. Each of us are responsible for our own faith....or the lack thereof. It is through choosing faith that individuals are able to move mountains. Think about this....He says "I have seen a 'mountain' of doubt and despair removed and replaced with optimism and hope. Because of faith I have personally witnessed a 'mountain' of sin replaced with repentance and forgiveness. And because of faith I have personally witnessed a 'mountain' of pain replaced with peace...Yes, I have seen 'mountains' removed."
I know that each of us have various kinds of 'mountains' or happenings in our lives and I also know that if we remain true and have faith to endure, we will see those 'mountains' removed from our lives too. Replaced with the shinning goodness and love of our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ...Hang in there all of you...Keep the Faith...and move forward. As I give this to you, remember that dad and I have our mountain of problems too...this thought is for us also.
We have been walking ourselves silly again this year with those so called Yellow Phone Books. So far we have done over a thousand books and we are looking at 900 more. The joy of it all!! It helps $$ wise somewhat. I do a lot of walking but not near what your dad does. I mostly bag the books as each one of them are suppose to be in bags and sitting at the hinged side of the front door. I hate steps...porches that have more than four steps to the front door need to be much less for these old legs. Well, with dad doing the newspaper run he is not going to the gym with me. Believe me he gets enough exercise doing that with all the ins and outs of the car to each home. So along with that and these phone books he is rather tired to say the least. But I suppose it keeps us alive and active.......I am trying to be positive here .
Okay, I told you all about getting a shot in my heel last month and how much it helped me and the doctor told me I had young bones and my sister tells me...yessss, but you have old muscles. So when I went in for the second shot last Friday, I told her about that and she laughed and said that my muscles were most likely like my bones....so I reported this to my sisters and my sister says yessss, but you have old skin.....man, that put me right back on the ground again. So, instead of a swollen head from this information, I became grounded and humbled.
At family home evening. Sunday night, my brother told about searching our family on the new website and he followed the Seymour line and ended up finding a link to royalty. Yes, we have dukes, queens and kings in our blood. He followed it back and he ended up with some really cool stuff and in fact, and I don't know how it happened as I have not checked it out yet, he found that the line goes back to 300 years BC. That is so great! The work for these people has been done by someone who has a bit more information that we do that is for sure. Just thought I would pass that on to you. I then informed my dear sisters that I had young bones and muscles, old skin and I am a blue blood...royalty!! I can live with the old skin! Well thats about it for this time...oh yes, I have about 30 more miles to swim and I will have a two hundred mile swim in. yes, it may of taken almost 2 years to do it, but it is being done!!! Fall is upon us...enjoy the beauty of the earth. Be thankful that my zucchini plant is about done for!!!Everyone that has received offerings from me in various ways is happy as can be. Maybe they will let me in their homes and cars without locking me out to check and see if I am carrying (bringing) one of those green things to them. Grow zucchini and loose friends and family...even strangers run. Such is life! Be good my darling family! Keep the faith and love the Lord. He truly loves each one of you............
Love always Mom and Dad xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
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