A Spiritual Feast

Today at our Stake Conference we had a spiritual feast.  Steven K. Randall (Area Seventy) and David S. Baxter (First Quorum of Seventy) came to reorganize our Stake Presidency.

Released : Bryan Larsen, Paul Champlin, Craig Hislop
Sustained: Paul D. Parkinson, John G. Miller, Michael K. Child

Elder Randall has a great sense of humor. He told us that Boyd K. Packer said the only difference between an especial witness of Christ (General Authorities) and a special witness of Christ (area seventies) in “e.”

He spoke to me when he said his job is to help perfect the saints and he wanted to learn to perfect prayer!  I too want to perfect prayer! 

Elder Baxter said he prayed for everyone in our stake.  That our burdens would be light, that our prayers would be answered, that we would feel the love of God and Christ. I felt he had prayed just for me when he said this! He also made reference to a quote that I have always believe, "fear & faith can't exist together" he refuted this. He said he has felt fear and faith coexist and that the only thing that can drive out fear is perfect love! This was an answer to my prayers...I've been feeling both faith and anxiety for the past 3 months... Christ's perfect love entered my soul at conference (because of the Love I felt from Elder Baxter) and is driving away the anxiety.
He also said that we are entering a "new dark age" and Satan is using discouragement, despondency and depression to put the world in bondage. The Gospel light is bright and as we hold to it the darkness will dissolve around us so we too can be golden beacons of light.
His last thoughts were that we need to be: faithful, good, HAPPY (force a smile if necessary) and have fun in the gospel!

If you don't know who David S. Baxter is click here

Steven K. Randall

Memorial Day Games Quarter Quell + 2

The Winners are:

1st   Mason Barfuss  District 1

2nd  Luke Shumway District 1

2nd  Isis Barfuss       District 1

3rd  Nick Barfuss     District 2

These Tributes were designed by their team:

District 1   Agriculture   Andy Shumway

District 2   Mining   Nick Barfuss  

Dsitrict 3   Electrical   Sally Shumway

District 4    Medical   Lily Shumway

    

My fantastic Starfighters

One of Jasmine's friends did the picture of Isis and Phoenix.  They are truly Star fighters, having survived all the surgeries and hospital stays!

Quilts made in January

I've started making quilts again.  These are what I have finished (plus 3 more I have already given away) in January. They are mostly 48" X 60" for crib or child quilts. Those in large blue squares and large yellow squares are 45" X 45" for babies. I still love making them.

Paul digs for treasure

Paul and I spent the day together.  We found some old coins and a treasure map of Tremonton.  

We went to all the x's on the map and had great fun spending the coins and being together!

Maternal Grandmothers Chart

Check out the chart I just made for my grandaughters...I'm having fun with family history!

Beautiful Moments

Nick, Natalie, and Phoenix doing make-up. Just making beautiful moments together.

Silent Monks Singing Halleluia

Worn out, out of steam, dog tired, etc.

I had Sally's boys for 3 days last week and they wore me out.  But Tuesday, Nov 26th (7:00-10:30) I watched them again and it looks like I wore them out. Here they are fast asleep listening to Christmas music and watching the fire!

Before falling asleep we played with toys, made handprint bats and turkeys, had hot chocolate and toast, and watched the Toy Story video. What a great evening!

Pheasants and Ducks

November 9, 2013

                           

     Today I acted WAY outside my comfort zone.  When I went to bed I felt content, really happy and thankful to Father in Heaven for allowing me to spend time with two of his wonderful children, Christina Blanchard and Luke Shumway. Christina has a beautiful smile and peaceful manner. Luke is full of energy, so very talented, excited to learn and do things.

     I helped Christina with one of her Young Women’s values-Knowledge.  She came over and I taught her how to make a baby quilt with duck fabric and stripes on the ends. You should have seen her joy with the finished product!  The biggest smile ever as she showed it to Rick.

     After quilting we went over to see Sally and children and take them out for ice cream.  But I didn’t go for ice cream and neither did Luke.  Luke is helping a man raise pheasants.  One of the pheasants was injured so Luke was asked to wring its neck so it wouldn’t suffer.  He brought it home. Therefore, he had a bird he wanted to learn how to clean and cook.  Sally, Andy and Rick were not willing to teach Luke. I had never done it before but knowing the basics I volunteered to do it with him. We had such an experience! The smell was bad as we cut him open to gut and clean. Luke was squeamish it first but finally got into it with both hands.  He loved saving the feet (spurs were cool to him) wings and tail.  We both thought he head was soooooooooooo beautiful!  We learned that you don’t have to pluck a pheasant. The feathers come off with the skin when you pull it. After cleaning I taught him how to cut and cook it.  He made fries too.  We served everyone dinner and you have never seen such a proud 13 year old boy in your life.

     I am grateful for being able to share these experiences and happy that I went out of my comfort zone to do things I have never done before. I am grateful for the little knowledge I have about many things. I am thankful for the talents Heavenly Father sent me to earth with. I feel content.

P.S. To top the day off Luke played the tuba and we all sang with him. The song was: All Creatures of Our Lord and King. Another wonderful moment in time that felt much longer than a single moment!