T: I am spiderman!
Kelsey: Cool, can I have your autograph?
T: No, thanks!
Two Cents! By T and G.
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Monthly Archives: August 2011
Distracted by discouragement!
Have you ever had something that you’re working on, like a project, or finding a job, or cleaning out the garage, or serving others, or just trying to be the best you can be. Sometimes when I am trying really hard, which I am doing most the time, I get distracted by discouragement. Thoughts like, I’m not good enough, no one wants to work with me, I’ll never get this project done, what is next for me, or I will never be that awesome. I know that God wants me to do my best. I know He is aware of me. So when those thoughts and feelings of discouragement come, I know who they are from, and I refuse to let him distract me like that. I get down on my knees and thank God for all blessings given, even the challenges. I know that working through these things helps me to be the best I can be. Then I get busy, moving, working in whatever direction I feel prompted to. Your mind cannot think about two things at once, so think about Heavenly Father directing your activities, helping you along. He will, He does!
Don’t be distracted by discouragement! God loves you, I know He does! He will help you not to be distracted. Focus on what you know, like, I am a child of God. You can do it!
Love, Joy
Totally “Fort Worth” It!
 Hermana Kelsey 7:1 -email-Mi Familia!
This week was pretty good. We got transfer calls this morning, and I’m staying in Arlington with Sister Q. It’s a little weird, because so far I haven’t stayed with any of my companions for more than 1 transfer, so this will be a little different. But it’s cool. We get along really well, and we have a lot of good things happening in Arlington. 🙂
So Monday, we were playing ultimate ball. It’s just like ultimate football, except we were playing with a mini soccer ball, and we had to throw it into the basketball hoop to score. Anyway, so we were playing, and Sister Q and I went for the ball at the same time. She jumped in the air and when she came down, her elbow smashed down onto my upper chest. She body slam elbowed me! Ha ha ha! It knocked the wind out of me, but when I got it back I just started laughing. It was pretty crazy. She felt so bad, but it was okay. I didn’t really get hurt. I just got a tiny bruise. 🙂 Also, the couple we live with (we call them our step parents) wrote a note when we got home telling us it was our turn to vacuum the stairs. So we start vacuuming and something happened with the vacuum. We pulled it apart (just a little), and then looked at the little spool thing that grabs the dirt and stuff. It was covered with hair!!! Like covered. So we spent like 15 minutes cleaning that out. It was pretty gross.
Tuesday: We have a very motivational zone huddle (when all of the missionaries in our zone get together). It was really good. Also, We got a referral from one of our less active members, and she is really cool. We have realized that working with the members is the most important thing, and the success rate of people that are referral from members, and people that we knock into on the streets, are way better. Most of our baptisms aren’t from tracting. They are from refferals from members. So if you know someone that needs to hear the gospel, tell the missionaries. 🙂
Wednesday: We met 2 part member families. Both of them the mom is the member, and the dad and the kids aren’t. We are hoping that we can baptize all the rest of the family and get the moms active again. Most of the time, the only reason they aren’t active, is because they don’t have a way to get to church, of they feel uncomfortable coming by themselves.
Thursday: Nothing really happened. We spent most of the day planning, and then we helped one of our investigators move some furniture.
Friday: We had a district lunch, because one of the elders in our district was leaving right after. He is finished with his mission, but he got to go home early because he started school today. We also met the sister/daughter of one our families that are investigating the church. We have been working really hard with them. The mom is a member, but she got baptized when she was like 19 and became less active/in active right after, but she is coming back now. She is “married” (they aren’t really married) to a guy named “Joe” (his name isn’t actually Joe). They have 3 daughters. Jana is the oldest. She is 19, and has an almost 2 year old son named Troy. She isn’t married, but is with a guy named Joshua. Neither of them will keep commitments, but I know that Jana has a lot of ?s about the church, and life in general. The second daughter, Zoe, is 17, and she has a four month old son. She got baptized right before she had her baby, and hasn’t been to church since. She is the one we met today. And their youngest daughter, Carrie, is 14, and is just barely in high school. She is really cool. She really wants to learn and to have a good relationship with God, she’s just not really sure how to do it. She also is really confused right now. But we a really working with her. We want that whole family to get baptized and to get sealed in the temple. 🙂
Saturday: I was really stuggling. I couldn’t really pinpoint exactly what it was, but I was just having a hard time. In the morning we were doing language study, which Sister Q doesn’t have to do, so sometimes she helps me. But anyway, she gave me this thing called a tuna. It is a cactus that you skin and eat like a fruit. It has like a million little seeds in it. They are really hard and you can’t chew them, but you chew around them and then swallow everything. It was actually pretty good. Well, the flavor was good. I’m still not sure how I felt about the seeds. But I’ll have to find some when I get home and have you try some. But that made my day better. Then later in the day we had a really good family home evening with another part member family. The dad is really interested in taking the discussions, so we are excited about that. 🙂
Mom:
I know, it’s crazy I’ve been gone for 6 months. It does not feel like that long! Ha ha, wow! Brynne is already engaged?! That was really fast. I think I know of the guy. If it’s the one I’m thinking of, he is the older brother to Liz, who I went to school with. Anyway, that’s way cool. Tell her congratulations for me. 🙂
I’m glad you are still walking. I have been really bad about exercising, and I can definitely see that I’m getting a lot softer. I’m not gaining any weight (I actually lost a little bit of weight), but I can definitely see that Turbo Jam was helping me before.
Tell Megan and Lisa happy birthday for me! 🙂 Or I’ll just send them a card late. I’m sad that I have missed so many birthdays so far. 🙁
Dad:
Hopefully you have a good garden before I come home because guess what? I decided that I like tomatoes now. It took me while, but the members fed us them so much that I decided that I had to like them. And now I do. 🙂 Ha ha. You probably thought I would never say that huh? 🙂 Anyway, I’m glad things are good for you. I’m almost out of time, so I better go now.
Emmysaurus:
I am just going to have to write you a letter. Sorry, but I don’t have anymore time. 🙁
Anyway, I love you all!! Keep doing good things. I know that the Lord blesses us when we do what we are supposed to. 🙂
con amor,
Kelsey
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Howzit-Elder Flexy!
 Elder Flexy 14:4 -email-Make,
this week has been a good week we have had a lot of bunks but we are doing well. yesterday we saw some crazy drunk guys fighting with each other it was actually kinda funny cause they were so drunk they were falling all over each other. its cool to hear all is going well at home. yesterday we had only 38 people at church because it was raining. but we are working hard. well this week was very quiet so not much to say today. love you mom.
Love Elder Flexy
Baba,
sounds like life is good oh ya sorry i forgot this week we did a Mormon helping hands project. this week that was pretty cool we made a garden for a children home. this coming conference will show me and my companion and the branch president between the secessions of conference on the documentary so i;m gonna be on tv. thats pretty cool but thats basically it. Love you dad,
Love Elder Flexy
M,
i’m glad you got some new wheels and i’m glad you got a honda thats where its at. i love you Emily
Love Elder Flexy
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Sunday Best!
Blessing Basket
Let me share a sweet story with you. A family was going through a difficult time. It was hard for them not to focus on their challenges. The mother wrote: “Our world had completely crumpled, so we turned to Heavenly Father for guidance. Almost immediately we realized that we were surrounded by goodness and were being cheered on from every side. We began as a family to express our gratitude to each other as well as to the Lord daily. A close friend pointed out to me that our family’s ‘blessing basket’ was overflowing. From that conversation came a sort of game, which my children and I grew to love. Before family prayer each night we would talk about how our day had gone and then share with each other all of the many blessings that had been added to our ‘blessing basket.’ The more we expressed gratitude, the more there was to be grateful for. We felt the love of the Lord in a significant way as opportunities for growth presented themselves.”
-Bonnie D. Parkin, Gratitude: A Path to Happiness, Read complete article here!
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All that we behold is full of blessings. ~William Wordsworth
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“He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious” D&C 78:19
Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy
Friends: Karen
Karen
I recently heard the news that a friend from my high school years, has passed away. It is always a surprise when someone my age passes on. I have been thinking about her for days, remembering her kindness and love. When it seemed no one else cared, she was there, always building me up, and telling me how wonderful I was.
I still have a little book she gave me, called
“Golden Days-Favorite Moments To Cherish and Share” by Edward Cunningham
Inside the cover this is what she wrote, “Joy, I hope you like this book. When I saw the title, ‘Golden Days’, I thought about you and how you make my days so much better. I hope our friendship will last forever. I love you so much. And please, stay that sweet person you are. Love Always, Karen”
I can’t imagine my teen years without her. She was what I wanted to be, kind, loving, a good friend, honest, accomplished. She worked hard at whatever she did. Her example was a light to me. She got married the summer after graduation, and moved away. We lost touch. I know I haven’t seen her for years, but I am missing her so much. I will not be able to talk to her now, or reconnect, at least not in this life. But just thinking about her I realized, I am a better person because of her.
I know she knew I loved her, and admired her. I feel so happy and blessed to have known her in my life. In my little book she gave me, it says, “Many things are golden, and each in its own way can help to brighten up your world and make a golden day.”
She was a “Golden” friend. She made my days, so much better.
Family History Friday: Collectables-#1Buttons
I have decided to do a post once a month, about the things I have collected
though out my life. A lot of these things I consider heirlooms.
I looked up the word collectable and it said, “things considered to be worth collecting (not necessarily valuable or antique).” I thought that was a pretty good definition of the things I would like to talk about once a month, although some would be considered antique. Some of them are valuable, and some I consider worth collecting, because they remind me of someone I love who has gone on before. So along with telling you about the collectable, I will tell a story about the person that goes with that collectable. Clear as mud? Awesome!
#1Buttons!
I have a collection of buttons! I love buttons! Especially old buttons.
My collection of buttons started when I began sewing. I can’t get rid of buttons. Even if the project I sewed is complete, if there are buttons left, they go into my collection. I have said before, that both my grandma’s were amazing seamstresses. You can read more about it here, if you’d like. I inherited a tin full of buttons, from my maternal grandma, Norma. They are the buttons pictured. They are divine! What amazing creations! My grandma Norma was an excellent seamstress. She is the mother of two beautiful girls. My mom, and my aunt Dot (Dorothy). When my mom and her sister were born, it was during the depression. Times were tough. Many people were out of work. Not a lot different than today. My grandma would sew the most darling outfits for my mom and aunt. Back then it was cheaper to buy fabric and sew your clothes. They didn’t have Walmart, and Target, and the great deals you can get there. There are many pictures of my mom and her sis standing at the corner of the yard in the outfits that grandma had just created for them.
I have this collection of buttons in a glass container sitting a shelf that my darlin made for me. Every time I see the beautiful buttons, I think of grandma Norma. I think of her talent, her skill, at sewing and I am so glad she saved these buttons!
Bumper Stickers!
Love it!
Dream Come True!
My daughter Kelsey is who I call my “Dream Come True”. She is, but she is not the only “dream come true” in my life. I only refer to her that way, because I waited so long for a darling little girl to come into my life. She is serving a mission right now, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As of yesterday, she has been gone for 6 months. She’ll be home in one year. What a blessing she is to me, and our family!
Kelsey at eight years old!
When Kelsey was eight years old, she was riding her bicycle around our driveway. She was focusing so hard on where she was going, she didn’t notice that one of the neighborhood boys had just gone off a jump and was headed straight for her. They collided and both of them landed on the ground. After checking them out we realized that Kelsey was bleeding from her forehead. She had about a one inch gash. We cleaned her up and headed for the hospital for stitches. On the way to the hospital we talked about what was going to happen.
She started to cry and said, “I’m just very upset, because my skin is very important to me!”
I told her I understood, because her skin was very important to me, too. What a darling little girl! She made it through the stitches, and you can barely see the scar, but we have never forgotten the cute thing she said that day.
Totally “Fort Worth” It!
Hermana Kelsey 6:5 -email-
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Dearest familia!
This week has been another really good week, that ended with some hard things. I guess I’ll start from the beginning.
Monday: We ate cena (dinner) with a member family, and I jumped on the tramp, and did some flips…in my skirt! 🙂 Ha ha ha!! It was okay though, because it was a tight one, and nobody saw anything. But it was super fun. I haven’t gotten to do that in a while. After that we had a noche de hogar (family home evening) with some investigators we are teaching. It turned out really well, and their kids and the dad are actually getting involved now. We were just teaching the mom and the daughter before. The mom is older, and is actually a grandma to her two daughters kids. But anyway, we are really excited about that.
Tuesday: Nothing really happened…but the son of the family we taught yesterday, and today, was being really, really funny. His name is Leo (his mom says it like lay-o), and when you say it like that it actually means, “I read” in spanish. I thought that was pretty funny.
Wednesday: We taught our really cool investigator Joe. He told us this last Sunday, that he didn’t want to get baptized anymore, but I think he is just overwhelmed with everything, and isn’t really sure what to do right now. We are still going to keep working with him.
Thursday: Today was planning day, but we skipped out on part of planning to teach our baptismal date for this Saturday. She is so cool. Her name is Lesa, and she is almost 14. Her family is actually part members. It’s kind of an involved story, but her mom died a little while ago, and now her dad is married to her aunt. Her aunt is a member, and so is her younger cousin Aidan. Her dad doesn’t really want anything to do with the church. We went to see him to get his permission though, and he said he was okay with Lesa getting baptized. 🙂 We were really excited about that. 🙂 🙂 But she is really cool.
Friday: We had zone conference. It was really really good. President Sagers is just so full of knowledge. And sometimes he goes off on crazy tangents and tells us random weird stories. He’s a very funny guy. Once you get past the whole intimidation part. 🙂 Then later in the day, we went to the E’s house to help them move some furniture, so they can get their floor worked on. It was really really hot because their A/C just went out earlier in the day. But I was excited because we got to wear pants for a little while! 🙂 Also…they fed us! In case you are wondering why that is so exciting, it is because that is a sign of conversion! Yeah!! 😀
Saturday: Today was a crazy crazy day. The day started out like usual. We visited some people, and then because we were running low on miles, we decided to take out on of our ward missionaries. Her name is Mercy, and she is older (like 50’s). She actually comes out with us a lot. So anyway, we were with her for like an hour or so, and no one let us in to let us teach them. We were walking around outside a lot, and it was really hot. Hermana Mercy has a tendacy of walking away from us, so when we were contacting this people, and she kept walking, we didn’t really think too much of it. Then we saw out of the corner of our eyes that she had sat down in the middle of the sidewalk. Sister Q ended the contact really quick so we could go check on her. We asked how she was doing, and she was telling us about how hot she was, and that she needed water. The lady we had just been talking to went into the apartment, and got a glass of water. Hermana Mercy started drinking some of it, and we poured some on her neck to cool her off. We called this couple that she lives with to have them see if they could come get us. All of the sudden, Hermana Mercy passes out. The lady that was helping us held her head up so she wouldn’t get hurt. Then she started throwing up. We didn’t even know what to do. Sister Q was on the phone with the couple at this point, but she hung up real fast, and called 911. We were trying really hard not to panic. We thought our exchange was dying in front of us!! Anyway, long story short the ambulance came, and she ended up going to the hospital. It was crazy. She ended up calling us later in the night to see if we were still having our baptism, because she wanted to come. That chick is nuts!!
After that, we went to the church to set up for our baptism. We had a really great baptism. Lesa is such a good girl, and she is going to do great things. 🙂 I think she is going to serve a mission someday. 😉
Sunday: We had a really good day at church. We had a couple that we have only taught once come to church, which is a really good thing. If you can get investigators to come to church, it is a really big step. But then, later in the evening we got dropped by one of my favorite investigators. Her name is Carrie. She is 14. Her mom and sister are members, but not her, her dad or her other sister. She is so awesome! I just love that girl. But she told her mom last night that she doesn’t want to see us anymore:( I was so sad last night. We have lost investigators before, but I really had hope that Carrie was going to go somewhere, and now she won’t. It was a sad time.
So that was our week.
Mom: Wow that’s awesome you are getting some kids to watch. 🙂 I’m glad things are working for you! 🙂 Just remember to always pay your tithing first, before anything else. That is one thing I have really strong testimony about. The Lord can’t pour out his blessings upon you unless you show your faith by paying your tithing, and making that small sacrifice. 🙂
Ha ha. You kind of are getting old. 😉 Jk jk.
(I had just told Kelsey that I’m turning 50 this year!)
Emmysaurus: Wowee Wow Wow! You’re getting so big. Guess what? I’m going to miss your high school graduation…and so is Alex. 🙁 Man, that’s crazy. I’m glad you got some cute new clothes though. Is Rach in high school?! Wow, man! Everyone is growing up too fast. Well, I gotta go now. Peace and blessings!
Well, I’m out of time. Love you all. Keep doing good things!
Love, Hermana Kelsey
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