S I M P L I F Y

"Those of us who have been around a while—and Elder Wirthlin and I have been around for a long time—have recognized certain patterns in life’s test. There are cycles of good and bad times, ups and downs, periods of joy and sadness, and times of plenty as well as scarcity. When our lives turn in an unanticipated and undesirable direction, sometimes we experience stress and anxiety. One of the challenges of this mortal experience is to not allow the stresses and strains of life to get the better of us—to endure the varied seasons of life while remaining positive, even optimistic. Perhaps when difficulties and challenges strike, we should have these hopeful words of Robert Browning etched in our minds: “The best is yet to be." We can’t predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come. In our search to obtain relief from the stresses of life, may we earnestly seek ways to simplify our lives. May we comply with the inspired counsel and direction the Lord has given us in the great plan of happiness. May we be worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost and follow the guidance of the Spirit as we navigate this mortal journey. May we prepare ourselves to accomplish the ultimate purpose of this mortal test—to return and live with our Heavenly Father—is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

These words of Elder L. Tom Perry, given in a talk just this past conference, hit home with us all. It is about Simplifying our lives......great advice. The whole talk is GREAT, and worth reading again. Nov. Ensign, pages 7-10.

Day of Glory !

CRIMSON HONOR - NO NEED TO SAY MORE!

HERE COME THE UTES !

I know you think that Utah football has taken over my life! Well.........it's true! This is the time of year I enjoy most in sports, and it's been great this year!

The lines have begun to be drawn....the colors are beginning to fly!!

This is one of the most exciting weeks of the year at our office ( sad, huh?)

But we really get into rivaly week. We have a pick the score contest !

(I've changed mine twice!) and it will be hard to win this year, because everyone's guess is so close to each others!

This is the week we come head to head in battle! I love the excitement! I love the atmosphere! I love the drum line! I love the game! I just love Utes football! Go ! Fight ! WIN !! (Stomp all over them!)

do it again, do it again - we like it, we like it !!

Cupcake Heaven......yummmmm

THANKS KRISTY & JESSICA !

Found my Camera !!

I'm not the best photographer.....but I like to take candid shoots of the kids!
Everybody pile on Grandpa! It's his birthday....(click)......oops! where did Faith go?....(click)....oh no! Off tumbles Ethney!.....(click)......Owen wonders what all the commotion is about......(click).......ok! everyone is jumping on Sonia!....(click).......ugh! you're too big Jaxson!.....(click)....I think you killed her!......(click).........looks like Lindsay's having fun....(click)

While in Enterprise, with our family in the south, we celebrated Tessa's Birthday too! She tried on all the dress up clothes she got..........as Grandpa Ralphie would say..."She should be in the movies!" Maybe she will some day! She just looks darn cute in anything !

Please stop the hate.....where is peace..

A timely quote for a past talk from Elder Neil A. Maxwell (1978):

'Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.''This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not beingashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.'Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened....Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat.' --- Elder Neal A. Maxwell

OH YEAH BABY !!!!!

----- UTAH, UTAH, UTAH -----

SHARING A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE ~ ENJOY

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