Monthly Archives: August 2010

Sunday Best!

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Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine
 before men, that they may see
 your good works,
 and glorify your 
Father which is in heaven.
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We are all examples! Some good, some bad. We might as well be a good one. Abraham Lincoln said, “Whatever you are be a good one”. I agree. If we have blessed with a testimony of Christ and our Eternal Father, we have an obligation to them, to stand up. To be set on a candlestick for all to see. I know to me, that sounds very intimidating. I’m not perfect, why would I want others watching me and how I live my life? Whether I like it or not, people will watch me, and my example. So, if I want God to be glorified, I must do my best. I must “Let my light shine”. 
Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy 

Family History Friday (FHF): First water skier?

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When John Howland came with the other pilgrims to America. He had quite an adventure. He was just a young man in his early 20’s.
What an opportunity!
 To come to a new world and 
start a life of his own. 
While the Mayflower was at sea a storm came, John Howland fell off the ship. It wasn’t like it is now. If you fell off a ship now, they could just turn around and come get you. No, this was a ship with sails and turning around would be almost impossible, especially in a storm and how would they find him, even if they were able to turn around? Luckily, or by divine intervention, John was able to catch hold of the topsail halyards and was rescued. When I spoke with friends today about this story, someone said, “Hey, he was the first water skier!” Funny! His story is an amazing one. He married Elizabeth Tilley, after her parents both died the first winter. Years ago our family had the opportunity to visit Plymouth, Massachusetts. What a great trip!! The things we heard, and the things we saw, will always stay with us. We are so thankful for the pilgrims. If you took the time to look, to see all of John Howlands descendants. You would be amazed. If he had just fallen of the ship and not been recovered, so much would be different. I’m glad he caught hold of the halyards. I’m sure his descendants are too! Heres a list of some of them:
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Joseph Smith
Dr. Spock
George H. W. Bush  
George W. Bush
Sarah Palin
Christopher Lloyd
Humphrey Bogart
Alec Baldwin
My friend Julie
and My darlin!
Happy Family History Friday! 
Love, Joy

Lessons!

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On July 25th, it was the seventh anniversary of my oldest brother’s passing. He was just 46 years old. Losing him was quite a surprise. We have always been a close family. We had Sunday dinner together for years and years, even after we were all adults, and living away from our parent’s home. We spent time together, hiking and picnicking. He had been divorced and was living on his own. His three kids, lived with their mom. He was always content and happy to be in the mountains. It wasn’t uncommon at all for him to go fishing with his dog, Gordon, at least once a week. He was a happy person most of the time, and mostly fun to be around unless he was teasing me. Yes, he still teased me. He was always ready with a joke or funny story. 
While hiking with several family members, including one of his sons, he just fell on the trail. The family gathered around. Everyone filled with the shock of what had just happened. My nephew, his son, ran down the trail hoping to get a signal on his cell phone. My brothers and dad took turns giving him CPR and carrying him. They made their way down the trail. After the paramedics arrived, everyone realized that what they were hoping didn’t happen, did happen. My brother was gone. His short life was over. My parents were amazingly strong. But as my mom says, “Parents just shouldn’t have to bury their kids.” In the hours after his death, our family started noticing small miracles, tender mercies that the Lord had seen fit to give us during this hard time. The lesson I learned is this. God is always there. Even in the hardest times. We just need to notice Him! When my brother died, he was in the mountains. He was not at home alone, he was with our family doing what he loved, being outside. He was gone in a moment, not after years of pain and sickness. We knew he loved us, and he knew we loved him. He is buried where my mom and dad will be buried, in the same grave with them and not alone. I believe he is with others on the other side. Family who have passed on before him, and love him too. We miss him, but we are thankful that we had 46 years with him. Look for God, He is all around us. He loves us and even let’s us have sad times. These times help us to be better people. 
In memory of my big brother, Brian. Love you!

Howzit! Elder Flexy!

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Elder Flexy 2:2  -email-

Dear Mom,

     … Anyway our area is booming with new investigators! last week we found 3 new investigators but this week we got 15 crazy huh! ya the people listen but they usually just don’t want to change so the work is slow but good. also I’m learning some Zulu its a pretty cool and hard some of the noises they make are really hard to learn. My companion is from Pretoria which is in south africa we are getting along well and the work is going well. ya our area is just north of durban along the beach which stinks cause we can’t swim but oh well its a beautiful place. our appartment is really good and small. All i’ve really eaten since i got here is lunch meat sandwiches and pasta with Parmesan cheese. haha ya we have p-day till six o clock then we do work for the rest of the day. ya things are going good the weather here is nice. People keep saying its biting cold and i just laugh cause its not even close to cold. Anyway I’m doing great…       
                                                                                                          Love, Elder (Flexy)

Sunday Best!

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“Because the Spirit is often 
described as a still, 
small voice, it is also important 
to have a time of quiet 
in our lives as well. 
The Lord has counseled us to 
‘be still, and know that I am God.’ 
If we provide a still and quiet 
time each day when we are 
not bombarded by television,
 computer, video games, or personal 
electronic devices, we allow 
that still, small voice an opportunity 
to provide personal
 revelation and to whisper sweet 
guidance, reassurance, 
                and comfort to us.”                                                                      
Vicki F. Matsumori
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We all need to take a few minutes (at least) each day to just sit still, and to listen. What is God trying to tell you about your life. He is there and He will guide you and help you along the way, I know it. Hope your Sunday was the best! Love, Joy  

My darlin’s Birthday!

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My darlin!
(getting a little salt and pepper in that beard!)
Today is my sweetheart’s birthday!
Happy Birthday! 
We had a fun day in Salt Lake City. 
We rode the Front Runner down, and had a big adventure. 
The Gilgal Garden was pretty neat. 
This guy was pretty busy for a long time 
doing all of this to his yard. It’s now open to the public. 

There were scriptures and thoughts and 
songs written on a lot of the rocks.

Fun and interesting!
Then we went to Trolly Square. 
We ate lunch, and decided to go to see this antique car collection. 
We had seen information about it on the internet.
We rode Trax as far as we could, then walked and walked, for blocks and blocks.  
We saw this on the way! 
Good idea!!!! I will. 
Notice the raindrops on the Trust Jesus sidewalk sign? 
Yes, it rained too. 
So we walked and walked, I know I said that, 
and we got to the building and guess what.

 It was closed! 
What the..! 
No way, did we just walk and walk 
to get here, and have it be closed!!! 

Are these some of the antique cars? 
My little darlin ran over to the front door to see if anything was on the door. 
There was a sign that said, “Running errands!” with a phone #. 
So we called the number, (remember we walked and walked), 
and they said they will be back tomorrow. 
Sorry, we won’t!
We headed up to the Trax station. (More walking.) 
I need it to be clear, 
I had no intention of burning the massive 
amount of calories that I burned today. 


-Sorry-
We stopped at the 
Hope Gallery and Museum. 
We both loved it!
We made a quick pass through the Gateway. 
My darlin loves Dick’s Sporting Goods. 
He is always looking at racquet’s.
 I can’t believe he doesn’t get tired of looking at them. 
I went into the Brighton store.
 He can’t believe I never get tired of looking at the Brighton store. 
It’s a great relationship we have.
 I’m just grateful the stores are right across from each other. 
After that we headed for home. It was a fun day, 
mostly because we were together.
 I think my sweetheart had fun too. 
Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

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Elder Flexy 2:1  -Email-
MAMA (Zulu for mother)
ya its great to know that things are going well! this place is so cool!!!!!! i love it here i’m learnig so much cultural stuff its crazy i’m gonna try to learn Zulu before i come home anyway. so the teaching here is really slow teaching muslums and Hindus is really hard and we taught this man named Frank and he just fights everything we say its actually kinda funny. so the work is going well no baptisms yet but they will come. This place is so differant when you can go to the store and not know what cold cereal to buy its a strange place. We ate Indian food the other day its FREAKIN spicy!!!! but its was good and its part of there culture to eat with there hands so that was kinda gross but it was good fun. oh ya the other day we went to this little Zulu families house and their daughter Gugu was sitting by me so i started showing her my pictures and i showed her the Provo Temple and she kissed the camera! that just goes to show that even little children in Africa know what is sacred. anyway I’m doing great better go love you.
                                                                                                                    Love, Elder (Flexy)
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Good news! 
That’s what the word “gospel” means! 

Sunday Best!

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John 15:10-12

10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
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In primary today we talked about the “good” Samaritan.  In the story, a man is traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. The man was robbed, wounded, and left for dead. A priest came by and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side of the road. Then a Levite came by, and looked on him, then passed by on the other side of the road. Then a Samaritan came by, and saw him, and had compassion on him. He bound up his wounds, took him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day, he gave the inn keeper money to take care of the man. He told the host that if he spent more money to care for the man he would repay him when he returned. 
Jesus used this example to teach that 
we are all neighbors.
 We should love and care about each other. The reason the example was such a good one is because the Samaritans were hated by the Jews. In fact, the Samaritans hated the Jews too. The man who was wounded and left for dead was a Jew, and even his own people wouldn’t help him. But the Samaritan understood how to love and care about others, and didn’t let the differences between the two groups of people stop him from being a good person. We all need a reminder about how to treat each other. 
Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy