Monthly Archives: March 2012

Family History Friday: Love Letters!

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I recently wrote a post on writing a letter and leaving it for your descendants.

I really do think it’s a great idea.

What about a history containing all of the wonderful stories that made us who we are. Maybe after that, you could write a history of a family member. Feeling energetic? What about writing the history of your family.

Ezra Taft Bensen said,

“We call upon you to pursue vigorously the gathering and writing of personal and family histories. In so many instances, you alone have within you the history, the memory of loved ones, the dates and events . . . In few ways will your heritage be better preserved than by your collecting and writing your histories” ( Ensign, November, 1989).

What a wonderful way to show your family that you value their lives.

At the same time leaving a gift for your descendants.

In an article written by Darla Isackson she writes,

“We want our pedigree charts and family history sheets as complete as possible. But books containing the spiritual legacy of our families are surely important too! My sister compiled stories of answers to prayers in their family and gave it to each family member for Christmas. I’ve started a compilation called, “Our Family’s Heritage of Heavenly Help” with the same purpose in mind.”

How neat would it be to have such a history.

Darla wrote a great article about writing a family history. You can read it here!

Let’s all make it a priority to write our history, and then, our family’s history.

Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

A Fond Memory

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When I was growing up I loved watching the musical

“Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.”

It is such a cute show!!!

I think the reason I liked it so much is because I grew up with 5 brothers, and no sisters. I could relate to Milly trying to live with a bunch of men. She spent lots of time trying to teach these backwoodsmen how to be gentlemen. Of course it doesn’t work in the beginning, but it is so fun to see her sweet personality working with them.

Growing up with my 5 brothers was sometimes scary. They were so competitive. They used to scare me half to death when they would wrestle with each other. It would start out as a friendly wrestling match and then get serious, each trying to prove they were stronger than the other.

If you ever get the chance watch it! It is a classic!

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is one of my all time favorites and a very fond memory.

Totally “Fort Worth” It!

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 Hermana Kelsey 13:2 -email-
 Hola familia!
Como estan?
Espero qu todo esta bien con ustedes. 🙂
This week was really great. It is going by way too fast. Sister V. and I are at exactly the same point in our missions, and we’ve been talking a lot about how weird it is going to be to go home. We are scared.  You will get to meet her when we fly home, because we will be flying home together on the same plane, at the same time. You’ll also probably meet her family. But her mom doesn’t speak english like at all, so you won’t be able to talk to her, but the rest of her family does. Then Sister V. and I can just freak out together on the plane ride home, and then cry with our families together when we get to the airport. 🙁 But at least we get to do it together right? 🙂
I really miss Salt Lake City! Every time I see a picture of the temple, or temple square, I get a little trunky. I just miss home. But only for a minute, and then I am fine. I do miss taking like day trips down to SLC though, and shopping. I miss having money to spend. But not enough that I’m ready to come home yet. 
I always love testimony meeting. Yesterday was really cool because there is an elder in our district (Elder C.), and he is the only member of the church in his family, and they rejected him, and basically disowned him when he joined the church. The bishop called him up to bear his testimony (because he is new in the ward), and he talked about how his parents wrote to him the day before (he hadn’t heard from them at all in a month and a half!), and they told him that they accepted him for who he was and that they were proud of him. He was talking about how it meant so much to him, and how he has great hope that all of them will join someday, and they will be able to be sealed in the temple together. It was so sweet. I have great respect for missionaries who are here on the mission, and do not have support from home, and yet still work as hard as they do. It is really hard being a missionary sometimes, and I think it would be especially hard not hearing from your family, and not knowing that they will be glad to have you back when you come home.
Yesterday, we had a meeting with Elder Callister from the presidency of the Seventy!  It was really cool. I got a lot of great insights, and he taught us some pretty interesting stuff. And I got to see a lot of missionaries I haven’t seen for a long time. Also I heard about what was going on in Arlington. It made me really sad, because my last convert I had in Arlington is now not going to church and won’t let the sister that are serving there now to come in and see her. They think she got antied from her neighbor. I almost cried when she told me. I love that lady. I wrote her a letter like 2 weeks ago (or maybe 3), but she hasn’t written me back. 
Dad: I know what you mean. I am going to be so out of technology by the time I go home, that I won’t even know what to do with myself. But hopefully I will be able to figure it out pretty quickly. 🙂 But you’ll be good. Did you read the instruction manual? That always helps.  I love playing volleyball still. We usually do that on p-day. I’m hoping that because it is warming up, we will be able to go outside and play football or something soon. That would be even greater. AHHH! I’m so jealous you get to eat swedish pancakes! I was craving them so bad the other day, but we don’t have the time or the money to get things to make them. So I’ll just have to wait until I come home. Maybe we can make them my first day back home? 
Emmysaurus Rex: Hey little lady! Como estas mija? Man! I can’t believe you are almost a legal adult. Say it ain’t so! It cannot be!!! JK. But really time goes by way too fast. Enjoy every moment, even the hard ones. I hope things are getting better. Have you been looking for a different job? That is something that I’m worried about. When I get home, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to find one. I’m so nervous. But the Lord will provide.  I kind of wish I was getting a tax return. I didn’t work for any part of last year, so I won’t be getting one.  But I guess it is okay. I just plan on not having any money to my name when I get home, and starting from the bottom, and working my way up.
Well, I better go now. I love all of so much, and I can’t wait to squeeze y’all!! So this will have to do for now. 
Be good. I’ll see you in a little bit.
Love, Kelsey
P.S. How is Flexy doing? I haven’t heard anything about him for a long time. 
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

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Elder Flexy 20:4 -email-
Mama,
this week has been a good week. we got transfer news and i’m going to U. its near durban my comp is Elder M. and this is the first time on my mission i’ve met my comp before he was my comp. but he is really cool. and i’m gonna be walking the rest of my mission. i got the package it was great the cake and cookies were superb. well i’m super exited for my last three transfers. but it will be sweet! love you
Love Elder Flexy
Baba,
well thats great that you got a laptop have you played astriods on it yet? haha well thats sweet to hear hopefully all the problems can be easy to fix with it. well i’l let you know how the new area is when i get there. love you
Love Elder Flexy
M,
wow your gonna be eighteen!!!!!???? well thats good and sorry about the job. but the lord will provide something for you. i promise! love you sis
Love Elder Flexy

Sunday Best!

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“What If … ?”

If a mouse would ride to church
In your pocket on this day,
What might he tell his family
That he heard you do or say?
Would he tell them you were reverent,
And you listened to your teacher?
Or would he say he’d never seen
Such a noisy creature?
Would he tell them how he loved the songs
You sang so sweet and clear?
Or would he groan from all the talking
That entered in his ear?
Could he take a little snooze
As you walked nice and tall?
Or would he scream with panic
As you galloped down the hall?
Would the little mouse get seasick
From the tipping of your chair?
Or would he feel safe and cozy
As you quietly sat there?
Would the chapel be a reverent place?
The sacrament the same?
Now tell me, would the little mouse
Be really glad he came?
If a mouse would ride to church
In your pocket on this day,
What might he tell his family
That he heard you do or say?

-by DaLee C. James, Friend, Sep 1996, 22

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This was Alex’s favorite poem to give in Primary when he was little.

Today is Alex’s birthday! Happy Birthday Flexy!! I love you!

And I hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

Family History Friday: Collectables #7 Navajo Treasures!

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This is a rug my darlin bought in Arizona when he was a missionary there. It hangs in our bedroom. Along with these beautiful Wedding Baskets. We have kind of an eclectic decor in our room, Navajo treasures, a quilt on the bed, grandma’s hopechest, etc. But I love it! I am surrounded in my room with things that are precious to me.

The Navajo’s have a tradition with their rugs. They purposely put a mistake or flaw in each of the rugs. They say it is because only God is perfect, and if they make a perfect rug, they will offend God. I have personally used that same reasoning when I make stuff. 😉

The Wedding Baskets are given to the the couple to hang in their home. The opening points downward on purpose, it is to let the evil spirits out of their home. I think it’s a great tradition. I haven’t felt any evil spirits in our home.

The main thing to me is that my sweetie brought them home from his mission and he loves the Navajo people. They are beautiful and remind me of wonderful stories and traditions. All people have stories and traditions. I love hearing them all.

Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy