Sunday Best!

“We must be vigilant in a world which has moved so far from that which is spiritual. It is essential that we reject anything that does not conform to our standards, refusing in the process to surrender that which we desire most: eternal life in the kingdom of God. The storms will still beat at our doors from time to time, for they are an inescapable part of our existence in mortality. We, however, will be far better equipped to deal with them, to learn from them, and to overcome them if we have the gospel at our core and the love of the Savior in our hearts.”  

-Thomas S. Monson

Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

Organ Donation!

This happy dude is my “miracle” brother, Keith!

He is alive today because of organ donation. A wonderful person said “yes” he would donate, and my brother is here, because of him.

We are so grateful!

Today was the Dash for Donation event in our city. People were running or walking a 5K or 2K to raise money for organ donation. Keith was asked to say a few words about his experience. He did a great job. I love you, brother.

You can read more about organ donation here!

Family History Friday: A Genealogist’s View of Death

Genealogist Thomas MacEntee wrote a great article about what it will be like for a genealogist after their death. I’m sure it is a view shared by many. I certainly enjoyed it.

He said, “Do you think that place beyond life is different for genealogists than it is for most people? I think it is. Here’s what I believe I’ll find ‘over there’.”

to read the article go here!

The Geneabloggers is a great website, that I get daily email’s from. If you have a few minutes, spend some time clicking on the site. It is a fun place to spend a little time reading and seeing what others are doing with genealogy.

Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Beautiful Sunset and a Fun Anniversary Date!

Today is our anniversary!

We have been married for 27 years.

We have a great marriage, and we’re best friends.

While we were on our date tonight we talked about all of the things that make our marriage wonderful.

One of the things that came up was that after 27 years together, we still just love to be together. We don’t need to spend a lot of money, for it to be special. We went to “A&W” in Logan for dinner. It was, by the way, super great! Then went to the thrift store, and found a few treasures. We held hands and talked about how beautiful the sunset was on the way home.

It was perfect. I love him so much! I feel so blessed to have a best friend and sweetheart.

Happy Anniversary Darlin!!

Totally “Fort Worth” It!

Hermana Kelsey 18:3 -email-
Dearest family…
How are you all?! I hope things are good. I am doing just great. I am adjusting to having to do a lot of the work here. We are really struggling to find new investigators, and Sister P. has only been out for like 4 months here in Texas, so she doesn’t really know what she is doing, and the people we are teaching, because she is new to the area. But she’s a way cool! Sister P. and I have been talking TONS!! We sometimes get distracted, because we just love talking to each other and telling stories and stuff. It’s kind of bad. But anyways, things are good.
Now for events of the week:
{Queue drumroll (drumroll, drumroll, drumroll, drumroll!!)}
Monday: We had our last p-day of the transfer. We went to the church for an activity, and got to hang out with the other people in our zone. We said goodbye to some missionaries that are leaving on Wednesday as well. Also, I got spiked in the eye with a volleyball. It was awesome! I was hoping I would get a black eye, but it didn’t hit me near hard enough. Ha ha. Anyways, it was a crazy day because Sister M. was packing and stuff.
Tuesday: We had an appointment with our investigator, D., and we taught him about tithing. Their little family (his mom, older brother, and two older sisters), who are all members, are living right now off of what the oldest son makes at his part time job. He is also going to school. Anyway, they are super poor. They live in very humble circumstances. So, we taught them the law of the tithe, and E., the mom, told us that she would pay tithing! It was so amazing. She has such great faith, and she has taken huge steps to change her life for the better. I am amazed at the changes that I have seen people make in their lives, and how things have just improved so much for them. The gospel is amazing!
Wednesday: I got to go down to the Hurst building with Sister M. to drop her off, and to pick up Sister P. I was so excited because originally they told me that I couldn’t go. But then they said that I could. I was so stoked. I got to see a lot of missionaries that are going home, for the last time. It was super cool, but also really weird. They kept telling me, “Man, you only have 6 more weeks! You’re almost done too.” And then it hit me for a second, and I kind of panicked and freaked out for a little bit inside. But then I was like, “No! I don’t only have 6 more weeks! I get to have 6 more weeks!” And then I was okay. 🙂
Thursday: We had an entire day planned, and everyone punched (just wasn’t home when we got there), or called us to cancel. So we tried to get some work done, but it was kind of hard. But it was all good.
Friday: I had a really bad stomache ache like all day. I think part of it was stress, and part of it was nervousness. Ever since we had transfers, and I saw all those missionaries going home, I’ve kind of been scared inside. Like I know that everything will be fine, but at the same time, I don’t know how to live in the real world anymore. I love being a missionary, and I don’t want it to end! 🙁 But I’m now doing better so, it’s all good.
Saturday: We finally got to see our recent convert, M. We hadn’t been able to see him, or talk to him in like 2 weeks! So we finally sat down with him, and gave him a little pep talk. He is struggling with a lot of things right now, so we were teaching him to help him get through them.
Sunday: We got to eat pupusas! I want to find out how to make them so that when I come home I can make them for all of you! They are so delicious. 🙂 🙂
So… HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!! (I wish there was a song or something to go along with it that I could write out, but there isn’t 🙁 ) Anyways, that is super cool. Y’all have been married for a while, right?! 🙂
Mom: Ha ha. Aww Coco! She is a stinkin crazy dog! I remember she bugged me, because she would always jump on me and lick me and stuff, and one time she was licking my face and she licked in my mouth! It was so gross.
Wow, I’m super stoked for family temple day! I love to go to the temple! That would be super cool to be able to all go together. Also, I want to go to the Brigham City temple dedication after I get home. That would be sweet! 🙂
Dad: I’m super glad you had a good b-day! That’s cool you got to do iFly! I really want to do that sometime. I remember walking by and seeing those like professional people in there doing it, and I was always like, “That is so cool!” Man, my mom is the coolest, isn’t she? 😉 Ha ha. Anyways, I’m glad you had fun.
Emily: Hey seest! I’m doing good. How are you little chica? Man, you are working a ton. Sister P., my companion right now, used to do emergency transportation, like ambulances, and she said that she used to work 72 hour shifts! Not the whole time, because when they were at the station they could sleep and shower and stuff. But they were basically on call, and at any moment they had to be ready to leave and save someone’s life. Crazy huh? I don’t think I could do that, but she loved it.
Alex: Hey buddy! How are you adjusting? I’m glad you are staying busy at work. You still didn’t tell me any of the people you work with. I want to see if I know any of them. 🙂 Ha ha, anyway, keep trying not to lose your mind, that is something really important to have. 🙂 Just remember, you adjusted to being a missionary, you can definitely readjust to being a normal human being again. 🙂 Just keep on keeping on! Also, remember that you are going to have to help me adjust to being a normal person when I get home, so by the time I get home, you should be a normal person. You still have a little bit of time, so keep working on it. 🙂
Well, I love you all a ton! Be good, and keep doing the best you can!
Love, Kelsey
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Sunday Best!

“I plead with you, my brothers and sisters, that if you have any doubt concerning any doctrine of this Church, that you put it to the test. Try it. Live the principle. Get on your knees and pray about it, and God will bless you with a knowledge of the truth of this work”

-Gordon B. Hinckley

Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

Family History Friday: Cousins & Family Reunions!

Family really is an important part of life.

We are born into a family, we grow up in a family, and even when we’re grown up, and move away, and start our own family, we can’t seem to stay away from the family we grew up with.

I love the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond! She wrote a fun blog post about cousins, and a family reunion their family had. It sounded like so much fun! You can read about it here!

Start today planning a family reunion for next summer! Enlist help in planning and contacting your relatives from a favorite cousin. And when you get together next summer share Family History information. You’ll be so amazed at your ancestors and the things they accomplished in their lives.

Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Friends: Julie

My dear friend Julie recently had a birthday.

It was one of those significant birthdays. Like the ones you aren’t really looking forward to…the first number is a 5 and the second number is a 0. We have been best friends for 32 years, and friends for longer. She is a wonderful gal, and love her.

We had a fun day.

We rode Front Runner, shopped at the City Creek Center mall, we ate lunch at The Garden Restaurant. It was very nice. We sat in a nice spot with a view of the Salt Lake Temple. Then when I told them it was Julie’s birthday, they had her come to the middle of the restaurant and we all sang, and she released a balloon through the glass ceiling. How fun!

My favorite things about Julie are: We have a plethora of memories that are hysterically funny, we have made scary choices that we lived through, she is incredibly true and loyal, she loves me and I can tell she does, she plays a mean game of “Hand and Foot”, she’s my favorite friend to ride with at Lagoon, our children are all best friends, she shares with me, she’s fun to yard sale with, she loves the Lord and His gospel, and lives an honest life full of integrity. She is awesome! I am so blessed to have her in my life.

I love you, friend!