Author Archives: joyful_admin

Howzit! Elder Flexy!

Posted on by
2
Elder Flexy 
left today for 
South Africa! 
He called me from the airport. He was so excited to be going. I asked him if he was nervous and he said, “No, just ready to go and work”. I’m so glad he is ready. As parents, we have always encouraged, sometimes pushed, our kids to do things in their life. Things that we thought would be a good thing, a blessing and even a challenge. An experience that would help them be a better human, to learn and grow. It feels great to know he is wanting to go, and is even excited to do something in his life that will bless others and himself. He is a great son. All of our children are a blessing to us. It will take him about 22 hours to get to his mission. Wow! I put the Durban clock on the blog so we can all see what time it is for Elder Flexy! We will be praying for him, I hope you will too! Love, Joy

Happy Birthday Sweet Natasha!

Posted on by
1

 

My sweet grandbaby is 3 years old!
What a doll! And her personality is so fun! 
We will be just sitting together, and she will say, “I love you, Grandma”. I’ll say “I love you too!” Then I’ll say, “Can I be your grandma forever?” and she’ll say, “Mmm-hmm!” 
When you pick her up to snuggle and give her a squish, she wraps her arms around your neck and pats your back. She is fun!! I am so glad to be her grandma. 
Happy Birthday
 Natasha! 


Sunday Best!

Posted on by
1
“When the seas of life are stormy, a wise
mariner seeks a port of peace. The family, as 

we have traditionally known it, is such a refuge 

of safety. ‘The home is the basis of a righteous 

life and no other instrumentality can take its 

place or fulfil its essential functions'” 
-Thomas S. Monson 

————————
Our homes are the refuge we 
all need from the world. 

“Home
-to be at home is to find yourself 
with those who put your heart at ease.“

A place of peace and safety. 

A place where we are accepted and loved. We don’t have to be 

perfect parents. We just need to love our children and provide a

 safe place for them to learn and grow.
We just need to do the best we can.

 Hope you Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

Family History Friday (FHF): Write A Book!

Posted on by
Reply
 Write a book.
You heard me right!
 If you don’t want to write a whole book, one that gets bound and published, that’s OKAY! You don’t have to do that. You can just write your story in a book. I have several of these types of books at my home right now. They are super! If you don’t feel like you’re ready for that yet, but you have a loved one who you would like to know more, you can give one to them. In these books, they give you a question and you answer it. Sometimes we (or maybe those we leave behind) want to know something about a person long after the opportunity is still there to ask them. Sometimes we don’t or can’t think of questions. This is one way to leave a legacy of your feelings and experiences. Or find out how your family members feel about their life and experiences. Priceless!
My darlin’s father is one of the many who has been dealing with the challenge of Alzheimer’s. He’s only 77 years old, and a lot of his memories are gone. Sad.
He has led a wonderful life, full of adventures and experiences that will not be shared, except by family members who were there with him.
One of these books has you answer just one question a day for a year. How easy is that? Anyone can do that! Others are more like a journal and you write as you have time. Write your memories down, and there won’t be one person who is not thrilled that you did, including you. Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Howzit! Elder Flexy!

Posted on by
2
ElderFlexy 1:2  -email-

hey this is so so awesome i love it here. i finally got my email working as you can see. but my pin # isn’t working I’m not sure why anyway it would be good to know why its not working. anyway so i leave for Durban in a week scary huh i know its gonna be sick I’m SO exited so don’t forget to give colter his letter and if you could send me his address and maybe Scott k that would be awesome. anyway so we just had about 8 missionaries leave for the Ogden Utah mission pretty sweet!!! and i found out there is a fifth missionary going to Durban with us. so my companion Elder Fisher is so cool he is from Utah!!! than we have Elder Thatcher from salt lake city. And Elder Brown he is way awesome. then Elder Huntsman is our district leader pretty cool kid. and lastly Elder Ray is the funniest kid ever he is very unique person. then the sisters first sister fox, then sister teerlink, then sister Phillips and sister megill. so hope your all doing good at home well my time is up…
Love, Elder (Flexy)
ElderFlexy 1:3 -letter-
“Hello! So this is the coolest thing ever. The spirit here is so strong. I honestly think the prophets spirits walk these grounds. This place is a miracle. Me and my companion Elder Fisher are getting to be such great teachers, it’s awesome. The other elders in our building are really fun. There are five elders going to Durban and seven going to Johannesburg it’s gonna be sweet. I’m so excited! We leave in 7 days!! The sisters in our district are going to temple square, so you could go see them maybe. The food is so yummee here and you can eat all you want. I think I’ve gained some weight, but I’m not sure. Love, Elder(Flexy)”
What a great dude! He is so happy and content with life. I’m glad he is doing so good. He leaves for South Africa in a week!  I may need some consoling that day. JK. I’ll be just fine! 

My Dream Come True!

Posted on by
Reply
Happy 21st Birthday!!
My daughter Kelsey is 21 today!
She is such a fun daughter. When she was born, it was a dream come true! You can read about it here!
I give her alot of grief about what she should be doing in her life. When in all actuality she is amazing. She isn’t perfect, but who is. Some of my favorite things about Kelsey are:
*good things come in small packages!

*she is very responsible and works hard

*I can always count on her to get the other kids where they need to be

*she loves the Lord and is a good example

*she is a “dream come true”!

I have had 21 years of loving and knowing a little girl/young woman in my life. Before she came into my life, there was only the dream of a little girl. Thank you Heavenly Father for such a sweetheart!
I love you Kelsey, and am very happy to be your Momma!

My Heroes!

Posted on by
Reply
Abraham Lincoln
is one of my heroes!
“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
———-
“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”
———-
Gettysburg Address— “that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain–that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom–and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
———-
2nd Inaugural address“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds…. “
———-
“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
———-
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
*************
He was diligent in his education, always reading and improving his knowledge. He was an honest man and was fair and just. He believed in God, and wasn’t afraid to speak about Him. He had a quick wit as you can see from the last quote. I’m glad there are 
leaders like
Abraham Lincoln
to look up to and admire.  

24

Posted on by
Reply
Not 24 hours, but 24 years!
That’s how long Riley has been alive! I was just thinking about the age of 24, and it hit me that I was 24 when I had Riley! wow!
Happy Birthday, my first born!
I’m very proud of you. I am so pleased you are serving our country. I am also grateful for the things you are learning that will help you be the best you can be.
I’m glad you were born!

Sunday Best!!

Posted on by
Reply

2 Nephi 31:19-20

19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. 20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope , and a love of God and of all men, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
————————
It is not enough to have found the way to a life focused on following Christ’s teachings to the strait and narrow path. We must press forward, continuing to focus and follow Christ in all we do. When we make mistakes, we repent and get busy. We press forward with a steadfastness in Christ.
Steadfast means: fixed or steady,
firmly loyal or constant.
I once heard a teacher give an example of direction, by showing us a picture of a person on a set of stairs. Up the stairs is God and forever with Him. Down the stairs is hell. He said we are all at different places on the stairs. Some are higher up the stairway, maybe they have lived longer or they have spent more time learning about and living a life close to God and His teachings. What matters, and what is most important, is the direction we are facing. If we are facing upstairs toward God and we stay facing that direction, that is steady and loyal. If we are facing the wrong direction, we can turn around and start up the stairs. We are not stuck in the wrong direction. We need to have a hope that Jesus will help us along, He already paid the price for our sins. We can continue learning about Him in the scriptures, and see what else He can teach us. Then, endure to the end.
To endure means:
 to bear with patience, to remain firm.
The Father has promised us eternal life, with Him. What a wonderful thought. He is a loving Father, He is aware of us, He wants us back. All we have to do is be willing to come back to Him. I will keep myself facing up, on the stairway. Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

Family History Friday (FHF): Where are they?

Posted on by
Reply

Part of
Family History
is
Family Present!
We all have loved ones! Some live near, some live far away. The challenge in this day and age is to stay connected, to talk to each other, about each other. Stay in touch! One really fun activity you can do as a family to keep your family aware and thinking about those you love is, to place little reminders around your home and yard.
I saw a wonderful project in the
 Family Fun
magazine you can find it here!
You could make one of these Family Signposts to put either in your yard or in your home. It doesn’t have to be made exactly like the one Family Fun made. It’s just a reminder of
your relatives far and wide. It would be fun to know which direction from your home, your relatives live and how far from your home they live. 
Next, you could write each of them a letter or email with a fun spotlight questionare,
like this one (I found it at ldsactivitydayideas.blogspot.com).