Author Archives: joyful_admin

Howzit! Elder Flexy!

Posted on by
4

Well, we finally got a letter from our Elder!! I was really needing to hear from him! But I’m all better now. He has been gone for a week and a half. His letter wasn’t very long, but he gave us the basic’s.

He say’s:
 “The spirit is so strong! The first day was way long, but I’m learning to like it. We have an elder in our resident hall that is 7 feet tall!!! Crazy huh? I’m learning how to preach God’s word and it is amazing. My third day out, one of the teachers picked me and had me do a forty-five minute lesson with an elder. I didn’t know it was intense, but we did great!! My companion is Elder Fisher. He is a bawler (Flexy says this alot, I think this means he’s a really great guy), he always has the spirit and teaches well. My scriptures look like a rainbow, they’re getting marked up so well. Our sisters are angels. They are definately our superiors. Anyway, better get studying! Love, Elder (Flexy)”
What a great letter! I can tell he’s loving it and being busy is awesome. What a blessing to have our son serving.

Our Home!

Posted on by
1

We have lived in our wonderful home for 13 1/2 years. It is a great house with a great back yard. I have loved raising my family here. With that said, it is amazing how much work goes into this house. Some people remodel every other year like clockwork. I wish we could, but we usually are just trying to keep up with the maintenance of our home. Nevermind remodeling! One day, my hubby came up the stairs, sweat dripping off his brow, and said,”We live in the project.” I laughed and laughed. What he meant was the whole thing is one big project. I’ve heard it said, that it takes a whole year to paint the Golden Gate Bridge. After a year they start all over. It is never done. That story made me feel a little better. I did a google search and found out, they don’t paint it every year. It is in a constant state of maintenance, just like our house. They do have 17 ironworkers and 38 painters, who do the job. At our home, people keep leaving. Me and my darlin and the girls are all that’s left. We will probably always live in the project.

Sunday Best!!

Posted on by
Reply
Doctrine and Covenants 78:19
And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.
————————-
In Luke 17:12-19 Jesus heals the ten lepers. He heals all ten, but only one returns to say thank you. Jesus questions, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” Well, they got what they wanted and forgot how they got it. They might also be the type to blame God when things aren’t going quite right. I really don’t ever want to be like that. I know I’m not perfect and I do make mistakes, but I believe it is very important to be thankful.
Years ago I learned about receiving all things with thankfulness. I couldn’t comprehend at the time, how a person could be thankful for something bad that happened to them. But since then, I have tried to acknowledge the blessings that have come to me, because of the hard things that I have been though in life. When I think about the pain, I realize it has made me more compassionate. When I think about how others treated me, I realize I am more conscientious about treating others right. I remember how it felt to be sad, because someone was unkind to me.  I am thankful for all things in my life, blessings and challenges.
 I am a better person for it.
Receive all things with thankfulness. And don’t forget to say Thank you, when you have been blessed!
Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy 

Howzit! Elder Flexy!

Posted on by
Reply
Our darling Elder!
We dropped Alex off at the MTC this afternoon. We stopped for lunch on the way.
He was so excited!
I have done pretty good at not crying, two years is a long time! But, I only feel sad when I think about me. (So I won’t think about me!)  I asked Alex if he was sad at all. He said “No, I’ll be right back. I’m just going to be gone for a couple of minutes.” It’s true! Time flies! When I do think about him, I can’t help but feel excited. He is going to have many great experiences that will bless his life. I also feel so happy for the people in South Africa, who will meet and know him. He is such a wonderful young man. With a heart of gold.
I looked up common phrases in South Africa, and “Howzit” is one of them it means: – A common greeting which can mean ‘How are you?’. ‘How are things?’, ‘What’s up!’ and so on!
I will keep you all posted as to how he is doing and what he tells us in his letters home. I’ll call the posts: Howzit! Elder Flexy!

Sunday Best!!

Posted on by
Reply
Happy 4th of July!!
I feel such gratitude and appreciation for this free land of America. I am so grateful for those who sacrificed so much, sometimes everything, so we can now enjoy the things we so often take for granted. Our family has traveled to many significant  historical sites in American history, an experience I wish all Americans could have.
**********
I went on a field trip with my son Alex when he was in 4th grade to the Utah State Capital. One of the original copies of the “Declaration of Independance” was being displayed there and traveling the country. It was wonderful to see it. Another treat was to see the original painting by Arnold Friberg, “Prayer at Valley Forge”. It was also on display at the capital. Wow! What a beautiful painting. As we came out of the room it was being displayed in, I saw a man talking to people. I said to my son’s teacher, “I think that is Arnold Friberg!” So we went over to where he was, and just listened. It was him! He was explaining his feelings about the way George Washington’s hands appear in the painting. He said that when he painted it, it was more traditional to paint the hands with the palms together and the hands flat. He wanted to help those viewing the painting to feel the urgency and need for help from God that George Washington must have felt. So he painted the hands clench with the fingers interlocked. It worked, I felt that urgency! I wanted to tell General Washington as I looked at the painting, “It will be okay!! What you’re doing now, will work!We do become the land you dream of. Thank you for loving God and fighting for our freedom!”
***********
Well, Arnold Friberg died this last week. But what a gift he has given to all. You can read about him here!
Thank you Arnold Friberg! Thank you for your life of giving and your faith in God.
Hope your Sunday, July 4th 2010, was the best!!!
Love, Joy

Family History Friday (FHF): The Love Boat!

Posted on by
Reply
Long before there was ever a show called
“Love Boat”,
 there was a real love boat. When my husbands ancestor left Norway to come to America she met and fell in love with her husband. They had a common goal, to come to Utah and join the members of their newly found religion. She married him on the William Tabscot. The ship that was bringing them to America. They were one of many couples who “tied the knot” on the ship. They continued their journey once here in America, across the plains. They ended up in the Bear Lake Valley. In a town called Montpelier, Idaho. They loved each other all their lives and were happy. Now that’s a LOVE boat.
Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Favorite TV/Movie Quotes! Napoleon Dynamite!

Posted on by
Reply
Napoleon Dynamite: Stay home and
eat all the freakin’ chips, Kip.
Kip: Napoleon, you’re just jealous because
 I’ve been chatting online with babes all day.
Besides, we both know that
I’m training to be a cage fighter.
Napoleon Dynamite: Since when, Kip?
You have the worst reflexes of all time.
Kip: Try and hit me, Napoleon.
Napoleon Dynamite: What?
Kip: I said come down here and see what
happens if you try and hit me.
Napoleon grabs Kip around the neck.

Kip: Stop Napoleon! I think you’re bruising my neck meat!!

—————————————————
“Gosh”-You should hear my teeny bopper quote this!!! 
FUNNY!
A classic!

Sunday Best!!

Posted on by
Reply
Ephesians 6:11-17
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of thes world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the sheild of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.
———————————————-
Speaking about the whole armor, President N. Eldon Tanner said, “Examine your armor. Is there an unguarded or unprotected place? Determine now to add whatever part is missing. … Through the great principle of repentance you can turn your life about and begin now clothing yourself with the armor of God through study, prayer, and a determination to serve God and keep his commandments.”
————————————————-
Alex had his mission talk today.
He leaves in 1 1/2 weeks. He did a great job. He spoke on the “Armor of God”. He has always been interested in armor. He loves to play games, and watch movies that have to do with men wearing armor. Some of his favorite stories in school had to do with Spartans, or gladiators, etc.
The armor of God
is the ultimate armor.
In the scriptures we learn that we are ingaged a battle against evil and that we must protect ourselves, if we are to be victorious.
———————————————–
“Missionaries are the special forces
 in God’s army, sent in to find and arm those who
are ready and want to fight against evil.
They are being shot with fiery darts and they are scared and frustrated. We find them, those who are ready, and
we arm them by teaching them…or just fasten their armor better then it is. Then other members of the church
can help them train for the fight.
And help them build their armor.”  -Alex
He will be a great missionary!
I hope your Sunday was the Best!! Love, Joy