Family History Friday: This Day In History!

If you are writing the history of one of your ancestor’s, or just trying to make a timeline of their life? A great place to see what happen in history is at 
“The History Channel”
 website.

They have a great website it is 
www.history.com 

One of the tabs across the top is called 
“This Day in History.”

You click on the tab and it will give you information about things that happened on this day in history. What if you want to know about another day in history? You can pick a day, and find out about that day too! You can find it  here!
Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Totally "Fort Worth" It!

Hermana Kelsey 5:3 -email-
Mi Familia!
Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing great. This week was kind of weird, but pretty good.
Monday: I already told you a little about Monday in the last letter, but I was on exchange with Sister C. We got locked out of our van, because the clicker wouldn’t work, and for some reason some people decided not to tell us that there was a key hidden inside. It was quite an adventure. We also got to watch some fireworks from the sister’s apartment in K. It was cool, because F. was the only place in our area of Texas that got to have fireworks, because of the drought and fire dangers. So we were really lucky to get to see them.
Tuesday: I spent a LOT of time speaking in Spanish. It was really hard, and I didn’t know how to say a lot of things, but when I have to I can get by. It was pretty awesome. We ate dinner with a less active family that is in the military, and then Sister C did this funny spiritual thought with a dish towel. She told a story about a chicken, and how it was her pet, but it got run over by a car because she didn’t listen to her mom, and played in the street with it. Then she folded the towel this certain way, and when she was done it looked like one of those chickens with no head, and all it’s feather missing. It was pretty funny. The kids really liked it too.
Wednesday: We went up to W. for Zone Huddle. It was really fun. I got my real companion back. It was fun to have an exchange for a little bit, but I’m glad Sister S is back, and I don’t have to do all the talking in Spanish. 🙂 Other than that, it was kind of a bust day. We tried to see a bunch of people, and they either weren’t home or were busy and wanted us to come back later. It’s hard when we have days like that. But the good ones make it all worth it.
Thursday: Joe (one of our investigators)’s wife died. She was in the hospital, because she had cancer, but then the cancer went away, but the chemotherapy and all that ruined her insides (her kidneys were failing and her bladder had exploded). She was on life support in the hospital for a long time, but she finally passed away. It was a really hard thing for him. But I know that the things we have been teaching him are definitely helping. He wants to get baptized really bad. We’re hoping he can in a week or so. Hopefully sooner rather than later, because I might be getting transfered this transfer. 🙁 But it’ll be okay.
Friday: We studied Spanish too hard and for too long in the morning. I got a really bad migraine. But I’m still improving on it. My branch president is so cool, and he always tells me how my Spanish is getting better, and I sound like a true Hispanic. 🙂 It’s pretty awesome. I’m really not that good though. But I’m still working on it. Someday, I’ll be able to speak it fluently. Also, we tracted in a trailer park where we met some really cool people, and met a ton more Hispanic people. It was so cool. It’s pretty much a gold mine. We are stoked to be working in that area now. We have a challenge this week in our district to see who can get the most new investigators this week. We are shooting for 20 because I’m pretty sure none of the Elders will be able to get that many. 🙂 Also, if we win we get Olive Garden for free, because the losers have to buy dinner for the winners.
Saturday: We had a really great lesson with one of our new investigators, Elise. She is super cool, and she is actually the sister to one of our other investigators, Edgar, who is also really cool. She will probably get baptized someday. 🙂 Also, one of our other investigators, Lucas, professed his love for Sister S, so we can’t go see him anymore. He has a problem with falling for sister missionaries apparently. It’s sad, because he actually, legitimately was progressing towards baptism. But hopefully if Spanish Elders get put back in our area, they can go see him at some later point. Also, we had some really delicious tamales, made by one of our members. She sells them to make money, so she is like crazy good at making them.
Sunday: We had another hard day. I am now having issues with creepy guys. Our investigator Joe (see above), likes me, and when I went to shake his hand, he all tried to pull me in, and held onto my hand for way too long. It weirded me out, so I just pulled my hand away. It was gross. But it’s all good. Also, I’m to the point where I am now expecting things of people, and they are starting to disappoint me. It’s really hard. 🙁 I want to help them so much, and they don’t want to help themselves, so there is nothing I can do for them.
Today, we went to Grace (Joe’s wife)’s funeral at a Catholic church. It was really different.
I love you all!! Be safe. Have a great week.
Con amor,
Hermana KelseyP.S. Seester! I finally got your letter, and I will be writing you back sometime today. 🙂

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

Elder Flexy 13:1 -email-
Make,
This week has been very fun we have been going all over the place.  i’m glad the roof got fixed. and i’m glad landon has made it home safe. ya it will be cool to hang with him next year but ya. we will probably still do the same things just not all the time like we used to.  we have been working hard and having a good time. we had this young boy who is eight years old ride in a taxi alone 8 kilometers to church he is a powerful little guy,  life is good i had an interview with president, and it was nice to talk to him.  mission is fine i’m doing good. 
love you  Elder Flexy
Baba,
Dad i’m glad you’ve been working hard its good to hear all is well and that the roof is finished, we are teaching some very good people and we even had one resieve an answer to her prayers through a dream it was pretty cool. but ya love you give you mor details on how that works out next time.
    Elder Flexy
M
well i’m glad your doing well and i hope you drive safe now that you have your license. i love you little sister.
    Elder Flexy  

Sunday Best! For Keith.

Doctrine and Covenants 122:7-9
7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness,  and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, an shall be for thy good. 
8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? 
9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.
******************
Should we be protected always from hardship, pain, suffering, sacrifice or labor? Should the Lord protect the righteous? Should He immediately punish the wicked? If growth come from fun and ease and aimless irresponsibility, then why should we ever exert ourselves to work or learn or overcome? If success is measured by the years we live, then early death is failure and tragedy. If earth life is the ultimate, how can we justify death ever, even in old age? If we look at mortality as a complete existence, then pain, sorrow, failure, and short life could be a calamity. But if we look upon the whole life as an eternal thing stretching far into the pre-mortal past and into the eternal post-death future, then all happenings may be in proper perspective and may fall into proper place. 
-Spencer W. Kimball 
I love you, my brother!
Hope your Sunday was the Best!

Diet Dr. Pepper!

So I don’t know if I told you, but I teach the 
ladies in 
Relief Society
 now. It’s a little different than teaching the kids in 
Primary. 
They hold still and they raise their hands when they want to talk. Also, they don’t have to tell you what they’ve been doing, 
or the dirt on their family 
for the first 10 minutes of class. 
Funny! 
Anyway, I was talking about 
tithes and offerings. 
It was a good lesson for me to prepare. 
I understand the topic, but we all need reminders, 
about why we do the things we do. I shared a quote by C.S. Lewis (you can read it here). 
What a great man. So, as I’m teaching, I say something to the effect of, 
“Can we give more? 
Do we buy things we don’t really need? 
Like I say to myself, 
‘Do I really need this 
Diet Dr. Pepper?'”
 After which all the ladies are laughing. It is true though! I have a struggle with this. Well, a few days later, my friend Tricia shows up at the front door. 
She is holding a case of 
Diet Dr. Pepper
I just busted up laughing, because the box says, “Joy, For Medicinal Purposes”, with a smiley face. She went on to say that someone she loved used to use that excuse about liquor. So, funny!! I guess we all have a vice of some kind. And mine is
Diet Dr. Pepper!! 
I’ll keep working on it, though!
*****
*singing* 
I’m a Pepper, You’re a Pepper, He’s a Pepper, She’s a Pepper, wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper too? Dr. Pepper! Drink Dr. Pepper!!!

Family History Friday: Family History and Genealogy Conference, Etc!

 There is so many people who want to help us learn about our precious ancestor’s. I wish I could attend all of these conferences. There will be a conference at 
Brigham Young University in Provo 
starting on July 26th, 2011. It sounds awesome!! You can learn more about it here
There will also be one at 
Weber State University in September on the 17th, 2011.  
This conference is only for one day and it is free!! I will give you more information as it comes available. 
And of course the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, 
as well as many local Family History Centers around the world have classes for minimal cost, or no cost. There are over 4,500 Family History Centers all over the world. To find a Family History Center near you, check here
Happy Family History Friday! 
Love, Joy

It’s been a year!!

-Alex at 6 years old-
Today, it has been a year since my darling missionary son, left for his mission!!
 I can’t believe it’s been a year. It usually goes by fast when it’s someone else’s missionary, but it has gone by fast for us too! He is one amazing young man. From the start he has always been so easy going. Happy a lot! Not afraid to do nerdy things, and things that are not always popular, he is also not afraid to do what’s right.  
-Flexy with his mission president and wife-
He is someone who knows who he is, and is not afraid to show it. That works out kinda nice when you are in another country, telling people about your Savior, and trying to help them make some needed changes in their life.
-Flexy at an orphanage- (darling children)
He is loving his mission
 and the experiences he is having. 
I am so glad!!
-With the other missionaries-
We are so proud of our son! 
Only one year left!!!

The Roof is Done!!!

Before! 
See the shingles curling?
 They need to go bye-bye!!
My hard working darlin!!
What an amazing man! 
He can do anything!
We have such great neighbors, 
friends, and family!!! 
Thursday evening we had lots of help tearing off the old shingles! It’s a dirty job!
We had big people and little people helping!
Everett and Parker! My buddies!
It was starting to get dark so they had to quit for the night. 
We borrowed a trailer from
 one of our neighbors, for the dead shingles! 
May they “rest in peace!”
The next morning lots more help!
My friend Krissy, 
and her son Tyler, and husband Tom. 
They are amazing!! 
This little guy wanted to help so bad. 
This is Jacob, 
he lives next door. 
He was helping put the 
shingles in the trailer! What a helper!!
The roofing supplier delivering the shingles and stuff!
It’s pretty slick! They have a conveyer type machine that sends the supplies and shingles up to the top of the roof. The shingle bundles weigh about 80 pounds each. In the old days these guys would carry them on their shoulders, up a ladder. I’m glad we didn’t have to do that. 
Can you see the hole? It was leaking below the swamp cooler. Ouch!! My darlin had done a patch job, but it really just needed to be re-done.
My brother Keith helping! He was a hard worker too!
Starting to put the shingles on!!
My job was keeping them fed and hydrated!! 
Taking our last load to the transfer station. We took 3 loads total!
Taking a water brake!
Almost done!
I love it! It’s beautiful!!
Beautiful!!
Thanks to Riley, Emily, Keith, Krissy, Tom, Tyler, Chad, Parker, Don, Autumn, Nathan, Jacob, Robert, Everett, Cragun, Brad, Alex, Chase, James, John, Wayne, Kent, Joseph, Danny, Justin, David, Jacob, Darwin, Devin, Mark, Howard, Annette (yummy brownies), Kent and Terri (popsicles), for your help!
(If I forgot to mention you, please forgive me) 
You are all heaven sent!