Utmost Assurance

Often in life things just don't seem to work out in-spite of my best efforts.  Here is a promise I was reminded of in reading a conference talk today.  Elder Robert D. Hales, quotes President Monson and Joseph Smith, saying "'Sometimes we are too quick to judge the effect of our successes and failures'.  May I add, don't look at today's trials as eternal.  Heavenly Father does His work in the long term.  'There is much which lieth in futurity,' the Prophet Joseph Smith said, Therefore,..... let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and his arm to be revealed.'”  D&C 123 15,17

Auna & Ronald get back from the Philippines today.  They had a busy two months full of mostly service but also some fun and wonderful experiences.  In addition to helping with the charity that performs club feet and cleft palate surgery they also helped distribute humanitarian kits.  Ronald's dad helped them do some vacationing.  They got to swim with dolphins, (I have to admit I'm quite jealousy about this) feed tigers, and do a host of other unique and fun things!  Here are some pictures from their time across the world.  Kylee, Ryan, Shalayne, Caleb, and most of the youth young adult cousins are on a cousin trip to Lake Powell this weekend.  Oh things you can do!

Heather has some of Auna & Ronald's wedding pictures on her blog!!!!! Check them out at: heatherlorraine.blogspot.com.  Words can't express my appreciation for all the help that was given to us by our family and friends.  Auna thought it was a perfect day, my only regret is that I didn't get to spend anytime with anyone.  Many of you came so far and I hardly even got to say hi!  I'll enjoy the next family wedding where I'll get to be helping but not be in charge and then I should have time to enjoy all of you!

An update from Texas!  We are into our little apartment that is actually in Richmond, not Katy Texas.  I’ve unpacked the last BIG box but still have lots of little detailed organizing to do!  I’ve already taught two Kindermusik classes and Daenon will be going to another scout camp on Saturday.  The ward was just split and they have a big primary but a small mutual.  Dover is one of two Priests.  There are quite a few Deacons though.  The bishop told us he’d been praying for our family to move in, how do you respond to that! Dover was immediately called to be the second assistant in the Priests Quorum.  He was given a powerful blessing when set apart.  Heavenly Father definitely understood the battle raging in Dover’s heart.  Hannah (Dover’s heart throb-see his face book page for more details) gave him some great advice.  I believe his heart is starting to find understanding and acceptance that Texas is now home.  Our new address is:  7115 S. Mason Rd, #2414, Richmond, TX, 77407.

We never want to move again!  Moving is a tremendous amount of work and stress!  But I don’t want to be in an apartment forever so at least one more move is inevitable!  

These are pictures of Dover and his friends hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa Dover's. To say this move is hard on him is an understatement.  Experience like this help us grow and become who we should be, but it's not a pleasant process for anyone involved.  My heart hurts for him and I understand his hurt and longing more than he knows! I left my parents behind in Gilbert.  During my married life I've never lived close to my parents.

“Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.”
Bernice Johnson Reagon

“Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.”
 Joseph Campbell

“We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.”
 Joseph Campbell

“Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They're what make the instrument stretch-what make you go beyond the norm.”

Cousins!

Mia's treat, she insisted,  slurpies after the game!

Shalayne and Allie

The Saturday before leaving Arizona Shalayne got to come and visit!  She was in town for a soccer game with the Utah Starzz.  She was able to spend a little time with Ger & Kim’s children and Mia came with us to Shalayne’s game.  She played great and it was so fun to see her!  

More Scout Camp!

Daenon was selected last night for the "Order of the Arrow." He took his code of silence very seriously, and wants to reach the highest membership in the Order.  Yesterday he kept asking about putting his name on a list to work here at camp next year.  I told him that was fine, but that we would need to research similar camps in Texas in case getting him to Phoenix was a challenge.  He LOVES his jacket.  Last night after prayer, it was so nice to see him sitting at the table diligently working on his merit badge homework.  He had such a serious, focused expression as he did a LOT of writing to complete the assignments.  It's hard to express, but with how much of a battle we've had for years to get him to do anything like that, it's very gratifying to see a glimpse of maturity.  I bought him the 100 year commemorative knife and will surprise him with it at lunch.

At a multi-troop campfire last night a flag was retired.  The military and the Boy Scouts retire flags when they become too worn to be flown.  The ceremony was reverent and special.  I'll want to search for the script when I have a faster internet connection.  The flag is cut into the iindividual stripes, and the stars are kept in one piece.  A symbolic explanation is read, and first the red stripes are put in the fire with about a 30 second pause between each stripe.  Everyone stands at attention with the proper salute.  Then the white flags.  Then the stars.  It was an incredible experience.  At our campsite prayer, each of the scoutmasters gave what's called a "scoutmasters minute."  We each talked about what America means to us.  One of the other leaders fought in Vietnam.  I asked the boys to remember the image of the flag being raised and lowered everyday at camp, because someday they will understand it better, and they will need to decide if they are going to stand for God and freedom as powerful forces continue their assault against both. For my "minute" tonight I have a roll of 50 pennies that I'm going to distribute.  Each boy will get three, so they can keep one and pass two along.  Bet you can't guess what I'm going to talk about... :-)) 

Note:  On every penny are the words In God We Trust, Liberty, and E Pluribus Unum (out of many one).  To understand their significance to America you can click HERE to watch this U tube video. 

Some info. from Brandon about Scout Camp!

Monday: Out of the 61 troops up here, 58 are LDS and so yesterday's fast and testimony meeting was very well attended (400 +).  It was a chapel directly from the early days of the church:  Tall ponderosa's, half-sawn logs for benches, the sun playing hide and seek through the trees, birds chirping, the breeze rustling through the trees....  Of course sitting in the back you quickly miss electronics connecting a microphone and speakers.  But even if you couldn't hear most of the testimonies, you could feel the spirit.  When we got back to camp we had our own meeting with the Crystal Shores Ward (they have nine boys added to our three sharing the campsite).  We had our own testimony meeting and everyone bore their testimony, including Daenon.  This was definitely a first, and he was articulate, composed, and sincere.  His testimony may be simple, but it's definitely strong and clear.  My testimony was acknowledgement at of the billions of people to walk the earth without really understanding "the point" of this existence, and how fortunate we are to be part of such a privileged miniscule percentage to have so much truth to shed light on the most important questions in life.

Sunday pretty much ended after lunch,  Daenon shot 22's, did archery, and we played "pirate dice" (the game from Pirates of the Caribbean).  I listened to a lot of Dennis Prager and pondered.  After dinner last night we waited for a little over an hour for the fireside/opening ceremonies to start.  The last fifteen minutes Daenon's patience was spent and he just wanted to go back to the campsite.  I gently said "no" a dozen times since he wouldn't leave it alone.  He LOVED it.  It was high energy, the skits were the best I've seen, and the songs were hilarious,  One of the "skits" was a different variation of  The King, The Queen, and The Gate."  I think he'll have a lot of new material to share with other people.

Daenon, Andrew and Steven (other boys from our ward who are at the camp) shower every night.  They didn't get to bed until 11:30 last night and we had them up at 5 am this morning in order to have the campsite completely ready for inspection and to the flag raising at 6:30 am.  The level of detail for the inspection is extensive, and the boys were working solid for an hour.  Our troop was responsible for the flag raising.  Daenon raised the flag for his part and I'm still amazed at how grown up he is in front of large groups.  He is so in his element here.  I guess I am too even though I'm not really a camper.  Every morning and every evening I marvel at the American Flag being raised and lowered, the Pledge of Allegiance repeated with everyone in uniform with a proper solute, a second flag raised that represents a significant part of our founding history, a patriotic song sung by all, and a prayer said.  God and our founding American values have been so extensively silenced in our society, it feels strange to be figuratively so far removed from the masses in order to feel safe honoring goodness; and requiring young men to work hard and show discipline along with having some fun.  It's interesting to realize that without the LDS church's support of scouting, the Boys Scouts of America would fade into oblivion.  The fight for anything good is intense.

Daenon just came by after his lifesaving class.  The pools not heated, and I was curious how he would handle the cold water.  He casually said his heart rate didn't even increase and he was fine.  They do a polar bear swim Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 5:30 am.  I think he plans to do it each day.  He's off to his archery class.

Wednesday: Three times yesterday Daenon says he wants to come back next summer to Geronimo as staff.  He loves this place!!  They let 14 and 15 year olds work for Trading Post credits ($25/week), and then when they're 16 they get $125 a week of real dollars.  For Daenon, it's not about the money.  I'm sure there are some great camps in Texas.  It's so nice to see him taking all the initiative necessary to do the merit badge homework and follow-up to get his badges.  I don't have to say anything.  I think they purposely require outside class work to weed out those boys who are earning the badges from those who just want to show up and get handed the badges.  Last night they held elections for Order of the Arrow.  Tonight we have a general assembly and Daenon is really hoping he's elected.  He asked a lot of clarifying questions to determine if he met the eligibility requirements  The ordeal is done later in the summer, and he can do it in Texas if he's elected here.  I'll explain the details of the process later.  The ordeal consists of maintaining a code of complete silence from evening until the next afternoon, sleeping "completely" by yourself in the woods with only your sleeping bag, fasting breakfast, and doing hard labor in a service project during the day.  If you pass the ordeal, you become a member of the Order of the Arrow.

Breakfast was awesome this morning: cubed potatoes with salsa, strawberries and pineapple, cream of wheat with honey and raisins, and orange juice. Daenon and I are scheduled to do archery all afternoon.  He's excited about it and so am I.  I'm sure he's going to want to get his own bow and arrows, and set up a target range. 

Thank you!

I just have to say thank you to Kylee for the help she gave me in making by blog look wonderful!  If you remember what it looked like on Saturday you can appreciate all she's done.  I am truly blessed to have her as a daughter and friend.  She and Ryan do so much to brighten our lives!

Auna & Ron's Wedding!

My wonderful oldest daughter gave me a CD of pictures from all the fun activities associated with Auna and Ron's wedding and her gradution. One of my primary reasons for blogging is to share fun things about our lives and these pictures are fun! We are looking forward to getting our pictures from cousin Heather too! There are more to come. Enjoy!

I'm blogging!

Brandon and Daenon will be at scout camp all week. Dover is not home from youth conference yet, and I have 5 days with very few demands......so I'm going to start my family blog. Hopefully 5 days from now it will look very different than it does today. Kylee I'm going to need your help! Brandon ask me what I would do to keep myself from going out of my mind with boredom this week. Starting a family blog is the answer, it will help keep us connected with everyone as we move our shrinking family to Texas!