In 2 months he leaves US..

It’s been one month since Tristin received his Mission call to Indiana Indianapolis! Called to serve for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. The one thing that keeps going thru my mind is “He is prepared to leave, know we have to prepare to let him go”. I honestly believe Tristin will be a good missionary, cuz he already is one. He serves people all the time, he is a good example to all, people are better after meeting him, he loves the Lord, he has a desire to do the right thing, he is a hard working, and he never complains, these are just a few things I know to be true. Will it be hard YES it will, but is will be worth it.  He has proven time and time again to us, his parents that he can do hard things. He never backs down from a challenge, he likes to prove people wrong.

I’m shocked over the last month how much the adversary has been trying to pry his way into out home. He is a force that creeps his way into the simplest of conversations. Into the easiest of decision making and into our minds. I believe he tries really hard to have contention in our home, and ultimately show us our weakness and feel we aren't capable of moving forward with this journey that Tristin has decided to go on.

So for know I’m holding on to Gods Promise's. We will endure this well, by taking Jesus yoke upon us we learn all of things and especially how to be like him. We will cling to our faith and enjoy this time in our lives. We are excited to walk this path with him.

Vicki

summer photo’s & a summer job

These are just a few of the great and beautiful places we were able to enjoy this summer with our wonderful family and friends!!

This summer we spent several weeks going down camping! So we could see Tristin. He got a job in Cedar City for the summer. We (well I) miss him everyday, I know this summer has been good for both of us. Oh trust me I still text or talk to him every day. He is a very good kid and makes me so proud. He has the kindest heart and willing to do anything for anyone. He is learning about what to do with his time, money, working hard, and has a new appreciation of things. He also now as a better understanding of what he doesn’t want to have as his career. So for the most part I think it was a success all around. He comes home in one week and it can’t come fast enough.

Doubt not…

So a few months ago we got a call at home from Bro. Horsley in our ward Scott answered and I knew what he was asking. Scott walked in the room and said we need to talk in church on Sunday! First thing out of my mouth no way, all of US? I have to prepare 5 talks? Cuz I knew I wouldn’t have to prepare Scotts. He said yes, and the topic is Following Jesus Christ by Faith. Immediately my mind starts going everywhere, I prayed that night that something would come into my heart, my mind. That morning I got a piece of paper out of my nightstand and started righting down my thoughts and reading my scriptures. I had almost got my talk all written in an hour or so. Then Scott called me from work about 10:00 am and said what are you doing? I told him I had spend most of my morning writing my talk and it was almost done. He said oh good I’ll use yours, started laughing and said I forgot to tell you I was joking “I only have to talk” what!!!! Really he was kidding I nor my kids had to talk just him.  so instead of having my talk in my drawer, I decided to write it down, it’s good for me to do this, It’s healing, it’s moving on, it’s letting go, it’s recognizing my blessings, it’s real life, it’s what makes me, ME!

“Therefore, doubt not… remember that without faith you can do nothing, therefore ask in faith” D&C 8:10

Where does faith come from?

Faith is to hope for things which are not seen, but which are true.

Faith must be centered in Jesus Christ. To have faith is to have confidence in something or someone… the Lord posses every needful thing, so as to enable the mind of man to place confidence in him without reservation.

Strong faith is developed by obedience, faith come from righteousness, faith is a principle of action and a power, faith in Jesus Christ is more than belief. It carries an assurance of the fulfillment of the things hoped for.

Faith is a gift, Faith as everything to do with hope, Jesus Christ, Obedience and Righteousness. It requires us to place all confidence in Christ without reservation.

I personally have had several times to use or experience Faith in Jesus Christ. About 8 month ago we had a powerful faith building experience it started with our kids in Beaver staying with Grand Parents, Scott and I home alone. We had dinner and just sat down to watch a Redbox, when we got the phone call, that all parents never want to receive. That our oldest son Tristin was in a motorcycle accident, which he received major head trauma and other injures, he was unconscious and they were trying to get him stabilized. We were told to stay home, that he would be life flighted to Primary Children's Hospital in SLC. During the course of the 1st call to many after during the next few hours from grandparents, to the Doctors, to friends. I was a total wreck, I was pacing the floor, I was confused, I was worried, I felt suffocating at times, This was not a pretty sight when your heart breaks. I was losing my mind, I walked outside my front door and screamed as loud as I could. I felt horrible. I was in shock and was asking WHY? It was a dark, ugly place to be. I’m not proud I handled myself this way. I remember thinking I was glad my other children weren't here to witness how horrible and upset I was. I was ashamed. I found myself in my closet filled with cloths and shoes I was in the corner in a ball. I began pleading and begging to my Savior. That this couldn’t actually be happening to us, to me, I was saying this can't be the end, he has his whole life in front of him. I would do anything, just take me instead. I was being so selfish, I felt Scott my side lifting me up, caressing my hair, tell me that he loves me. We walked to the end of our bed and knelt down. We began with a conversation we talked about how we were going to pray to our father in heaven. What? Was this a real conversation we are having? This should be easy, we pray to him at each meal, every morning and night, we pray for our safety, for our vehicles to run right, we pray for guidance, we pray for rain, we talked and we felt we could pray for healing, for a miracle, we worship a god that can perform all these things. So we did just that, we prayed for the Doctors, for strength, for healing, for understanding, and for his will to be done.

Almost immediately after I felt like a perfect fit glove covered my entire body. I felt warm, I felt peace, my mind was clear, but mostly I felt LOVE, the pure love of Christ. I felt it so tightly around me that it literally felt like he was right next to me. I was calm, I was remembering words of my favorite hymn. I knew I was not alone, I knew my savior died for me, that he knows me personally, that he was fully aware what was going on. He knows the desire of my heart. I knew that through my FAITH in him all things would work out as they should.

So where does Faith come from? Simply by asking and us doing our part. Faith helps us get through hard things, through sleepless nights, worry filled days, deaths, illness, and all things big and small. 

PS…By the way Scott’s talk he gave was amazing, I’m so proud of who he is, and his example to all of us. He is my ROCK, and I love him will my whole heart.

Good vs. Bad

At the first of this year a thought come to me while eating lunch with some of my girl friends. We were having a conversation about Cell phones, some of them had just given phones to there kids for Christmas. We mostly talked about how bad they can be, a totally distraction, a wavering tool for good and bad behavior etc. Some friends don’t let their kids have a phone til High School some have them in elementary school. I say do what ever is best for you. You know your kid better than anyone else. You’re the parent you get to choose.

We discussed texting, selfies, sexting, taking photos, rules, parental passcodes etc. I told them some of what I already do with my 2 oldest kids. Which are 17 and 14 (some how I have the oldest kids out of the bunch) how could that be?

These were my suggestions:

1. Monitor their phones, have rules and follow thru!  Put a password on it, so they can’t download anything with you typing it in. Also, they can’t every ignore a phone call or text from Dad or Mom. not ever! Have a check-in time every night, and a check out in the morning. While you have their phone check it, read there text messages, check what photo’s they are taking, look at instagram and Facebook. Follow their friends on these accounts has well. Remember, think to yourself:  it’s really my phone, I bought it, I pay for it, I am letting them use it. Am I not the nicest?

2. Get a password on your Router. Get software on your computer that blocks bad sites, words, images etc. Block Snapchat, Twitter and some you-tube videos. Teach them responsibility, Yes there is bad things on the internet, yes there is bad books, bad video's, and if they want to look for bad things it’s actually pretty easy to find. Teach them to seek for the good. So when there friends come over they can’t get in either. It’s as simple as that. Well for Scott it is anyways! I honestly have no clue on how to set up anything like this. But do think you can never be to careful.

3.Use manners no phones at dinner time, no phones during family time or while having face to face conversations. Don’t ever use technology to lie, fool or deceive another human being. Don’t text something that you wouldn’t say in person. If we do not tell them who is going to.

So moving along I came away from our lunch that day kinda discouraged. Then my thoughts changed it wasn’t all bad. I honestly have access to my kids anytime I want. They can receive a text or email all day long. I can communicate with them a million times a day if I wanted. It’s actually been quite convenient. I had an idea that day to USE there phones for the GOOD, for my advantage and theirs. Every day since that day I have texted or emailed my boys something Positive, sometimes scriptures, sometimes quotes, advice, funny jokes but mostly my own feelings, my concerns and things if I wasn’t here to tell them that I would want them to know. IT’S BEEN WONDERFUL! I usually send it to them while their at school and one day I didn’t send one on purpose and the first thing they said when they got home from school was Mom you didn’t text me today! Why?

I know that life with technology at our finger tips is a new thing. We all manage differently we all have our own ideas and what works for us. I realize maybe what works for my family now might not work later, and we might have to change. But for now I’ll keep doing what is GOOD!!