A New Year ~ 2011

Happy 2011!  A new year has begun and it promises to be a great one.  I tried something different this year that I think I will become a tradition for me.  I made resolutions for 2011 back in October/November and I started on them back then so that when today came I would actually be well on my way.

I've been studying Japanese more to better hone my skills

I also wanted to lose weight and as it turns out I started in November and I've lost 33 pounds.  Now that the new year is underway I don't have to lose any (although I probably will) I just have to maintain what I've lost.  247 down to 214 and feeling great.

I want to be very dedicated to learning the piano very well also.  This I must start today and do my best to practice 30 minutes a day.

I will continue to read, study, and ponder the Scripture, with the kids, with Liz, and personal study.

I want to get our Elder's Quorum running smoothly with consistent PPIs and effective Home Teaching assignments.

I want to go on regular dates with Liz and improve our relationship.

I want to improve my relationship with the kids.

Strive for Heaven in 2011!

The Fire of the Covenant

When we first moved into this area we became part of the Rising Sun Branch.  It had been a branch for 20+ years.  At that time I was a branch missionary and I spent a lot of time with brother Kubesh sharing the gospel with non members and doing our best to reactivate non and less active members.

Fast forward 3 years and I've now been the Elder's Quorum President for just over a year and we are now the Bay View Ward.  We've had over 2 dozen baptisms, some of which are still active and some of which who are not.  Some who are zealously engaged in the work and some who joined for self serving purposes.  I am not here to judge, I would just like to share some of the successes that I've observed.

Leonard Evans:  3 years ago a convert of almost 30 years, receptive to visits but came to church once in a blue moon and really didn't grasp the truthfulness of what he had been a part of for all these years.  In recent months, due to diligent home teachers, missionaries, and most of all the spirit, he has been at church consistently each and every week.  He has received the Aaronic Priesthood, his Patriarchal blessing, and is just weeks away from becoming an Elder.  He is also a faithful home teacher.

The Sponenburg Family:  3 years ago we weren't sure if they were here or not.  They too were receptive to missionary visits but not seriously committed to the gospel.  In recent months, a non member daughter (Kayla) was baptized and confirmed, and yesterday called and sustained as a Primary worker.  Josh, the glue of the family has received the Aaronic Priesthood and is working toward the Melchizedek.  Yesterday he administered the Sacrament for the first time and is always engaged in the lessons by sharing his simple yet powerful testimony.  Lisa, mother of the family, anxiously engaged in seeing to her families eternal salvation, expressed that in all the time she's been a member she's never held a calling which she would like very much to do.  Brian, father of the family, has given up coffee and is working hard to give up alcohol so he too can receive the Priesthood and the blessings that come with it.  Samantha daughter and friend has lost herself in the Book of Mormon and gains a stronger testimony of it's power and truthfulness each day.

There are others that have found their way back and are becoming stalwart members of our newly formed ward.  The two examples I've sited have given me great joy, as the scriptures declare, because I've been involved with and witness to these glorious transformations.  I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is had in it's fullness within our church.  This is his church, restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith.  I know our Father in Heaven Lives, I know that Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer Lives.  I know the Book of Mormon is true and that we do indeed get closer to God by abiding by it's precepts.

I am so happy and grateful to be a part of the Lord's work in these the last days!

My Very Own Noel

I just got off the phone with my dear sister J'Lene.  J'Lene NOEL Olson (recently Harris).  We only spoke for a few minutes but I'm having a hard time choking back the tears even now.  Oh I'm not sad per se but I was just 14 months old when I got that Christmas package in my life.  I was dropped off to stay with the Bishop because mom was having contractions.  I don't think they planned on having a Christmas baby but they did so when they came home from the hospital I had a sister for Christmas :o)

I've known J'Lene all her life, 38 wonderful years of my 39.  She's been a tremendous sister and friend for all of it.  We shared everything growing up including my first car at college.  She did my laundry and I bought her groceries, I think I got the better end of the deal.

She's always been there and I guess that my tears are partly because I'm all the way out here on the east coast and she's still in Utah.  Married now, for which I am overjoyed for her.  All my extended family is out west but of course I have a wonderful wife and beautiful children that are my family now.

I don't know I guess I just wanted to pay tribute to my sister for a minute.  All her love and generosity over the years.  A best friend growing up.  Someone I could always rely on.  She was always so good with all of our kids and I'm so glad that she has 5 now as part of her marriage to Jonathan.

We have so many memories captured in pictures because J'Lene was ever so faithful in taking literally thousands of them.

I remember her always kinda getting short changed on the birthday thing but it's cool that she shares the day we celebrate the Savior's birth.  We never made too big of a deal out of our birthdays growing up  but they were OUR days and she had to share it and she was always a good sport about it.

We'd get a kick out of the songs that included NOEL in them and would say they were singing about here.  I even remember one song that started off "jingling,....jingling...." and we would pretend they were saying J'Lene...J'Lene... because it really sounded just like it.  On an old record player no less.  Wow have we come a long way since she and I were kids.

I will always have a special place in my hear for my very own Noel, as with all of my siblings.  Today is yours though sister.  I love you.

Return With Honor

Today is the anniversary of my return home from my mission.  I remember it was a cold rainy day in Salt Lake and we went to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights.  It was the first time I had seen them.  I remember sleeping on the floor in the hotel room that Mom & Dad had gotten.  I just used Dad's sleeping bag and I felt right at home.  I remember Laurie came to visit me she gave me a massage that felt so great after two years in the mission field.

On the drive home the following evening I was listening to a tape that some friends in Japan had made for me when I left and I overheard the tape the family was listening to and it caught my attention.  This was my introduction to The Tennis Shoes Adventure Series.  They were listening to the second book.  Gadianton's & The Silver Sword. 

Of course I soon took the opportunity to listen to both the first and the second book.  I listened to them every time I would make the drive back and forth from school at Rock Spring Western Wyoming College.  I listened to them so many times in fact that I wore them out.

The 11th book in the Series just came out and I am planning to listen to it over the holidays.  A lot of significant things have happened on December 11th but my return home is the one I always remember first.  Hard to believe it's been 18 years.

Veteran's Day

Been a month to the day that I last posted.  Just thought I should pay tribute to our Veterans and say thank you for all your service.  I come from a long line of Veterans and I'm amazed I never served but I suppose I contribute in other ways.

My very first Veteran's Day out east I actually went to DC for the first time.  My old roommate Jason was touring me around and commenting on all the people in uniform and wondering what they were protesting.  Ummm not protesting but rather commemorating Veteran's Day.  It was my first of many trips to the mall in particular the Vietnam Memorial on this day.  I took an etching of Alma Stump's name from the wall.

                                                                   God Bless America!