I am so thankful for my darling Dad! I found this note in my inbox this morning from him. I adore him!
My Dear Marta,
Yesterday in the temple I was blessed to wash a young man from my ward that goes to the mtc next Wednesday. His father gave a talk last Sunday in sac. meeting and quoted this poem. I wept and thought of You and Brad and our Son J! Thank you for raising such a wonderful and faithful Young Man.. You and Brad are the very best and I love you both so much.
Love you for Ever
V
A Missionary Christmas
(Author Unknown)
I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving. The thrill just wasn't there.
No pictures taken with Santa Claus, My decorating has no flair.
His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties, two suits and socks...no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because...
This year I'm giving Christ my son.
I've spent more time in the temple, my testimony stirred.
I've reread November's Ensign, Felt strength come from His words.
Our family prays more frequently. My tears are quick to run.
Abraham seems closer because,
This year I'm giving Christ my son.
I wonder how those Lamanite mothers, gave their sons to war?
Or how the pioneers chose Zion , their sacrifice was so much more.
My loss will be his presence, I'll miss his smile a ton
For two years we will pray for him,
I'm giving Christ my son.
I stare at his face when he's not looking. I memorize his eyes, their shine.
He's always hungered for the part of him, that makes his soul divine.
The stories and lessons he always heard, His choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand, This year,
I'm giving Him my son.
Past gifts have lost their glitter; I think I finally understand
Christ's birth should be celebrated by giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns that all his packing's done.
My gift has taken years to make, This year...
I'm giving Christ my son.
I know there's One who understands, the sacrifice I'm making.
Who knows the gift I willingly give, The toll it will be taking.
For He has done it all before... Greater love - there could be none.
For years ago God gave to me,
His only begotten son.
The hands I washed, the hands I held, The hands I taught to pray;
Now knock on doors to find the ones Who will listen to what he'll say.
Because I know Christ needs him, Until all the gathering's done,
My gift has taken years to make.
This year...I'm giving Christ my son.
I am so thankful to be a Mom! I love my little boy so much! I get to talk to him on Saturday evening! Praying for his every footstep! I adore him!
Little J and I have a banter we share lately, I ask him sometime everyday if I have told him if I love him that day. He always answers no, he wants to hear it again! I am so grateful for the love and friendship that we share! I am thankful for strong relationships with eight little angels! Thank you Father! I am so grateful to be a mother! Thank you! Laus Deo!
Last night was our night to participate in the Tuachan Nativity, except we didn't. It has been raining for several days, our rivers are bulging at the seams, and over the banks! We are having flooding, not as sever as the 2005 floods yet, but we would not be surviving without the FEMA projects that have reconfigured the river ways in the past several years. Our bridge has been dredged, and under close surveillance since Tuesday afternoon. We have been checking on several neighbors, and the horses even through the middle of the night as we worry about water levels rising! Gunlock reservoir spilled over its spillway around 1:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. I understand residences of that town are once again stranded, waiting for flood waters to go down.
So our performances of the live nativity were cancelled last night due to continued rains. They didn't cancel the shows until just after 6:00 p.m., and we were supposed to be there, dressed and ready for rehearsal by then. Just before we walked out the door, struggling to take dinner for some 60 cast members to enjoy after the shows around 8:45, my little S. was getting her diaper changed, and fell off the counter. She was immediately bleeding from the mouth. Mouths bleed so much! I was on a conference call coordinating details, and struggling with rain issues, when I saw the blood all over her brothers shirt. I immediately grabbed her into my arms, assessed the situation, and headed outside for a walk to calm her down. I found the bleeding was coming from that little connector between the top lip and her gums. She bled a lot all over three of us! Miraculously, we were walking outside, the clouds were lifting, and it was not raining for that 20 minutes when I needed love and guidance from above. We settled her down, reassessed the injury, and decided to still try to do the show. Loading all of dinner in the car, we headed to Tuachan, only to learn just after our arrival that the show had just been cancelled. Ugh. The cast was invited to our home to have dinner in our basement. Little S continued to bleed, soaking outfit after outfit as she tried to suck on her fingers, puncturing that wound open again and again. I stayed upstairs with her, cuddling, praying for and tending to her needs. She has been up early this morning again. I found her in quite a puddle of blood this morning at 4 when she got up. Made me weep for her. B and I both investigated, confirmed that it is just that little spot, but oh so much blood! Praying for her to heal!
Tonight we have arranged to present a family concert at a local retirement center, Sterling Court. We have held practice sessions a couple of times, and I hope everyone is ready. We only get 30 minutes and with many to participate, we will have beautiful music! I am grateful to B for challenging the kids to prepare. I have been blessed with beautiful music in my home all season as they prepare.
My Dear Marta,
Yesterday in the temple I was blessed to wash a young man from my ward that goes to the mtc next Wednesday. His father gave a talk last Sunday in sac. meeting and quoted this poem. I wept and thought of You and Brad and our Son J! Thank you for raising such a wonderful and faithful Young Man.. You and Brad are the very best and I love you both so much.
Love you for Ever
V
A Missionary Christmas
(Author Unknown)
I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving. The thrill just wasn't there.
No pictures taken with Santa Claus, My decorating has no flair.
His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties, two suits and socks...no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because...
This year I'm giving Christ my son.
I've spent more time in the temple, my testimony stirred.
I've reread November's Ensign, Felt strength come from His words.
Our family prays more frequently. My tears are quick to run.
Abraham seems closer because,
This year I'm giving Christ my son.
I wonder how those Lamanite mothers, gave their sons to war?
Or how the pioneers chose Zion , their sacrifice was so much more.
My loss will be his presence, I'll miss his smile a ton
For two years we will pray for him,
I'm giving Christ my son.
I stare at his face when he's not looking. I memorize his eyes, their shine.
He's always hungered for the part of him, that makes his soul divine.
The stories and lessons he always heard, His choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand, This year,
I'm giving Him my son.
Past gifts have lost their glitter; I think I finally understand
Christ's birth should be celebrated by giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns that all his packing's done.
My gift has taken years to make, This year...
I'm giving Christ my son.
I know there's One who understands, the sacrifice I'm making.
Who knows the gift I willingly give, The toll it will be taking.
For He has done it all before... Greater love - there could be none.
For years ago God gave to me,
His only begotten son.
The hands I washed, the hands I held, The hands I taught to pray;
Now knock on doors to find the ones Who will listen to what he'll say.
Because I know Christ needs him, Until all the gathering's done,
My gift has taken years to make.
This year...I'm giving Christ my son.
I am so thankful to be a Mom! I love my little boy so much! I get to talk to him on Saturday evening! Praying for his every footstep! I adore him!
Little J and I have a banter we share lately, I ask him sometime everyday if I have told him if I love him that day. He always answers no, he wants to hear it again! I am so grateful for the love and friendship that we share! I am thankful for strong relationships with eight little angels! Thank you Father! I am so grateful to be a mother! Thank you! Laus Deo!
Last night was our night to participate in the Tuachan Nativity, except we didn't. It has been raining for several days, our rivers are bulging at the seams, and over the banks! We are having flooding, not as sever as the 2005 floods yet, but we would not be surviving without the FEMA projects that have reconfigured the river ways in the past several years. Our bridge has been dredged, and under close surveillance since Tuesday afternoon. We have been checking on several neighbors, and the horses even through the middle of the night as we worry about water levels rising! Gunlock reservoir spilled over its spillway around 1:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. I understand residences of that town are once again stranded, waiting for flood waters to go down.
So our performances of the live nativity were cancelled last night due to continued rains. They didn't cancel the shows until just after 6:00 p.m., and we were supposed to be there, dressed and ready for rehearsal by then. Just before we walked out the door, struggling to take dinner for some 60 cast members to enjoy after the shows around 8:45, my little S. was getting her diaper changed, and fell off the counter. She was immediately bleeding from the mouth. Mouths bleed so much! I was on a conference call coordinating details, and struggling with rain issues, when I saw the blood all over her brothers shirt. I immediately grabbed her into my arms, assessed the situation, and headed outside for a walk to calm her down. I found the bleeding was coming from that little connector between the top lip and her gums. She bled a lot all over three of us! Miraculously, we were walking outside, the clouds were lifting, and it was not raining for that 20 minutes when I needed love and guidance from above. We settled her down, reassessed the injury, and decided to still try to do the show. Loading all of dinner in the car, we headed to Tuachan, only to learn just after our arrival that the show had just been cancelled. Ugh. The cast was invited to our home to have dinner in our basement. Little S continued to bleed, soaking outfit after outfit as she tried to suck on her fingers, puncturing that wound open again and again. I stayed upstairs with her, cuddling, praying for and tending to her needs. She has been up early this morning again. I found her in quite a puddle of blood this morning at 4 when she got up. Made me weep for her. B and I both investigated, confirmed that it is just that little spot, but oh so much blood! Praying for her to heal!
Tonight we have arranged to present a family concert at a local retirement center, Sterling Court. We have held practice sessions a couple of times, and I hope everyone is ready. We only get 30 minutes and with many to participate, we will have beautiful music! I am grateful to B for challenging the kids to prepare. I have been blessed with beautiful music in my home all season as they prepare.