A Choir of Angels...

Jantsen was asked to sing in the children's choir for Stake Conference yesterday.  They practiced the two Saturdays before.  They sang several songs for the prelude and then 3 songs during the conference.  During the prelude, everyone was so reverent and there was such a sweet spirit as we took our seats.  Each speaker mentioned how special and touching the "choir of angels" were.

Jantsen was awesome.  Two hours of sitting on the stand is hard to do, but he was quiet and reverent.

The message given was to "Enjoy the Journey".  It was a beautiful meeting and I felt the Spirit so strong...especially when the children sang "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" and the closing hymn, "I Know My Redeemer Lives".  I'm so glad we were all there!

Going to the Temple...

Friday, January 16th, Payton and Jantsen were both able to go to the temple.  Payton went to do baptisms for the dead with 2 of his best buddies.  Bruno Frampton took Payton, Hummer,and  Kaden to the Provo temple.  They were each baptized for 10 people.  Payton said these people were from India and born sometime B.C.  Bruno did the baptizing.  These boys got up at 6:30am to be to the temple at 7am.  Friday was teacher prep day which meant no school.  I am very proud of Payton for making the effort to go, especially because I know how much he would have liked to sleep in.  He said the temple experience was "pretty cool".

Jantsen was asked to go to the Draper Temple Open House also on Friday the 16th.  He woke up early...7:30am in order to leave with the Elisons at 8am.  He was able to walk through the entire temple and see each room.  He loved the baptismal font and the Celestial room.  He talked about the 12 oxen holding up the baptismal font and representing the 12 tribes of Israel.  He talked about the crystal chandeliers in the Celestial room and the altar and eternal mirrors in the Sealing room.

This was a great day for both boys.  I am proud of them for their desire to follow Christ, to learn more about Him and His Church on the earth today.

New Year's Resolution...

This year we are studying the Doctrine & Covenants in Sunday School.  We have decided to read it as a family.  We will try to read a little every night.  Hopefully we can make it a habit and accomplish our goal of reading the whole book this year.

Nick's persistence...

Just this last Sunday (Fast Sunday) we went to Sacrament Meeting in Greg's Singles Ward.  After Bruno Frampton (1st Counselor) gave his testimony, Nick started to say he wanted to bear his testimony.  He did not want to go up alone and asked me to go up with him.  I said I would, but I was really just hoping he would chicken out.  He had never wanted to bear his testimony before.

Once he knew I would go up with him, he could hardly sit still and kept saying, "Let's go!"  He told me what he wanted to say and he kept repeating it softly to himself.  We went up as three other people went up.  We had to wait our turn up on the stand.  He was going crazy trying to wait his turn.  When I finally said okay, he jumped up and went right to the microphone.  He had no fear.  I, of course, was shaking and my heart was beating so loud, I thought anyone could hear.

Nick did a great job, short and sweet!  I got up after and could hardly speak.  I was a blubbering mess knowing my little boy had a strong enough feeling about the Gospel and Jesus Christ that he wanted to share it with no reservations!  I am proud of you, Nick!!  

Grateful for abundant blessings...

Christmas just passed.  It is December 29, 08.  This is a scary time in the world.  The economy is really bad, the Government has had to make the decision whether or not to "bail out" certain companys, unemployment is on the rise, etc.  So many close friends of ours have had to put their homes up for sale, or cut back to the bare minimum.  Hospitals around the country have had a hard time fighting infection after surgeries.

Greg still has his job and they seem to be doing just fine.  We are all healthy.  We are close to extended family members that love and support us.  We have food and shelter.

  We are so blessed.  

We are so grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We watched  "The Nativity Story" a couple days before Christmas and I was filled with peace, comfort and knowledge that our Savior lives and loves each of us.  He knows every detail about each one of us.  He hears our prayers and is waiting for us to come unto Him.  Because of my knowledge of Him, I have hope that there is a brighter tomorrow.  Again....

We are so blessed!

Missionary Moment update...

Greg and the boys got back on Saturday the 22.  Greg talked a little bit with a guy at the hotel, but they were not able to place the Book of Mormon.  We will continue to pray for someone who is open to hear the Gospel.

However, the guys did have a somewhat spiritual moment.   We almost died!!! - payton

Going 65mph on the 2-lane highway, an oncoming car veered fully into their lane.  Greg swerved off the road in the crucial seconds it would have taken for them all to be killed.  Greg said the guy driving the other vehicle was looking right at them.  Jeff, the brother-in-law of Brian Ellis, happened to be riding with Greg at the time and also happens to be a policeman.  He was sure the other driver was impaired. (Under the influence of drugs or alcohol).

Greg did not over-correct and was able to get the car back on the road safely.  However, he was very shaken by the experience and it took a while for him to relax behind the wheel after that.  We all believe that Greg and the boys were blessed.  The Lord was watching over them.   We know this to be true because Nick, Brooks and I prayed for Greg and the boys to be safe every night.  We prayed that they would drive safely to and from So. Dakota, and that they would be safe while hunting.

We are so thankful for our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ.  We know Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.

My testimony...

When I was around 25 years old I read the Book of Mormon all the way through for the first time. The difference was this time I read with real intent, praying to know if it was true and praying to understand what was being said. At that time in my life I knew there was a Heavenly Father, but I didn't really know if the Book of Mormon was true. I read every day and prayed sincerely beforehand with an open heart.
About half way through the book I noticed that I was becoming increasingly more engrossed in it and couldn't put it down. I would read late into the night with a little flashlight so I wouldn't wake up Greg. I was filled with the Spirit to the point that I wanted to shout from the rooftops to everyone that would listen that this book was true! It changed my life.
There is nothing like feeling the spirit of the Lord. Since that time I have felt the spirit on many, many occasions. One of the big one's that I really remember was when Brooks was born. The blessing I received from Bishop Brown, while still at Girls Camp, was amazing. My water had just broken (at 31 weeks), it was 3:30am and I was heading down to the hospital. The Bishop and Brother Freeman were there that night. The Bishop gave me the blessing before I left. I immediately felt calm and peaceful. I knew that everything was going to be all right. Then at the hospital, when Greg and Jeff gave me a blessing right on the operating table. Again, a feeling of peace, comfort and calmness washed over me. Out of the four C-sections, it was the easiest for me. Brooks came out crying and did so well. He is now a beautiful four year old, strong and healthy.
I know Jesus Christ was on the earth, he suffered in Gethsemany and died on the cross for us. He was resurrected and lives today. He loves us. He has made it possible for us to have eternal life. He is the Son of our living Father in Heaven.
Our Heavenly Father also loves us and watches over us. He hears our prayers and knows each one of us personally.
Joseph Smith was and is a true prophet of God. He was an amazing man who went through so much pain and suffering to help bring us the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have a living prophet on the earth today. President Monson. I know he talks and walks with our Heavenly Father on a regular basis. I know if I listen and obey his teachings, I am following my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
I pray for courage, strength and the ability to persevere. I love my Father in Heaven and my Savior, Jesus Christ.