Rain Rain!!

In the words of Michelle and Amy, "Are you kidding me!!?" Seriously, it has been raining for DAYS. Finally, I am decided to stop fighting it and just accept buckets of rain, and today I even accomplished a project that I did not think I could do. But I thought, "if not me, then who?"

Last night, we had our first orientation for a new adoption agency: it went really well and I am excited for our next appointment. Also in the orientation was a really nice single lady: I will call her "T". Let's all pray for "T" that she will find the answers that she seeks and be able to have meaningful relationships in her life.

In 3 days, my Michelle will be leaving on her deployment for 6 months: everyone please pray for her and her family too. Pray that they will be blessed with peace, safety, wisdom and endurance. While Michelle is gone, she will also be taking classes, and working a fuller than usual schedule. And while she is gone, her husband will be "Mr Mom". I know that if we all pray and if we serve those around us in similar situations, somehow, this family's burdens can also be lighter.

Here is some great stuff from the January and February Ensign, "There are many vessels that are destroyed after they have been molded and shaped. Why? Because they are not contented with the shape the potter has given them, but straightway put themselves into a shape to please themselves; therefore they are beyond understanding what God designs, and they destroy themselves by the power of their own agency, for this is given to every man and woman, to do just as they please." "What do you say to our being one and clinging together? Would we not be a happy company? It is that alone that will make you truly happy; and to be perfectly limber in the hands of the potter like clay. What makes the clay snap? Because it wants its own way; and you cannot be happy unless you submit to the law of God, and to the principles of His govenment. When a person is miserable, wretched, and unhappy in himself, put in what circumstances you please, and he is wretched still. If a person is poor, and composes his mind and calmly submits to the providences of God, he will feel cheerful and happy in all circumstances, if he continues to keep the commandments of God." Jan 2011 Ensign p.61

"The authority who confirms you will say, "Receive the Holy Ghost," meaning the gift of the Holy Ghost. The light by which you now walk is the companionship of the Holy Ghost. It is the light of the gospel - or, for some, the gospel in a new light. In either case, it enables you to see that which you could not see before. It now becomes your privilege to walk, as it were, by the light of day. The light is constant, and, in most instances, the path you are called to travel is clearly marked. When it is not, you are entitled to the visions, impressions, or prodding necessary to assure your arrival at the place of safety. The fact that every member of the Church is given the gift of the Holy Ghost is evidence that the Lord wants to reveal things to you and through you. Joseph Smith said, "No man can recieve the Holy Ghost without receivinig revelations. The Holy Ghost is a revelator." Feb 2011 Ensign p.31

"I also testify that He knows each of us perfectly and individually. He knows all that is lovable and BEAUTIFUL in us. The world teaches us to think we are unattractive, uacceptable, and unworthy of love if we don't meet the arbitrary standards it sets for us. Sometimes it's hard to turn away from such loud and convincing lies, but our Father in Heaven will always be there to remind us of our worth and of the value He sees in us. His standard, not the world's, is the true measure of our worth. The more we believe and accept the Lord's love, the more we will love and trust in Him. ...The Lord is the one who can heal all pain, and as we trust Him, He reminds us that we have everything to hope for." Feb 2011 Ensign p.35

I testify that these things are true!! Love, Katie

BOYS!!!

Yep, finally here I am. I have been thinking a lot about Michelle's upcoming deployment and wanted to catch up here.

About the title: "BOYS!!!" So a few months ago, a friend in our ward called to asked if we would like a "children's kitchen" for M and G. I was really excited because I have always wanted one for them. So we went to pick it up. I found the perfect spot for it in our kitchen, put the tea sets a pot and a cake pan in/on it. I was in another room later and came back to find the "Kid Kitchen" filled with weapons: lightsabers, toy pistols and swords. I brought the boys in and explained to them that the kitchen was not a weapons arsenal, that it was for play cooking. And for the most part in the following months it has ceased to be a weapons arsenal. But for a couple of weeks as I told our family and friends about what boys will turn a "Kid Kitchen" into, we got some good laughs. How I love my boys!!!

One day in the Ensign, I read an article about fulfilling our life's mission. From the June 2010 Ensign:

To recongnize our "mission in life" the following three elements regarding our own personal lives are helpful:

"1. A unique set of personal gifts

2. A unique set of personal challenges

3. Specefic needs in the world that the Lord wants me to respond to.

Simply put, we fulfill our mission whenever these three elements intersect and we CHOOSE to ACT." "When this choice to heed the Spirit and to ACT continues day after day, week after week, and year after year, it creates a larger pattern that we will later come to recognize as the mission the Lord had for us to fulfill."

Wow: that is powerful.

Welcome back me and welcome back everybody!!!

Love, Katie