Home Evening Thought - Oct. 25

Our lesson today in Relief Society was Elder Bednar's talk about families. I especially remember hearing the talk and thinking he was quoting my family. "He's touching me! Make him stop looking at me! Mom, he's breathing my air." (Sorry boys, Elder Bednar used all male pronouns, but I know the same things were said about your sisters!) It brought back memories of the times we had together when you were all growing up. Today, my message is short - I love you. Each and every one of you were wanted, dreamed about, and waited for with great anticipation. We weren't perfect parents, and we made mistakes. We know that, and wish there weren't so many. Please, if you ever doubted before, know that we loved you then and love you still.

Elder Bednar spoke of a painting of a wheat field. That picture was especially touching to me because I grew up with a painting of a wheat field in our home, one done by Grandma Jesse Ursenbach for my father when he left Canada and came to the States for school. Each stroke of that painting works together to make the whole. So do all the wonderful memories we have of the years since we married. Together, those memories make a wonderful family.

We love you, we pray for you daily. May you always remember the great blessing of family. Look forward to seeing you all together again at Thanksgiving.
Love, Mom

Family Home Evening Thought - Oct. 18

Williamsburg Basket - most fabrics are Civil War reproduction prints.

I was impressed to post some thoughts from our high council speaker today. This scripture he called "the Lord's model for spiritual progress."
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Ether 12:27)

Our responsibilities:
1. Come unto Him - fast, pray, scripture study, pay tithes and offerings, be obedient.
2. Humble outselves - trust Him and accept the trials we are given in this life without complaining.
3. Have faith in Him - keep a positive perspective of the plan of salvation, trust His power, deepen our committment to follow Him.

His promises:
1. His grace is sufficient for all men - the atonement
2. Our weakness will become a strength - He reveals to us what to do, how to do it, what we need for our weakness to become a strength.

We need to remember the words of Elder Nelson, "We all need to remember: men are that they might have joy—not guilt trips!"

Paul understood this when he said, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)

The Lord knows our strengths and weaknesses. He is just waiting for us to ask for help. Ask!

Love, Mom

Family Home Evening Thought - Oct. 11

I have wept in the night
For the shortness of sight
That to somebody’s need I was blind.
But I never have yet
Felt a twinge of regret
For being a little too kind.

Quoted by Pres. Monson in General Conference, Oct. 2009



As the holiday season approaches, I have thought much about the blessings we have received over the years as a family. I especially remember the great blessings we received those Christmas seasons when Clay was unemployed. Santa visited us one year, with a large box of surprises, and angels left cards with cash on at least two occasions. Friends called and brought "extras" to us, including a turkey. Family members brought and sent things that raised our spirits and encouraged us through difficult times.



We all have burdens in our lives, seen and unseen. Elder Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy said that there are three sources of burdens that we face daily that tax our souls - those that are the natural product of the world we live in, those we face because of the conduct of others, and those that we face because of our own mistakes/sins. He counseled us to remember that we are children of a loving Father, who sent us here so we could progress.



Pres. Monson counseled us that when we are having a hard time, we need to find someone who is having a hard time also, and do something for that person. In so doing, we find that we are lifted.


"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Than shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hngred, and feed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:34-40)

Be kind, find someone you can lift this week. We love you. We are so excited to have all of you here for Thanksgiving. What a great blessing that will be.

Love, Mom