Family Home Evening Thought - Nov. 1

A topic today at church relates to circumstances here in the Seattle area. The Howard Hansen Dam, which controls the flow of the Green River, is compromised, and because of the problems there, the reservoir can only be filled to 30% capacity. There is a very real possibility of extensive flooding this winter, all through the Kent Valley, Southcenter area, and parts of Auburn, Kent, Renton, Tukwila, and north. The Church is actively preparing for the possible need to have places for members to go if an evacuation order is given, as well as preparing for the possibility that there will be interruptions in availability of goods - food, etc. We were counseled to prepare 72 hour kits to have in our cars, check our food storage, and be prepared to deal with possible interruptions in our routines.

As I listened to the words from the bishopric, then the letter sent from our area authority, I was impressed to read these words from the scriptures, "Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail...Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." (D&C 6:34, 36)

When Rachel was here last week, she told of one of her friends, who lives in the flood plain. They have moved their valuables from their home into a storage facility on high ground, kept only what they need for day to day living in their home, have things packed as much as possible for an evacuation, and have arranged to move to her parents' home if need be. They have done all they can, and now will leave things in the Lord's hands. We were counseled to prepare, then to pray that the elements may be tempered in our behalf, but to know that regardless of what happens, the Lord knows us and loves us. We have been asked to look at our situations and what we could do to assist. We also know that if there is flooding, we may be asked to assist with cleanup and other needs.

"Ye cannot behold with your natural eys, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation. For after much tribulation come the blessings." (D&C 58:3-4)

My challenge to each of you this week: Examine your preparation for the difficulties that life can bring, and do one thing to improve your situation. If you think you have "done everything you need to do", then pray and ask what else you need to do, because there is always something to be done.

We love you. God bless.

Love, Mom

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

“Treasure up the words of life continually” - Tonight, I want to share a few of the words that have meant the most to me in my scripture study during the past week:

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
(1 Corinthians 13:13)

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:24-25)

And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen. (Moroni7:45-48)

Go forth with faith, in spite of the challenges we face. The Lord knows each of us, loves us, individually, and knows our needs. He has made promises to us, and He will always be with us.

A new, favorite link: http://www.lds.org/topic/hope/

Love, Mom

Family Home Evening Thought - Sept. 14, 2009

We had a wonderful experience this past weekend. We had video broadcast stake conference from Salt Lake City, prepared for 61 stakes in Washington and Alaska. We had the usual adult meeting with the stake on Saturday night, then our Sunday session was broadcast. Our speakers included Bro. Larry Gibson of the YM Presidency, Elder Paul Pieper of the Quorum of Seventy, Elder Russell M. Nelsen of the Quorum of the Twelve, and President Monson. What a treat it was to hear from each of them. I have pondered what to share in this brief message and keep returning to Bro. Gibson's message.

He grew up on a small town in southern Nevada, never named in the talk. His love was to chase, capture, and study any of the wild life, particularly the arthropods and reptiles of the area. He told of having captured several different scorpions, turtles, snakes, and a variety of lizards. His greatest desire was to capture a Gila monster, a venomous lizard of the region. At about age twelve, he was out hunting for the lizard of his dreams, and located a large one. Armed with his forked stick, burlap sack and rope, together with his father's flashlight, he followed the lizard to the entrance of a long abandoned mine. Ignoring the frequent warnings about entering abandoned mine shafts, he followed the monster into the mine, following the rusty tracks of the ore car rails. Eventually, he arrived in a large cavern, which had three outlets. The tracks went to the far right hand tunnel. He decided to leave that one for last, and entered the left hand tunnel. Soon after he entered, the flashlight began to dim, then suddenly, went out. He was in the dark, deep in the mine, and there was a large Gila monster someplace. He said the darkness was so thick, he could feel it. Suddenly, understanding of the darkness at the time of the Savior's death took on new meaning for him. He felt around and found a wall, and started to walk, thinking it was the way out. He arrived at a dead end. After a time, he lost contact with all walls. It was then he remembered to pray. He resumed moving, crawling, feeling ahead of himself. He found the old, rusty track and followed it for some distance before it ended, still in the dark. He had crawled the wrong direction. He did the only thing possible, turned around, and crawled the other direction. Eventually, he saw in the distance a tiny speck of light that grew and grew until he could stand and walk out of the mine. He didn't encounter the Gila monster while in the mine, and didn't say if he ever managed to catch one.

He shared five lessons from the mine:

1. Always follow the Light, not the monster.

2. Pray when all else fails. Even better, pray before all else fails.

3. When you are lost, look to family and faithful friends for council.

4. Look to the fifteen men sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators. They will lead us to the fruit we need.

5. Keep our eye single to the Light - the Savior - the Light of the World

Have a great week. Don't chase the monsters, follow the Light.

Love, Mom

Family Home Evening Thought - Sept. 7, 2009

Another school year has arrived, and I have thought about how school has changed since I was there. One thing I remember vividly was all the civil defense discussion in school and on radio and TV regarding bomb shelters and the test tones on the TV and radio for the emergency broadcasting system. These were constantly in our lives duriing the cold war. As the hostilities eased, the iron curtain came down, and life seemed less threatening, until the morning of Sept. 11.

At that time, as I stood in the bedroom in my PJs, I watched on TV as the second plane went into the World Trade Center. I knew that for my posterity, the world would never be the same. The attack on our home soil that was feared during my growing up years became a reality, just not the reality we had heard was a threat. My son was in the active military, supposed to deploy to Korea that day. I knew that his life in his chosen career had also changed. I felt some fear and considerable concern while we waited to see where he would go. There were many prayers, spoken and unspoken, sent heavenward in behalf of those affected by this attack, and for Rob and his comrades in arms.

I have thought a lot about the important things in life in the years since that day, and have realized that the most important thing in life aren't how long we live, how rich we are, or if we are famous. The important thing is how we relate to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. If we are living as we should, we have no need to fear what happens, for in the end, all will be right.

I was impressed with the Youtube message on lds.org. Please watch, remember, and be grateful for all we have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkWc_EKLs4E

Love, Mom