Sunday Best!!

Mark 10:13-16

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

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The disciples didn't understand how important children are to Jesus. Even though He was busy teaching the adults, He was happy to take time to love and bless the children. Jesus said "of such is the kingdom of God". To be with Him in the kingdom of God, they (those who are not children) would have to have faith, unconditional love and trust.

 Watch a small child.

See what is the difference between them and you. We need to become more like them in order to be able to be received into the kingdom of God.

 My little grandbaby, has so much love. 

Natasha

Every once in a while she acts a little cheeky, but I can always tell that she has heard someone else say or do it first. Her first actions are always sweet and innocent. Her love is so pure. I need to be more like that!

I also feel so loved by Jesus!  It makes me want to show my love for Him. What can I do? He said, "Come follow me". I can do what He did, when He was here. Love everyone, be kind, and do right. "Come unto to me". I can be like a child, so He would want me close to Him.  "Let your light so shine". I can be an example. I can live the kind of life that says,

I love God.

Hope your Sunday is the best!! Love, Joy 

Family History Friday (FHF): The Library Catalog!

The Family History Library Catalog is a great place to go online, to see what information is available about a certain area. You will find it here! When you get to the catalog, you can do a search to see what the Family History Library has that will help you with your search. The exciting part is that you don't have to make a trip to Salt Lake City to see the micro film, or micro fiche that you would like to see, to do your research. These items can be loaned to the Family History Centers all over the world. There are 3500 of them. You can locate one here! Then you can do your research closer to home. If you can make a trip to the Family History Library it is an awesome experience. Go to the Family History Library Catalog and see what's there for you!!! Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Two Cents! by T and G.

G: What if Indiana Jones came in

and killed us right  now?

T: What?

G: What if Indiana.......hey,

 T, don't pick yer nose!

Sunday Best!!

I have chosen to share with you some

of my favorite scriptures or thoughts.

I am preparing a lesson every

Sunday for church, as well as

our daily family scripture study,

and I am amazed at how much

I am continually learning.

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So, each Sunday I will share

what I will call my

"Sunday Best"

for that week.

Here goes! Today's Sunday Best is:

Mark 4:35-41

 35 "And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.  37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow; and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And  he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful?  how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

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This story made me think about how in life, we have storms. Tests, emotional struggles and other storms and trials that are hard. They can be great storms. So great, we think we will die. Jesus is always there. Waiting. He will rebuke the wind and calm the sea. But, we must have faith. Sometimes, the storm lasts for quite a while in our lives. We feel very alone, even though we're not alone. One thing I have learned about the storms in my life is this. What is the lesson? What does God want me to learn? God is molding me into the person He knows I can be. He is the potter, I am the clay. He has all power, and can calm the storm at any time. But first, sometimes he lets us learn the lesson, and comforts us as we learn. He can save us spiritually and temporally. I love Him. I believe Him. He is there for us always, I know it.

 Love, Joy

The Box of Crayons!!!

I will never forget it!!

I was about 6 years old when I first saw it. I was in love!!! I know, that seems kinda materialistic, but I really loved it and wanted it. Every time I saw it in the store, I would take the box off the shelf, open the lid that folds down inside the top, and just look! All those colors, they were so beautiful. Then I would smell. Mmmmmmmmm! Even weirder, huh? I think my favorite thing of all was the sharpener built-in. Crayons AND a sharpener built-in?

What more could a 6 year

 old ask for?

Well, the thing is, I never asked for them. I thought they were too expensive. I finally told my mom one day, long after I was a grown up. In passing, I said, "Oh yeah, I always wanted that box of Crayola Crayons." She was surprised!! "Really? Why didn't you ask  for it?" I told her how I thought they were too expensive, and that I didn't want to be a burden. It made her feel sad. It was a revelation to her that I wanted something and never asked, and it was a revelation to me that I could have asked.

The lesson is, even if we felt, a little like we went without as children, we survived.

In fact, I would say I flourished and am a better person for it. It doesn't hurt us to go without. It builds character, gives us empathy, and helps us to understand each other better.

FYI-

I now have a box of

 Crayola Crayons,

a 64 box with a sharpener built in, and I still love them!!!

Family History Friday (FHF): School!

What does

SCHOOL

 have to do with Family History?

You can include an ancestor

in your children's homework assignment!!

I realize for most of our children, 

school is almost out for the summer. 

So remember this, for future reference!  

Some ancestors might be famous. Some may have played a significant part in history. Some might have been in attendance at a historic event. Maybe an ancestor knew, or was an aquaintence of someone famous.

Children can use one of the stories

from an ancestors life, 

 to do a homework assignment.

It's a great way for them to get to know their ancestor.

My children have done reports on John Sayer,

 when learning about early American history.

Also, they have done projects that involved the pilgrims. I even had the opportunity to go to one my children's classroom to talk about the pilgrims. Fun!!!

Queen Victoria

One of our ancestors, is said to have been a "lady in waiting" for Queen Victoria. Part of the story passed down, is that the queen would come in and sit with them and sew. She loved visiting with those around her and she treated those who worked for her with kindness and love. I love that story! I would love to do more research on that. If one of my children had a report or assignment about world civilizations/United Kingdom, it might be more fun to encourage my child to do research in an area that meant more to our family. It helps them to love history and family. Try it with your children! It's fun!

Happy Family History Friday. Love, Joy 

A Fun Day!!!

We had such a fun day!

This was the day

before Riley left

for basic training.

We picked up Natasha and

 went to see the farm animals.

I could tell Riley was feeling sad

that he wouldn't see Natasha

for a while.

It was so fun to see the animals,

but there was a pretty strong smell

depending on which direction

the wind was blowing.

Aunties!

Going for a ride on the pony!!

"I love my Daddy!"

It was such a beautiful day! I love it when the whole family is together.

First Date!

Emily's first date!

My darling Emily had her first date the saturday after her sixteenth birthday. I was excited for her. Her friend Jonah took her bowling, they got ice cream and then they came and played

games at our house. 

Cute kids!!

I really didn't think she was that short...must be!!!

Favorite TV/Movie Quotes!

elf

Buddy: Watch out for the yellow ones,

 they don't stop!

(talking about the NY taxi's)

What a cute show. I love it!!!

One of our families favorites at Christmas time.

This seat is saved!!

So darling!!!!!

I had to take this picture!

My kids have sat in the same spot in our BMW (basic mormon wagon) for as long as I can remember. We're not all in the car always at the same time, but when we are this is where my children sit. In these exact spots. I didn't assign them places, they decided where they wanted to sit and it's been that way ever since. I mean we're talking years and years!

 This was our last family day, before Riley left, I had to snap a pic.

I love my children. I'm so proud of the people they have become and are becoming.  

Dear Friend

Last week, on the day my son

Riley

left for boot camp, my dear friend Laura, brought me these tulips and some cookies. She didn't know it, but I was having a hard day. I don't like it when people leave. I know it will be a good thing for my son to do what he is doing, and I believe he will be in a good place. He will come home someday, a better man than he is now. I had teared up several times at work and then there she was. She just showed up with this beautiful bouquet of flowers. I absolutely love the canning jar! I love you, friend. Thanks for being inspired to come visit.

Family History Friday (FHF): Another Perspective!

This is Joy's daughter, Kelsey, doing a guest blog for Family History Friday!

Ever since I was little, my mom has been
 in love
with doing family history. 
 She has always taught us to have a love
 for the people who came before us, and
paved the way for us to have the lives we do now. 

We have been on a couple trips to places where our ancestors are from.  We took a trip in 1999 to the East coast, including Dedham, Massachusetts, where our ancestors, the Fairbanks, built their house in 1637, and Plymouth, Massachusetts, where our ancestors who came across on the Mayflower landed.  It was so fun to see how and where they lived when they came to America, and to see all the struggles they went through to make life better for us. 

Whenever we go on long trips in the car, she asks us questions about our ancestors to see if we know who she is talking about.  It is really cool to know things about them, because then they are real. They aren't just names on a piece of paper. They really lived and experienced things, just like we do. I really do appreciate the things she does to find out who they are, and to help us know them as well.

I would recommend that you do your family history, and share what you learn with your kids, so that they can enjoy it too.