the joyful nest

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

2011-08-02T10:48:00.000-06:00

Make,

sorry mom i live in the boonies so the internet stinks sometimes. but ya last week we had nineteen investigators at church it was awesome we had two baptisms this week they were pretty cool. Bro Mefika and Sister Khanisile. so that was good i performed the baptism for sister Khanisile. well transfers are coming up soon and i'll most likely have a new companion so that should be cool. we are working really hard and its paying off. us and the Elders in Gege will be having nine baptisms this week should be pretty cool. ya mission is going great!!! we went to this cool place last p day called mahamba gorge and we had a cool time it was beautiful we pushed huge rocks off the cliffs it was sweet. love you.

Love Elder Shelton

Baba,

well sounds like all is going good your still work hard as usual. ya i actually would love to go play tennis right now its been a long time since last time i went with you but ya we play cricket almost every p day since there is no other sport to play here. but ya i'm getting fairly good at it but i'm still learning.love you

Love Elder Shelton

wow sounds like you've had a great week thats good that you learned how to drive so your can run errands for mom. i hope you fulfill your calling well then you will get a better one we time is running out love you my sister.

Love Elder Shelton

Some People are So Creative!

2011-07-30T22:19:00.003-06:00

Nice!
I guess people had gum they were sick of
and didn't have anywhere else to put it!
(In line, waiting for a ride at Lagoon in Farmington, Utah)

Family History Friday: A Fun Way To Write Your History!

2011-07-29T21:55:00.000-06:00

You know you should do it,

write your personal history!

We've talked about this before.

Remember, here and here and here and here?

I know I don't have to remind you, that you are the only one who can do it! There is not another person

who lives inside your brain and

knows what your thoughts are.

Only you!!

So I found another fun place that will help you write it down. It is called "This is Me, Challenge." It is a blog written by Kim and Emily. I absolutely love them for doing this! They will help you do write your history, a little at a time. Go here and check it out! You will love it, I just know you will.

Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

She's 4!!

2011-07-27T20:40:00.000-06:00

My sweet

grandbaby,

Natasha

is 4 today!

Happy Birthday!!

What a blessing she is to our family.

When we are riding in the car, she talks and talks. She is usually telling us somewhere she is going or has been. Sometimes, she gets her days mixed up. One time riding in the car she kept saying that she went to this place, or that place, "yesterday." Everything, was "yesterday." Later, all of the adults were playing games and my friend Julie said, "I swear, I put this card down, 'yesterday.'" We laughed and laughed!

She is wonderful and I'm so blessed to be her Grandma!

Totally "Fort Worth" It!

2011-07-25T12:03:00.005-06:00

Hermana Kelsey 6:1 -email-

Mama!

That's awesome you are going to do daycare again. You will love that, of course! :)

I had a really great week too. On Monday, I found out I was geting transferred, of course. I was super sad, because I love Temple, and we had so many good things going on there. But now that I'm in Arlington it is really awesome here too. Very different, but I like it. Here are just a few of the differences:

-We have a ward instead of a branch, which means a lot more members

-There are 3 sets of missionaries in our ward (two other sets of Elders and us). In Temple, we only had one companionship for a huge area and that was us.

But it is really a great area. Everyone that we have talked to has been commenting about my spanish. They all ask me how long I've been learning, and when I tell them they are really surprised, and comment about how well I speak it. They also talk about how I don't really have a gringo accent, which is cool too, because even people that have been speaking it for a while sometimes have gringo accents. I think that is a good sign that my spanish is improving. :) Hopefully it still continues to get better.

I really did have a good birthday. Nothing really happened in the morning, but then we were visiting some people, and the zone leaders in our area drove by. They said something about President Sagers, and I commented about how he had texted me that morning. One of our zone leaders used to be assisstant to the president, and he knew that President only texts people on their birthdays, so he asked me if it was my birthday. I told him, "Yeah", and he was like, "Sister, you need a Slurpee." So I said okay, and he took us to 711 to get a Slurpee. Then later in the day, we were eating dinner with some members, and the Elders that we serve with brought over pan dulce (or sweet bread, {it's super yummy!}) and they all sang happy birthday to me, in spanish. So overall it was a pretty good birthday.

Oh man!! I miss my sweet Tashers!!! Tell her I love her. Does she even still remember me? I sure hope so.

To answer your question, yes we are living in a member's home. It is actually a really nice house and the couple, the Kotters, are pretty cool. The husband works a lot (in fact, I only met him yesterday, and I've been living at their house since Wednesday). But they a pretty cool. I'm not really sure how I like living in a member's home though. I don't hate it, but I don't love it either. It's definitely different than living in your own apartment.

My companionship is great. Hermana Quiroz is awesome! She is a Lamanite! And she is actually a convert to the church. We get along really well too. We're gonna do lots of good things in this area.

We have a lot of great teaching experience, but none really that I can pinpoint right now.

The biggest challenge we face is trying to get people to live the law of chastity. Hispanic people in general are not into getting married, so then they can't get baptized. It's kind of hard, but every type of missionary work has it's hard points.

Just pray for all of them. I don't really know most of our investigators here yet, but everyone that we talk to needs blessings so much. Especially the blessings of the gospel.

How do we receive personal revelation? Well there are lots of different ways. Sometimes, when we pray, and ask a specific question, God tells us in our hearts what the answer is. Sometimes, when we are reading the scriptures, a certain chapter or verse really sticks out to us, and it answers a question that we have been having. Sometimes, someone that we confide in says something, and you know that the thing they said could really have only come from God. And then you know that he is listening, that he cares about you and what is going on in your life, and he wants to help you.

Well, I better go now! I love you lots. Be strong. Thanks for sending my package for me. :)

Love, Hermana Kelsey

P.S. Did you ever hear anything more about Cole?

Papi,

Ha ha, thanks for the recipe. I might try that sometime. I really am horrible when it comes to cooking though. We just don't really have time to do it. We usually eat something we can make super fast and easy. It's lame, because now I am starting to gain weight. Just a little, but I did so good my first two transfers, so I'm kind of upset that it's finally starting to stick. :(

Also, sorry about your toe. Maybe you shouldn't get so crazy in soccer! :) Jk. My other companion, Sister Summers, was the craziest soccer player ever. She was really violent with me, too. But I could take it. :)

Anyway, I better go. Love you!

Love, Hermana Kelsey

Emmysaurus Rex!

I am doing great. Thanks for sending me a card. I still haven't gotten it yet, but I might as well say it ahead of time. :) That's awesome you had fun at girls camp. I'm glad that you are such a good example for the other girls and that you take care of the girls that have trouble. :) That is a really good thing.

Anyways, I gots to go. I'll be talking to ya at another time. Bye!!

Love, Hermana Kelsey

Sunday Best!

2011-07-24T21:08:00.000-06:00

"No one of us can survive in

the world of today,

much less in what it will soon become,

without personal inspiration."

-Boyd K. Packer

Hope your Sunday was the Best!

Love, Joy

Family History Friday: Pictures!

2011-07-22T17:10:00.001-06:00

My Great-Great-Grandpa Andrew Hanson,
is second from the left on the front row.

My Great-Grandpa Emil Oscar Hanson is on the top left.

(This picture looks better in person, sorry)

"Seek out those with photographs

and records of your family

and meet your ancestors.

Like us, you can connect with them

and learn that everyone's ancestors

are more than just names on

paper."

-Russell Bangerter

Go here, to read a great article about family photos!

Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Happy Birthday "Dream Come True"

2011-07-21T21:21:00.000-06:00

Happy 22nd B-day to my beautiful Kelsey!!

******

22 Things I love about her:

1-She's mine!

2-She loves me!

3-She's tiny!

4-She in respectful!

5-She loves Heavenly Father!

6-She loves our Savior!

7-She loves her fellowmen!

8-She is responsible!

9-She is a wonderful daughter!

10-And sister!

11-And friend!

12-She loves reading!

13-She loves learning!

14-She is smart!

15-She has cute "tootsie roll" toes!

16-She has a great smile!

17-She has a great sense of humor!

18-She is sensitive and kind!

19-She is spunky!

20-She loves to sleep!

21-She loves to get things done!

22-She is a "dream come true"!

Family Fun!

2011-07-20T19:22:00.001-06:00

Squishy cousins!!!

Duncan, Claire, Erin, Emily and Kiefer.

Happy Birthday "First Born"!!

2011-07-19T21:27:00.002-06:00

Riley, my "First Born" and his daughter Natasha!

Going swimmin' together!

Fun!

Natasha giving us a little thumbs up! Cute!

I'm glad I'm your mom, Riley!
You are: Handsome, athletic, strong, loving, responsible, a great dad, brother, son, friend, creative, fun, entertaining, sweet, a good hugger, God fearing, a Jesus lover, helpful to others, an Eagle Scout, a hard worker, an amazing bike rider, smart, in the Army, family, a spray painter!
and I love you!! oxoxo

Totally "Fort Worth" It!

2011-07-18T17:16:00.000-06:00

Hermana Kelsey 5:4 -email-

Dear family,

I am getting transferred. I'm going to Arlington on Wednesday. I am super sad, because I am going to miss the people we are working with now, and there are lots of great things happening here in Temple and also in Killeen. But I know it's where I need to go. I probably won't get your package for a while, because it will porbably go to my old apartment. That's okay though.

Tell people so they can send me letters!!

We had a really great week this week too. We had a competition in our district to see who could get the most new investigators in one week, and we lost, but our district got 37 new investigators. Wow! It is really cool. We had our last p-day for the people who are getting transfered from this area. It was super fun.

I'm sorry to hear about Cole. I will definitely be praying for him. He is such a good guy. I hope everything works out good. Keep me updated.

Dad: Tell Annette that I see Sister Hawkes twice a week, because we stay at their apartment when we go down to Killeen. She is a really great missionary. I'm gonna miss that girl. :(

That's cool that Meg and Jase are in your ward. Where are they living now? Tell that girl that she needs to write me a letter!!!! :)

Riley: How is life? How is my sweet niece?! Adorable, of course. I already know that though. You should write me a real letter soon. If I have time to write letters to people than you surely have time to write a letter to me. :)

Emmy: Did you get my letter? I hope so. You should send me one back soon. I hope girls camp is great for you. I always loved girls camp. I really do miss it.

Anyways, I love you all. Sorry this is so short. We took too long at p-day activity so now I have to hurry. But thank you for the birthday wishes. I'm not gonna lie, this birthday kind of sucks. I really wanted to stay in Temple for another transfer. But it'll be okay. :) Bye, love ya.

Hermana Kelsey

- Show quoted text -

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

2011-07-18T10:04:00.002-06:00

Elder Flexy 13:2 -email-

Make,

this week has been very nice we are working hard with our recent converts. we had eleven people at sacrament meeting. And we are working very hard! we went to a game park today saw some pretty sweet critters we saw elephants, rhinos, springbucks, warthogs, and an oschrich. the oschrich ate our doritos out of our hands it was pretty sweet. im glad to hear that all is going good. well there isnt a scout program here in swaziland but that would be cool. i miss camping and stuff it was so nice to go every month when dad was the scout leader those were good times. but ya Nhlangano is a cool place to be!! well love you

Love Elder Flexy

I had to teach Elders Quorum today the lesson was on family responsibilities I did an object lesson using the 25 lbs of lead I bought to weight pinewood derby cars and split it into four grocery bags, then I got four volunteers and told them to hold the bag with their upper arm by their side elbow at a ninety degree angle which all could do easily. Then I took all the bags and gave them to Jase (Jase and Megan live in our ward now) to hold, he could do it but in a few seconds his forearm started shaking and he was starting to strain. Then we talked about families sharing the many duties that make a household run smoothly. If only one person does everything It gets to be too much, even if you could do it for a while.

Baba,

wow thats a cool object lesson we have to use those all the time when teaching because the people have a hard time understanding. i taught the lesson on preisthood offices to the investigators class at church it was a good lesson. we are teaching this lady named Khanisile and she is powerful she should be baptised on the thirty first of this month. well this computer cut my time short so i better go. love you. And YA!!

Love Elder Flexy

Riley,

well its ok if you dont have a grip by the time i get there i'll help you out i love you man. keep your head up!!!

Love Elder Flexy

well my little sister im glad your going to camp have fun love you

Love Elder Flexy

Favorite TV/Movie Quotes!

2011-07-16T00:05:00.005-06:00

Mr Holland's Opus

Gertrude Lang: Mr. Holland had a profound influence on my life and on a lot of lives I know. But I have a feeling that he considers a great part of his own life misspent. Rumor had it he was always working on this symphony of his. And this was going to make him famous, rich, probably both. But Mr. Holland isn't rich and he isn't famous, at least not outside of our little town. So it might be easy for him to think himself a failure. But he would be wrong, because I think that he's achieved a success far beyond riches and fame. Look around you. There is not a life in this room that you have not touched, and each of us is a better person because of you. We are your symphony Mr. Holland. We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. We are the music of your life.

-----------------------

What a great movie!!

Family History Friday: This Day In History!

2011-07-15T22:39:00.001-06:00

If you are writing the history of one of your ancestor's, or just trying to make a timeline of their life? A great place to see what happen in history is at

"The History Channel"

website.

They have a great website it is

www.history.com

One of the tabs across the top is called

"This Day in History."

You click on the tab and it will give you information about things that happened on this day in history. What if you want to know about another day in history? You can pick a day, and find out about that day too! You can find it here!

Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

A friend on the back porch!

2011-07-14T22:49:00.000-06:00

We had a special guest at the back door,

the other morning!

This is him through the storm door.

He's kinda cute!!

And of course you know, I laughed

and laughed, and then snapped this picture to share with you!

We don't know if he has a name or not.

How nice of him to visit!!

There was also a friend of his, on top of my darlin's truck, too.

Grandbaby bowling!

2011-07-13T22:53:00.000-06:00

Natasha bowling with her Daddy!

I'm glad she didn't drop it!!

Funny!

2011-07-12T15:40:00.001-06:00

Ouch! Okay, I won't!

Totally "Fort Worth" It!

2011-07-11T15:30:00.000-06:00

Hermana Kelsey 5:3 -email-

Mi Familia!

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing great. This week was kind of weird, but pretty good.

Monday: I already told you a little about Monday in the last letter, but I was on exchange with Sister Crossan. We got locked out of our van, because the clicker wouldn't work, and for some reason some people decided not to tell us that there was a key hidden inside. It was quite an adventure. We also got to watch some fireworks from the sister's apartment in Killeen. It was cool, because Fort Hood was the only place in our area of Texas that got to have fireworks, because of the drought and fire dangers. So we were really lucky to get to see them.

Tuesday: I spent a LOT of time speaking in Spanish. It was really hard, and I didn't know how to say a lot of things, but when I have to I can get by. It was pretty awesome. We ate dinner with a less active family that is in the military, and then Sister Crossan did this funny spiritual thought with a dish towel. She told a story about a chicken, and how it was her pet, but it got run over by a car because she didn't listen to her mom, and played in the street with it. Then she folded the towel this certain way, and when she was done it looked like one of those chickens with no head, and all it's feather missing. It was pretty funny. The kids really liked it too.

Wednesday: We went up to Waco for Zone Huddle. It was really fun. I got my real companion back. It was fun to have an exchange for a little bit, but I'm glad Sister Summers is back, and I don't have to do all the talking in Spanish. :) Other than that, it was kind of a bust day. We tried to see a bunch of people, and they either weren't home or were busy and wanted us to come back later. It's hard when we have days like that. But the good ones make it all worth it.

Thursday: Jose (one of our investigators)'s wife died. She was in the hospital, because she had cancer, but then the cancer went away, but the chemotherapy and all that ruined her insides (her kidneys were failing and her bladder had exploded). She was on life support in the hospital for a long time, but she finally passed away. It was a really hard thing for him. But I know that the things we have been teaching him are definitely helping. He wants to get baptized really bad. We're hoping he can in a week or so. Hopefully sooner rather than later, because I might be getting transfered this transfer. :( But it'll be okay.

Friday: We studied Spanish too hard and for too long in the morning. I got a really bad migraine. But I'm still improving on it. My branch president is so cool, and he always tells me how my Spanish is getting better, and I sound like a true Hispanic. :) It's pretty awesome. I'm really not that good though. But I'm still working on it. Someday, I'll be able to speak it fluently. Also, we tracted in a trailer park where we met some really cool people, and met a ton more Hispanic people. It was so cool. It's pretty much a gold mine. We are stoked to be working in that area now. We have a challenge this week in our district to see who can get the most new investigators this week. We are shooting for 20 because I'm pretty sure none of the Elders will be able to get that many. :) Also, if we win we get Olive Garden for free, because the losers have to buy dinner for the winners.

Saturday: We had a really great lesson with one of our new investigators, Isabel. She is super cool, and she is actually the sister to one of our other investigators, Eduardo, who is also really cool. She will probably get baptized someday. :) Also, one of our other investigators, Luis, professed his love for Sister Summers, so we can't go see him anymore. He has a problem with falling for sister missionaries apparently. It's sad, because he actually, legitimately was progressing towards baptism. But hopefully if Spanish Elders get put back in our area, they can go see him at some later point. Also, we had some really delicious tamales, made by one of our members. She sells them to make money, so she is like crazy good at making them.

Sunday: We had another hard day. I am now having issues with creepy guys. Our investigator Jose (see above), likes me, and when I went to shake his hand, he all tried to pull me in, and held onto my hand for way too long. It weirded me out, so I just pulled my hand away. It was gross. But it's all good. Also, I'm to the point where I am now expecting things of people, and they are starting to disappoint me. It's really hard. :( I want to help them so much, and they don't want to help themselves, so there is nothing I can do for them.

Today, we went to Graciela (Jose's wife)'s funeral at a Catholic church. It was really different.

I love you all!! Be safe. Have a great week.

Con amor,

Hermana Kelsey Shelton

P.S. Seester! I finally got your letter, and I will be writing you back sometime today. :)

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

2011-07-11T15:18:00.000-06:00

Elder Flexy 13:1 -email-

Make,

This week has been very fun we have been going all over the place. i'm glad the roof got fixed. and i'm glad landon has made it home safe. ya it will be cool to hang with him next year but ya. we will probably still do the same things just not all the time like we used to. we have been working hard and having a good time. we had this young boy who is eight years old ride in a taxi alone 8 kilometers to church he is a powerful little guy, life is good i had an interview with president, and it was nice to talk to him. mission is fine i'm doing good.

love you Elder Flexy

Baba,

Dad i'm glad you've been working hard its good to hear all is well and that the roof is finished, we are teaching some very good people and we even had one resieve an answer to her prayers through a dream it was pretty cool. but ya love you give you mor details on how that works out next time.

Elder Flexy

well i'm glad your doing well and i hope you drive safe now that you have your license. i love you little sister.

Elder Flexy

Sunday Best! For Keith.

2011-07-10T00:05:00.008-06:00

Doctrine and Covenants 122:7-9

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, an shall be for thy good.
8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

******************

Should we be protected always from hardship, pain, suffering, sacrifice or labor? Should the Lord protect the righteous? Should He immediately punish the wicked? If growth come from fun and ease and aimless irresponsibility, then why should we ever exert ourselves to work or learn or overcome? If success is measured by the years we live, then early death is failure and tragedy. If earth life is the ultimate, how can we justify death ever, even in old age? If we look at mortality as a complete existence, then pain, sorrow, failure, and short life could be a calamity. But if we look upon the whole life as an eternal thing stretching far into the pre-mortal past and into the eternal post-death future, then all happenings may be in proper perspective and may fall into proper place.

-Spencer W. Kimball

I love you, my brother!

Hope your Sunday was the Best!

Diet Dr. Pepper!

2011-07-09T12:19:00.002-06:00

So I don't know if I told you, but I teach the

ladies in
Relief Society
now. It's a little different than teaching the kids in
Primary.

They hold still and they raise their hands when they want to talk. Also, they don't have to tell you what they've been doing,
or the dirt on their family
for the first 10 minutes of class.
Funny!
Anyway, I was talking about
tithes and offerings.
It was a good lesson for me to prepare.
I understand the topic, but we all need reminders,
about why we do the things we do. I shared a quote by C.S. Lewis (you can read it here).
What a great man. So, as I'm teaching, I say something to the effect of,
"Can we give more?
Do we buy things we don't really need?
Like I say to myself,
'Do I really need this
Diet Dr. Pepper?'"
After which all the ladies are laughing. It is true though! I have a struggle with this. Well, a few days later, my friend Tricia shows up at the front door.
She is holding a case of
Diet Dr. Pepper.
I just busted up laughing, because the box says, "Joy, For Medicinal Purposes", with a smiley face. She went on to say that someone she loved used to use that excuse about liquor. So, funny!! I guess we all have a vice of some kind. And mine is
Diet Dr. Pepper!!
I'll keep working on it, though!

*****

*singing*
I'm a Pepper, You're a Pepper, He's a Pepper, She's a Pepper, wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too? Dr. Pepper! Drink Dr. Pepper!!!

Family History Friday: Family History and Genealogy Conference, Etc!

2011-07-08T15:56:00.000-06:00

There is so many people who want to help us learn about our precious ancestor's. I wish I could attend all of these conferences. There will be a conference at

Brigham Young University in Provo

starting on July 26th, 2011. It sounds awesome!! You can learn more about it here.

There will also be one at

Weber State University in September on the 17th, 2011.

This conference is only for one day and it is free!! I will give you more information as it comes available.

And of course the Family History Library in Salt Lake City,

as well as many local Family History Centers around the world have classes for minimal cost, or no cost. There are over 4,500 Family History Centers all over the world. To find a Family History Center near you, check here!

Happy Family History Friday!

Love, Joy

It's been a year!!

2011-07-07T22:49:00.000-06:00

-Alex at 6 years old-

Today, it has been a year since my darling missionary son, left for his mission!!

I can't believe it's been a year. It usually goes by fast when it's someone else's missionary, but it has gone by fast for us too! He is one amazing young man. From the start he has always been so easy going. Happy a lot! Not afraid to do nerdy things, and things that are not always popular, he is also not afraid to do what's right.

-Flexy with his mission president and wife-

He is someone who knows who he is, and is not afraid to show it. That works out kinda nice when you are in another country, telling people about your Savior, and trying to help them make some needed changes in their life.

-Flexy at an orphanage- (darling children)

He is loving his mission

and the experiences he is having.

I am so glad!!

-With the other missionaries-

We are so proud of our son!

Only one year left!!!

The Roof is Done!!!

2011-07-06T20:56:00.001-06:00

Before!

See the shingles curling?

They need to go bye-bye!!

My hard working darlin!!

What an amazing man!

He can do anything!

We have such great neighbors,

friends, and family!!!

Thursday evening we had lots of help tearing off the old shingles! It's a dirty job!

We had big people and little people helping!

Everett and Parker! My buddies!

It was starting to get dark so they had to quit for the night.

We borrowed a trailer from

one of our neighbors, for the dead shingles!

May they "rest in peace!"

The next morning lots more help!

My friend Krissy,

and her son Tyler, and husband Tom.

They are amazing!!

This little guy wanted to help so bad.

This is Jacob,

he lives next door.

He was helping put the

shingles in the trailer! What a helper!!

The roofing supplier delivering the shingles and stuff!

It's pretty slick! They have a conveyer type machine that sends the supplies and shingles up to the top of the roof. The shingle bundles weigh about 80 pounds each. In the old days these guys would carry them on their shoulders, up a ladder. I'm glad we didn't have to do that.

Can you see the hole? It was leaking below the swamp cooler. Ouch!! My darlin had done a patch job, but it really just needed to be re-done.

My brother Keith helping! He was a hard worker too!

Starting to put the shingles on!!

My job was keeping them fed and hydrated!!

Taking our last load to the transfer station. We took 3 loads total!

Taking a water brake!

Almost done!

I love it! It's beautiful!!

Beautiful!!

Thanks to Riley, Emily, Keith, Krissy, Tom, Tyler, Chad, Parker, Don, Autumn, Nathan, Jacob, Robert, Everett, Cragun, Brad, Alex, Chase, James, John, Wayne, Kent, Joseph, Danny, Justin, David, Jacob, Darwin, Devin, Mark, Howard, Annette (yummy brownies), Kent and Terri (popsicles), for your help!

(If I forgot to mention you, please forgive me)

You are all heaven sent!

Totally "Fort Worth" It!

2011-07-05T19:48:00.000-06:00

Hermana Kelsey 5:2 -email-

Mama,

Hola! Como esta? Como fue su semana? (How was your week?) Yo espero que todo esta bien. (I hope that everything is okay.)

We had kind of hard week this week. But I know that that means that this coming week will be that much better. :)

Monday: It was p-day. We didn't really do anything fun, because we still don't have miles to use. But we did get in a couple of good lessons. One of our investigators, Leticia, has a really cute little girl named Sadie, who is like 6. She was sitting in the room while we were reading from the BoM with her, and she was brushing the dog's hair. She walked out of the room and then came over to me. She told me that she wanted to brush my hair too, so she ended up brushing my hair for like 20 minutes. It was really cute. And it felt really good.

Tuesday: We rode the bus for most of the day. Sister Summers got a really bad sunburn from standing out in the sun waiting for the bus. I got a little bit burned, but not bad at all. I'm starting to get a really good tan (well farmer's tan). I'm hoping that when I can speak Spanish, I can tell people I'm from Mexico and they will actually believe me. :) We had a really fun dinner with one of our member families. The mom and the dad are both deployed right now so the grandparents are watching the two little boys while they are gone. They one boy is 7 and the other is 5. The one that is 5 (his name is Alex), always tells us the most random things. While we were eating dinner, everyone was talking, but then it got quiet. All of the sudden we hear him from the other room say, "When I am 6, they better say surprise!" It was so cute and funny. And also really random, but that is just how he is. Also, I was kind of sad this day, because our branch president's brother and sister came out on exchange with us for the last time. They are leaving for Mexico Wednesday, for a couple months. :(

Wednesday: We were supposed to have district meeting today, but Sister Summers and I decided to be rebels and not go. :) I'm just kidding. She had a doctor's appointment up in Waco at the same time district meeting was going on. On the way up to district meeting the elders were all quoting random movies in a Sean Connery voice. It was seriously one of the funniest things ever. They quoted like kid's movies, and they sounded so weird. I think you had to have been there. Also, another random thing. We went to go visit our baptismal date, and he was wearing a really funny shirt. It said "Bromance", and it had two football players doing a chest bump. The thing that made it the funniest though, was that he didn't even know what it said. He asked us what it meant but we didn't know how to explain it without it being awkward. It was pretty funny though.

Thursday: It was planning day. We spend most of the day in our apartment, as usual, but we had made an appointment to go see an investigator so we had to ride the bus to go see her. After we got off the bus, we were walking along talking about if we wanted to go talk to some people standing outside of their house. All of the sudden this crazy dog came out of nowhere at us. It was a mama dog that thought we were a threat, and she almost attacked us. She was barking really loud, and showing us her teeth. But she just ran away when she got like 5 feet away. Then, as we started walking again, I broke my shoe. the strap just ripped right off. It was sad. Then, the bus driver yelled at us. He is not a very nice man, and he is racist and sexist. But oh well.

Friday: I was feeling really sick today. We spent a lot of time driving around to see people who weren't even home. It was kind of a bust day. But then we had a Noche de Hogar (Family Home Evening) with a family from the ward, and it was really good. We all got the giggles really bad during the closing hymn, but other than that it was a really good FHE.

Saturday: We had another BAPTISM!!! One of our investigators, Jesus, got baptized in the evening. It was a very strange baptism. He is an older guy (like 64), and he didn't understand how the baptism actually happened. When our ward mission leader went to put him back in the water, he kept fighting him because he didn't want to go backwards. It was so awkward. And then he had to get baptized again, because his given name really isn't Jesus. It J. Carmen. So we had to refill the font, and baptize him again. It was crazy. But now he is baptized. :)

Sunday: We only had 2 investigators at church. :( Usually we have like between 7 and 12 investigators. It was sad. But we got a few good lessons in, and our recent convert Antonio (my other baptism), came out on exchange with us and taught part of the lesson. He is so cool. He really is a different person than the one I met my first day in Temple.

Monday: We had p-day activity in Waco. Also, I am on companion exchange with Sister Crossan, who doesn't speak any spanish. It's crazy because I have to say everything, and some of the time I don't know how to say it. But I can definitely speak more than I could a couple months ago, so that's good to know. Also, yesterday we got locked out of our van. We ended up having to call a locksmith to get us in. It was okay though. Heavenly Father was watching out for us. Also we got to watch some fireworks out the window of the Killeen sister's apartment. It was cool.

Anyway, I better go now. I love you lots. Te amo mucho! :)

Love, Hermana Kelsey

Papi,

Wow congratulations on the roof! I'm glad it is finally getting fixed, and that you are getting lots of help. :) That is really awesome. Sorry this is so short. I accidetnally took to long to write the rest of this email. :( But, i love you. I'll talk to you next Monday. :) Bye.

Love, Hermana

Emmyaurus Rex,

I am not writing you anything because I have still not received a letter from you. JK. But seriously, I have to go because I still need to write to President Sagers, and I'm almost out of time. Bye!

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

2011-07-05T19:39:00.000-06:00

Elder Flexy 12:4 -email-

Make,

well i'm glad church is going good the branch i'm in now is tiny. there were sixty people there on sunday but its a really good to be here. we are working so hard and we have some awsome recent converts they are helping us so much. we have Senzo, Ayanda, Vuyani, Scelo. the work is booming here in nhlangano. mission is going very well we had one of the toughest fasts i've ever done on sunday after we finished we ate eight peices of toast and a dozon eggs just between me and Elder Smith. but mission is great the work goes well when you have member present lessons but ya i hope job hunting works out good, God will provide a way. ya its crazy i've been gone a year. but ya life is good. love you

Love Elder Flexy

Baba,

well it sounds like your keeping yourself busy, ya that roof needed help even when i left it did. thats good to hear the young men are growing up i'm glad the ward is doing well. And that Bishop Fowers is still the same as when i left. life here is pretty sweet this is probably one of the more backwards places in the world but it makes it interesting. the other night we were driving in the area past a bar and this guy was getting beat up by like seven other guys it was pretty crazy but ya thats why we don't drink RIGHT!!! ha the pasters that live near our area are so dumb they spread rumors like crazy which makes our job a little easier. but ya mission is great. Love you

Love Elder Flexy

hey my sister hows life?? well life is good here we are working in the boonies its pretty cool most of the roads are dirt and most of the time we walk, even though we have a car. we are doing good and don't worry about letters i know your busy so whenever you have time. life is going good we are having fun here. love you.

Love Elder Flexy

Happy Independence Day!!

2011-07-04T16:20:00.000-06:00

Wishing everyone a happy and safe day!!

God Bless America!!

Sunday Best!

2011-07-03T17:58:00.000-06:00

Ether 12:27
27 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.
----------------------------------

"So if you have problems in your life, don't assume there is something wrong with you. Struggling with those problems is at the very core of life's purpose. As we draw close to God, He will show us our weaknesses and through them make us wiser, stronger. If you're seeing more of your weaknesses, that just might mean you're moving nearer to God, not farther away."

-Bruce C. Hafen

Hope your Sunday was the Best!!

Love, Joy

Psychic Kelsey!

2011-06-30T19:24:00.000-06:00

So the other day...

the mail came, and

I was seriously bummed

because there was a letter for Emily

from Hermana Kelsey, and a card for my darlin

from Hermana Kelsey. I was thinking, "What am I, chopped liver?" I said to Emily, "That's not very fair!"

She said, "Why?" And I went on to tell her that I'm the one who writes to her, and send's her packages, and stuff. I said, "All I need is a little note from her that says, she loves me, and that she's glad that I am her mom!"

So my darlin opens his card and on the back was this note to me!!!!!

In case you can't read it, it says, "I love you and I'm glad you are my mom!" Is she psychic or what? Wow!!!

Go with the Flow!

2011-06-29T14:49:00.000-06:00

I recently visited a family cabin of one of my dear friends. It was in a beautiful mountain setting. Everything was blooming and lush. In the background we could hear the sound of water. Not a little or small amount of water, but a large stream, swollen with the water from spring runoff. Pictured is the beautiful stream. I could sit there for hours watching and listening. The stream went under the road, through a big pipe. Once in a while we would hear a rock being forced through the pipe by the current. It was powerful.

My whole life, it seems, I've heard the phrase,

"Go with the flow."

What does it mean? To me it means whatever life gives you, be your best. Life will be rough and tumble sometimes, and other times things will be going so good, that you fear for the bubble to pop. But no matter what happens in life. We are in charge of how we feel. In the middle of hardship, we can have gratitude. In the middle of calm, we can feel peace. In whatever circumstances that life gives us, we can "Go with the flow!"

I thought about this stream and how at certain times it might be hard, even dangerous to

"Go with the flow."

In the stream of life, we are not always in charge of how fast the flow is, or how slow the flow is. Just like this stream, there are outside forces determining the flow. When the stream is swollen with the spring runoff, it can be a messy place. There is debris all along the way. But when the runoff is over, the stream is a very peaceful and calm place.

"Go with the flow!"

If things are moving fast, and they get kinda messy...

"Go with the flow!"

If life has slowed down and you long for more excitement...

"Go with the flow!"

Sometimes life has a way of telling us what we need. If we get going so fast and crazy, we get sick and then we are forced to slow down. The shrubs around the stream sure got a pounding from the water flowing by. But when the water calms down. They will get a brake from the turbulence.

I wonder if Father in heaven is up there saying to us,

"Go with the flow! You can do it!"?

Don't you just love nature. It really gets me thinking. When I am there...with God's creations, I know He loves us. He wants us to be happy. He wants us to learn and grow, and sometimes the "flow" is like a spring runoff, and sometimes it's like a peaceful trickling brook.

"Go with the flow!" Love, Joy

Cute baby owl's!

2011-06-28T16:43:00.001-06:00

Can you see this baby owl

in the bottom of the milk can?

He must have flown in and got stuck. When I went out on the patio to look at the stars, I heard some funny noises. The noises were kind of like purring. I called my darlin out to listen. He got his flashlight and went out toward the trees. We saw about 4 or 5 baby owl's in the trees.

Then my darlin started hearing lots of noise coming from the milk can. We looked in, and this is what we saw. He was stuck. We took a few pictures, then my sweetie, carefully leaned the milk can on it's side. The little guy walked out and flew away. Yeah!!!

He looks kind of grumpy!

But beautiful!

Here is one of them

on the power line.

You can barely see him,

but he's there with red eyes!!

Cool!

Totally "Fort Worth" It!

2011-06-27T13:54:00.001-06:00

Hermana Kelsey 5:1 -email-

Mi Familia!!

Hola! Como estan? I did have a great week! Lots of really great things are happening in Temple! I will continue with that in a few lines. But first off, that would be so cool if you got a job with the church. I've heard they take really good care of their employees. I will definitely be praying that you get the job. It has been really hot down here in Texas. 90's and 100's plus humidity, and we've been walking and tracting A LOT, because we are low on miles again. They cut our miles for this month, so we have even less than before. But we just try to drink lots and lots of water, so we don't get dehydrated.

Anyway, I miss having family parties. :( I also miss real home cooked food. We get it a few times when we eat with members, but i miss having a real Sunday dinner. It's okay though.

Okay so this week...

Monday: We had our p-day as usual. Although it was kind of a weird p-day. We went down to Rogers to visit come less actives and an investigator down there. But, none of them were home. We also ate at this restaurant that one of our members works at so it's free to eat there. It was kind of a bust day.

Tuesday: I accidentally broke my glasses. :( I was in the bathroom and I leaned forward to pick something up off the ground, and they just fell of my face and broke in half. It was sad. We also tracted a lot. We spent about 4 hours doing white cards, which are people that have talked with missionaries at some point before and said they were interested, so we go to their house and set up appointments for other days.

Wednesday: We also spent a lot of time tracting today. We tracted in this kind of scary area, which it wasn't bad because it was the middle of the day, but still. Anyway, this random lady came up to us, and asked if she could use our phone. Sister Summers let her, and then Sister Summers asked if we could share a pass along card with her. She said sure. As Sister Summers was explaining what it was, the lady blurted out, "I'm a prostitute." Sister Summers just stopped talking for a second. We were both a little shocked. But Sister Summers just continued talking about how the gospel can help everyone, no matter what their situation. All we have to do is rely on the Lord. She agreed, and then we left. But it was a strange experience to say the least.

Thursday: We went to this anniversary party for this old couple that comes to the Assisted Living place by our apartment that we go and visit. It was their 68th wedding anniversary. They are so old, but still really healthy and full of life. And also a little bit crazy. But we love them all the same. They come and do an activity thing every Thursday morning, to get the old people there out of their rooms, and doing something active (ish). They are so cute. Also, we met this other really old lady from a referral we received from one of the members of our branch. She talked so much she made us late for our FHE with one of our less active families. But she was really cute.

Friday: Nothing really happened today. It was just a normal day in paradise. :)

Saturday: We had interviews with President Sagers. He told me I need to not be afraid to speak spanish, but also that I probably won't have it down very well until about 9 months in. Hopefully I get it sooner than that though. I am definitely improving, but I still struggle with knowing what to say to people. I usually can understand most of what they are saying, but I just don't know what to say back to them. Also, Mexico played against, the U.S. and won. I didn't watch the game, because we aren't allowed, but I have inside sources that tell me who won,a nd who is playing who. Secretly, I wanted Mexico to win, but I told everyone I was rooting for the U.S. I have to support my own country, right? :) But especially recently, I have learned to really love the people from Mexico. I used to be a little afraid of Hispanic people, but they are seriously some of the coolest people I have ever met.

Sunday: We had a great Sunday. We had 8 investigators in sacrament meeting, which is really great. Last week we had 11, but 8 is still really good. We are getting so busy here. I feel liek really stretched thin sometimes, like there's too many people for just the two of us to be in charge of, but somehow, with the help of the Lord, we always figure it out. We had our baptismal interview with our investigator that is going to be baptized on July 2nd. His name is Jesus. He's a pretty cool guy, but I'm not sure if he is getting baptized for the right reasons. He wants to marry one of our members, so I think that probably has something to do with his sudden decision to get baptized, when he didn't really have a desire to do it before. But we're going to baptize him. :) Already my 2nd baptism. It's so exciting! But it was also a sad day because our branch president's brother and sister, who help us all the time with the missionary work, are leaving for Mexico on Wednesday, so it was their last Sunday. :(

But anyway, that was my week. I'll answer a few of the questions you sent, but not all of them apply to me.

1 Have you heard about transfers?

1. I don't know about transfers, because our transfers aren't until the 20th of July, but I have a feeling President is going to transfer me. I really hope he doesn't, but I just have this feeling that it is going to happen. :(

3 What is your favorite thing about working in Temple?

3 My favorite thing about working in Temple are the people. We have some of the greatest members in our branch, and the people just generally are nice. We have met a lot of people who are very open to the gospel as well. Heavenly Father is definitely preparing people to receive the gospel.

4 What is your least favorite thing about working in Temple?

4. I don't really have a least favorite thing, but I'm not really a fan of the heat, or the bugs. We get mosquito bites all the time, because we have to teach outside a lot at night.

7 Do you have a member family that helps you a lot?

7 A member family that helps us a lot is the Sandoval's. That is our branch president and his siblings. Our president is so involved with everyone, and knows everyone's story. It's amazing.

Anyway, I have to go now. But I love all of you lots! Sorry, I don't have time to write to you all! :( Bye!

con amor,

Hermana Kelsey

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

2011-06-27T13:40:00.002-06:00

Elder Flexy 12:3 -email-

Make
this week has been good on saturday i had one of the toughest days on mission we walked so far and got bunked so many times it was rediciulous!!!
but ya life is good.
1 Have you heard about transfers?
1.yep i have
2 If so where are you going?
2.i'm staying in swaziland but i'm going to the boonies a place called Nhlangano!!!

3 What is your favorite thing about working in Swaziland?
3.well it safer than SA
4 What is your least favorite thing about working in Swaziland?
4.well it gets kinda repetitive you do the same exact thing every day.
5 Were you able to get a few souvenirs?
5.ya, you know in "the gods must be crazy" how that one little black guy sits and plays that little musical instrument? i bought one of those.
6 Name all the Elder's you serve with, there?6.Elder Diseko ,Elder Reeder, Elder Cooly, Elder Henson, Elder Herrity, Elder Muteriswa, Elder Tualufo, Elder Peirce, Elder Sesunga, Elder Jonga, Elder Sakpaku, Elder Munger, Elder Smith(my new comp) Elder Klakotse, and Elder Lyon. and Elder and Sister Blackburn.
7 Do you have a member family that helps you a lot?
7.ya its the Dlamini Family with babe George, Make Fhuti, oldest son Scelo and the middle son cant remember his name but then the young boy Levi.

8 Did you ever make it to the game reserve?
8.not a huge one, but we will at some point.
9 Do you study your Preach My Gospel everyday?
9.yep
10 Most Spiritual experience this week?
10.well we have been teaching this babe (Dad, I think?) he is a very nice guy we taught him at a public library and that lesson was really powerful.
Special question of the week:
11 How does desire help us to be all we should be in life?
11.well controlling our desire makes us want to do good not just do it.
anyway love you mom.
Love Elder Flexy

Dad,
well the other day our recent converts bore the sweetest tesimony because he was a false prophet before he was baptised and he shared about how he new it was wrong, but now has had made the right choice. but ya he is now teaching the Preach my gospel class to the perspective missionaries. but ya life is good mission is going great.
love Elder Flexy

M,
well i'm glad you gave a talk in church you will be a great missionary if you keep teaching even now. but ya mission is good. love you my sister.
Love Elder Flexy

Family History Friday: Stars!

2011-06-24T18:31:00.002-06:00

Perhaps they are not stars, but rather
openings in heaven
where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.

-Eskimo Proverb
Happy Family History Friday!
Love, Joy

Bonus Baby at Summer School!

2011-06-23T13:50:00.001-06:00

My darling Emily

got to go to summer school. She needed to make up some classes. One of my favorite things about Em is, she knows how to have fun, even at summer school.

So cute and funny!!!

(Em is on the left)

Funny Bumper Sticker!

2011-06-22T23:23:00.000-06:00

Funny!!

Happy First Day of Summer!!

2011-06-21T21:28:00.000-06:00

It's the first day of summer!

What are your plans?

Camping?

Swimming?

Disneyland?

Traveling the world?

Ours?

We are going to re-roof our home!

(Is re-roof a word?)

And when I say "we" are going to

re-roof our home, I me "we!"

I know, lookin good!

It's been needing it for years!

Scary huh! I bet you're thinking we are "those" neighbors. The ones that everyone wishes would move. We really are good neighbors, I promise, but we didn't have...*ahem*... the...you know, the money. Now thanks to my mom-in-law for loaning us the money, we will getter done!!

Thank you Nancy,

I love you to bits!

If that sounds fun to you, come on over!

We know how to have a good time.

I will be sure to take plenty of pictures of our roofing party!!

I hope this doesn't sound too much like I'm complaining.

I am not. I am so glad we finally get to -get it done!!!!

Totally "Fort Worth" It!

2011-06-20T22:31:00.000-06:00

Hermana Kelsey 4:5 -email-

Mama!

This week has been great. There were a few weird things on the way, but all is well. I have decided that I am going to write you differently for a little while to try out how I like it.

Monday:

We played soccer for last p-day. Hermana Summers, my companion, is a little crazy in soccer and she's like a freakin wall. If you try to go up against her she will boot you out of the way. We get a little violent with each other, but that is how we do companionship inventory. :) I'm just kidding.

Tuesday:

I had a really bad day. We spent a lot of time at the hospital because we have a new investigator who's wife is in the ICU so we go and teach him at the hospital. Anyway, I don't know what it is about that place, but I get really sad and stuff when we go there, and I can't understand what anyone is saying in spanish. It's weird. But anyway, so we were there visiting, and it threw me off for the whole rest of the night. So I pretty much felt completely useless. Anyway, so I cried a little. Then as we were driving home I was crying a little and all of the sudden I see police lights in my rearview mirror. Yeah, I got pulled over! He told me it was because I was driving around without my lights on. I blame Sister Vaughn for that, because she told me they turned on automatically. But it was okay, he just let me off. Anyway, as we were pulling away after that, we got a call from one of our branch members that Jose (our investigator at the hospital) 's wife had just passed away. So then we were all sad. Then about 30 minutes later we got a call from her saying that they had revived her. So she wasn't actually dead. It was crazy!

Wednesday:

We met with the Young Women in our branch (there was supposed to be 5 girls, but there ended up only being one). We talked to her about missionary work, and answered any questions she had. It was pretty cool. Then we personalized some Book of Mormons by writing our testimonies in the front. After we got done, the Young Women's president gave us a gift bag with some stuff from Bath and Body Works. It was pretty awesome.

Thursday:

We went to the assisted living place by our apartment, and "gambled" with the old people. We played 21 with these giant dice. It was fun. Those old people are so awesome, but most of them are completely NUTS! Most of them fall asleep while we are there. It's funny. Also, we are running low on miles, of course, so we tried to ride them bus today. We ended up getting stuck in downtown Temple, because the bus didn't come when it was supposed to. It was pretty lame. But we had one of the members from the english ward give us a ride. She saved our lives! Just kidding.

Friday:

Nothing really happened today, except we decided to tract this one trailer park out in the middle of nowhere. We pulled in, and I asked Hermana Summers where she wanted to start. She said, "I don't know". I didn't know either, so we just drove for a few seconds and then I randomly stopped the van. We got out, knocked a couple doors. We thought it was a bust, because it was all uninterested white people. Then the next one we knocked was a Hispanic woman. She was really interested. We asked her if there were any other hispanic people around, and she told us there was only them, and the lady across the street, who was at work when we were there. It was crazy that we found her!

Saturday:

We have a restaurant down here called Billy Bob's. They have an eating challenge called "The Fat Daddy Challenge". You have to eat a hamburger with 6 patties, a large fry, and a milkshake, all within 30 minutes. So a bunch of the Elders decided to try it. It was crazy. Only four of the eight actually did it, but it was really fun to watch. Except I felt sick just watching them.

Sunday:

We talked in sacrament today...and I may or may not have almost passed out close to the end of my talk. I accidentally locked my knees the whole time I was talking. It was really weird. But on the good side, my branch president commented on how well my spanish is coming along, so that was cool.

Anyway, I'm a little sad I missed Founder's Day! That is one of my favorite days of the year. I better go now though. Te amo mucho!

Love, Kelsey

Papi!

Happy Father's Day! I wrote you a card that I sent in the mail today. I actually forgot yesterday was Father's Day until our branch president announced it at church. Whoops! That's cool you're working on the apartment. I'm glad you are still keeping busy. I sure am! Our area is doing so great! We have had so many amazing miracles happening. I know the Lord knows that the people here are ready for the gospel. Anyway, I better go now. Te amo!

Love, Kelsey

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

2011-06-20T22:22:00.002-06:00

Elder Flexy 12:2 -email-

Make,
this week has been great. we had a missionary fireside yesterday and it went well it was stressful but it worked out good. ya two more weeks and i'm leaving this area and finding some fresh soil to sow and reap in but there will be the baptisms of 5-6 people the sunday after i leave this area but those still count as my baptisms. that will make the total ten baptisms in my first year. ya i just started emailing kelsey, colter and andy. today we are going to the king sabuzah memorial so that should be fun. this week we played some street soccer with some little kids it was pretty fun i'm getting good at soccer. well thats all for now. love you
Love Elder Flexy

Baba,
well it sounds like things area getting done with your friend Jack. thats cool that his son wrestled I've wrestled a few people on mission and it is so fun. we have seen some pretty sweet cars this side. there is this car called a gusheshe its a really gangster square bmw and its pretty dope!! but ya this week has been the same as always. love you
Love Elder Flexy

Alex, i hope all is well. i havent written even though i have been meaning to, i apologize i just get super busy and stuff. i have been volunteering at the bike collective, its super fun and fulfilling. its basically a non profit bike shop there to help the homeless and or lower income a place to come work on their bikes and seek professional assistance...... basically im a pro bike mechanic by now ;) you should see the bike i just built, its a fixed gear road bike and i ride that beast 24 miles a day about. its ill. when you come home we will have to build you a bike. then pop you and i can do some baller rides ;) i hope all is well man i hope to send you a REAL letter asap and ill see if i cant attach pics of my build. good luck my bro stay strong. love riley

Riley,

well thats good that your doing some good service to help other people but ya a real letter would be nice but ya mission is good can you believe that i'm almost a year out!!! anyway time is far spent. i love you man
Love Elder Flexy

Dear Sexy Flexy Elder Man!!! :) You are my favorite I'm so glad to hear you were doin good! Is that still true?! You doin ok?! I'm doing fantastic I am now done with summer school and I went to EFY all last week and it was SO amazing but i miss everyone from there it was such a great experience and Iearned a lot and i had work today and it was super great i loved it a lot!! :) But yeah life is so good yesterday was founders day thats such good times and i went swimming and a lot of fun stuff and went to fireworks and such and the parade and mom was the toothfairy again of course!! She is so cute and funny it was fabulous! And yeah i bore my testimony at EFY and was talkin about missionaries and mentioned you and Kels :) Anyway it has been a great time and i am very happy but yeah I love you so much my cute brother stay strong and be happy!! Put a smile on that cute little missionary white boy face of yours! Bye Al I love your guts :)

i'm so glad life is going good for you life is good this side as well but i'm out of time so i love you see you in a minute.
Love Elder Flexy

Father's Day!

2011-06-19T00:05:00.007-06:00

Any man can be a father,

but it takes a special person

to be a dad.

-Proverb
My Dad is awesome!
When I was just a little girl, I remember my Dad was always a busy man. He used to say, "I'm going to get on my horse and ride off in all directions!" Our house and yard was the most popular in the neighborhood. Dad built a small cinderblock castle in the yard. We had a teeter totter that was built on the axel of two old wagon wheels, you could move it all over the yard. Awesome! We had an old nose cone from a bomb, that my Dad made into a doghouse. We would turn it over, and climb in and spin each other around. Great fun! When my Dad got home from work each day, he would spend the rest of the day light hours in the yard, making it beautiful. When I was about 5 years old, he was building a home (pretty much by himself), working full time at the nearby college, and getting his PhD. I didn't see much of him that year, but our whole family was amazed at the things that he could do. He always finished what he started. Our family moved into that beautiful home and he got his PhD. Later, he had an urge and built another home. And made it so beautiful. My reception, when I got married, was in the yard my Dad had created. It had terraces, decks and rock and wood pathways all over this acre lot. People would say, "Did he do this all himself?" Others would say, "No, this was done by a professional landscaper!" Actually, he did do it all himself. He just had a knack for it. I say he had, because he doesn't have a yard anymore. He has always been active and healthy. He used to play handball everyday at lunch, now he plays three days a week. He is 77 years old. Amazing! He has always loved God, and has done his best to live a good life. He is an example of "love your neighbor as yourself." One thing about my Dad, that means so much to me, is that he loves my Mom. They have been married for almost 56 years. When my Dad retired from his full time job, he was able to work on his family history more, and he began volunteering to help others do their family history work. He now is the Director of the "Family History Center" where he lives. That means he is working for no pay, many hours a week. One of my favorite things that my Daddy does, is take me on a date once a month. Just me and him. He has done this for many years.
What an amazing man!
Happy Father's Day

to my wonderful Dad!!!

I love you!
(My Dad's book:
"The Book of ON!"
You can find it here!)

---------
Happy Father's Day
to all Dad's!

Family History Friday: Great Fun!

2011-06-17T00:13:00.000-06:00

The

Ogden City Cemetery

Tour

was on June 11th and 13th 2011

Incase you're wondering what that is,

I'll tell you!

You go to the cemetery, and listen to people talk about some of the residents of the cemetery. Usually, it is one of the descendants of one of the people buried there. They tell a short history of that person. I am amazed at the stories!!

This is a descendant of Sidney Stevens,

who was from England.

He owned and tannery, and then later he owned an implement shop in Ogden.

These two people are descendants of Louis F. Moench, he was from Germany. He was the first President of Weber Stake Academy, which today, is known as Weber State University!

This darling little lady is a descendant of Richard Slater.

She told the story of Ann Corbridge Slater, his wife. They were from England. Their family was early settlers in the area now known as Slaterville.

This man is a descendant of

James Iverson, from Denmark.

Their little boy was taken by indians

when he was 3 years old, and

they were reunited when he was 17 years old.

Old Glory!

This is the World War I Memorial. This cute lady is telling us about World War I, and about the memorial.

There is a legend about this statue. If you go into the cemetery at night and go around the statue three times, the soldier with follow you with his eyes!!

This is my cutest Mom!! She is telling everyone about the

World War II Memorial. It has the names of 71 soldiers "whose burial places are unknown" as the memorial says.

This is the World War II Memorial

This is Gold Star Drive. There were 52 trees planted for each of

the soldiers who were killed in action, from Weber County, in World War I. There is also a plaque in front of each tree.

It is a fun and interesting experience and it happens every year, usually in June. Each year the stories and people represented are different. I am always glad when I go!

Happy Family History Friday!! Love, Joy

Sweet Cousins!!

2011-06-16T21:48:00.000-06:00

Cash and Natasha

Cute!!!

Favorite TV/Movie Quotes!

2011-06-15T10:27:00.001-06:00

My Dog Skip!

Narrator: I almost lost old Skip that day. Even as he was sleeping on the operating table, he was still teaching me. That day, I became a young man. Why, in childhood and youth, we wish time to pass so quickly. We want to grow up so fast. Yet, as adults, we wish just the opposite.

-----------------------

Narrator: Old Skip was 11, and feeble with arthritis, but he never lost that old devilish look in his eye. He made my room his own. Came across an old photo of him not long ago. His little face, with the long snout sniffing at something in the air. His tail was straight out and pointing. Eyes were flashing in some momentary excitement. He always loved to be rubbed on the back of his neck. And when I did it, he'd yawn, and he'd stretch, reach out to me with his paws as if he was trying to embrace me. I recieved a trans-atlantic call one day. "Skip died", Daddy said. He and my mama wrapped him in my baseball jacket. They buried him out under the elm tree, they said. That wasn't totally true. For he really lay buried in my heart.

------------------------

What a sweet movie!

People are so funny!

2011-06-14T21:21:00.001-06:00

I couldn't help it!!

(I had to snap a picture)

Look at this bicycle and trailer combo!

With the hand painted flames.

This means that the owner of this

bicycle and trailer goes very fast!!!

I love it!

Totally "Fort Worth" It!

2011-06-13T21:06:00.001-06:00

Kelsey with Hermana Vaughn, her trainer.
She just went home last week!

Hermana Kelsey 4:4 -email-

Mama!
Hola!! Como esta? Como fue su semana? (How was your week) I hope things are good. We have had so many miracles, and blessings this last week or so. On Tuesday, we found out that one of our investigators who has been coming to church for like 5 years, and couldn't get baptized because she wasn't married, is finally getting married at the end of July! We are so excited. She will be getting baptized the week after. :) Also we have a few really awesome investigators that will hopefully be getting baptized soon as well. They are pretty legit!
Sister Vaughn was with me for Monday and Tuesday, but she left Wednesday. I was really sad. :( But my new companion is really cool too. Her name is Sister Summers, and she is 6'2"!! We make quite the companionship. :) But we even each other out pretty well. Her spanish is muy bien, which is great because mine sure isn't. It's getting better though. Slowly, but surely. I prayed in our meeting that we have with our branch president every Sunday, and he commented on how much better my spanish has gotten already since the last time he heard me pray. That was pretty cool. Also, just as a side note, Sister Summers is from Morgan and she lives like right across the street from Summer W.! Crazy right?! Even crazier, her brother is serving his mission in the same place as cousin Andrew! It sure is a small world.
On Saturday, we ate dinner at one of our investigators homes, and she made the spicest food I've ever eaten. It was so hot! I thought I was going to die. But it was pretty good too.
I miss the Empey's! Julie and Melissa sent me a letter together, so that was really cool. Also, my best friend, Amanda, wrote me a letter finally! :) That was really cool. That's crazy that Landon is coming home that soon! I swear he hasn't been gone for two years.
Awww! I miss my sweet niece! I was showing Sister Summers that family album you gave me, and I saw Natasha in the picture, and it made me a little sad. But then I was okay. It's just gonna be really crazy, because when I get home she'll be so big! But it's okay. :)
Anyway, I better go now. Te amo mucho!! (I love you much)
con amor, Hermana Kelsey
Papi,
Hola! I'm kind of jealous you get to play real life soccer. We play this game we call chair soccer, but it's not the same as real soccer. Also, I've gotten really into soccer, because a lot of our investigators love soccer, and will talk to you more if you know about soccer. So I have an "insider" that always tells me who won the soccer games and who Mexico played against, and then I can talk to people on the streets about it. It's fun. But I really wish we could play for real.
If we can borrow a bike from someone, we might ride around a little bit, which should be fun. Although I am really out of shape, so maybe not.
I remember when you taught me how to do a backflip. That was so long ago. Man, I miss jumping on the tramp! Some of our members have trampolines, and I want to jump on them so bad, but we aren't allowed. :(
Anyway, I better go now. Te amo! (I love you)
Love, Hermana Kelsey
Emmysaurus Rex!
I'm still waiting on a real letter from you!!!!! You crazy girl! I'm glad you enjoyed church though. I love church. Our branch is so great. All of the members are so cool, and they are so closely knit because there are so few of them. Everyone is friends with everyone else. It's so cool. I love the spanish people so much! I was little scared before, because, I'm not gonna lie, I was a little prejudice. But most of the people I have met are so awesome, and the Hispanic people are so much nicer than white people and african american people. We try so hard to find Hispanics, because we don't want to have to talk to white people. They are mean.
Anyway, I'm glad you are having fun with Melissa. Did you know she sent me a letter? Yeah...she sure did. So maybe you should send me one too!! :)
Anyway, I probably better go now. Te amo!! Be good. Make good choices. Do what you know you are supposed to.
Love, Hermana Kelsey
P.S. What does BFN mean?

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

2011-06-13T20:55:00.000-06:00

Elder Flexy 12:1 -email-

Make,

ya this week has been pretty good we taught some very prideful people and thats something i don't enjoy. I'm beginning to be pretty quick with my scriptures almost all main doctrine points. but the other day we taught this seven day Adventist guy and he just spouts out scriptures that have nothing to do with the topic. one thing that you will find is that most religions just have one thing that they will just repeat over and over. like this guy all he cared about was that the seventh day is on saturday so we should worship on saturday and so i showed him the scripture and explained the fulfillment of the law of moses and he just was too prideful to listen. but ya mission is cool. love you
Love Elder Flexy

Baba,
thats cool that your still riding bikes and i haven't driven since i came on mission for almost a year its kinda weird. thats so weird that Caleb got married i hope they continue to make good decisions. but ya mission is good i'm about ready for a new area i've only had two areas so far so i'm getting bored of this place. but ya we played soccer today and i did ok not way good but it was fun. so Kaden is growing up thats so cool we will chill when i get home. well thats it for the day. love you
Love Elder Flexy

M,
well i'm glad someone cries as much as me but ya mission is good. one of the africans from my group is now training an elder from hawaii its pretty cool i shoul be training at the end of next transfer. but ya life is good. love you sis.
Love Elder Flexy

Sunday Best!

2011-06-12T17:53:00.043-06:00

Hope!

2 Nephi 31: 19 & 20

19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. 20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father:

Ye shall have eternal life.

-----------------

Hope is: the feeling that what is wanted can be

had or that events will turn out for the

best.

-------------

Jeremiah 17:7

Blessed is the man

that trusteth in the Lord, and whose

hope the Lord is.

---------

I hope your Sunday was the Best!

Love, Joy

Totally "Fort Worth" It!

2011-06-06T12:01:00.000-06:00

Hermana Kelsey 4:3 -email-

Mama,

I hope thing are bien for you. I an doing pretty fantastico. We had my first baptism yesterday. It was pretty freakin' AWESOME! He is a cool guy. We could tell he was nervous, and then while we were waiting, he started crying. But not just crying. He was BAWLING! We asked him if he was okay and he told us he was just really happy. We did it at 9 in the morning, and he got confirmed during our sacrament meeting at 11. It was really cool.

Sister Vaughn is going home this week. We got our transfer calls this morning, and my new companion is going to be Sister Summers, who actually was roommates with Sister Vaughn before they both came out on their missions. She sounds pretty cool. Sister Vaughn wants to stay another transfer now, and be in a trio with us, because she has always wanted to serve with Sister Summers. So that's exciting. I'm sad Sister Vaughn is leaving, but at the same time, it is time to move on.

Anyway, our Sunday was great too. We have 6 investigators at church, and one of them we just barely met yesterday, and he got up and bore his testimony! Kind of. As much as someone who doesn't know how to do it can. But it was really cool.

Anyway, I probably better go now. Love you lots. Be strong!

Love, Hermana Kelsey

XOXOXOXOX

P.S. Wasn't Riley going to write me a letter and send it with that package you sent?!

Papi,

I learned a new thing in spanish. It is about fathers, so I'll tell it to you.

"Yo como una papa, no como a mi papa (accent on a)

(I eat a potato, I don't eat my dad)

Una papa es comida, un papa (accent on a) es mi padre"

(A potato is food, a papa is a father)

It's funny in spanish, but not really in english so it's okay if you don't laugh or anything. :)

Anyway, this week has been pretty good. Is it still raining a lot there? That's crazy that Brad's house got flooded. Is our house doing okay? I hope so, cause I sure don't want to move!

Anyway, I better go now. Love you lots. Sorry these are so short, but time just doesn't mean the same thing it used to. Bye.

Love, Hermana Kelsey

Emmysaurus Rex!

JA JA JA JA JA JA!! You have to be in summer school?!?! That's so funny. I did that too, once upon a time. But it was pretty much the easiest class I ever took, so I didn't mind.

It is really really hot down here. It was been within a few degrees of 100 all week! It's craziness!!! Muy loco!! Pero, esta bien. (I hope you can understand my spanish)

But anyways, Por que did you corto su pelo?! We were supposed to be having a contest! JK JK, it's all good. I'm just going to win. :)

What kind of changes are happening in your life? Are you're friends still moving away? I will tell you one good things about that. I know it is really hard (trust me, I REALLY do know), but when friends leave, you get to make new ones! It was super, super hard for me at the MTC when the older districts would leave, because we became such good friends with them, but then new people would come and we would be friends with them. So them you have lots and lots of friends. So it's okay. I'm pretty sure most of the people I met at the MTC will be my life long friends. :)

BYE. Love you lots.

Love, Hermana Kelsey

P.S. You are never too busy to write a letter. I am one of the busiest people I know and I can still write letters to people. I'm actually better at writing letters than anyone that I am writing to. :)

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

2011-06-06T11:36:00.000-06:00

Elder Flexy 11:5 -email-

Make,
this week has been ok, i don't think i have ever had this many people bunk us in one week. but oh well we will keep going. ya that's funny about Brad's dogs there is this chihuahua that we walk past a lot and it always runs and hide from us. ya that's crazy that Caleb is getting married. but its probably good for him. ya this sunday we had a recent convert bear his testimony it was pretty funny he talked about how he used to be a Zionist Prophet but then he found that he didn't have authority to do that but it was pretty powerful. but anyway thats all for now. love you
Love Elder Flexy

Baba,
so now my dad is lumber jack as well!!! thats cool we did some service for and old Gogo(Grandma) in the branch. it was good to do some manual labor. but ya my clothes are starting to get a little rugged those eccos shoes are even starting to get old. but ya mission is good thats weird that there has been so much rain it never rained when i was home. but ya i'm thinking they might give me some leadership this next transfer. but ya life is good. anyway mission is going great. love you
Love Elder Flexy

M,
well this week was kinda boring nothing really exiting happened except the testimony of that recent convert that was pretty funny but i hope you can continue getting those credits for school don't follow in my foots steps on that one. well love you
Love Elder Flexy

Sunday Best!

2011-06-05T00:06:00.000-06:00

"I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditures exclude them."

-C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

Two Cents! By T and G.

2011-06-04T00:05:00.001-06:00

G: "I don't like raisins."

Emily: "Why?"

G: "They are just too curious!"

"...stop accumulating..."

2011-06-02T19:57:00.002-06:00

Andrew Carnegie, one of my heroes said,

"I resolve to

stop accumulating

and begin the infinitely more serious and

difficult task of

wise distribution."

-------------------

I am about there.

I have lived in my home for 14 years. I have been bringing things into my home for 14 years. I do take things out too, but too much has come in and not enough has been taken out. One day my dad was here visiting, and he looked around and said, "I can see you're still a gatherer!" Ouch! He and my mom had just moved from a 4000 square foot house, into a 2 bedroom apartment.
How did they do it?

"Wise distribution!" I have been wanting, needing, to stop accumulating and distribute more! I am going to work on this, I am going to stop accumulating, stop bringing things home. And make more trips to donate! Now, if I can get the others I live with to do the same, we'll be in good shape!!

Totally "Fort Worth" It!

2011-05-31T12:16:00.001-06:00

Hermana Kelsey 4:2 -email-

Mama,

Hola! Como estas? I hope you are doing well. That's good you've been looking for a job. I have been praying for you and I know that the Lord will bless you. Keep the faith and it'll all work out!

Thank you so much for the package! I got it the other day, and I was so excited. I won't be asking for much anymore though. I'm just so thankful for the shampoo! I needed it so bad. Muchas gracias!!

It is HOT here! I will give you some of our sun, if you give us some of your rain. We have been almost out of miles for the last week or so, so we've been walking and riding the bus a lot. It has been super hot and humid, so we are miserable the entire time. It is not fun, but I'm getting used to doing it so it's okay. Yesterday for p-day we played football outside. It was so fun! All the elders think I'm cool because I can actually play a little and throw pretty decent (thanks to dad :)). They chose me to be on their team before even some of the guys. It's awesome.

Anyway, we have a baptism this Sunday! This guy A___ who has been meeting with the missionaries for like 2 1/2 years is finally getting baptized. He's pretty cool. It's exciting. I feel like I'm finally starting to get used to the work. But I'm a little worried because Sister Vaughn is leaving in a week (ish), and none of the other sisters that could be my companion have ever served in my area. I still don't know a lot of the people or the way to get around our area very well. I think we are going to get lost a lot. :( But it'll be okay I guess. Our branch is so great. They are pretty good with fellowshipping and becoming friends with our investigators. It's sad though because all our people who are really good at it will be leaving soon. We have a really cool member family, but the parents are getting deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan soon; the branch president's brother and sister, who come on exchanges with us, are leaving to go to Utah and Idaho soon. We aren't going to have many people to help us. But, it'll be alright. Esta bien!

That's crazy that Landon is coming home already! I swear it hasn't been two years. It'll seem like that with me I'm sure. :)

Hermana Vaughn is still cool. She's getting a little bit trunky now, but not too bad, and not more than is expected when you are going home in a week.

One of the things we have to do with investigators that have problems with the law of chastity is just wait it out. We can't really do anything to help them, because most of the time it has something to do with legal or money issues, and we don't have anything we can use to help them with those. It's kind of hard to watch, but we just pray for them a lot.

Anyway, I probably better go now. Love you lots. Keep doing good things.

Love, Hermana Kelsey

P.S. I'll hopefully send some pictures soon. I haven't printed any for a while (since I left the MTC to be exact), and I haven't really taken that many, but I'll try to get some to you.

Papi,

Howdy! How's it going? I hope things are good. That's crazy to hear about all the flooding. Hopefully our weather switches soon. We are also having a dry season. We could seriously use some rain. But I guess this is usual in Texas about this time.

In our combined meeting, we talked about keeping the chapel clean (by parents not having their kids drink red punch :)), and being member missionaries. It was a pretty cool meeting. :) Kind of. Anyway, I'm glad you are getting as much yard work and stuff doen as you can. Hopefully, the weather will work for you to be able to do all the things you need to.

Anyway, I better go now. Sorry this is so short, but I'm all out of time. Love you, bye.

Love, Hermana Kelsey

Emmysaurus Rex!

Hola mi hermana! Como estas?! Aren't you so glad school is out? I sure remember that. Although now I miss school It's funny how your out look changes depending on where you are in life. Anyway, that's also exciting you are finally getting your license. It is about dang time! Just kidding. But seriously. :)

Please write me a letter!!! Letters are so fun. Anyway, I better go now. Love you my little seester!

Love, Hermana Kelsey

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

I wish I was a "cool" mom!

2011-05-31T00:05:00.005-06:00

Riding in the car, I say to Emily:

"I wish I was a 'cool' mom!"

Emily: "You are a 'cool' mom!"

Natasha (tapping Emily on the shoulder):

"She's really not a 'cool' mom!"

Kids say the darndest things!!

(Maybe I am a "cool" grandma?)

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

2011-05-30T10:34:00.001-06:00

Elder Flexy 11:4 -email-

Make,

this week has been very nice its getting a little cold for winter. but its nothing like utah winters but ya life is good. ya i'm glad she sent that photo. ya so this week was aweosme we had six investigators at church it was so nice to actually heve people come. i bought a swazi ring from a silversmith in Ezelwini it has the shape of africa on the one side and CTR on the other and it has braided elephant hair around it. its pretty fetching sweet!!!! ya this week we built a fire in our fireplace and i guess i didn't get my eagle scout for nothin, i got this huge log on fire and it burned for a long time. ya me and my companion have mastered the art of staring dogs down, we will never be chased by dogs again. but ya life is good we are working hard to serve our best. oh ya i made it a goal that after i hit a year i will not mention anthing about going home, till the night before i go home. anyway life is great. love you.

Love Elder Flexy

Baba,

wow its kinda weird how everything just keeps going back home while you are on mission thanks for all the updates. are you still selling the truck? thats so wierd that all those guys are graduating from high school. oh ya

the other day i got a graduation announcment from Jessica V. the graduation anouncements were really cool this year i got a little trunky i won't lie i miss High School sometimes but life is about the same as always we just keep pushing the work forward. love you

Love Elder Flexy

well i'm glad you got your licence now we can all upgrade to battle tanks, so you can't run us off the road. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA jk i'm sure your a good driver. but ya your gonna graduate from high school by the time i get home!!!! thats Lakker sis. but anyway life is refreshing as always and the work is going forward. two of our recent converts are now teachers in our branch its pretty cool they will make you teach primary if your lucky. love you

Love Elder Flexy

Sunday Best!

2011-05-29T23:39:00.001-06:00

Moroni 7:41-42

41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise. 42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.

--------------

"Faith in Jesus Christ means believing that even though we do not understand all things, He does."

-Ezra Taft Bensen

Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

Family History Friday: Native American Research!

2011-05-27T23:25:00.001-06:00

-Chief Hole in the Day-

You know how you hear stories about your ancestors, while growing up in your family? Have you heard a story about being related to a Native American?

I heard those stories, too!

It wasn't until I was in my teens, that the story became more concrete. If you have heard this story, some things you will want to know in order to do research are:

Do you have a name?
Do you know when and where they lived? (a location will help you identify a tribe)
Who was it in your family that said you had a Native American ancestor? Can you go talk to them and find out more?

If you don't have much information and can't ask for more information, you will just have to work you way back, starting with you, until you find them.

Sometimes it is just a story.

Another important piece of information would be to know the tribe or nation the ancestor belonged.

There are 100's of tribes. My ancestor came from the Great Lakes Region. Most of the records for my ancestor were found at the tribal agency.

If your ancestor was a member of what they call the

"Five Civilized Tribes",

Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole, they ended up in Oklahoma. All tribes where not relocated and my be close to their original location. Even though my ancestors tribe was placed on a reservation, they remained in Minnesota. If your ancestor was in Oklahoma, there are some very helpful Federal records called the "Dawes Roles". They are a good source for information. You can read about them here!

Happy Family History Friday! Love, Joy

Bloom Where You're Planted!

2011-05-26T00:52:00.001-06:00

Every experience helps us grow!

-----------------

What if you have been misunderstood?

What if things in your life

don't go according to what you had planned?

What if you are sick?

Or you lose something or

someone important to you?

What if it rains and rains, for days and days,

and there seems to be only dark clouds in the sky?

What if you try so hard to be a good person,

and it doesn't seem to be enough?

---------------

Have you ever heard the expression:

"Life is 10%

what happens to you

and 90% what

you do with

what happens to you!"

-anonymous

When life is a challenge:

1-Receive all things with thankfulness!

I recently had an issue with a tooth, that just about sent me over the edge. I can honestly say that the first thought that crossed my mind was, "This is good, now when I'm feeling better I will appreciate it so much more, than I would have if I wasn't feeling miserable right now!"

2-Think of the challenge as a gift!

What is this gift?

What am I supposed to learn? What is the lesson?

I will learn and be better than I was. I will have greater knowledge and more love, if I think of the experience as a gift. God must think a lot of me, to give me this opportunity to grow!

I will thank God for the gift!

3-Pray for peace and patience,

as we pass through this challenge!

God is the sculptor, we are the clay! Sometimes it takes a

little while for us to learn what God is trying to teach us.

4-Be prepared to hear

what God is trying to tell us!

Sometimes we are so busy complaining about our situation, that we can't hear. God will speak to us when we struggle and tell us what we need to learn and do to move on! Listen!!

5-Keep moving forward!

I heard a saying once, I don't know who said it, but it went something like, "It came to pass, not it came to stay!" We need to remember to move forward, learn the lesson, thank God for the experience, and be a better person for going through it!

---------------------------

Bloom Where You're Planted!!

Love, Joy

Totally "Fort Worth" It!

2011-05-24T12:36:00.001-06:00

Hermana Kelsey 4:1 -email-

Mama,

Hola! Como esta? I hope you are doing great. That is so cool you went to the Logan temple. One of my goals when I get home is to do a session at every temple in Utah. I think that would be really cool. I heard about the rain that has been going on there. That's crazy. We are actually in a drought here, but there have been a few good storms. I love the way it rains down here. It literally rains buckets. We get to take a shower in the middle of the day. It's awesome! Although, we can't just go back to our apartment and chill when it rains. We still have to do work and stuff. So that's not so cool.

Jessica S. is getting married?! But she's so young! Oh well. I guess that's cool. I guess that works for some people. Who did Rebecca S. get married to? Keep letting me know when people get married. It's fun to hear. :)

Anyway, in the next couple weeks we have a few baptismal dates. This one guy A__ has been investigating the church for like 2 1/2 years, and he is finally getting baptized on June 5th. We have a date for another guy names J___ (for June 12th), and a date for May 29th, with a guy named D___. I have only met him once, but he seems pretty legit. Also, we are trying to set a date with Luis, but he is kind of lazy and won't come to church because soccer is more important to him. But hopefully D____ will be able to get baptized in May, because we fasted two weeks in a row so that all the companionships in our area could have a baptism in May.

We had a few new investigators at church this week. I was kind of surprised we had as many as we did, but it was cool. This one girl, Y____, came and that was surprising, because she kept telling us she was going to come for like the past 3 weeks, and she still hadn't. But then she showed up. She also brought her brother, so that was good. He seems pretty cool too. I think she is actually starting to like us. But she also has the problem that most of the people we meet with have. They are either not married at all, or married to two people. It's kind of ridiculous. Oh well.

I probably better go now. Love you lots. Thank you for your support! :)

Love, Hermana Kelsey

Papi,

That's fun you are going to Bear Lake. We went to B.L.O.R.A. (Belton Lake Outdoor Recreational Area) for a branch activity last weekend. It was pretty fun, except we didn't get to swim! Just kidding. It was a nice day though. The kids did all these fun activities, and they had a pinata. They sing this song while the kids are hitting the pinata that is in Spanish, and I don't know it, but it tells the kids when their time is up. It was super cute and fun.

What on earth is Water World? I don't think I even heard of that.

Anyway, I better go now. Love you!

Love, Hermana Kelsey

Emmysaurus Rex!

I'm sorry you are feeling sick. Hopefully you feel better soon so you can write me a letter. That would be really cool!! Anyway, how's school? Did you get my last letter? I sent it a while ago, so if you didn't get it, it probably is lost forever. But that's okay. It wasn't that important.

Well I have to go now! Bye!!

Love, Hermana Kelsey (your awesome seester!)

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

2011-05-23T08:34:00.000-06:00

Elder Flexy 11:3 -email-

Make,
life is good transfers came and went and i'm staying so i will turn a year on mission only having two areas and four companions. but its all good plus i'm doing well i havent had to be a leader yet which is good. i like having less responsibilities. but ya all is well.

1 How was your week?

1.great we had a lot of member present lessons so it was good.

2 Did you have any teaching experiences that stood out?
2.um we had a very good lesson with this one sister she is so good and she understands.

3 Please tell how-
3.well the spirit was really strong and it was just nice.
4 How big is your area?
4.its pobably about from our house to the big ___ sign over the road.

5 Are you taking vitamins?
5.sometimes... ok not very often but i'm eating pretty healthy.

6 Have you eaten anything extra weird?
6.no, not for a while but i'll let you know if i do.
7 What did you do for P-day?
7.well today we will play sports and help the Ezelweni guys clean there boarding.

Special question:

8 How do you learn to recognize the spirit?
8.well we learn a lot from the scriptures they tell us that it feels like peace, joy, love, long suffering, patience, and charity.
well thats it for now life is good. love you
Love Elder Flexy

Baba,
wow i miss bear lake that place is so fun. thats crazy that it rains so much. ya i miss the camping too. ya i saw that show water world with that crazy part where he drops the flare down the pipe and blows the whole place to smithereens!!!! ya that was a cool flick. but ya life is good. well i'm out of time love you dad.
Love Elder Flexy

Sunday Best!

2011-05-22T21:43:00.000-06:00

-Prayer-

"As you feel the need to confide in the Lord or to improve the quality of your visits with Him -to pray, if you please- may I suggest a process to follow:
Go where you can be alone, go where can think, go where you can kneel, go where you can speak out loud to Him. The bedroom, the bathroom, or the closet will do.
Now picture Him in your mind's eye. Think to whom you are speaking, control your thoughts- don't let them wander, address Him as your Father and your friend.
Now tell Him things you really feel to tell Him -not trite phrases that have little meaning, but have a sincere heartfelt conversation with Him. Confide in Him, ask Him for forgiveness, plead with Him, enjoy Him, thank Him, express your love to Him and then listen for His answers...answers from the Lord come quietly- ever so quietly. In fact, few hear His answers audibly with their ears. We must be listening so carefully, or we will never recognize them. Most answers from the Lord are felt in our heart as a warm comfortable expression, or they come as thoughts to our mind. They come to those who are prepared and patient."

-H. Burke Peterson

Hope your Sunday was the Best! Love, Joy

Beautiful Places!

2011-05-17T23:16:00.001-06:00

Spring at

Temple Square

Salt Lake City, Utah

What a beautiful place!

This is where my husband and I were married!

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

2011-05-16T12:33:00.000-06:00

Elder Flexy 11:2 -email-

Make,
what!! that's crazy how can you lose your job. but your right you will find another one. i hope everything works out.

1 How is the work going?

1.great we had a pretty good week.
2 Are you still teaching a ton?
2.ya we have about fifty investigators.
3 Anybody you would like us to pray for specifically?
3.yes Ephriam, lindo and ayanda
4 Did you do anything fun for p-day?
4.well today is just a quiet p day just gonna chill with our roommates.
5 Have you had any interesting experiences this last week?
5.well we went teaching with a young man who is preparing for mission.
6 Favorite scripture?
6.well joshua 1:9

Special question:

7 How do we continue in faith when all seems lost?
7.well your faith is your trust in God so you just have to always remember that He is in charge.
anyway life is good love you.
Love Elder Flexy

Baba,

wow your always busy aren't you!!! jeepers your always doing something. well i'm about the same as i was when i talked to you. but life is good we keep working hard and its going great. love you

Love Elder Flexy

M,

well its ok that you weren't there for the prayer i just cryed anyway. but ya i love you.
Love Elder Flexy

Totally "Fort Worth" it!

2011-05-16T12:15:00.001-06:00

Hermana Kelsey 3:4 -email-

Mama,

Oh my goodness! What happened that you lost your job? That is so crazy! You'll be able to find another one super easy though, because you are definitely qualified. :)

I'm feeling better this week than I was last week. I'm feeling pretty good though.

Teaching appointments are going well. We have a lot of investigators, but not very many progressing. Most of them either aren't married to their significant other, or are married to someone else in Mexico, so they can't get baptized. We fasted last week so that our entire zone could all get a baptism this month. We have a couple people who are really close. A____ has been taking the lessons for like 2 years, but he has a baptisimal date for June 5th (we got him to move it a week sooner so that Sister Vaugh can be there).

These two other guys, J___ and D____, have baptisimal dates, but we are going to talk to J___ about doing his sooner, because he is so ready. Anyways, so that's exciting. Hopefully we'll be getting our baptism in May!

Seriously, we talk to some of the craziest people ever. Yesterday we were tracting and we met this guy who was on something (I'm not quite sure what), but he sneak attacked us and hugged us! It was so crazy. He was definitly not all there in the head. It's kind of funny though, because we will talk to people who are drunk a lot, and they give us information we need, even if they don't want to listen to our message. It's hilarious. We always joke about "taking advantage" of the drunk people. Sometimes we'll ask them where to find other people we want to teach and they'll tell us because they are so drunk. It's fun.

Anyways, that is so cool that Brynne is home. She is so great. Tell her that if she wants to send me a letter that would be fine with me! :) Also, tell everyone else if they really, really, really want to write a letter, I think I would be fine if they wrote to me. You know where to send it. :)

I'm glad you are keeping yourself busy. Maybe now that you don't have a job you can work on that project that Uncle Larry kept wanting you to do. That would be pretty cool.

Anyway, I better go now. Thank you for always supporting me. You are so great! I love you lots.

Love, Hermana Kelsey

Dear KJ

I went to a Stake Priesthood meeting tonight and one of the speakers talked about a trip they took down the green river and how they studied the maps and used a gps to help them know where they were, and where to stop to walk ahead and see where the safest route was. then he compared it to making important choices long before the situation comes up. It was a great meeting.

Papa,

That story is a very good relation to real life. Sometimes it is hard to make good choices. But the out come is so worth it if you make the right choice. :) Have fun with your garden. Hopefully it grows better this time than your corn did last time. :) Just kidding. Anyways, I better go now. Love you lots.

Love, Hermana Kelsey

Emmysaurus Rex!

I am writing you a letter already, so I will send it today. I'm not sure what card you are talking about. They only I got was the cute sisters one like a couple weeks after I got to the MTC. I'll be expecting a letter from you within the week! Anyway, love you. Bye!

Love, Hermana Kelsey

P.S. I ate "elote" the other day, which is that corn that Nacho eats in "Nacho Libre". It is quite delicious! You should be jealous. :)

XoxOxoXXXoxoxoO

Sunday Best!

2011-05-15T20:07:00.000-06:00

"Testimony is as elusive as a moonbeam;

it's as fragile as an orchid;

you have to recapture it every morning of your life,

you have to hold on by study,

and by faith and by prayer."

-Harold B. Lee

--------

Hope your Sunday was the Best!!

Love, Joy

Family History Friday: Still Organizing?

2011-05-13T22:08:00.000-06:00

So I have recently had a

little extra time on my hands.

And of course, one of my favorite

things to do, is Family History.

It is so fun!

Besides doing research,

it is fun to organize it.

I have noticed though, if you haven't had time to organize, and reorganize. It kinda piles up. I spent the entire day today organizing and reorganizing my Family History. It is an ongoing process. My new goal is, to never let it get so bad again. I will do two hours of Family History every Sunday afternoon. There, now that it's out there. I will be more likely to follow through. Pick a quiet time of the week for organizing your Family History. It'll make you feel great!!! I promise!

Happy Family History Friday!

Love, Joy

I love Mother Teresa!

2011-05-10T22:48:00.000-06:00

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people my accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway."

-Mother Teresa

Totally "Fort Worth" it!

2011-05-09T20:02:00.000-06:00

Hermana Kelsey 3:2 -email-

Hola Familia!

Long time no talk right? Today is better, but I think that is because it is p-day. I'm hoping I can adjust a little more very soon.

Last night we got dinner from one of the members in the English ward. They were cool. They have two cute little girls. Anyway, we don't get dinner very much, so that was nice.

Also last night we taught this crazy guy, and he offered us some water. We told him we didn't want any, but he insisted. He gave us water from a gallon milk jug, but apparently he hadn't rinsed it out before he filled it with the water so it tasted really gross like sour milk. It was so not cool.

Oh also, how was your talk with Flexy? Is he doing so great? I wish I could have talked to him longer.

Anyway, I better go now. Love you all. XoxoXOXXXoOxx

P.S. Dad, that is so cool you have a black widow pet. Maybe you should fatten her up and then give her to the Nature Center again. :)

BYE!

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

2011-05-09T18:44:00.001-06:00

Elder Flexy 11:1 -email-

Make,

ya i just realized that when we were talking that i never said happy mothers day so... HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!! so i don't really know what to say today that i didn't say yesterday. but life is good and all is well. love you
Elder Flexy
Dad,
ya that's so weird that all those young ones are getting so old. My brother Bryce?!?! that's great but ya it was nice to hear from you guys on the phone. but ya we have been seeing a lot of snakes lately so that's intense. but ya that's all for now.Love you.
Elder Flexy

M,

ya it was fun to talk to you about work. its good to know all the old people are doing well but I'm about the same as a was yesterday but ya. Love you.
Elder Flexy

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

2011-05-03T16:41:00.000-06:00

Elder Flexy 10:4 -email-

Make,

the baptisms went great i performed the baptism for Nokwanda. its was way cool and i didn't have to do it more than once. but ya mission is going well we have a massive teaching pool and the area is doing good. we played soccer yesterday and i didn't do well we don't play as much in swaziland as we did in in durban so i'm losing the skill i had. but life is good!! we had interviews with president and i enjoyed speaking to him i think he might put me in a leadership position after this transfer but if not all the better the leadership positions stink i just like to worry about me, my comp and my investigators. so about the phone call i will see if i can use the blackburns land line and then call you so you have the number then you can all me back so hopefully that will work. but life is about the same as it always is in swaziland. anyway love you.

Love Elder Flexy

Baba,

thats good that time is going fast that means your staying busy. we are too, we work really really hard and its paying off we are finding people like crazy. but mission life is kinda funny you start to feel like you do the same thing every day. but ya its going well swaziland is very well prepared of the lord and the people are listening. thats so crazy your selling your truck. but the roof was looking pretty bad when i left. but ya i turn ten monthes on saturday so thats pretty intense!!! i'm quickly aproaching half way done so thats pretty much the craziest thing ever the time is going so fast and i'm loving it. love you

Love Elder Flexy

Totally "Fort Worth" it!

2011-05-02T18:38:00.000-06:00

Hermana Kelsey 3:1 -email-

Madre,

Hola! How are you doing? I hope things are going great for you. The mission field is really weird, especially when I've been so out of the world for so long. I am forgetting how to use technology! It's craziness. Anyway, the spanish is no bueno. I can't understand half of what anyone is saying because they talk so fast. I can pick out words, but it's really hard. And I feel so exhausted at night because my brain is working so hard to try to understand people all day. Plus, we teach in english too, which you would think would be nice, but it just confuses my brain, and now I can't teach very well in either. It's really hard. I'm don't feel like I'm learning any spanish at all, but my companion says it will come in time.

My companion is Hermana Vaughn. She's really cool. I'm her last companion before she goes home, so she's been out for a while. She is from Idaho. She just had surgery to get her gallbladder taken out like a three weeks ago, but she is almost completely better and doing the work like usual. She has a really good spanish accent, and she speaks spanish very well. She is great.

But anyways, my first area is a really big area. It's kind of weird, but I like it. I've been meeting a ton of people, and most of them are totally crazy. They say the funniest things, but I never understand them until Hna. Vaughn explains them to me later. But they are pretty much hilarious. We have a few people that they have been teaching for a while that are supposed to get baptized soon, so that's pretty cool. I think it's crazy, because when we go tracting, we meet people who have never heard of the Mormons. I thought everyone knew of us, or at least had crazy ideas about who we are. That was definitely eye opening.

We had church yesterday, of course, and it was insane. We went to the just spanish ward, and it was so tiny. There are only ten women in Relief Society on a good day, and in sacrament meeting there was only like 30 people. I'm used to really big wards to that was really strange. Since it was fast Sunday, the President asked us to get up and bear our testimonies. So I did...and I slaughtered it. They could all tell what a gringa I am. It was sad. But everyone is really nice so that's good. I also ended up saying the closing prayer in sacrament too. So that was fun.

I will probably call after church on Sunday. We have church at 11 on Sunday too. But since we are an hour ahead, it will probably be between like 3 and 5 ish. I'm not really sure. Just keep your phone handy. :) Anyway, I better go now. Love you lots. I'll talk to you on Sunday.

Love, Hermana Kelsey

Padre,

My first week has been okay. The work is really hard, but I like it. The Spanish is crazy! They talk so so fast, and most of the time I don't know what they are saying. Me and my companion don't speak that much Spanish with each other, but we talk some. I ask her a lot how to say things, and she'll tell me so I can say them at another point. It's fun.

Anway, I better go. Love you lots.

Love, Hermana Kelsey

Thejoyfulnest is 2!!

2011-04-29T14:33:00.002-06:00

It's true! I have been officially blogging for 2 years!
It has been a wonderful thing!
What has been my goal for the past two years?

To have a joyful and happy place for people to visit!
To write fun and interesting stories about life and family?
To be informative about how to get started doing "Family History!"
To make a history of my family and my darling missionaries!
To tell the world that I believe that life is wonderful, and challenging, and if we "just keep swimming" it will be great!

My goals for the future of thejoyfulnest?
More of the same! I will hope for a few more visits and new friends!
Love, Joy

The "Grapefruit Poem"

2011-04-28T22:31:00.000-06:00

"I wish I was a grapefruit,

and here's the reason why

when you came to eat me,

I'd squirt you in the eye!"

That my friends, is the first poem I ever memorized when I was a little kid. I just thought I 'd share...for posterity!

Totally "Fort Worth" it!

2011-04-27T21:47:00.000-06:00

Dear Family,

Sister Sagers and I want you to know that your missionary has arrived safely here in Texas. We look forward to serving together in accomplishing the Lord's work. We hope you enjoy the attached picture of your missionary, as well as knowing that the missionaries are in good hands here as they are in the Lord's service.

Sincerely,

President and Sister Sagers

Howzit-Elder Flexy!(for real)

2011-04-26T20:57:00.002-06:00

We got an email today. I am so glad.

Elder Flexy 10:3 -email-

Make,
sorry i didn't Email yesterday was a national holiday so no email shops were open but I'm doing fine we hiked Execution Rock again, it was super fun and we had a brai(Barbeque) on top. So apparently i still have my hiking skills because i smoked the other elders! Life is good we are teaching like crazy, we are having three baptisms on Sunday its gonna be sweet. I went on exchanges with Elder Henson the native American and it was great we taught very well, it was fun. I'm so glad Ariane is coming back to church. Thats so good to hear. this week we successfully outdid a Jehovah witness without even losing the spirit, now that is dang near IMPOSSIBLE!! and we stared down a dog that could have eaten us. but ya its been a awesome week. i love you.
Love Elder Sebenele (Swati name)

Baba
dang i thought that might happen the last time we fixed that pipe but (note: a secondary water pipe broke in the yard). wow that story about Adam is pretty funny that reminds me of me being called a Tokoloshi in my last area which is a little demon the witch doctors summon to get there enemies. but ya, mission is pretty sweet i'll let you know about the baptisms next time. love you
Love Elder Dirkie

--------------------------

Just an FYI, Kelsey left for Texas this morning!

We talked on the phone, she is nervous and excited.

Please pray for our missionaries!

Howzit-Elder Flexy!

2011-04-25T20:03:00.001-06:00

So it's Monday at about 7:10 p.m.

I have been checking my email account

off and on all day, and nothing.

Our darling Elder has not sent an email.

Paranoid me says,

"What's wrong? Is he ok?

Maybe he's just too busy today."

Faithful me says,

"He is great! Doing the Lord's work!

He is definitely safe, the Lord will protect him.

You need to relax!"

Momma me says, "That little stinker!

Doesn't he know I worry?

Can't he at least give me a few lines?!"

It will all be just fine, but it is a challenge for me. Who knew when I decided to name Alex's posts "Howzit-Elder Flexy", that it was prophetic. That there would be times many times when I wonder "Howzit?"

I thought I would tell you a story about Alex when he was five. Just to keep my mind off the fact that I haven't heard from him, and to give you all something to read today.

-----------------

The school was having a talent show. Because we're not that talented at our house, I've never been a big fan of them. But this time Alex decided on his own, that he wanted to be in the talent show. I never heard a word about it. I found out after the talent show was over, that Alex had indeed taken part in the talent show. He signed up and on the sheet he said he was going to whistle. I'm sure that the teachers thought he was going whistle a song, a tune of some kind. But when he got up to do his talent, all he did was whistle. Just one note, for about 3 seconds, then he sat down. Everyone applauded. And Alex felt super. The teacher who told me the story started to cry when she told me. She said it was the sweetest thing, to see this little boy sharing his whistle with his peers. He believed that they would think that was so neat. I need to tell you here, that there were kids who could play the piano, sing, and all kinds of talents that the parents had spent money helping their child develop. I didn't have to spend any money, 'cause Alex's talent was to whistle. What a darling little boy! He has always been such a great kid. Always happy and easy to please. I know that he is a blessing to the people of South Africa, and I am happy to share my wonderful son with them.